Thread: Trailer q

what do you mean by machinery trailer??? is it a trailer to load tools etc into or one that carries cars/tractors etc??
if its the latter deffinatly go for the rocker type as its better for loading and travelling with a load. the fixed type is fine for workshop trailers that travell around on sealed roads.
they also have less moving parts so less to wear out.

cheers phil

Originally Posted by discowhite

what do you mean by machinery trailer??? is it a trailer to load tools etc into or one that carries cars/tractors etc??
if its the latter deffinatly go for the rocker type as its better for loading and travelling with a load. the fixed type is fine for workshop trailers that travell around on sealed roads.
they also have less moving parts so less to wear out.

cheers phil

Sorry left that bit out, yes, to carry cars/tractors.

I've been using a rocker one this w/e and find it "nudges" the disco at times, although I think that might be to do with the braking system needing adjustment.

Theoretically I would have suggested the load sharing suspension, however I bought a car trailer with a non-load sharing one metre spread that tows like a dream. Everyone who has towed this trailer has commented that it tows well. It's amazing how many friends you have when you own a car trailer

A load sharing setup on a trailer (assuming you mean a pig and not a dog trailer) is better if its loaded correctly but you need a bit of finesse about you in the design phase to make sure that the trailer will balance correctly.

the plusses are longer tyre life and you can carry more weight on a given number of axles

A non load sharing axle setup tends to eat up your tyres and wont tolerate a change in ball height very well.

the plusses are its easier to design, generally takes less space (doubly so if you go for a torsion bar setup), more forgiving of miss loading and its cheaper to make and maintain.

IMHO the best suspension setup for a tandem trailer (If you have the room) is a camel back setup with a pair of helper coils over each axle mount giving you a bit of the best of both worlds (but it costs)

Load sharing will allow you to carry more weight, and it looks after your tyres better. If you run 2x 1.4t axles, with load sharing you can rate the trailer up to 2.8t, with non-load sharing you can only rate up to 2.1t. Also as said, if the ball height is not correct then it loads up one axle badly with non-load sharing which destroys the tyres. To be honest, I tend to think that all tandem axle trailers should have to have a load sharing setup.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

A load sharing setup on a trailer (assuming you mean a pig and not a dog trailer) is better if its loaded correctly but you need a bit of finesse about you in the design phase to make sure that the trailer will balance correctly.

the plusses are longer tyre life and you can carry more weight on a given number of axles

A non load sharing axle setup tends to eat up your tyres and wont tolerate a change in ball height very well.

the plusses are its easier to design, generally takes less space (doubly so if you go for a torsion bar setup), more forgiving of miss loading and its cheaper to make and maintain.

IMHO the best suspension setup for a tandem trailer (If you have the room) is a camel back setup with a pair of helper coils over each axle mount giving you a bit of the best of both worlds (but it costs)

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Load sharing will allow you to carry more weight, and it looks after your tyres better. If you run 2x 1.4t axles, with load sharing you can rate the trailer up to 2.8t, with non-load sharing you can only rate up to 2.1t. Also as said, if the ball height is not correct then it loads up one axle badly with non-load sharing which destroys the tyres. To be honest, I tend to think that all tandem axle trailers should have to have a load sharing setup.

Whilst in theory I would agree with you guys, my trailer is brilliant to tow. It has been towed by everything from a Patrol to a 240 Volvo, without a problem. I atribute its 'towablity' to the wide spread axle spacing, and possibley the 185/70x13 contribute too.
Re the camel back Dave, I would prefer a walking beam type load share as it does not suffer from bump steer like C/B

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Whilst in theory I would agree with you guys, my trailer is brilliant to tow. It has been towed by everything from a Patrol to a 240 Volvo, without a problem. I atribute its 'towablity' to the wide spread axle spacing, and possibley the 185/70x13 contribute too.
Re the camel back Dave, I would prefer a walking beam type load share as it does not suffer from bump steer like C/B

I haven't made any comment about how good they are to tow.

You can also have a wide axle spacing with load sharing suspension. I do worry a lot about the load ratings on tyres though and am a believer in a lot of safety margin.

When I bought said trailer it was because my daughter and SIL wanted to move their entire household effects to Cairns from Brisbane. The purchase price was cheaper than hiring, and low enough to convert it to a L/S system. The trailer worked so well that it was left untouched, til rust eventually defeated it. I have kept the dimentions, and will one day get around to building another, the only change being to change the over-run brakes to electric.