2 or 3 axile trailer?
 

i may be the owner of a new to me boat currently located in florida.
boat does not come with a trailer so i plan on having one built.
cuda gave me a source for a manufacturer in florida that makes a nice trailer at an affordable price.

http://www.slideon.com/index.html

they said the price is basically the same for a 2 or a 3 axile.
so other then the advantage of having 2 good tires per side in the event of a flat what if any are the advantages of buying a 3 axile trailer?

thanks guys..........again ,
Steve

Dude got nice trailor for sale how long is your boat this is a target 4 wheel brakes twin axile 10000 lb trailor 28-30 ft perfect could do 32 if you had ta cheep[ 1000 $ in fla new tires

28 ft apache brave around 7000 lbs

B-Stubb , got any pics?

2 axle trailer is easier to move around. 3 axles makes the tires scrub when you turn tightly. If you manuever your loaded trailer into a tight turn to store it for any length of time, you must it back and forth a couple of times to get the twist out of the sidewalls of the tires.

If height is an issue, a 3 axle can be built to haul the same load with smaller tires. This lets you get the boat a little lower (my boat sits less than an inch above the fenders as I requested).

Then there's the issue of brakes. I prefer to have one axle with NO brakes cause it will reduce the chances of a jackknife on a slick downhill panic stop. BUT I prefer to have brakes on MORE than a single axle. This means a triple for me.

Also, if you lose a tire on a triple, you can carefully drive to a safe place to change it. On a double, you'd best get it yanked to the shoulder RIGHT NOW.

It's also easier to "self jack" a triple to change the tire. I keep 2 stacks of 2x4's to do double duty as chocks AND jacks. The stacks each have 3 2x4's nailed together on a stagger. I can put one in front of the tire and drive on it until 2 tires are on it - this lets me change #3. If the bad tire is in the middle, I still pull 2 tires on stack #1, then put stach #2 behind the rear tire and pull back far enough for the middle tire to be hanging off the ground.

There's all the info I have.

Whatever decision you make will be ok.

I agree...I had a triple axle for my 28' Nordic, it was overkill and hard to maneuver in tight areas. However, it tracked VERY well and had great road manners. I pulled it with a F350PSD and with that trailer, it didn't matter how bad the highway was, it always behaved well. It's just the tight areas that make them difficult. I can't believe I didn't pop some of those tires off the rims in tight turns :drool: If you do a lot of highway driving, you might consider one, but if I had it to do over again, I'd just get a well designed tandem since I don't do much highway pulling, mostly pull it back to the house from the marina to work on it.

TRIPLE !!!!! I would rather spend a little more time "backing & jacking" in tight spots than be blown off the highway by Semis !!!!! Trust me....A triple will never sway !! Oh....Disc brakes on all 3 ..I like to stop also.

Look at total weight of boat loaded with fuel and all the other stuff and the trailer versus load capacity of tires
This will ussually dictate number of axles
also on a torsion axel tailer you can usually drive missing a tire but this is not the case on a leef spring trailer

Triple axle!!!:D :D Call me tommorrow and tell me about what you're getting!!

Craig

this

Definitely torsion axes, forget leaf springs. They are a bad accident waiting to happen, I KNOW. Personally I prefer a triple because of the stablility factor. First time a big older flat nosed semi goes by you, you'll understand why. If you don't trailer on Interstates, or whatever where that might not be an issue, a tandem would work great. However, if you're trailering on Interstates where you will be passed by Big Rigs, you will really appreciate the stability over a tandem. There is all the difference in the world between the too. I've trailered both tanden/triple from New England to Florida several times, and unless someone paid me well, I will not do another tandem. I have a tandem blow four feet sidesways by a semi and that is nervewracking. If you overcompensate you're in more trouble. Go with 3 if you do highway driving.

Whether you go with the tandem or the triple. You should go with 16" wheels with a good weight rating. Not the little 14"s that you see on a lot of triple axle trailers (such as Nordic). The higher weight rating will give you a much thicker sidewall and will eliminate the sway and the blowout problem. Heat kills tires in the summer and It's cheap insurance to avoiding roadside repairs and possibly trailer fenders or even worse hull damage.

Just my .02

I actually prefer the triple with 14's and load range C Marathons. They give you 11,500 capacity and triples just DON'T sway. My experience has been good with Marathons.

Cat, I'll get some measurements for you.

Everyone's got an opinion. Either two or the axles can handle the weight so weight is not an issue. I tow a 33 Powerplay with a 2002 South Florida twin axle aluminum trailer. It has #5200lb axles. It is more than I'll ever need and they build a first class product. I just towed it over 100 miles to the Ft. Lauderdale Grand Prix and it was steady as a rock. Many of the guys on this board trailer many times that distance every weekend.

You'll need to decide how much road time you are going to give the boat as opposed to how much time your going to spend maneuvering into parking spaces or boat ramps. No doubt the three axles give you more stability on the road, but you pay the price parking it. As the guys above mentioned , it'll scrub the tires.

