Realize that when towing with a single axle trailer you may be exceeding
the weight rating of the tires. Determine the total weight of the vehicle
on the trailer and the weight of the trailer itself. In many instances
folks have blown tires because the tires are merely passenger car tires,
usually not in new condition and they are run in many cases with lower than
optimal pressure which contributes to overheating and premature failure.
The situation in a dual axle trailer is not nearly as pronounced due to the
weight distribution onto 4 (actually 5, don't forget tongue weight) points.
I use two dual axle trailers, one an open 12' and one an enclosed 20', I
have had a flat tire on each at least once in the past and it presented no
problem in handling. I probably didn't realize it for a few miles. Towing
with an F-250 Turbo Diesel 4x4 Pickup. (20mpg - 500 ft lbs torque ~280 hp)
On one occasion, I chained one hub up to the trailer chassis (no spare) and
drove the 48 miles home on 3 wheels. While it's not the desired method it
was an option.
Also as a suggestion, don't buy the cheapest tires out there. There is
value to getting a tire with a reinforced sidewall and a higher load
rating(more plies). Load range C or D will give increased load capacity
over a B rated tire. Look also at the heat rating of the tire and the wear
factor. Traction figures are not real important. Durability is the key
(harder compound + more ply)
Caution is urged on a light weight tow vehicle. The lighter it is the more
likely it is to be pushed by the trailer. This can be to the point of
danger in either wet or icy (Winter Rain northern style for those of you
south of DC) conditions.
Russ Moore
At 08:51 AM 8/17/98, R. John Lye wrote:
>At 11:10 AM 8/13/98 -0400, Andrew Mace wrote:
>>On Thu, 13 Aug 1998, Bill Babcock raised some interesting points:
>>
>>> I'm pulling a dual axle trailer and wish I wasn't. If I had my druthers
>>> I'd get a lightweight aluminum trailer to fit my TR3. I think my trailer
>>> weighs more than my car. You can easily overkill on trailers and it
>>> doesn't add much safety.
>>
>>My prime thought in expressing my own desire for a dual-axle trailer is
>>just the added security of the two extra wheels and tires. It's not
>>happened to me yet, but I worry about what would happen if one of the two
>>(total -- single axle) tires blew on my trailer. But then I don't know if
>>a dual-axle trailer would handle a blowout much better?
>
>FWIW, I had a tire blow out on my dual axle trailer - it was my own
>fault, pretty much. I had lousy Uniroyal tires on it, and had gotten
>them rather warm driving a bit faster than I should have coming down
>some of the mountains in W.VA. I peeled the tread off one tire, and
>it pounded out the fender before I could get off onto the shoulder
>(those of you who've seen my trailer, now know where that hump in the
>right side fender came from). Anyway, other than hearing an extremely
>loud thumping sound, there were no drastic effects from the blowout;
>the trailer still pulled fine, and was easily controllable. I'd
>guess that a blowout on a single axle trailer might have been a bit
>more dramatic.
>
>John Lye
>rjl6n@Virginia.edu
>
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