Lift axle

Im interested too.

 

Looks cool and saves tires and fuel

 

Pro
- Saves tire wear when turning while up.
- Saves fuel
- Watching the axle go up and tire spinning freely after takeoff because is air actuated (easily amused)
- Saves money on toll roads

Con
- Changes backing dynamic when up
- Changes turning dynamic when up
- Usage has a ceiling based on weight
- Aggravating when broken knowing light load mpg is going to #### because of it

 

If you're going to life an axle, lift the rear axle instead. Makes for a more merge maneuverable trailer.

 

@whiskeyone
Spreadaxle?
OTR or regionale runs?
Budget for extra's is .....$?

 

I do know there are some guys up here in the northwest that run 53' flats with 2 rear steer lift axles. SAdriver made me remember it when he mentioned the changing turning points and I do believe those trailers are set up that way because of the off track law that Idaho has. For running the majority of US95 they have a max of 5.5' off track. From what I remember ID dosent count the lifts when calculating the off track. So it lets them spec a truck and trailer long enough for max gvw and to meet the off track law.

 

The only con is if you forget to put it down after loading heavy. It will be a very expensive mistake.

 

We have a couple 4 axle chemical tankers that have auto down front lifts. It works off of air pressure in the tandems bags and once unloaded you push the vavle in to lift it.

 

For a company that would be a good idea keep idiot employees from burning axles up. But for a guy that owns 1 it's not worth the extra expense nor extra maintenance headaches. The more complicated you make a system, the more expensive it becomes to keep it working over the servicable lifetime of the trailer.