Triple Axle Trailer - The Hull Truth

MisconductOIB · 08-26-2004, 09:37 AM

Have any of you guys with triple axle trailers ever had a complete rim and wheel pop off the studs because of backing the trailer up at to sharp of an angle going slow. I have heard that this could happen from a friend and was just wondering if this is a problem or not?

Tsunami · 08-26-2004, 10:15 AM

No but I had it happen on a dual axle once when I was driving down the highway. The backing had completly rusted through where the studs no longer had anything solid to hold on to. The tire did not fall all the way off due to the fenders but it sure was interesting. I could see where what you are describing could happen on an older trailer where the backing was weak. Personally I think the concern over backing up a tri-axle is over done. Yea, it looks bad when you make sharp cuts in reverse but it more than makes up for it pulling down the highway. Since I spend 99.999999% of the time going forward, that is what is most important to me.

Kirk

KevinM · 08-26-2004, 12:23 PM

Never saw a scenario you describe, but did see a galvanized tongue on an aluminum trailer twist when someone was backing.

rlott · 08-26-2004, 01:11 PM

No, but tri-axles are hard on tires. When I turn sharp corners on dry pavement the front and rear tires scrub and flex their sidewalls a lot. I've heard it can pop the bead under a heavy load, but never had that happen. Also, there is a lot of pressure put on the wheel bearings, so I check and grease them fairly often.

Mostly, I try to swing wide, slow down or avoid tight turns altogether, and not use crappy boat ramps. If your boat is big/heavy enough to warrant a 3-axle trailer, odds are the ramp, lot and dock is too small and too shallow anyway.

Rich

iawright · 08-26-2004, 01:22 PM

I have had many dual axle trailers over the years but this is the first tri-axle as of July. Yes, the tires scrub and you can see them twist on the rim on a tight reverse, but the way they ride with a big load is worth all that. I've never heard of a tri-axle losing tires unless there was something mechanically wrong with the wheel or the trailer itself. I also asked my buddy who has been in the industry selling boat trailers for over 30 years about this issue -- he'd never heard of it either.

thubert57 · 08-26-2004, 01:48 PM

I backed mine up a loading dock ramp, I'd guess an 8% grade, and had no trouble. Of course I only have about 65% of the rated load on it.

Tom

grady24 · 08-26-2004, 07:09 PM

mine also scrubs like crazy when backing. make sure you have trailer tires and not car tires on it. also keep the air pressure
at max psi and it helps. tripple axle pulls like a dream.

MakoMyDay · 08-26-2004, 07:13 PM

Mie pulls great,but I hate to even look at the tires/wheels when I make sharp turns. The trailer leaves black lines in the road around every corner.

Knot Tight · 08-26-2004, 09:03 PM

I have had it happen to a buddy on mines tripple axles but have yet to do it to mine and I have pulled many a u turns in south florida that i didnt think i could make.

ciguaterra · 08-26-2004, 09:18 PM

I had a bulldozer on a 20' beavertail triple axle*on which*I managed to break the beads* on all 6 tires. I had turned too sharp while going very slow in dirt, causing the front and rear axles shed their rubber. The center axle lost its tires almost immediately after.* I think it was a combo of a very heavy load, underinflated tires, and soft ground that was my undoing.*

No major problems under the boat, thank goodness.

cold beers · 08-26-2004, 10:11 PM

ciguaterra
what trailer do you have under your 31 fish around?

ciguaterra · 08-28-2004, 10:47 PM

Triple axle loadmaster, 10,500 lbs gross weight cap.....somewhere around 9000 lbs net weight cap.* I wish it were heavier...the trailer and boat with around 200 gals fuel (she'll hold 280+), 10 gal water, full gear and rigged tipped the truck scales at around 11,000 lbs....I don't know what the trailer weighs, but I'm guessing around 1500 based on the ratings.* I suppose the lesson here would be to not trailer with that much fuel, but I'd rather have a 15000lb cap trailer.

sawvones · 08-29-2004, 09:46 AM

There seems to be a common thread to all the failures here- maintenance. Low preessure , rusted rims or hubs , etc. This should be selfexplanatory, but we all forget and tempt Murphy. Whattd the old philosopher say- theres never enough time to do it right, but theres always time to do it over.

Mist-Rest · 08-29-2004, 10:11 AM

With these known triple axle problems. Why is it that no one makes a lift axle? It's been done on trucks and trailers for years. Watch your double axles also in sharp turns.

auguste · 08-29-2004, 10:17 AM

Triple axle . . . axles and tires are loaded at 65 to 70% . . . no problems with over 3,000 miles, and lots of backing and turning

SIM · 08-29-2004, 10:22 AM

I have towed both duals and trips and the trips tow very nice. One of the other important items that has not been mentioned is that when setting it up to the truck that the trailer frame is level when loaded on the truck. We take a tape measure and measure from the ground on a level surface*to the top of the frame at the rear of the trailer and then go to the front of the trailer and measure from the ground to the top of the frame there. Get those two meaurement exact and adjust the ball on the truck to meet the trailer.

Triples usually have smaller size*tires and you want to make sure you get the weight correct across all three. If the trailer is sitting down in the bow relative to the rear of the trailer more weight will be put on the front set of tires and vice versa. To much weight and you know what happens........

SIM

East Coast Trailers · 08-29-2004, 12:56 PM

ciguaterra,

Great information. The only way you know exactly what you are hauling is to take it to the scale. If you look at the advertised specs on your hull you (and I) would think a 10500# GVWR w/9000# capacity would do the trick. It's very common that the full load weighs more than advertised by the mfg.

Many times the hull is actually heavier and once we load them up with all our gear and toys we end up with more than we imagined. What you found when you weighed the rig is very typical. I will make sure that I recommend a 12500# GVWR minimum for that hull. In your case I would wait to top off the fuel at the closest station to the ramp.

Snowwolfe · 08-29-2004, 08:52 PM

What type of brakes do most of you have on your triple axle trailers? I will be pulling a load of about 9000 pounds on a triple soon. Boat is a 24 footer and will weigh about 7,000.

iawright · 08-30-2004, 08:16 PM

My EZ=Loader came with six hydraulic drum brakes. My buddy says that, although disc brakes can be better on smaller trailers, for the biggest loads drums are still the best. (P.S. we don't do salt water)