8iron wrote:
69 Avion wrote:
icanon wrote:
Just a thought. Can someone get their TT modified to have the 'spread axle setup'? Is it ok to do so if done at truck/trailer suspension repair shop? Or is it Not recommended?
Almost anything can be done for a price. Why change a setup that has less scuffing and should have been built with a heavy enough frame from the factory for proper support?
Check out large trailers on semi trucks. The rear tandem duals are close together on "most" of the trailers. They will spread them out for special loads, but it is relatively uncommon.
If spreading the axles are such a great idea, why not spread them out another foot or two. If wide spread axle placement is "really good" than futher apart should be "even better"!!! It isn't.
These manufacturers that use the wide spread axle placement are probably doing it to spread the load on their frame. It saves them money on a frame that may not have enough support with the axles close together.
Any facts to support any of your statements? I toured the Crossroads factory a few years ago and was told the Lippert frames were made of the same materials just longer or shorter per spec. Hence the shorter TT's generally having a higher CCC than the longer ones.
I said they are "PROBABLY" doing it to spread the load on their frame. Am I going to crawl under them to "prove" it to you. Of course not. Why would I? I don't have much experience in building trailers since I have only done it on and off for about 40 years.
When you spread the axles you do increase the scuffing affect. That is a FACT and no I don't need to "prove" it. The other issue is that any misalignment is compounded the further the axles are spread apart. When I built a few trailers with the "spread" axles, I didn't have that issue because all of my trailers were built on jigs and the axles would be placed within 1/16" of an inch. Every one was double checked with a string line. All my frames were built to 1/8", and double checked with string lines. The only real variance is from any distortion or warping from the welding. Most manufacturers won't take the time to make sure they are that close in tolerance. Those tolerances really matter in how the trailer will tow.
Many things can be done with enough money. I see nobody wants to take me up on spreading the axles 2,4, 5, 6, maybe even 8 feet apart (LOL). Does anyone really think it will "handle" well?
I have built many triple axle equipment trailers over the years. Do I prefer them? NO. I prefer skipping them and going to tandem duals. And yet, I still have a triple axle Avion TT. Why, because of the quality of the unit, not the axle setup. I would have preferred tandem axles that were "heavier" rated so I could have tandems instead of triples.
The spread axle tandem setup starts having the same issues the triple axles have. The more the "spread" the more the scuffing. As long as the "spread" isn't too far, most folks towing them won't notice the issues unless they do a lot of turns. Where I used to build trailers, I had an overhead hoist and some nice C-3 zoned property to do it on. My access, off a divided roadway, was a "U" turn from one direction. When testing the trailers, it was easy to see the difference.
Now, back to why they spread the axles. From my experience, there is no "advantage" to spreading the tandem axles apart other than to spread the load across a larger area of the frame. I will let you come up with the conclusion as to why they do it. If someone really wants it on their trailer, go for it. The most important thing is to be happy.
If I was worried about my frame load, I would have done what Avion did on the triple axle trailer. The frame is 8" (8x2)high rectangular tube with another 6" high (6x2) tube under the 8" tube where the axles mount. That gives the trailer a 14" high frame section where the axles mount and the load is spread on 3 axles. I'll bet you won't see many built like that today. Ask yourself why? It is that the companies don't have the technology? NO, it is because "cheap is good" for them, not for you.
As you mentioned above, the manufacturer was using the same material no matter the frame length. If that is the case, it is easy to see why they spread the axles. Look at how much money it saves them in material costs and different material that they have to keep in stock. Is it best for them or the customer?