Switching from 11r 24.5 to 445/55 22.5

When specing a new trailer with SS they use a heavier axle. I cannot tell you why but it pretty much negates any weight savings. I talked to wilson and timpte about hoppers both told me weight savings was about 150lbs max. Depending on your hopper and what you run ground clearance may or may not be an issue. If you're running a tandem with 66" sides and ag hoppers, I wouldn't worry to much about that 4" unless you want to go terrace hopping. My dad pulls a super cube, he has never got hung up at a farm, not to say he won't ever get hung up at a farm but so far nothing to worry about. He's running tall 22.5s though and 24.5lp on the tractor. so take 2" off that and that would be the ride height. I don't think highly of SS at all as you can tell from most of my posts about SS. Some people swear by them, it's an argument that will go on for years and years. Some guys can use them others can't/won't.

Since you're pulling a closed tandem you don't have to worry as much about tearing up a set of singles. I know we can usually get about 120k ish out of a set of duals on a spread. I've seen singles make it less than 50k. I would also suggest taking into account if you throw singles on and like them, remember if someday becasue you said you wish your trailer was a spread if you spec a new spread with singles some states will only give you 34k on that spread (north dakota for sure). When it comes down to it, neither duals, nor singles in the long run are going to be more efficient IMO. In the long run I'm sure it will even out over time. By the time you factor in rims for singles plus the service call, plus the new tire when one blows, and "extra" fuel you will burn with duals I believe it will all even out. I can't say for sure, but I do have a friend who's dad is all singled up. He spends about $10k to put rubber on that truck. Now for me to put rubber on my truck and trailer costs me roughly the same amount, but I get more life out of my tires. It's a delicate balance and there's a lot to take into account. Not to mention the PITA factor which you are realizing, which is good. Downtime sucks, and waiting on road service is never fun. I'd rather take my chances limping a truck to a shop than be sitting on the side of the road. Not to mention the danger factor of sitting on the side of the road.

 

yeah if you checjlk your psi daily like your suppose too you'll keep runnin right instead if these people who just get out look jump in an drive then wonder why they blow fails all the time

 

Driving a truck with a blown tire is still illegal isn't it

 

Singles aren't for everyone, for sure. I personally like them all the way around. I would use them on the trailer but not tractor, if I did any amount of unpaved roads. Be aware though, some singles are quite susceptible to stone drilling, and if you have a spread you will want high-scrub trailer tires (specifically for spreads, might be a Michelin only thing but I can't recall offhand). You do have to be more attentive to tire pressures, and a constant-air system on a trailer can mean the difference between a blowout or making it to a shop. As mentioned, they're inferior to duals in mud and snow, though I find they are better in sand.

You pay your money and you take your choice.

 

The SS put more strain on the axle. That's why they use a heavier axle a heavier mounts. If you do switch keep a eye on your mounts the welds will break loose. A friend of mine had to have his welded on the side of the road. And if you tear up a axle the last one I had replaced ran 4K.

I see several over the road guys running singles on hoppers but most have the air system on them. Not many local guys use them. I won't run them but I run heavy. One of the guys that runs the same as me has them on his Columbia and gets around on the same unplowed roads that I do. Another had them on his 379 and couldn't get out of the driveway. Ended up selling them to the guy with the Columbia.

 

Its my understanding the weight savings is better on the tractor then the trlr an if they are as some say tht badd why would anybody want them on a spread axle if you spec a new tractor with singles the air system an the new Dana ultra lite axle you could have some serious weight savings ...so here's a question if guys who runn SS why don't they carry a spare

 

Your prepared I kinda heard about spread axles
Tho I've seen trucks in Oregon an Washington
All decked out with 4&5 axle trlrs with SS on them