im looking at buying a t-300 bob cat weighs in just under 10k and an attachment that weighs 2300. so the problem is every one want to sell me a 14000gvw trailer that weigh at least 4000. this puts me at 16-17000. theres guys pulling these around on these trailers and my question is, is that ok? i dont think so but im trying to stay away from triples and dual tandems.hard to find a decent single tandem rated 18000. any help here would be appreciated. and meandering thoughts to

 

is the trailer BP or GN?

 

sorry im looking into goosneck. cant get any receiver rated over 15000 and dont want to build a flat bed yet (more weight to figure into for the future) and l like goosneck better

 

I think you may have to go to a triple if you want to be legal and not overloading a 14,000 lb GTW float........I have not seen any single wheel axles rated at 9000lbs each......I could be wrong, but I haven't seen them.......Any 18,000 lb float that have seen had 3 - 6000 lb axles......I would prefer the triple but you will get more floatation with the tandem duals if you require it......one other thing about the duals is your only option is to have the deck over the wheels, where as you can have a triple with the deck between the wheels for a lower center of gravity if you prefer that......

 

There are 10,000 # single wheel axles, I believe Dexter makes them, Torsion style. i know this because I have hauled a large stock trailer with them, they had big rubber on them though, great axles! Oil filled, no dinky take it apart and grese it bearings.

Personally I'd prefer a dual tandem setup. That makes for a rock solid trailer. But yes you can get heavy single wheel axles, 8,000 lb Dexter Torsions are common on stock trailers.

 

Wouldnt a dual tandem or triple axle trailer be far more stable then a single axle trailer? Probably makes it harder to properly load your equipment aswell?

 

dual tandem would be nice but im trying to stay away from the extra weight and the large cost difference. id like over the wheel for more deck space but im not opposed to between the wheels as long as i have 80".

ctd nut, why would you prefer triples? id prefer dual tandem for backing up and tire wear but id like to hear what you have to say

 

My parents are contractors. we have a bobcat that rides on a Dual Axle flat trailer. i believe the trailer is 16' long, bumper pull with a 2 5/16 hitch. if you have a choice, get a triple axle. we had a tire blow out on it and take the complete brake assembly and part of the axle off while going down the highway at 60mph. maintained control but it was a mother to have to replace that axle and get everything straightened out. the dual pulls it fine, but dont risk anything

 

With a machine that weights 10k your better off gettin a triple axle G/N....my skid steer only weights 5500 lbs and I load it on a 16 ft tandem tag along and unless its loaded just right the trailer gets squirrelly

Later this year I'm gettin a G/N for my equipment too it will be 28 ft with triple axles so I can load 2 machines rather then taking 2 trailers with equipment it will not have a dovetail but the ramps will be long enuff to load without hanging up my machines and the wheels will be outside of the bed to get a low bed height

Tandem dually G/N are nice but the bed height is a little too high for me because the bed needs to be over the top of the wheels....and I think the triples are cheaper

 

The only reason I really would prefer the triples is that you can have the deck between the wheels - 80" should not be a problem between fenders.......you also get 3 sets of brakes, though they are smaller (axle parts are cheaper too, but you have a 3rd axle to service)......if you don't mind the higher CG, 8 tires will wear better than 6, tandem duals will have a much shorter wheel base so it will turn sharper, easier and floatation will be better.....as you mentioned, it is the cost of the dual tandem that would make me seriously consider the triple axle first....... a bumper pull float is out of the question, you must go with a GN for a 18,000 lb GTW.......there is no 2 5/16 ball hitch rated for this, you have to go to a pintle and as you already know, there is no receiver rated for 18,000 lbs.

I'm not familiar with the 10,000 lb Dexter torsion single wheel axles that Tool is talking about but they sound heavy duty by his description........but they don't sound cheap, either.......might be something to look into, though.

 

Putting 12K on a 14K trailer that probably weighs 4500# empty is pobably overloaded. Get bigger axles or triples. You can get heavy duty single wheel axles... but they're not standard.

 

A 5th wheel trailer with a 14,000lb rating (2X7000lb axles) will be on the border for overweight but not necessarily over. 10,000lb machine + 2300lb attachment + 4000lb trailer= 16,300lb - 2500lb hitch weight =13,800lb gross trailer load = 200lb to spare. However most tandem 5th wheel trailers 20' long will be 42-4400lbs empty, 4X3042lb per 235/16 load range E tires = 12,168lbs gross-4400lb trailer = 7768+ 2500lb tongue load = 10,268lbs net payload. Your tires would be the weak point on the trailer. Tri Axle trailers scrub excessively on corners and are harder to align the axles, tandem duals cost more to buy and have more tires but have 10-12,000lb axles and can carry more. Decisions, decisions- life sucks but make a choice that makes sense towards safety and things will work out better with lots of room for error. An under priced inadequate tool will cost more in the long run and be easily damaged by over loading. PK