Mike

Try Nextrail in florida,they have some nice stuff and not overpriced!! Tripps

Triples under aluminum trailers tend to float:( .
They don't float on top of the water , but if you have any current or tide moving across the ramp , by the time you get boat up to the trailer it may not be where you left it:rolleyes: .
I have a 10,000 lb tandem behind an F350...tows great. Last year I was using a Tahoe:eek: and what everybody said about twin axles and semis is true.
Your tow vehicle will make a difference.
Personally , 4 wheel bearings and 4 wheel brakes are enough maintenance for me.

LOTOParty:

LutzParty has a nice MYCO Alum twin axle trailer for sale at LOTO. It came under his new 311, and I've seen it. 16.5 wheels with 8 lugs. Good shape. You would be foolish to not check it out. No one argues MYCO's quality.

I pull my 302 on a twin axle MYCO steel trailer with 5200 lb axles and 16 inch wheels with 7.50 X 16 RIB tires. Pulled it close to 10,000 miles on the interstate so far. (Dam, that's a lot!!! Didn't realize it before this post). I've never had a sway problem with it, and I have single rear wheel axle on the truck. There is about 1,200 lbs on the tongue, and 9,500 lbs on the two axles. I'm only mentioning the weights, so that someone who knows more than I can determine if they are involved in the great tracking of the two trailer axles.

BTW, Your new boat looks sweet. Look forward to seeing it on the Lake.

thanks for the lead chart!
i have to get several ducks in a row.
my current truck is a 1/2 ton dodge 4x4 which isnt big enough to pull the brave.
having it transported would cost at least 1600.00
so......... i have to find a truck..........and find a trailer sometime in the next 2 weeks :eek:
maybe i should just fly down and buy a truck , trailer and the boat in florida:crazy:

anyone have a clean one owner truck for sale in florida lol

Half ton truck won't handle a 28 foot boat? How much does that boat weigh? And what do you have in the truck?

boat is around 7000 lbs
truck has a tired 360 magnum and automatic transmission.

hell , maybe she has one last long leg left in her :crazy:

if i avoid georgia!

Hey Steve,
If you decide to buy a trailer in Florida, you should consider Nextrail. I have a $500 credit with them because my dumbazz ordered a trailer before the survey was done on one:rolleyes: of the Bullets that I was going to buy. The guy at Nextrail (Gary) is a cool dude and they make a quality trailer for a great price!!! We can work something out with my credit (I have no use for it):)

Craig
202-224-5499

Lots of good points...

I find the sway argument is pretty mute on a boat trailer- boats are inherently more aerodynamic (compared to my 26' Vnose enclosed race trailer) but the main thing is the axles are waaayyy back their which makes for a lot of stability and smooth tracking.

If you're getting a lot of sway with a tandem boat trailer I'd have to say you've got problems with tires, pressures or tongue weight. I prefer torsions but would not pass up a good deal on a leaf spring trailer.

As You know, I just bought VB's 28' pantera, it tracked awesome on the 4 hr tow home on 44 and backroads running 60-80 behind my SRW dodge 3500. It's on leafs, 5200lb axles and 225/75 15 radials rated at 2540 each. This set-up would be awesome for you. Hell, if I had my lift already you could borrom my trailer.

FWIW- I tow 20k a year all over (Rockcrawling racer)

I think it all comes down to personal preference I have a tri-axle trailer that tows great going down the road but gets a little tricky in tight spots, the worst seems to be gas stations if you can't find a truck stop or somewhere that has lots of room. I've never had a problem at a boat ramp they always seem to have plenty of room and you'll get use to how they turn. like someone else mentioned it might give you a little more security having three axles in case you blow a tire and have to limp somewhere to get it fixed. Tandem axles are much easier to maneuver as well as cheaper to maintain. As far as how they pull down the road, if their set up properly you shouldn't notice the difference. So it all boils down to what you want and are comfortable with they should both preform equally as well.

I am up for a road trip we can take my dually Steve. Call me this evening.

mcollinstn - would you be able to post pictures of your "self jacks"? I am very interested in how to do this.

Thanks,

Brian

bn.

Sure. I promised Cat I'd get dimensions. I might as well take pix as well. Probably be next week before I get a chance to do it, but when I do I'll pm you them.

Go tandem.
 

I have a 7000GVW S.Fl Aluminum for my 28 Pantera with twin 502s. It's pretty much the same weight as the Apache.
You should get a tandem, 10,000lb trailer. there's no need for triple axle on the small boat.. Triples on that small of a boat look pretty stupid if you ask me..

My 7000GVW trailer is not enough for my boat. The boat came with the trailer when I bought it. I would certainly have opted for the heavier unit.
South Florida actually just waranteed the two I beams on my trailer....
Armstrong Trailer is right here as well. They build about the best trailer for the buck. But you have to remember that you get what you pay for.
My trailer has two outside big bunks, two inside keel bunks, and two forward keel bunks. Very good support.

Need a truck?
I'm planning to get into a new Duramax, so my '00 GMC Crew Dually 4x4 is for sale.. 454 with banks power pack, 4.10 gears... you get the picture. It pulls like a freight train.

When are you planning to come down for the boat??