single axle vs. double axle?

looking at a boat right now..really good deal but it has a single axle trailer..should i invest in a double axle? already lost a boat on a double axle so kind of nervous about the single axle.

just for your enjoyment

Single axle trailer is easier to turn and maneuver. It also weighs much less.
You do have to weight them with better balance and they can't carry as much of a load.

I wouldn't worry if you have a light enough boat.
Nice shot of the convex v deck

Ouch... What is the story here??

Ouch.

In my book it would depend on what boat (size & weight) and truck (wheelbase & engine size) your using.

Bigger boats & smaller trucks should use tandem axle trailers because they tend to track straight easier.

Smaller boats or trucks over 3/4 ton, shouldn't really matter if your using a single or dual axle.

How about pulling the boat behind a 5th wheel trlr? Double betterthen?

Ricky what is the story?

we had a tire blow out right after we bought the boat on the drive home, luckly the trailer was a double, but were able to drive it off the interstate to a fleetfarm and get a tire... if you're hauling the boat quite often i would say a double is the way to go... now that we have the boat home, we put it in once a year, and take it out once, the trailer is used a total of .25 miles a year so a single would be fine for us now.... depends on situation

I've never towed two trailers at once, but have to imagine that trailers need to track straight as can be to make it an easy trip. So yea, duals would be good. Might also have less tongue weight than a single.

i wouldn't buy anything with out a tandem axle trailer, if your going to spend the $$$$ on a boat get the tandem axle and you wont have to worry about it!! you will have a higher resale value as well! it will tow better and be safer!

I agree with Nick, depends on how far and how often you tow. Single axle is less expensive to purchase and maintain (2 tires instead of 4 to replace, etc.) and I can think of other ways to spend a couple of grand, but if I towed all the time it would be worth peace of mind to get the tandem.

Between the ride of a tandem and the way it tracks you can’t go wrong with a tandem over a single. The other thing is if they offer a torsion axle over a spring axle you will not believe the difference between the two. I have a work trailer with a single leaf spring axle and a boat with a tandem torsion axle. The difference is like night and day. Just my 2 cents

You can't post a pic like that without putting the story up as well.

BTW I have had a blowout on single axle and it wasn't that big of a deal. The rim was ruined by the time I stopped, but it was pretty non eventful. Felt the tire go, checked the mirror, pulled over and slowed down without slamming on the breaks. I think the ain thing it to be sure you have transom tie downs, and you decelerate smoothly.

(Message edited by OlskoolTige on November 05, 2007)

I would say tandem. I had a bearing blow out last summer and was able to limp the boat home on three tires, wouldn't reccomend for a long distance, but iwould have been upstream without a paddle if it was only a single.

I blew a tire on the interstate just south of Sandpoint this summer on a single axle and it didn't make a big event. The jack not working made it much more eventful. That was the Griswald Family Vacation holiday!

tandem axle trailers all the way.

The story is we left in the middle of the night to lake havasu, about one hour out at 7 in the morning, it was my boat but someone else was driving the truck (f-250 10 inch box lift) not sure if the driver fell asleep or the wheel locked up, and came off, but i was sleeping woke up to us on in the dirt, when the driver tried to get back onto the highway to after losing control i turned around and saw the boat flip off the trailer..it was a very sad day for me.

Anyways i found a good deal on a 02 malibu wakesetter but it has a single axle trailer, will dealers trade in and sell just trailers? or is there somewhere i can look into buying one?

I bought a single axle for parking maneuverability. I have towed it from the midwest to FL with no issues. Basically you need a spare tire in case you have a flat tire.

Also drive the speed limit and you'll have a much safer tow, regardless of trailer type.

I put a solid 2k miles this summer on a single axle trailer. I always check tire pressure, keep the hubs greased, and take a spare.

Also keep in mind how much you tow. A tandem is more suited for long trips week after week. A single is suite for quick runs to the local lake, and the occasional long haul.

I broke a leaf spring on my trailer this summer when I hit a elk with my boat when trailering at night on the way up to Lake Powell. At the time of the accident I thought that I missed the elk and continued to drive 90 miles up to Page, AZ. Upon arriving at Page I then realized that I had hit the elk with my boat and that the trailer was messed up pretty bad. I was so glad that I had my dual axle trailer b/c this accident would have ruined my trip and possibly my SAN if the other axle didn't carry the load for those 90 miles. I do like the manuverability of a single axle trailer but my boat means a lot to me and my family and it was saved due to that second axle.

if you tow with a single axle trailer, you should have 2 spares!!!!! just to be safe!