Does the tandem tow better than single axle?
- Thread starter sledge
- Start date
I've towed a 16ft single and now an 18ft dual and there is definitely less bounce. I noticed that when you hit a rut or pothole the dual seems to glide over it.
We went the duel axle over the single primarily over safety. Initially looked at the16 footer, but decided on the17 56 after talking with neighbours who have both had many year and KLM of vanning & recommended the duel axle- it was no brainer. Have towed all types of various trailer and the duel axle are heavier(more fuel)but I believe are a far better option. They are also more stable at rest once setup at camp...
I think the tandem is also more stable when set up.
My old 16 used to sway around a bit more once the legs were down where as the tandem on my 18 seems to be a lot more sturdier.
My old 16 used to sway around a bit more once the legs were down where as the tandem on my 18 seems to be a lot more sturdier.
Hi Sledge,
I towed an outback Swan, then a 16" onroad Destiny and now a 17" Outback which is dual axel. I definitely prefer the dual axel 17" van. It appears to be more stable on the back, but it is also far easier to reverse. I have a VERY tight driveway to jack knife into and the bigger van tends to "behave" in a far more predictable manner.
I towed an outback Swan, then a 16" onroad Destiny and now a 17" Outback which is dual axel. I definitely prefer the dual axel 17" van. It appears to be more stable on the back, but it is also far easier to reverse. I have a VERY tight driveway to jack knife into and the bigger van tends to "behave" in a far more predictable manner.
As with most things an extra set of wheels helps with the ride and control when turning. Even with a normal trailer, as a few of the guys have mentioned, the control for reversing is so much better. We started with a camper trailer and it was a pig to back, but don't have any issue with the 18ft dual axle, as it goes where I want it to. I had to reverse through a single roller door into the back yard at the old place, and was able to get it first go swinging in from the street, as the extra wheels helped it step over there kerb, where a single axle would fight you all the way.
We tow a 20 " tandem and it is far better than the swan ever was, also have a tandem boat and it tows great as well.
*Try posting a bit more so your post isn't boring* all the comments above. Tandem is much better to tow.
I have a single axle 16.51 starcraft. It tows very well and is easy to back. I also have a large trailable yacht on a tandem trailer. It also tows very well. But, reversing into tight drive ways it is harder. The trouble is tandem axles in tight turns oppose each other. Tyres scrub and spring packs are strained.
I find this interesting to hear. We have a boat which must be close to the limit of a single axle as it weighs around 1.8t (current models of same boat are delivered on tandem axles trailers), and now the baby 14.44-4ob, which I think is only 1.7t with a belly full of water. Old tug for boat was a d40 Nav and it was a pretty good unit and towed the boat pretty good, that was until we upgrade to a 2015 Ranger, Ranger has alot more mods then the d40 had and sometimes it can be easy to forget you are even towing anything.
So while a tandem axle trailer sounds like they are better from the above comments, I would think a single axle trailer will be a lighter van/boat etc and if the tug is set up well with good suspension and a good drivetrain then you would hardley even notice its there. I have not towed anything bigger then what we own but the Ranger eats up our two sub 2t single axle trailers.
So while a tandem axle trailer sounds like they are better from the above comments, I would think a single axle trailer will be a lighter van/boat etc and if the tug is set up well with good suspension and a good drivetrain then you would hardley even notice its there. I have not towed anything bigger then what we own but the Ranger eats up our two sub 2t single axle trailers.