Probably a Silly Question

Millions of trucker cannot be wrong. If the wagon configuration was better Semi-trucks would use it.

Yes doubles and triples do work but anyone who has pulled a hay wagon knows what sway is about.

You should not need a differential on a trailer axel, as each wheel’s axel is independent of the others.

shenandoahvalley wrote:

It may not be totally impossible to back double trailers, but I doubt one driver in a hundred can back a set of doubles more than a few feet.

I used to drive a tractor trailer and I had my doubles endorsement.

I can back up doubles very easy! . . To get the second trailer to turn you just back the rig up and turn like you don't even have a trailer behind and the second trailer will go where you want it.

I've always wondered about a single pivoting wheel on the a-frame. The wheel would support additional weight at the front and effectively reduce the tongue weight. The pivoting design wouldn't obstruct or change turning radius or backing ability. It doesn't need to be a massive tire with a huge weight rating.

I'm not an engineer, so I don't know how the reduced tongue weight would effect the stability of the tow vehicle. My little pea brain still sees that there is sufficient weight on the front of the trailer (pushing down on the pivoting wheel) so you don't get the jacking effect from a low pin weight.

Besides the " scrubbing and bearing wear " you might get into an issue of a moving pivot point , every time that you backed up your trailer you might pivot four or five feet different . I know that when backing a tractor trailer rig with widely separated axles the pivot will move depending on the load .

Farm Camp wrote:

Rockrash wrote:

downtheroad wrote:
Trailer axles don't have a differential. Thus, if they put the axles at each end of the frame, it would be very hard to make turns, especially tight ones.

Having the axles close together (in the middle of the frame) creates a pivot point for turning.

You are 100% incorrect. I'm not sure what else to say...

Maybe you could give us the benefit making a contribution of your knowledge and not just call into question that of others? How about that? Why did you bother to comment if all you are doing is tearing somebody else down? How about adding to the conversation? Just a suggestion about what else to say. Just sayin. :)

X2 yes please do enlighten us. Why is downtheroad wrong.

Rockrash wrote:

downtheroad wrote:
Trailer axles don't have a differential. Thus, if they put the axles at each end of the frame, it would be very hard to make turns, especially tight ones.

Having the axles close together (in the middle of the frame) creates a pivot point for turning.

You are 100% incorrect. I'm not sure what else to say...

Maybe you could give us the benefit making a contribution of your knowledge and not just call into question that of others? How about that? Why did you bother to comment if all you are doing is tearing somebody else down? How about adding to the conversation? Just a suggestion about what else to say. Just sayin. :)

The farther apart your axles are the more tire scrubbing you will get. Tires and bearings wear a lot faster.

downtheroad wrote:
Trailer axles don't have a differential. Thus, if they put the axles at each end of the frame, it would be very hard to make turns, especially tight ones.

Having the axles close together (in the middle of the frame) creates a pivot point for turning.

You are 100% incorrect. I'm not sure what else to say...

It probably belongs to a Basque sheep herder you see those alot in Montana and Wyoming and Idaho in sheep country

shenandoahvalley wrote:

keymastr wrote:
They make it work for the double trailers behind semi's so it could be done and the stability could be worked out but the weight and cost would be prohibitive and also it would be more difficult to mount propane and batteries with a moving tongue.

It may not be totally impossible to back double trailers, but I doubt one driver in a hundred can back a set of doubles more than a few feet.

I suppose you've never lived on a farm and had to move around hay wagons. I've backed up 3 wagons behind a tractor when I was 15 years old helping one of the local farmers bail hay. Tricky? Yes! Can you go very far? No. But it can be done.

FYI, backing a wagon is nothing like backing a single or tandum axle trailer ... totally different animal!