Trailer build question

[smithjames0]

Hi,

I am building a twin axle trailer with a 6m bed.

Over the last week i've been double checking my calculations for where to position the axles to ensure the hitch weight is correct. One thing i can't find much information about is how far to position the axle apart. The plans i am working off say 90cm between centres, but this feels too close for a 6m bed. Google says between 1.3m and 1.8m, but i can't find much information to back this up (compared to where to position the axles along the bed 60/40 where there is lots of information and calculations available). Can anyone help?

Regards
James

 

[addjunkie]

Go to trailer place to view your next purchase….take tape measure….

 

[brightspark]

Go to trailer place to view your next purchase….take tape measure….

i went to a trailer dealers and photographed a couple so i could build mine salesman came out and the words ended up in xxx off by me and him

 

[Agrismith]

Hi,

I am building a twin axle trailer with a 6m bed.

Over the last week i've been double checking my calculations for where to position the axles to ensure the hitch weight is correct. One thing i can't find much information about is how far to position the axle apart. The plans i am working off say 90cm between centres, but this feels too close for a 6m bed. Google says between 1.3m and 1.8m, but i can't find much information to back this up (compared to where to position the axles along the bed 60/40 where there is lots of information and calculations available). Can anyone help?

Regards
James

That's a difficult question to answer without knowing you intentions for loading.
Further apart will tolerate poor load placement better. But going over uneven ground risks overloading axles.
In theory further apart will be a smoother ride at speed but scrub tyres worse and make maneuvering harder.
I must say I have never towed a twin axle 6m trailer. They have always been Tri axle. Which would put the centres of 1st and 3rd axle near your upper option. And they towed fine and tolerated poor load placement well

 

[addjunkie]

I have a 14’6” flat bed trailer twin axle. I could measure tomorrow afternoon if you like.

 

[Erie Fred]

That's a difficult question to answer without knowing you intentions for loading.
Further apart will tolerate poor load placement better. But going over uneven ground risks overloading axles.
In theory further apart will be a smoother ride at speed but scrub tyres worse and make maneuvering harder.
I must say I have never towed a twin axle 6m trailer. They have always been Tri axle. Which would put the centres of 1st and 3rd axle near your upper option. And they towed fine and tolerated poor load placement well

Yes ^^^
And more tire scrubbing on turns if farther apart.

 

[smithjames0]

I have a 14’6” flat bed trailer twin axle. I could measure tomorrow afternoon if you like.

Thanks that would be help full

Yes ^^^
And more tire scrubbing on turns if farther apart.

I am aware about the trailer balance/tyre scrub trade off which is why i am checking my numbers.

i went to a trailer dealers and photographed a couple so i could build mine salesman came out and the words ended up in xxx off by me and him

While dog walking i have stopped at every twin axle trailer to have a look But round here they are mainly short twin axle trailer (horse boxes/short bed)

Regards

 

[Robotstar5]

I'll just leave this here

 

[daedalusminos]

Just find a dimensioned drawing off one of the trailer manufacturers websites.....drawings are almost certainly to scale so you can determine undimensioned features:

 

[addjunkie]

Heres a picture of mine with dimensions. Its a Nugent.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Go to trailer place to view your next purchase….take tape measure….

the exact reason im not welcome in what used to be the ifor dealer in town

 

[harveyp6]

I'll just leave this here

View attachment 537144

I reckon that container has been leaking and has made the trailer shrink.

 

[Erie Fred]

I'll just leave this here

View attachment 537144

I would definitely want to only tow that when empty or all the way full.
Sloshing could be really bad.

 

[brightspark]

I would definitely want to only tow that when empty or all the way full.
Sloshing could be really bad.

i like watchiing tanker drivers and cement trucks been driven like an idiot and virtualy tipping over on cornering and sloshing around

 

[Robotstar5]

i like watchiing tanker drivers and cement trucks been driven like an idiot and virtualy tipping over on cornering and sloshing around

A friend of mine was nearly killed by one when he worked in truck repairs, someone drove a tanker into the workshop, when stopped, the water in the half empty tank went forward and punched the truck into my mates work bench, luckily he saw it coming and jumped clear.

 

[Erie Fred]

i like watchiing tanker drivers and cement trucks been driven like an idiot and virtualy tipping over on cornering and sloshing around

My uncle drove tanker (semi trailer style) or what you call artic.
He hauled fuel mainly, but sometimes TAR.
He explained that there are no baffles, and you really have to anticipate
traffic lights.
If you stopped abruptly, foot to the floor on the brakes, wait for the "blob" to roll forward against the front bulkhead, and you would smoke all 18 wheels.

 

[brightspark]

ive watched fire engines do it you could see the water going up and down round the bends on the sight glass up the side as it wallowed

 

[m_c]

My uncle drove tanker (semi trailer style) or what you call artic.
He hauled fuel mainly, but sometimes TAR.
He explained that there are no baffles, and you really have to anticipate
traffic lights.
If you stopped abruptly, foot to the floor on the brakes, wait for the "blob" to roll forward against the front bulkhead, and you would smoke all 18 wheels.

I've heard a mate on on about sloshing. He had to repair a water tanker that was old enough to not have baffles, and he hated it.
Only vehicle where you could stop at a junction, then bounce backwards

Thankfully all new tankers have to be baffled to avoid such things.

 

[smithjames0]

Heres a picture of mine with dimensions. Its a Nugent.
View attachment 537210
View attachment 537211

Your trailer has the same axle spacing as my plans, this makes sense for the length of the bed.

I have spent the day looking at pictures and specs, and the only thing i can deduce is that each manufacture does there own 'thing'. There doesn't seem to be a rule which is used which factors in bed size, wheel size, trailer use, the axle spacing varies even between models from one manufacture.

I think (as my bed is 6m) that i will space the axles 1.3m between centres, i am going to mock-up tonight!

Thanks for everyones help