Question about Trailers

The spread axle on skateboards? It's for weight distribution, though I have no real idea of how much difference it makes over tandems. I don't think they give a second thought to appearance when it comes to designing these things.

 

regular closed tandems are only legal for 34000 lbs in USA, 10 foot 1 inch spread axles are legal for 40 000 lbs, but the max gross weight of the truck is still 80 000lbs either way, but with a the spread axle you just load closer to the rear of the trailer and all axles should be legally balanced for weight. no messing with sliding tandems.

 

Weight limits and distance between axles vary between states. However the short of it is you can have 34,000 pounds on dual wheel tandem axles and 20,000 pounds on dual wheel single axles. A spread with more than (I believe) 10' 2" can scale 40,000 on the two axles. This allows you to lighten the load on the drivers and steer axle which can often be too heavy with much fuel on board.

You are allowed 80,000 gross with 12,000 on steer, 34,000 on drivers and 34,000 on trailer. So to scale 80,000 you need to be exact on axles. With a spread axle you have wiggle room to scale the gross weight. They are harder on tires though.

 

Spreads are the bomb!

 

I'll try to attache a link that might give a little example of the load capacities. A 9' spread here in Michigan is 18k per axle, opposed to 34k like was mentioned for a regular tandem. This attachment is for Michigan.
WasteWatcher-Weight and Axle Loads

This is a photo of my truck, you figure it out!

 

This will be the final attempt!!!

 

Aint that something? I've not ever seen a trailer with THAT many axles! How is it backing when full?

 

Piece of cake really. Those are 50', and with the axles up, and the rear axles being that far back, they turn pretty quick, those last two axles are lifts in case you missed that.
When I first started driving those, I thought, "OH BOY!!!". I was very nicely surprised, you'd drag me screaming and kicking to get me back in another 5 axle!!
The trailer behind the one hooked to my tractor is an 8 axle, but with the lifts set up right, it turns very nicely as well.

 

I once watched a guy with a spread axle trailer and long nose pete with a long wheelbase nearly tear his truck up trying to back into a tight dock. Sometimes looking cool has its drawbacks.