Tandem axle vs. triple axle trailer for Parker 2520XL - The Hull Truth

Overcurrent · 11-10-2003, 08:58 AM

Has anyone here had experience with both tandem and triple axle trailers for a given boat size and weight rating (particularly a boat with a large OB on a bracket)?

A friend of mine is considering a triple axle trailer for his Parker 2520XL. He believes that having a third axle will reduce sway; that having the weight of a F225 on a bracket is causing part of the instability issues. Otherwise the tandem trailer he had was properly rated for the weight of the boat/motor/fuel/gear. The trailer was level and the tongue weight was about 7% as specified by the trailer manufacturer.

I can't disagree that a third axle MIGHT help eliminate sway, but I'm not necessarily convinced it's the best solution either. Any ideas?

Dry Rot · 11-10-2003, 10:30 AM

I'd try increasing the tongue weight to 500 lbs before making any changes in the axles. Swaying is usually the result of too little tongue weight or too short of a wheel base on the puller.
Dry

Pursuit 3000 Express

East Coast Trailers · 11-10-2003, 11:49 AM

Overcurrent,

With 800# of gear that boat/motor/fuel should not weigh more than 7800#. You should be able to put it on a 9800# GVWR tandem with no problems. I don't think the length/weight of the boat would cause a sway problem on properly rated tandem axle trailer. Assuming the trailer is properly sized I would look at what Dry Rot suggested (tongue weight etc.).

JB03 · 11-10-2003, 12:09 PM

Overcurrent,

We had the same dilema when purchasing a new 27 contender. The old boat was also a 27 contender on a tandem axle trailer. We never had any problems with the tandem until we changed tow vehicles. First we towed with a F-350 dually and never had a problem. We then switched to an Excursion and began to notice quite a bit of sway. We tried a few different things to fix the sway but it was always there, especially when a semi passed us on the highway. For this reason and the fact that we travel on many long distance trips per year we elected to go with the Tri-axle Loadmaster for the new boat. It definitely tracks much better and there is no sway to speak of. Now when a semi passes instead of the boat swaying it all tracks together. Also, we figured if we ever had a tire or wheel issues we could limp somewhere much easier on two tire instead of one.

Justin

First Light · 11-10-2003, 03:27 PM

I'll third what Dry Rot & East Coast said as that size boat should not need three axles. Move the front brace up 6 inches or so - 12 inches max & move the boat up by that amount on the trailer the next rime it is re-loaded. That should increase your tongue weight enough to counteract the extra weight from the four strokes by moving your center of gravity further forward on the trailer, solving your problem.

KevinM · 11-10-2003, 03:34 PM

Keep in mind a class 3 hitch will only handle 500lbs of tongue weight, in order to go higher on the tongue weight past 500lbs you will need to go to weight distributing setup or a class 4 hitch!

Anna Kathryn · 11-11-2003, 05:22 PM

I have a 2520XL and I purchased a 10,000 lb. aluminum float on tandem trailer from Nextrail and it is perfect for the boat... Your friend definitely doesn't need a triple axle trailer for that boat!!!

MIKE F · 11-11-2003, 05:30 PM

What type of vehicle is your friend towing with? Does it have a short wheel base? Does it have a rear anti-sway bar? Aside from insufficient tongue weight, these items can also affect towing safety.

dwh_1987 · 11-11-2003, 05:58 PM

I have a 26 foot C-Hawk with twin 150s on a bracket. I bought a twin-axle trailer, and had a very serious swaying problem. I added a weight-distributing hitch rated for 10,000 pounds, and moved the wheels back to shift weight forward onto the hitch. The combination of these two changes made my trailering system work well.

RussH · 11-11-2003, 07:11 PM

I've only seen triple axle trailers for boats around the same size as mine. The guy that bought my boat new had a custom trailer made with just tandem axles -vs- triple. The axles are rated at 5200LBS per axle so handling the weight of the boat isn't a problem.

I can trailer the boat at any speed with no sway what-so-ever. And a tandem axle is much easier to manuever than a triple. Even with a tandem in sharp turns one set of tires is always dragging. With triple axle you have two sets that are dragging in turns.

I was reluctant to buy the boat with this trailer because it only had tandem axles but I can say that I've been very happy with the way the boat trailers.

