double axle vs. single axle

[dive lady]

Could someone give the pros and cons of single axle vs. double axle in pulling a small.... under 18 ft. travel trailer? I know the single axle is lighter. I suspect the double axle adds stability. Is the double axle essential on such a small trailer?

[Midnightmoon]

Stability, braking and cargo capacity are the advantages of the dual axle over single axle trailer. With that said, there is nothing wrong with a single axle trailer if it is loaded correctly and ran with good tires.

I literally have a couple of hundred thousand miles pulling an enclosed 6x12 single axle cargo trailer with a 3500# axle and 15" tires with zero issues. The small lightweight single axle trailers should be fine if you stay within cargo limits.

[mmwhit]

I agree with Midnightmoon. Also, axles have a maxium load capacity. If a trailer exceeds the capacity of one axle then an additional axle is needed. If the loaded trailer is safely under the axle capacity then one axle is sufficient and can normally handle the trailer’s saftey and stability requirements. I like the idea of a double axle in case of a tire blow out where with a double axle I have one tire remaining to get me to a safe location to change the blown tire. With a single axle trailer I will have to pull off the road at the blow out location and attempt to change the blown tire there, hoping I can get off the road far enough to safely change the tire.

[RogerR]

Using two axles lowers the trailer compared to one axle with larger tires to carry the same load.

That's assuming that you want the same total load rating.

[glamisbound]

I most cases I would go with a double axle trailer. The only real advantage of a single is you only have to buy 2 tires when it comes time to replace them.

[RichP]

A tandem axle trailer will be more stable when towing if everything else is the same. I would personally go with a slightly bigger trailer to get the tandem axles instead if of a single for the peace of mind of everything listed above

[DavidJay]

We had a 17' single axle hybrid. No issues whatsoever. We were towing with a mini-van so we needed the lighter weight.

It was very minimalist, a 19' has a lot more interior utility if you can handle the weight (19' is the typical 2-axle length for hybrids).

[Donedroolin]

One of the big things I have noticed about towing single axle vs double axle is the bouncing of the trailer. You get less bounce with a double axle and better control. Plus I have seen cabinets open and more items on the floor of a single axle trailer

[DocBrown]

We had a single axle hybrid for 10 years. We towed it on one 6k mile trip, one 3k mile trip, and thousands of miles on shorter trips within 8 hours of home. Not one issue. Stay within your weights, keep the tires properly inflated, and stay under 65 mph.

While our current trailer has dual axles because we wanted a bigger trailer with a slide out, I would not hesitate to buy another single axle trailer. It was just as stable as our current trailer. However to Donedroolin's point, it did bounce a little more.

[vcbice]

18ft? Single axle would be fine for me.

[jimovernon]

I totally agree with the first two replies. I tow a Jay Feather x17z with a v6 Jeep Grand Cherokee with no issues at all. The light weight and length make it easy to maneuver and saves fuel. The most important thing is to remember to stay within the limits of the trailer and the tow vehicle.

[BCx213]

One other advantage of a double axle is that you can use a ramp with one tire to lift the flat tire in most cases to change it. I bought one of those small ramps made for that purpose. I like the stability the the double axle provides as well.

[jaycojay]

The thing i like most about dual over single, is the backing up. Duals go where you tell them to go, singles do also, but not as easy!

[Atlee]

I don't have any experience with single axle TT's, So I can't compare directly, but I do feel that tandem axles are the best. I know my double axles have been very stable behind my TV's. And as mentioned, with the Trailer Aid ramp, one can lift the trailer with the good tire, and remove the flat tire.

At this point, if I were looking for another trailer and I needed to go small, I'd look for the smallest trailer I could find that was on 2 axles.