Please educate me about trailers

[Wildman1]

I am looking at the trailer that is in the For Sale section. It is a single axle trailer but the owner has used it to haul his Jeep up until it got too wide to fit anymore. So I am curious as to why are most car haulers dual axled? Is there any reason to not get this single axle?

Thanks

 

[no excuses]

dual axles can safely haul more, if u lose a tire or bearing u still have one to hold up load and not have one side of ur trailer carving up the pavement, dual axles (should) have twice the brakes and braking capacity.

 

[TreeClimber]

Axles for trailers are rated by weight carrying capacity. Same thing for tires.
Even though it can fit a jeep (and I seen the trailer, and it looks short!) that doesn't mean it's rated for it. An average YJ, TJ, etc is going to weigh around 4000 pounds. Then you've got to add the weight of the trailer. Say another 1000-1500 pounds. So that trailer would need to have at least a 5000 axle, and two tires rated at least at 2500 each!

My double axled car trailer has two 3500 axles, for a 7000 capacity. It weighs 1700 pounds. My Jeep weighs 4300. You do the math.

Most equippment trailers will use 8 lug tires and axles, rated at 5000 each.

 

[GaryTJ]

I am looking at the trailer that is in the For Sale section. It is a single axle trailer but the owner has used it to haul his Jeep up until it got too wide to fit anymore. So I am curious as to why are most car haulers dual axled? Is there any reason to not get this single axle?

Thanks

No problem with a single axle trailer as long as it is rated for the load. My trailer has done good since I built it in 1985 but it has an 8k axle under it. It has been all over the Western U.S. with no problems.

 

[Freeride]

Are tandem axle trailers more stable? Seems like the tongue might bounce up and down more with a single axle.

 

[GaryTJ]

Single axle trailers typically need more tongue weight. But on the plus side, they are actually smoother and easier to tow if they are loaded right.

 

[Brian H]

Axles for trailers are rated by weight carrying capacity. Same thing for tires.
Even though it can fit a jeep (and I seen the trailer, and it looks short!) that doesn't mean it's rated for it. An average YJ, TJ, etc is going to weigh around 4000 pounds. Then you've got to add the weight of the trailer. Say another 1000-1500 pounds. So that trailer would need to have at least a 5000 axle, and two tires rated at least at 2500 each!

My double axled car trailer has two 3500 axles, for a 7000 capacity. It weighs 1700 pounds. My Jeep weighs 4300. You do the math.

Most equippment trailers will use 8 lug tires and axles, rated at 5000 each.

I think 8 lug trailer axles are actually 7000 each which makes them 14000 lb .

 

[Hip]

couple of other things to consider:

clearance under the trailer. mine is too low. its ok for towing on the streeet but once in a while i like to tow on a dirt road and it is too low for that . i can barely get into some of the remote camps due to that. im gonna lift it a couple inches if i can ever get the title from ST.

if it has dual axels make sure it has brakes on both. in wa it is illegal to have brakes on only one axel if you have dual axels but they do sell them that way.

 

[Little Red Zuk]

Soooo.... How would such a single axle trailer do hauling a rig that weighs 2380? (Samurai) That is, once I have something other than a Mustang to tow with.

 

[Wildman1]

Soooo.... How would such a single axle trailer do hauling a rig that weighs 2380? (Samurai) That is, once I have something other than a Mustang to tow with.

From what everyone is telling me you'd have a better go at it than I will with my 4,500lb + rig.

 

[PORTER]

With the money you have into your rig Rick, I wouldnt even consider a single axle trailer. The dual axle trailers have too many positives that negatives.

 

[Freeride]

I would think a trailer like that would be ideal for a Samurai. Single axle would make me a little nervous though. Could you imagine a tire blowout?

 

[Wildman1]

With the money you have into your rig Rick, I wouldnt even consider a single axle trailer. The dual axle trailers have too many positives that negatives.

Yes I'll have to agree with you.