And having brakes is really nice too! I went for a year without brakes on the trailer, and what a difference they make.

catadromous · 11-11-2003, 07:25 PM

I have been noodling this one myself. I have a 26' Tollycraft that I want to trailer. It's a 10,000# boat so I need a tri-axle or a custom dual. Boatmaster tells me that most of their commercial and military customers opt for a dual axle rig for boats up to 10,000#. I would prefer this from the standpoint of turning ability and less scuff, but the argument that tri-axles are better in the case of a flat is a strong one.

Most tri-axles I've seen only have brakes on two axles, but I have seen a few with them on all axles. I'm leaning toward the tandem myself.

I'm always eager to hear thoughts about towing big boats.

Jack
winterizing in Minneapolis

sawvones · 11-12-2003, 06:43 AM

Limited experience , but the multi axle trailers all trail better than singles with much less sway. I now have a Carolina Classic 25' on a Loadmaster triaxle and it tows better than my old 20' Mako on a single. The multis all manuever harder than a single but this can be offset to a degree by the use of Marathon radials. These seem to hold up better and tow so much better you have to experience it to believe it. Rogn

Keyskid · 11-12-2003, 06:53 AM

I now tow my 2596 Hydrasport with a triple axle Loadmaster. I love it. No sway and it handles better than a dual axle when backing up and turning.

"Everyone should believe in something. I believe I will go fishing" --- Henry David Thoreau
---------------------------------------------
º
º
<º)))«<

cabosn · 11-12-2003, 08:04 AM

I had a triple on a 28' Skipjack and loved it. The road down Baja, Mexico has many deep potholes that causes singles and duals to drop in and jump out resulting in deviations that put you in the opposing lane or off the road. The triple just rolls over them as you watch each succesive wheel blandly drop in and come out. When the trailer hits a dip, you don't feel it as much as a dual. When I had the trailer unloaded, I regularly removed four wheels to manuever and tow locally. It becomes a well balanced single that way. I also believe you do not need as much tongue weight for the triple. As to the brakes on 4 wheels, I thought that was an advantage to have two wheels that never lock up.

SN

Smackey · 11-12-2003, 01:07 PM

I have an Equalizer weight distributing hitch I use on my tandem axle ez loader that I tow my pursuit 2870 on; I tow it with an Excursion. This hitch system dramatically increased the stability and sway control it is very effective and works well with my surge brakes. Plus it's a lot cheaper than a new trailer.

Smackey · 11-12-2003, 01:08 PM

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/why.html

Link for hitch

LastPenny · 11-12-2003, 01:15 PM

While towing a 7000 pound setup, I noticed that I could change the handling (sway) by using a 2 inch drop on my hitch. I just turned over the 0 inch drop and used the 2 inch drop side. Proper inflation on both the trailer and tow vehicle is a must.

Overcurrent · 11-12-2003, 09:41 PM

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

FWIW, I have NO sway or handling issues with my own 24', 8200# boat/tandem trailer (weight includes boat, engine, fuel, gear, and trailer).

He and I both tow with stock Ford Excursions (factory hitch and no rear stabilizer bar).

Ronald Johnson · 11-12-2003, 10:32 PM

I'm the culprit that overcurrent is talking about. I purchase my Parker 2520XL Sc in May( a fine boat, I love it) It the trailer that I'm having trouble with. ( I don't think I'm allow to mention the brand name)Well since I took possession it has cause me so much problems such as Terrible swaying problems on three ocassion as I was retrieving my boat onto the trailer the forward bunk broke loose and damage the hull. The manufacture repaired the damage and that problen semmto be corrected. I took the boat back to the dealer and they moved the forward axil forward 3" that seem to help abit but there was still a degree of instability. This past Saturday I was heading to Carolina beach, Wilmington, NC to do some fishing. I was traveling on I 40 at 60 MPH when a vehicle tow a jon boat entering the highway merged into my lane I made a slight correction to avoid colliding with the vehicle, when I experience a violent swaying , fist to the lelf and then to the right causing me to lose control and I ran down an enbankmentcausing extensive damage to mt boat and Ford Excursion. Thank God no one was hurt includingthe person that was driving the vehicle with thew jon boat. I completely lost confidence in that trailer, by the way it is total. That the reason that I'm seriously leaning toward a tri axil trailer. Can any of you fellow boaters suggest a reliable trailer.
My friend, Overcurrent has been a great help to me but I'm all ears for information. Thanking you in advanced
Ron

Ronald johnson