Add an Axle?

[rbh]

Re: Add an Axle?

It is his trailer, he is liable anyway... that is what his insurance is for...

In the US, trailers are modified all of the time. They are chopped and used as home built. Redeisgned better than new, etc. The laws in Canada vs US must be night and day different as it relates to trailers...

Now, provided he does not add any additional weight over what was originally packaged together when new, and he makes an upgrade to the trailer to improve it, then there should not be an issue, UNLESS, his workmanship fails and that is the cause of an accident... Simply modifying someone elses design does not automatically assign all liability to the modifier. It depends on what fails on the trailer and why...

you just answered the $64000 question dujour/of the day

 

[180shabah]

Re: Add an Axle?

Getting a modified trailer to be legal is not difficult. Each state is different, but in VA if you increase the "capacity" of the trailer, you just go to the DMV, update the "vehicle information" show proof of inspection (from an authorized inspection facility) if the new weight classification requires it, pay your money and leave.

I have a trailer that has a GWR of only 2995lbs. Frame is constructed of 3x5 "square" tubing, it has a 3500lb axle under it, and a 5k coupler. Why the low rating? at 3k brakes would be required and the price would go up another $500 or so, and it would have to be inspected every year.

NYBo - The Westie is past tense, we had to put him down this summer. He was 18lbs of "kiss my *****", we have two 70lb mutts, but he definately ran the show.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Add an Axle?

180 makes a good point. SOmetimes ratngs are given to avoind having to add extra aptions to a trailer that are not needed... Like trailer brakes.

I have a tandem axle flatbed that is rated at 5K. But it has 2 3500 lb axles, should be 7K. Low rating because to haul 7K in GA, it would need brakes...

As for the original poster, by adding the second axle, it might need brakes, depending on the laws. It brakes are required by weight, maybe not, if by axle, yes, but well worth the upgrade...

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Add an Axle?

From the OP it sounds more to me like you just need to fix what broke and start a regular maintenence schedule.

 

[ky gravy]

Re: Add an Axle?

For the record, I looked at a friends trailer yesterday and it is exactly yhe same length, size of square tubing, wobble rollers, everything but it has two axles so I'm opening up the door again. I think it will be much safer and still cheaper than buying another trailer that I don't know how it was maintained. My trailer has bearing buddies that I checked and filled before I left on the fateful trip... A bearing seal failed and caused the problem. With a new spindle and two new hubs, I think I'm good on the current equipment - I just wanted an extra measure of safety. Thanks for all of your input.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Add an Axle?

For the record, I looked at a friends trailer yesterday and it is exactly yhe same length, size of square tubing, wobble rollers, everything but it has two axles so I'm opening up the door again. I think it will be much safer and still cheaper than buying another trailer that I don't know how it was maintained. My trailer has bearing buddies that I checked and filled before I left on the fateful trip... A bearing seal failed and caused the problem. With a new spindle and two new hubs, I think I'm good on the current equipment - I just wanted an extra measure of safety. Thanks for all of your input.

You may have overloaded the Bearing Buddies. Very easy to do. There are number of threads here about it. You want to pump in just enough grease to move the piston a little. There should be expansion room left over.

NYBo - The Westie is past tense, we had to put him down this summer. He was 18lbs of "kiss my *****", we have two 70lb mutts, but he definately ran the show.

Sorry to hear it. My wife brought a Westie into our marriage last year, and he's a terrific little guy.

 

[ky gravy]

Re: Add an Axle?

I am almost positive that I pumped too much grease into them. Althought hey did make it 620 miles out of a 645 mile trip... So close. I thought that, like a grease fitting on a car, you just pumped grease in untill it shot out the weephole....As always, live and learn.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Add an Axle?

The maintaining of bearings is way more than pumping grease into the bearing buddy. You need to take the hub off, remove the old grease, inspect and/or replace bearings, races and seal. By going on a 600+ mile trip without inspecting bearings on a trailer that is new to you was asking for trouble.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Add an Axle?

