The Reasons and Methods for Choosing Tandem Trailer Axles

A tandem axle trailer has two sets of the axles-one set behind the other. The tandem trailer axle enables the trailer to carry more weight and is more stable under high-speed road conditions. A larger payload capacity means more space for any items you haul. The following will specifically introduce the reasons and methods for choosing tandem trailer axles.

If you need to carry more weight, you put more axles under the trailer. There are four big reasons for adding extra axles(equipping tandem trailer axles):

To carry more weight you need bigger tires. But higher capacity tires are usually bigger in diameter which affects bed height, not to mention a few other details.

With a single axle, regardless of how hefty it is, if you damage one tire, you’ll have a major problem. But with an extra tire on each side, you can usually pull over before serious damage occurs.

With more than one axle, the load is spread over a much broader portion of the frame, which adds more strength.

With more than one axle, the load is distributed over more points, so when a tire encounters a bump or pothole, the load-sharing linkage (the equalizer) helps lessen any bouncing or jarring of the trailer. This produces a smoother ride.

Axles for trailers and the accompanying hardware are readily available and come fairly standard. The challenge is to choose the best tandem suspension setup for your trailer. Let’s take a look at some of the various designs.

The leaf-spring suspension system is the most common, and also the least expensive. When looking for a tandem leaf-spring setup, the choice comes down to either “Slipper” style (fastened with a bolt at one end), or “Double-Eye” (fastened with a bolt at both ends). As a rule of thumb, think “Slipper” for heavy loads (6000 lb axles and more) and “Double-Eye” type for lighter applications (4000 lb axles and less).

Both leaf springs need to be placed in tandem using an equalizer. This will help to distribute weight more evenly between the two axles.

Two torsion axles side by side should be referred to as “Twin Axles” rather than “Tandem Axles.” Why? Because the two axles do not interact with each other. Therefore, they can’t equalize (load share) when the road is uneven.

Basically, if you hit a bump or pothole, the front axle will take the entire load, forcing the rear axle up into the air. Depending on your capacity, this might become a serious overload issue. While it’s true that torsion axles handle overload conditions better than leaf springs, the tires and the frame do not.

One of the advantages of using rubber torsion axles is vibration damping. Similarly, by adding rubber to the equalizer for a leaf-spring tandem setup, much of the same effect is achieved. The rubber provides vibration damping and equalizing, allowing the axles to share the load when the road isn’t level while offering vibration damping.

An entirely different approach to a tandem axle setup is the Center Pivot – also called the “Walking Beam” suspension – to accommodate equalization. This is a quality system and more expensive than a conventional leaf-spring suspension. Also, much of the load is concentrated in a relatively small area, so the trailer frame might need to be strengthened where the hanger is installed.

As an expert who has studied trailer axles for many years, HAWAY can provide comprehensive solutions. If you want to know more information after reading the above, you can get it by contacting us.

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