Trailer idea---- input wanted

[demodriver]

Well heres my idea. Let me know what you guys think.

Keep in mind that this trailer would be for hauling demo cars and autocross cars.

I am thinking of building a double stacker thats about 20 ft long not counting the hitch portion.  I am thinking tri axle with a little extra space between the axles to help support the weight. I am concerned about the turning tho a little. The bottom platform area would be like a little normal trailer but heavier built to support the top platform. The top platform would hinge at the front and have a cyl on each side to raise and lower the rear. Obviously the top would have a large pin at each side for a latch. The decks would just be runners about 2' wide for the tires to run on.

For the lift I dont know wether to go with gas engine over hydro or eletric over hydro. 

Ideas and inputs welcome even if you think I am a idiot lol

For what its worth I have built trailers from scratch with success in the past. Just nothing this complicated.

[happycamperbrat]

I once read in here about a guy (sorry, dont remember who it was now) who offset his hitch on his bus by about a foot to the driver's side. This made going around corners easier.

[John316]

I once read in here about a guy (sorry, dont remember who it was now) who offset his hitch on his bus by about a foot to the driver's side. This made going around corners easier.

However, that would make seeing out your driver mirror a tad harder, given a full width trailer

[bevans6]

the offset hitch thing would be for flat towing a towed car, which is skinny enough to make it work.  I just ordered a new trailer that is going to be a 20' stacker, but light cars, 1,000 lbs each.  I will just use a winch to raise the ramps after the top car is in.  I got an extended tongue to make it less likely to hit the sides of the bus in tight turns or when backing.  The problem with triple axles is the tires scrub like crazy, some manufacturers don't make them anymore for that reason.  Electric or hydraulic can work, I think the lift tailgates on the pro trailers are usually electric.

Brian

[NEO/Russ]

My Teton fifth wheeler has air suspension.  There is a switch that lets me lift (well unload) the rear axle so the tires don't get peeled off that axle.  It uses a seperate solenoid for that axle and I suppose it could be wired into my reverse lights.

I used to have a 30' boat with a triple axle and I remember watching the front and rear tires scrub when I turned hard while backing.......I know what you are talking about.

[demodriver]

I'm not worried about the tire scrub from turning. I do tight donuts with my tri axle gooseneck all the time. Heavy ply tires make a world of difference on the abuse they will take.  I was more worried about the extra sideways torque on the hitch from the tight turns with a tri axle.  The only reason I want it to be tri axle is to keep the hitch weight down.

[Tikvah]

Pulled a triple axle, loaded, and turned around in a gas station.  Peeled the heavy duty trailer tire right off one of the rims.  Big noise and lots of excitement.  This was a new trailer too.

[robertglines1]

How about a couple of crowd cyl. and a piece of channel to lock in place when up.Hindge in front winch up ramp raise rear of ramp. Small 12volt hydraulic pump or power steering pump would be slow but would do job.I'm  Running a Milemarker winch (12,000) off a ford pump and you can't stop it at a idle. Or  run 2ea 10,000 lb axles and just run tandem. We haul steam engine 18,000lb on tandem.  Good luck Eric!   Bob

[TomC]

The chorus I sing with has a 3 axle 32ft fifth wheel.  The front and rear tires wear out first since they seem to pivot around the middle axle.  I would prefer having two heavier duty axles mounted as close together as possible and then use electric over hydraulic disc brakes on both axles. 

Just remember that you can control the weight of the hitch when you first hook up.  Then going down the road makes for big stresses, going down a hill increases hitch weight as does slamming on the brakes (even with the trailer brakes).  I believe you'll be much happier with a 2 axle trailer.  Good Luck, TomC

[demodriver]

I am well aware of the problems with tri axle trailers, tire wear and so on. I just figured it may be a better idea to keep some more weight off of the hitch.  I dont think that I will be turning tight enough with the bus to effect the trailer tires enough to be a problem. 


I have two 8000 lb torsion axles already with electric breaks to use. I was going to buy another one for this trailer if I build it. But if you guys dont think its necessary I wont mess with it.

When I have more time I will try to draw something up and post my idea.


Thanks for the input this far.

[Tom Y]

3, 2 or 1 axle does not make tongue weight. Loading position does, use 2 axles. I would use electric hydraulic for lift, put restrictions in the cly. In case of failure it will slow the drop.  Tom Y

[demodriver]

3, 2 or 1 axle does not make tongue weight.

I have to disagree. If I have one axle the trailer is going to teeter and require more weight to be put on the bus. The more axles under the trailer the more the weight will be spread out. The more the weight is spread out the less there is going to be on the hitch and the more stable the trailer will be when hitting bumps.

That's why in some states you see dump trucks with a stupid amount of axles. Because that state wants the weight spread out more.

[belfert]

You can still load the cargo wrong on a three axle trailer and put too much or too little weight on the tongue.

Dump trucks have many axles to distribute the weight load so there is less weight per tire and thus less stress on the roads.