I was just wondering what the experiences were of people who had a tire blowout on a single axle trailer (boat, cargo, or other). Did it become a life or death situation, or just a coast to a stop? I'm trying to cut through some of the hype, and get some real world feedback.

Michael

I have...

Running down the highway somewhere between 55 and 60 mph. Was my first boat (Bayliner 2050 with a 355 I built for it) sitting on a single axle trailer. Left tire blew LOUD! Scared my wife half to death. Trailer got a little loose, and pulled a little to the left, but no big deal. Slowly coasted to a turn out, and turned onto a gravel road where I changed the tire...with my wife taking pics.

Was never afraid, nor did it ever feel like I was ever going to lose control. I was towing with a Saturn Vue, so not exactly a huge, heavy duty towing rig either. To me, it was no big deal at all.

Since there are so many variables I have had almost everything happen. Better to have a loaded (not over loaded) trailer blow a tire then an empty one. An empty one can jump all over the place for a while before it settles down.

Single axle trailer and a tire goes is much better than a tandem axle with a tire gone! Twice I have had a tire go on a tandem and before everything was under control, the second tire on the same side went! First time (1980) the trailer swerved radically while jumping up and down. Didn't panic stop, but put the air on solid and watched the 21' Mako pass me on 75 in Georgia well north of Atlanta. The boat passing was more a shock then the tires blowing. Didn't flash its lights, sound its horn or use a turn signal!

Not sure if it was the bouncing, the jerking around or what, but the 2" strap across the back snapped!

The first vehicle behind was a Good Ole Boy with a confederate flag in the rear window of his 20 year old pickup with fenders flapping in the wind who put his bumper against the port transom and pushed the boat to the berm before we were out of the motorhome and before the second vehicle, the first of three or four flying 18 wheelers, went by (granted there was a little time, but still).

Say what you want about those Georgia Good Ole Boys, he wouldn't take any money, but was happy to drink a beer or six while we waited for the State Patrol to finish their investigation. This all happened at about 2:30 a.m. and it was well past daylight before officer Buford T. Justice was done. We discovered the investigation went much faster after we ran out of coffee in the motorhome!

Still waiting to have an incident with a tri axle!

I will also say this, I really don't understand anyone who transports their boat without it being strapped to the trailer! I have seen far too many sitting on the side of the road off-trailer and would have been fine of only it had been secure. I didn't see it, but was told about one here on the island two weeks ago where a driver panic stopped and the boat didn't. Broke the winch mast and tried to crawl down a drainage culvert on the side of the road.

i sold my 30 foot IMP. rusty 20 year old trailer. told buyer (85 K10 Blazer) 45 mph tops. it towed good while accelerating. lift up off gas and trailer starts yanking sideways. 2 yanks and the tongue snapped. next thing he knows, his new boat is passing him on the right. then it hung a left and speared his truck like a fish. this was on rt 76 (aka rt 42 aka atlantic city expwy) about 2 miles from the walt whitman bridge in jersey. boat sideways closed the whole road. i sold it for 12k and insurance paid me 17 more. funny they wouldn't give me anything for the trailer. i fixed trailer for him, got him a couple of gimball housings and 2 TRS's and sent him on his way...edit; i hope he isn't on this forum...

I blew two Carlisle radials - each with less than 150 miles on it - one at a time & two weeks apart a couple of years ago. Both were fully inflated and both went catastrophically. One actually wrapped around the frame and took out the tail light, fender and brake line. Neither one caused any wild moments from behind the wheel of my F-150 4x4 though. I'll never buy another Carlisle tire though.

What are you buying, a canoe or something?

I think what you will find is most tires blow out in 2 stage's, first is the loud/thump/crash/bang when the tread peels off of the tire carcass. This is where most of the noise and damage will incur. (the tire flapping around will make a mark on everything it hits, dents or rips off.)

The second stage is the tire blowing out the air out of the carcass. This will be a loud pop or in most cases just a poof sound and the tire going flat.

I have found this is usually a couple of seconds apart and gives you the opportunity to slow down and get to the edge of the road before it begins to disintegrate th wheel.

Simple fix, jack Axel and replace tire with spare... (you do have a spare correct?)

It is an inconvenience but generally more of an eye opener and heart stopper than a real driving issue.

On my way to the Keys barreling across alligator alley I popped one on a 14ft Seadoo behind a Silverado HD. There was no noise and the truck barely slowed down for a split seccond, it was a windy day so I didn't think anything of it. A few miles later I glanced in the rear view mirror and noticed that the boat was a bit tilted so I pulled over. Tire gone, fender gone, side of the boat fubared, and not much left of the rim.

See singles blown more frequently on the side of the road. There is no back up if it blows or bearing goes out. Its not usually life/death, more just trip ending/delaying since the towed item is usually lighter.
20' and above, I would be inclined to a tandem. Definately if trailering more than a short distance. Tandem will also be less squirelly at wagging as long as it is reasonably loaded.

I dont think there is a difference or anything wrong with Carslile, Marathons or any other trailer tire. Its the applicaiton and use pattern. Too many times trailer tires are pushed to their load limit. Boats especially because stepping up to the next heavier axle or better frame means more $$. This is questionable necessary in the eyes of the mfg since it is unknown how the boat/trailer will be used.
Blow outs usually occur due to: trailer sitting for long periods, boats especially because they are constantly loaded; create a weak spot at the bottom of the tire where it sits, constantly deflected.
Age plays a factor, over 4, you are asking for trouble, especially due to sun exposure.
Curb scuffs and radical twisting angles on the cords.
Not equally loaded.
Poor inflation.

Single blew out due to gross overloading which rubbed the tire on fender. Slow and controlled, especailly behind my 3500.
I have never had a tandem blow but practice the cautions above. Have towed my boat all over the country, 20k miles and never had a blow out or wheel bearing problem but agian, proper prep and 20% below max weight.

If gas prices keep going up, most of us may end up in canoes!

Actually, I'm looking at getting a utility or cargo trailer, and they have a single axle until you get into the really large ones. With all the people towing on this forum, I thought I'd get some good input. Trailer tires don't have a great reputation for staying together.

Michael