Twin axle versus tri axle trailers - pros and cons?

[MattyF]

We recently got a tri to replace a twin wheeled trailer but ended up keeping the twin as well as the tri is so wide we can’t get it over a local bridge !

[Big J]

Batesons can do me a 5x1.8m tri axle so that I get the length required for accommodating the machine but it's narrow enough to manoeuvre the tiny Devon lanes. Haven't got a final price yet, though can't see me having that much change from £4000 once specced with LED lights, internal lashing points, drop sides, treadplate floor and ramps. 

The daft thing is that I can pop over to Germany and for £800 more get 5x2m vehicle transporter trailer and a separate 3x1.5m tipper as well. 

[drinksloe]

Can a trailer be too big? (i appreciate like matty said they can easily be too wide thou0

If u need say a 16' trailer as OP has stated, is it worth getting an extra 1-2ft on it?

Just for tool boxes,desiel cans ect.

 

I was actually looking on the IW site last night (before computer went on strike) and there largest trailer is a 208, which i'm guessing will be 20 ft long by 8ft wide, that is 1 beast of a trailer but too wide for many rural places

[Big J]

49 minutes ago, drinksloe said:

Can a trailer be too big? (i appreciate like matty said they can easily be too wide thou0

If u need say a 16' trailer as OP has stated, is it worth getting an extra 1-2ft on it?

Just for tool boxes,desiel cans ect.

 

I was actually looking on the IW site last night (before computer went on strike) and there largest trailer is a 208, which i'm guessing will be 20 ft long by 8ft wide, that is 1 beast of a trailer but too wide for many rural places

The longer the trailer, the wider the tail swing when turning into tight driveways, gates, fields etc. The length of the machine from the front of the front wheel to the back of the rear wheel is 4.6m. It's got 40cm of ground clearance so the overhangs will sit happily over the drop sides. I'd really rather keep the trailer as compact as possible. 

 

 

[spuddog0507]

10 hours ago, Big J said:

Wanted to pick the collective brain of Arbtalk regarding trailers.

I've done loads and loads of heavy towing over the past 6-7 years or so with twin axle trailers and would consider myself reasonably adept and experienced now. I'm also careful regarding my load distributions and strapping. It's mostly solid timber I've transported, as opposed to machinery. 

 

From June, I'll be doing lots of towing with a 2000kg forwarder on a 16ft trailer and I'm swithering between twin and triple axle trailers. 

 

Can anyone with experience of both offer any insight into differences and pros and cons?

 

Much appreciated!

J go for the triple with what your doing , load spread over 3 axles and 6 wheels better braking over 6 wheels a d should be a lot more stable when towing .

[Richard 1234]

The longer the trailer, the wider the tail swing when turning into tight driveways, gates, fields etc. The length of the machine from the front of the front wheel to the back of the rear wheel is 4.6m. It's got 40cm of ground clearance so the overhangs will sit happily over the drop sides. I'd really rather keep the trailer as compact as possible. 
 
 

I’d agree with you. I’ve got a twin axle 4.5 by 1.8 and it’s great but in a lot of situations too big, still useable but a pain in the arse!

[Big J]

Looking at all of the UK manufacturers, the prices are just brutal. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I'm honestly tempted to get two trailers from Germany instead. First would be a dedicated car transporter type trailer (£2020 plus VAT):

 

http://www.lehwald-marl.de/anhaenger-verkauf/autotransporter/30to-autotransporter-5m-plus.html

 

And then a smaller general purpose twin axle flatbed with a canopy roof (demountable) for those times when a van would have been really handy (like moving furniture, as I won't have a van anymore). Cheap too, at £1600:

 

http://www.lehwald-marl.de/anhaenger-verkauf/zweiachser-hochlader-m-plane/eduard-310mx160m-20to-155r13.html

 

That's cheaper than one 16ft flatbed with a few extras from almost any UK manufacturer, unless I'm missing something. I've had my German Unsinn trailer for over three years now, it's worked bloody hard and has been faultless.

[richy_B]

Also an item to think about - I just ordered an Ifor tiltbed trailer from my local dealer. I was quote 20-22 weeks for delivery!

 

Have you considered a tiltbed? I went for a TB4621-352 with removable 'mini ramps' so I could overhang if needs be. Despite the mad delivery time I was impressed with how easy to use it was.

[woody paul]

22 minutes ago, Big J said:

Looking at all of the UK manufacturers, the prices are just brutal. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I'm honestly tempted to get two trailers from Germany instead. First would be a dedicated car transporter type trailer (£2020 plus VAT):

 

http://www.lehwald-marl.de/anhaenger-verkauf/autotransporter/30to-autotransporter-5m-plus.html

 

And then a smaller general purpose twin axle flatbed with a canopy roof (demountable) for those times when a van would have been really handy (like moving furniture, as I won't have a van anymore). Cheap too, at £1600:

 

http://www.lehwald-marl.de/anhaenger-verkauf/zweiachser-hochlader-m-plane/eduard-310mx160m-20to-155r13.html

 

That's cheaper than one 16ft flatbed with a few extras from almost any UK manufacturer, unless I'm missing something. I've had my German Unsinn trailer for over three years now, it's worked bloody hard and has been faultless.

Also look at the build quality of British ( ifor williams ) trailers last week when picking up a secondhand trailer I looked at new ones and could not be leave what I saw Galvanising was bad spikes all over it.

Are the German one better finished  

[Andrew McEwan]

I went from a 14ft twin flatbed to a 14ft tri plant trailer for my alpine and kit, much prefer towing the tri plant, even though worse to shunt about, and it's obviously easier to load with various machine combos, but maybe not the best for narrow Devon lanes. If I was buying again I think it'd be between Brenderup and Nugent.