Tri-Axle Trailer on 4 wheels??

[beaverliner]

Hi Everyone,
I have a Tri Axle trailer, each axle is rated at 3200lb. So the total capacity on the trailer is 9600lb.
My boat is 4800lb dry. So the trailer is working at about 50% capacity
I was thinking on buying a spare tire for the trailer and then this thought came to my mind: if I had a flat, I could just take the flat tire off, take the other tire off as well leaving that axle with no load and the other 2 axles could just take the boat without exceeding capacity... does this make sense?. Thanks for the advise...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tri-Axle Trailer on 4 wheels??

It would work but the axle with no wheels would hit the road unless it was chained up. If the trailer had a torsion axle you could get by with your plan. A load equalizing suspension uses a "walking beam" between each set of axles. With no tires, the axle would drop down and contact the road.

 

[beaverliner]

Re: Tri-Axle Trailer on 4 wheels??

right... didn't think about it... Thanks for the response!

 

[phillyg]

Re: Tri-Axle Trailer on 4 wheels??

Should be doable. Put the tires on the front and middle axles and load the boat so more of it is to the front of the trailer than the back, but you probably already thought of that, anyway.

 

[jessper]

Re: Tri-Axle Trailer on 4 wheels??

I think it would be doable I had a two axle sailboat trailer with a junk boat I hauled home a few months back and one tire wouldn't hold air. So I just took that one tire off and ran the trailer on 3 tires and the axle didn't touch the road. This was on a leaf spring axle.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Tri-Axle Trailer on 4 wheels??

Why not remove one axle and have two free spare tires? Sounds much less goofy.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Tri-Axle Trailer on 4 wheels??

Why not remove one axle and have two free spare tires? Sounds much less goofy.

Brake lines and suspension would have to be reworked. There would have to be spring hangers welded to the frame. Bunks might have to be repositioned/ boat moved, just to get tongue weight right It is just more work then what it's worth.I would go the easiest and cheapest way. Buy spare tire mounts and be done with it.Or carry a jack and chain

 

[Shotgun_Luckey]

Re: Tri-Axle Trailer on 4 wheels??

That would probably work in an emergency, but personally, I wouldn't use that as my primary plan, unless you are going to remove one axle permanently.

Just my $.02

 

[beaverliner]

Re: Tri-Axle Trailer on 4 wheels??

Thanks folks! I will get myself a spare tire and that will take my worries away... happy boating and happier trailering!