Sliding Tandems vs Spread

Yup Western Canadian (BC,AB,SK and MB) provinces all have 9100kg(20k#) on the books for spreads over 72".
Alberta will sometimes ignore that statute.
If you are going to run up here a front axle slider is probably the best idea. The front slider moves 2500# or more from front to rear
12k steers 36.5k# on drives 36.5k# on trailer in Canada
12k steers 34K# on drives 39K# on trailer in us by sliding front
85K gross (good west of 29 except CA and TX with permits and restrictions)

 

Going to change my opinion to buy a spread. Even if it costs quite a bit more. When you are done with the trailer and want to rent it or sell it it’s going to be so much harder to sell the tandem and at a cheaper price than the spread. Will a tandem be cheaper anyway in the end? Probably. But I don’t think the price difference will be as big as you think with the spread in the end.

 

If your hauling lumber, pipe, sack material, etc. Closed sliding tandems would work good with less tire wear. But coils and other odd ball freight is easier to scale on a spread axle trailer. When I first started pulling flatbed back then everything was 45ft fixed closed tandem, loading had to be pretty much on the money. Otherwise, you were going by grandma's house alot...

 

On a 48 I think I would have the rear fixed. It worked well on a reefer I had.

 

In my experience a spread rides better, and tracks better on winter conditions. Plus, in the Northwest, you can run over 80k up to what your bridge allows - usually around 84k. Modestly priced permits are required though, but can be obtained on an annual basis.

 

WA, ID, MT, OR, ND, SD, NE and WY all require permits and increased rgvw and/or are restricted in travel routing.
For example NE is no Interstate travel, SD is permit for interstate travel only, ND is single trip self issue $5 each for interstate only.

 

NE has a permit for over 80k on the interstate now. SD has an annual permit and I think ND does now too.

 

If I were in your shoes and wanting to go north I’d get a 48ft with a sliding front axle. Western Trailers usually has some, that’s how Systems gets their trailers.