The maintaining of bearings is way more than pumping grease into the bearing buddy. You need to take the hub off, remove the old grease, inspect and/or replace bearings, races and seal. By going on a 600+ mile trip without inspecting bearings on a trailer that is new to you was asking for trouble.

Thank you........point made for me

 

[rascal38]

Re: Add an Axle?

Getting back to the original question, my boat/trailer came with a single axle and I had some concerns since I was towing it from AZ to FL. Losing a tire or hub while towing a single axle trailer would be pretty dangerous so I had a second axle added just for the security even though the boat weight didn't justify it. I've found that a tandem axle trailer actually is easier to maneuver, much less tendency to oversteer. Total cost including wheels and rims was $550. I recommend it just for the safety factor.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Add an Axle?

Getting back to the original question, my boat/trailer came with a single axle and I had some concerns since I was towing it from AZ to FL. Losing a tire or hub while towing a single axle trailer would be pretty dangerous so I had a second axle added just for the security even though the boat weight didn't justify it. I've found that a tandem axle trailer actually is easier to maneuver, much less tendency to oversteer. Total cost including wheels and rims was $550. I recommend it just for the safety factor.

Just to add my experiences, since I've been towing tandem axle trailers for about 10 years now.It seems like lot of people have the misconception that when you lose a hub or have a blowout with a tandem axle that the remaining axle will support the trailer and thus make things "safer". Anybody who thinks this has not actually experienced this situation. I say this because I thought the same thing back when I towed single axle and even when I had tandem axle trailers, before I experienced a couple of blowouts firsthand with the tandem trailers.

Let me assure you from personal experience, if you have a blowout or lose a hub, that axle is going to hit the ground and shut you down just as surely as if you only had one axle. Add to this the fact that you now have FOUR wheels, tires, hubs, sets of bearings, etc to have something go wrong with and you just increased your chances exponentially of having a failure on the road.

If you don't need the additional weight carrying capacity, in my opinion, you may be better off with a single axle. They are much more maneuverable, they are easier to set the tongue weight properly, you don't have as many tire wear issues, etc. In my mind simpler is much better. Just my opinion.

 

[EsoxRanger]

Re: Add an Axle?

If you don't need the additional weight carrying capacity, in my opinion, you may be better off with a single axle. They are much more maneuverable, they are easier to set the tongue weight properly, you don't have as many tire wear issues, etc. In my mind simpler is much better. Just my opinion.

I agree. Single axle trailers are not at all uncommon up to 5000# The standard trailer for my boat is a single axle rated at 4500#.

 

[ky gravy]

Re: Add an Axle?

I never said that the trailer was new or that I didn't maintain the bearings. They were inspected and repacked about a month or under 600 miles ago... I just gave the BB a shot before I left town.

I've had the boat and trailer for several years and I was just wondering how to help out my situation....

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Add an Axle?

I never said that the trailer was new or that I didn't maintain the bearings. They were inspected and repacked about a month or under 600 miles ago... I just gave the BB a shot before I left town.

I've had the boat and trailer for several years and I was just wondering how to help out my situation....

I just don't see how one failure in "several years" of ownership constitutes a "situation". Has this happened more than once?

One thing I will agree with is if you add more axles and wheels and tires and bearing sets, you DO reduce the actual running load on any one of them. Sooooo, if your trailer is perfectly capable of carrying your boat and you would just like spread out the load a little more than a single axle does....or you're looking for some additional braking power (if your trailer uses brakes)and you don't mind the added expense and aggravation and maintenence, then by all means add an axle. Just let's be honest and clear about exactly what adding the extra axle is going to accomplish and what your exact expectations are going to be.

 

[Seon]

Re: Add an Axle?

I had a similar incident were my bearings blew. I replaced the bearings and race but the seal started to leak so just last Wednesday I bought and replaced the 3500# axle. I went fish over the weekend towing it over 150 miles then when I got home I checked for leaks which weren't any. But after reading this thread, I'll be returning to the trailer shop to buy an additional axle, springs, mounts and fenders to convert my trailer to a tandem. I'll also install disc brakes with an actuator. Problem will be solved