Help from the gurus

Mark, please explain what you mean?

quote " 2 axles dont get away from you backing like 1 will"

JohnR,
I think you will find Mark means that a duel axle trailer turns slower than a single axle making it easier to chase when reversing.
Cheers Dave...

Dual trailers are only easier than single axle ones as they are generally longer. The thing that makes trailers easier for reverse is having a longer distance from the coupling to the axle (or the centre of the axle group for multi axle trailers.)

PeterD

gday guys

sorry for the late reply but ive been interstate. Daves' got it in one,2 axles are much slower to turn than 1,cheers.

I think Nomadic Navara is the closest to the point, but Mark's original comment shrouded the information. Dave's point doesn't say but the axles drag against one another which slow down the reversing.

I reversed our Karavan into an EO members back yard just using the mirrors after walking the entry. He just shook his head and said that I did it so easily as I had automatic transmission. He has a GQ manual. I also used low range and that allowed me to place wheels precisely. The yard was blind with high galvanised fences and gates.

Plenty of farmyard practice. Just like backing up around blocked roads at malls in Alice Springs a month ago. Know where your clearance points are.

Neil, we have a trailer that is a weight carrying trailer that has the two axles a reasonable distance apart.

You are right that the tyres want to steer fairly straight - right to the extent it has put the towing vehicle through a fence and tries to put it off the road so braking has to be done very early. I would rather have the axles closer than this is currently!

I have a single axle 2T van that tows very well and has great road contact area.

Hi John,
Do the tyres tend to scrub out quickly? I would think that in a really twisty situation they would scrub a bit and possibly get warm as the back tyres would tend to fight the front ones especially when cornering. The further apart the worse it would be I would think.
Rgds
Nev

Nev, that trailer is a commercial trailer, but isn't trafficed quickly now. The front and rear trailer tyres do fight one-another, and your tow vehicle too. They can push the tow vehicle sideways at the rear point - that includes a tractor with heavily lugged tyres.

Your comment on the distance apart is quite correct. They need to be handled with care. We actually carry hay on the trailer, several tonnes at a time. With my comment to Neil above, I wanted to point out that the further apart the axles the better as he claimed above, isn't totally logical.

Muzz, spot on. The corrugations are a bugger when the springs are too heavy for the load.