Spread Axle or Tandem

Well he’s 1/2 right. TN rule is 50’ maximum kingpin to back of trailer. 36” kingpin makes a 53’ legal. Most flats are 30” kingpin.

Mine is a 53’ with with a 3 position slider. From open to closed moves 1900 lbs off the drives or moves the load center about 16” forward.

If I was buying new today it would probably be a 48 with a spread again. But mostly because I stretched my truck last year and I can now have almost 6’ of front overhang.

 

This chart says changes as of October 2020.
41 ft max 48 - 53 ft trailers. Kingpin to center of axleS. Tennessee.
If I remember correctly. The trailer I had was 43 between the spread.

Kingpin to Rear Axle Maximums – Big Truck Guide

 

I pull a Landoll 53’ almost exclusively in TN and AL. It is 42’ kingpin to center of axles, never had a problem.
I do hear that the Knoxville scales will nail you for it, but I very seldom go that far east.
I do know you can buy a annual permit for over length. I think it’s around $50.

 

Seems like there is some contradictions? I bought my trailer in TN. They won’t order a 53’ trailer with a 30’ kingpin siting the 50’ rule.

( not this particular one but they actually sent it to me back when I requested it)

 

The way it read it.

Trailer length distance from kingpin shall not exceed 50 feet. That's trailer length.

The kingpin to rear axle rule. Distance from kingpin to center of rear axles. Is 41 ft.

2 different rules.

Some are confusing trailer length with kpra.

 

Also keep in mind that TN has been changing the rules in the last few years. Unless it comes from the State website, some of what you read on other sites is outdated.