Single vs double axle car trailers…
 

I’ve noticed a few people using a single axle aluminum car trailer. The trailers are 12 -14 foot long and I imagine the axles are rated at 3500. Besides the fact a flat tire means you would have to stop and change it, are there any other downsides for a 2500 - 2800 pound car?

They seem to be considerably less than a steel double axle car trailers. And half the price of a double axle aluminum trailer. My closest tracks are two and three hours away.

Edit. What would it cost to DIY to add another axle?

Edit 2: what could possibly go wrong?😂

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I was two hours from home towing my ride at 65 mph, and a car comes along side me waving. I'd blown a tire on my trailer somehow. I had to drive on it for 2-3 miles for the next exit.

Being a Boy Scout 800 years ago, "be prepared", I had purchased a lug wrench and carry a 4x6" hunk of lumber to back the good wheel onto.

Spare tire saved the day.

I used to own and use a single axle / no spare trailer for 15 years. I'm SUPER glad I upgraded to a tandem axle trailer.


This was freeway speeds for a couple miles.

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I prefer the stability of a two axle trailer . I have a steel deck 16' trailer that I bought used for $2k . For me it's perfect for either of my Porsche's.

Two axles. Four tires. Get good tires. Keep them properly inflated. Repack wheel bearings regularly. Carry a fire extinguisher. Following any other strategy is just hoping you get lucky. IMHO.

A single axle car hauling trailer would likely be very limiting about what vehicle one could load on it without overloading the tires. I always check my trailer tire pressure and always run max pressure but still have had a blowout on my dual axle car trailer while hauling at light car on a fast highway. My only flat on this trailer in 11 years of use and was no big deal to change the spare. I just feel safer with a tandem trailer that I can safely load most any vehicle on up to 7500 total trailer and load weight. My dirt race car was around 3000 lbs, but I probably had another 500 lbs of tools and equipment loaded every time I went to the track.

I built this steel decked trailer myself using used Torflex axles from a camper in about 2011. I got most of the "scrap" steel from work. All said it cost me about $1000 (wheels, steel diamond plate decking, led lights, coupling, jack, paint). I raced for 4 years hauling my race car every Saturday night. The trailer has come in handy since then when a relatives car breaks down or I need to haul my tractor somewhere.


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A single axle trailer tire blowout is going to be less controllable than a single tire blow out on a 2 axle trailer.
2 axle and 8 or 10 ply trailer tires, don't use radial car tires.
Carry a spare or 2 and this cool wedge to raise the good tire during tire changes.
I also carry a charged battery impact gun and torque wrench with the correct socket handy for quick on the shoulder repairs.
With 2 axles you still need to stop asap or the flat tire carcass will rip off your trailer fender and damage your car.
I replace tires after 7 years max regardless or tread depth.
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ive been using a single axle car trailer to tow a 2200lbs car. and never had an issue for 5 years. i get nervous about the tire, but i have a spare.

tows totally fine. no stability issues.

Tandem axle is the only way to go for car transport. It spreads the weight out over 4 wheels as compared to 2...but you already knew the simple stuff !

I used to haul my race car all over New England, the East coast and Mid-West. I had one time coming back from Pittsburgh International when a tire blew. I had no spare (bad planning) and was still about 3 hours from home. What to do ? I took a heavy ratchet strap and ratcheted that side of the axle up high enough to not drag or otherwise contact the road. Made it all the way home like that on the interstate. Thank goodness it was a right side tire so no state police saw what I had done, plus most of that part of the drive was in the dark.
Moral of the story ?
2 axles are better than one....and always have a spare !!

Tim, i’d love to be able to build a trailer myself. I don’t think my welding skills are up to it but I could tack it and have somebody weld it I suppose.

When I had my steel two axle trailer for my 930, I always kept a good spare tire. And since I was going to the track, I had my jack and impact with me. No problems driving to Road Atlanta or VIR from Charleston.

What I’ve noticed nowadays, there seems to be a lot of steel trailers with wood decks. One guy told me that was because of the cost of steel? I can’t imagine installing a tiedown through a 2x and I would think the hold downs need to be welded to the frame somewhere.

Still, I wonder what it would cost to add a second axle to a single axle trailer. Maybe something I can do myself?

2 axles for sure, single will also sway around a lot more.

You probably really need 2 axle to haul a car or stay under 3500lb GVW. You probably need at least 5000# gvw to account for the car, the trailer, spares, extra tires if you are racing. A formula Ford or 2.0L open wheel might be ok.

I had a single axle flatbed trailer custom built for hauling all sorts of materials, supplies, and whatever. It served me well for 30 years with one issue. I was passing a big rig on the left while unloaded and he needed to move over to avoid slower traffic ahead. He didn't see my trailer and when he quickly changed lanes he impacted right at the wheel. It was hard enough hit to snap off the hub so I was on one wheel with the other one passing me. Quite a handful to get reeled in and over to the shoulder I can tell you.

I vote double axle.

You know a crazy liability about trailers.
If you loan your trailer out and it is involved in an accident you the owner can be found responsible.
Even is you are not towing it, so never loan it out.

I vote double axle as well.


I like my gooseneck due to stability.

Looks like a double axle is in my future one day.

Thanks, guys.

Fun fact about DOT. If your trailer does not have the original data plate that tells you what your gross weight is. DOT goes off the tires max weight. ;)

What’s the consensus on torsion axles versus spring axles? Don’t torsion axles help lower the height of the trailer?

For long hauls I've "borrowed" an additional spare from Walmart. One spare is great until you use it and have no spare so I borrow one and when all goes well I take it back to the return desk for a full refund. ;)

I built a heavy single axle trailer when I was 18. It was great off road and could haul as much as my tandem trailer (one 7000 lb axle vs two 3500 lb axles).

I sold it when my dad bought a new tandem axle car trailer which is now mine.

With trailers, heavy is NOT better. My light tandem trailer tows like a dream, it’s been all over North America and hauled some expensive iron around Canada and the US. I’ve replaced the axles once and the deck twice and numerous jacks.

I wouldn’t chose single axle over tandem for anything except off road use.

Wilsons big brother?

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