6000# Single Axles

[hankaye]

lrrowe, Howdy;

Did you have anything like an Equl-i-zer Hitch at the time
or some other sway control or weight distribution system?
I had one in use when my old 26' TT suffered a Left Front
blow-out on I-70 about 15 miles East of Effingham, Il.
Stayed right where it was supposed to while I got control
and pulled to the shoulder.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/
Disclaimer: I'm not associated with the company in any way
shape or other way. Just a satisfied customer.

hank

[lrrowe]

hank,
Yes I had an equalizer for this trailer and always used it per my recollection. These photos do not clearly show that I used it this day.
This short wheelbase 1976 F150 was not the best rig to pull any of my trailers. The suspension was soft. It did not come with a factory tow system. I rigged it later for towing. I probably did not do the right thing with tire pressure and it just happened in a heart beat. I used both lanes on a divided highway to try to correct it. I was also lucky there was little other traffic on my side.

With the new F150 I have, there are some computerized trailer towing anti-sway features with it which are supposed to help with this in the future. And now after reading the many comments here in this forum, you can be sure I will watch the tire pressure very religiously now.

As a side benefit of reading what others say is my commitment now that I will check the tires on my 5 x 10 utility trailer. I have the same Goodyear tires that came with it in 1995. They look great, no cracks in the side wall and very good thread depth. But regardless, just maybe I have been living on borrowed time and new to replace them now.

With your converted CT's are you or others using equalizers for towing medium size loads? I had not planned on it unless I were to haul a Harley or something like that after the CT is fully rigged.

Bob

[hankaye]

lrrowe, Howdy;

Yeah, I plan on getting one for mine ... after all it is a rather large
investment and I'd like to protect it. I ain't made of money.

hank

[roadinspector]

Bob,
You won't regret going with a tandem. Extra carrying capacity and they tow so much better.

Earnest

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Bob,
You won't regret going with a tandem. Extra carrying capacity and they tow so much better.

Earnest

Mine tows like a ghost, as soon as I get out of Calif shitty -Afginastan like roads.

[lrrowe]

I am sure the roads in our mountains here in the east, the Appalachians, do not have the elevations and twists (although we do have our share) as you guys in the west and southwest have, and after reading all your towing stories, I am now have resigned myself to having to slow my self down when towing in many of our eastern mountains.

Bob

[roadinspector]

I am sure the roads in our mountains here in the east, the Appalachians, do not have the elevations and twists (although we do have our share) as you guys in the west and southwest have, and after reading all your towing stories, I am now have resigned myself to having to slow my self down when towing in many of our eastern mountains.

Bob

Bob,
Thank you for resigning yourself to slow down especially in the mountains. Even on flat ground a blow out on a trailer can cause problems that some folks don't walk away from. I've seen it. I really do want to hear about how much fun ya'll had on a trip as opposed to hearing about an ambulance ride or an obit. We concentrate on the destination so much we forget about how much fun the journey is.

God speed,
Earnest

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Tell em Earnest

Don't kill yourself in Texas, because Earnest gotta clean up ur mess...

[roadinspector]

I just pressure washed my grain scoop last week and put it up. I'd really like to keep it that way!!

[lrrowe]

Guys,
I need to defend my reputation a little bit here.
At my age, I have slowed down a lot, especially while on the road. My words of slowing down in my post meant that after listening to all the wisdom shared on this forum, that when I am towing my CT, I better not expect to drive at the same (legal that is) speeds and at the same time expect any kind of respectable gas mileage. Instead of 70 on the highway, maybe I will have to be in the 60 or less so max. range. Does that make sense?

Oh, and Earnest, I would enjoy meeting you someday, but not with your shovel in your hands.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Bob

When is the trailer coming ? I'm getting old faster every day

[angib]

My experience of tandem axle trailers is that they have a frequent downside. Because one tire can blow and the trailer remains running, there's a fair chance the second tire will blow because it's now seriously overloaded, before the driver realises there is a problem. So then you are stranded on the side of the road with two blown tires and only one spare. It's probably OK to run at low speed (say, under 30mph) on one tire to get to a tire shop, but a better plan would be to carry two spares.

[MtnDon]

Very true. I followed a trailer on a narrow mountain highway a couple years ago. There are few opportunities to pass. The trailer ahead lost a left side wheel; lost it as the wheel and tire came off. I could not get the other persons attention and could not pass to alert him. He was booging right along, at times faster than was comfortable driving. Some 30+ miles later we entered a small town and managed to pull alongside at an intersection. The lone tire on the left was close to failure I'm sure as we could smell the hot rubber. No idea if he replaced that tire or what. I have been told that in cases of a flat with a tandem axles that both tires should be replaced. Never thought of that till this was mentioned as I have no tandems.

[roadinspector]

llrowe,

No need to defend your reputation here, I didn't read anything other than what you posted. That is what I try to do myself. There are sometimes the need to drive 70 to keep from causing a collision when driving in traffic around the big city. For the most part, they can go around me if they don't like my snail's pace.

The majority of collisions are caused by excess speed, cruise control & cell phone use. Either singularly or combination. You apply bad weather conditions with these and it only magnifies. We call it the stupid factor. Sometimes it really appears that give a free can of it with every fill up like they used to do with S&H Green Stamps.

I would like to meet you too sometime under pleasant conditions!

Earnest

[A Plus MM]

If you go with the 5000 lb axel and installed 3000 lb springs you will get a good ride. then if you get a trike you could install 5000 lb springs to handle the added weight.
My 6x10 trailer has a torsion axel on it and it bounces everything around. Springs seem to be smoother and you can "adjust" the springs to get the best ride.

Little R beat me to the punch but I totally agree!

I know you have already made up your mind on this matter but I wanted to voice my opinion on the matter for anybody reading this in the future with the same question. I am not a fan of torsion axles. When a spring breaks, you can replace it and you can get the parts almost anywhere from a trailer store or farm store or internet. If a torsion axle is damaged you have to replace the whole thing and good luck finding one in stock anywhere. I had to replace the factory 2900# torsion axle on my 6x12 and decided to up the ante with a 5000# torsion. HUGE, GIANT, TERRIFICALLY BAD mistake. If I were able to turn back time I would put a 5000# axle on it with 3500# springs... you can always adjust from there. I'm actually considering modifying my torsion axle to work with springs.