tandem axle trailer question

[paul ages]

I bought a boat recently with a tandem axle trailer, and the wheels (on the same side) fight each other in tight turns quite a bit, their camber differing fr om each other. In other words, when turning sharply, one wheel will tilt out towards the fender at the top, while the wheel next to it will tilt in a little. The physics if the wheels fighting each other a little makes sense, but I wonder if the trailer was designed to handle the flexing.

Is this normal for a tandem axle trailer?

 

[reelfishin]

Re: tandem axle trailer question

It's normal for the tires to scrub a bit on turns, and even to see the tires flex a bit but if your on flat ground, I don't see how there would or could be a camber change? Trailers use straight axles and for the camber to change, either one of the axles is on a different level on the opposite side or there's something flexing that shouldn't.
On my one tandem, with a full load and on a sharp turn on level asphalt the tires will look almost like their being pulled off the rim but the rim camber does not change. If I make such a turn on grass, I'll dig up big chunks of sod. The further apart the wheels are the more this becomes noticeable too. Larger tires also react more to the grinding around a turn for three reasons, one they have more rubber on the road, two they tend to have taller sidewalls and more flex, and third, larger tires tend to be spread further apart if for no other reason then overall diameter.

 

[Bondo]

Re: tandem axle trailer question

Is this normal for a tandem axle trailer?

Ayuh,... Completely Normal...

 

[paul ages]

Re: tandem axle trailer question

I'll check tomorrow to see if the rims are flexing, or just the tire. glad to know it's normal.

 

[rwidman]

Re: tandem axle trailer question

It's normal. Think about it - a single axle trailer pivots on one wheel on a sharp turn. A tandem axle trailer, the "pivot point" is between the two inside wheels.

Best plan is to try to minimize tight turns.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: tandem axle trailer question

A tandem axle trailer, the "pivot point" is between the two inside wheels.

Just because I feel like being technical right this minute,
The pivot point moves front to rear on a tandem depending on the direction of travel when making the turn. It will be closer to the leading axle, albeit a minor difference when the axles are close together.

Watch a spread axle semi trailer make a turn sometime, when he is going forward, the front axle tires will tend to grip and the rears will skid side ways when making the turn and visa-versa when going backwards.

Best plan is to try to minimize tight turns.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ will save you some headaches.

 

[rwidman]

Re: tandem axle trailer question

Just because I feel like being technical right this minute,
The pivot point moves front to rear on a tandem depending on the direction of travel when making the turn. It will be closer to the leading axle, albeit a minor difference when the axles are close together.

Watch a spread axle semi trailer make a turn sometime, when he is going forward, the front axle tires will tend to grip and the rears will skid side ways when making the turn and visa-versa when going backwards.



This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ will save you some headaches.

OK, the pivot point would like to be between the two inside wheels. Obviously, this cannot hapen.

On or the other tire will have to slide sideways. It's normal.

 

[paul ages]

Re: tandem axle trailer question

thanks guys. like i said, the physics of it make total sense to me as you are describing, I just wanted to hear that the amount of tire flex is normal. this is my first tandem i've owned.

thanks!

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: tandem axle trailer question

Yep it's normal. There's a lot of resistance when turning especially with bias ply trailer tires. There's less turning resistance with radials which will also wear more evenly over time. It's very common to see a significant amount of edge wear with bias plys on a tandem.