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Thread: trailer decisions

  1. #1
    Member yard mates's Avatar
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    Default trailer decisions

    Looking to get a new trailer and have a couple of decisions to make.

    Went out looking at a 8x5 with a cage.

    Whats the thoughts on duel or single axle?

    along with getting one thats galvanised over normal paint.

    Also came across a non braked 8x4 tandem today. This comes in right on the 250kg figure, so no pink slips and $60 buck rego per year. Thats quite attractive but unsure on it.

  2. #2
    Dedicated Member Cranbourne Lawnmowing's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    Problem with tandems is the tyre wear, if you don't rotate the wheels regularly you will have the rear tyres wearing out very quickly. Every time you turn in a court you get one tyre dragging on the inside and one on the outside. I've been told if you over inflate the rear tyres a bit you will help stop this from happening as quickly.

  3. #3
    Senior Member edbeek's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    Quote Originally Posted by yard mates View Post
    Looking to get a new trailer and have a couple of decisions to make.

    Went out looking at a 8x5 with a cage.

    Whats the thoughts on duel or single axle?

    along with getting one thats galvanised over normal paint.

    Also came across a non braked 8x4 tandem today. This comes in right on the 250kg figure, so no pink slips and $60 buck rego per year. Thats quite attractive but unsure on it.
    I can't see the point in having a tandem trailer unbraked. You can still only legally load it to gross 750kg, same as an unbraked single axle.

  4. #4
    Senior Member PaulG's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    True - a good 8 x 5 tandem will take two tonne when set up right so brakes are a must.

  5. #5
    Member mikecic's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    Tyre wear shouldn't really be an issue. The cost of a couple of secondhand ( or new )tyres is cheap for the added benefit of the extra weight you can carry. 15 in tyres and rims are much cheaper and easier to find than 14in stuff now. Brakes are a must I think on anything bigger than a 6 x 4. My 6 x4 with cage when fully loaded is bloody heavy and probably overweight. That's why I chose a new 8x5 with brakes rather than stuff around and modify a smaller one. I didn't bother with galvanising the trailer mainly the extra cost but you can paint the floor with a gal type paint that will help and keep it clean, don't leave clippings and crap in there for days on end that's what'll rust it out.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Blaktop's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    If I was in the market for a new trailer, I'd definitely go the 8x5 tandem with brakes, and probably galvanised as well (I live near the sea). Tandems tend to ride flatter and be more stable......I currently have a single axle 8x5 and with my rideon plus the rest of my gear, it's pretty close to the max weight.

  7. #7
    Member yard mates's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    Went and looked at the 8x4 tandem - nup, good on paper but not for me.

    Tending to agree that an 8x5 is the go.

  8. #8
    Senior Member HPM's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    Tandem trailers can be very hard to move around by hand if you need to move it.
    Galvanized would be at the top of my list. It will always look as good as the day you got it.
    Brakes are a must...you always end up with more weight than you expected in your trailer. Think about when its wet on the road.
    Hunterpropertymaintenance@gmail.com
    Work to live, life's too short..
    Specialising in small and Large area collection mowing with Walker Mowers.

  9. #9
    Senior Member m287j's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    Unless you are going to use the full capacities of a dual axle trailer (like have it braked and carry 1.5 tonnes plus) I see no point in them.
    The other issue with duel axle trailers is you will have to pay truck tolls on all the toll roads like the m2, as opposed to a car toll for single axle.

    If you can afford it, i'd prefer a 5 foot wide trailer as to a 4 anytime, you can fit in wider ride-on's and if you had a separate mower section you can put the push mower in sideways without having to fold up the handles.

  10. #10
    Member duck-01's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    what no one has asked, and why no ones answer makes sense relative to YOUR situation, and we need to know is, what do you intend putting on the trailer, and how certain are you that your setup is for the long term,

    as single axle trailas weigh about 250 kg, you can put 500 kg of load on an unbraked one or 750kg on a braked one - but put high sides and a loading ramp on one and there goes 100-150 kg more of your load limit. put your mowers, whippys fuel, tools, water canister etc on it, and youd be lucky to haul 100kg waste legally.

    will this suit your needs?

    duals braked can take 2000 kg all up, most weigh in at under the 400kg mark even with high sides and a load ramp - so you can take 1600kg of load - depending on what your VEHICLE can tow. (and the vehicle you buy NEXT)

    some guys use the trailer for ONLY waste, so a single axle might be ok for you.

    until you list out everything you EVER might want to haul on the trailer, and the weights and add it all up, you cant answer the question fairly, and NEITHER CAN WE.


    my dual axle with all my mowers, tools, and gear on it and high sides and load ramp weighs in at around the 800kg mark - so if I had all that on an unbraked single axle, id be illegal EMPTY of waste

    think about it some more, and decide what youre gonna have on it.

    oh and youd be CRAZY if you didn't get a gal one - especially if your gonna put grass in it - grass eats steel like no mans business. if youre ONLY gonna use it for rideons, and tools, etc, then maybe youd get away with it, but still id get gal - youre gonna have it forever, and not need to paint it or maintain it, and it looks good all the time.

    catch ya

  11. #11
    Senior Member edbeek's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    what no one has asked, and why no ones answer makes sense relative to YOUR situation, and we need to know is, what do you intend putting on the trailer, and how certain are you that your setup is for the long term,
    Probably because he asked for opinions on tandem v single axle and Gal v paint. Not, which trailer should I buy.

    as single axle trailas weigh about 250 kg, you can put 500 kg of load on an unbraked one or 750kg on a braked one
    A braked single axle trailer can be made to carry much more than this legally. As long as it has the correct springs, axle, wheels/tyres and coupling and noted on the compliance plate.

  12. #12
    Member duck-01's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    Quote Originally Posted by edbeek View Post
    Probably because he asked for opinions on tandem v single axle and Gal v paint. Not, which trailer should I buy.



    A braked single axle trailer can be made to carry much more than this legally. As long as it has the correct springs, axle, wheels/tyres and coupling and noted on the compliance plate.

    hes gonna buy a new trailer

    he wants to know opinions on single vs dual

    I gave him food for thought, not a biased opinion based on my own circumstances, its his decision and he should base it on logic per his own situation.

    mostly unbraked singles are 750kg total (eg 500 kg load) and braked singles are 1000kg total (750 odd kg load.)

    split hairs all ya want - he has to decide what hes putting on the thing and make an informed logical DECISION

    opinions don't mean squat if your opinion is based on what YOU do and what HE does is totally different.

    sweet

  13. #13
    Senior Member simo's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    Also Vehicle towing capacity no point having a big trailer if you can`t tow it..
    ....Nothing like a good whipper....

  14. #14
    Member yard mates's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    Didn't mean to start an argument.... and very happy for whatever advice I can get on this.

    Basically, I've run out of room on my old ute as my collection of tools grows, and when removing waste from jobs can see that a trailer with a cage will haul far more in one trip than what I can currently, so that would be more efficient time wise.

    I don't have a ride on at this point but also don't want to have to upgrade trailers every 12 months. So would rather get larger than I currently need and grow into it, hence the thought of a 8x5.

    Seems the galvanised finish is worth the extra and didn't realise that a tandem would cost me more in tolls, so would have to consider that aspect.

  15. #15
    Member yard mates's Avatar
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    Default Re: trailer decisions

    looks like I'm getting a Galvanised tandem 8x5 with brakes and a cage. THanks for the help everyone

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