Tandem or spread axle on new flatbed?

shooter19802003 · Oct 1, 2021

SamuraiTater said: ↑

Nope, just noting that I’ve had to do it without the benefit of seeing what it weighs and where it weighs as it’s being put on my trailer.
The reason there were straps over the tarps in that photo is because that was an 8 foot lumber tarp, there weren’t exactly any D-rings there to attach a bungee. How would you have secured that tarp ?
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Yeah, it sucks having the right tools for the job....lemme tell ya.

xsetra · Oct 1, 2021

OldeSkool said: ↑

It looks like I’m going to be buying a flatbed trailer soon for hauling mostly lumber. I’m sure most loads I will be close to legal weight. Would i be better off with a spread or tandem axle? I’m going to be doing short haul so the thought of always trying to get my axle weight right makes me think spread, but i would prefer a tandem if I could keep from always having to hit a scale where i can get my axle weight set right every load.
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Any trailer you buy, have an air gauge installed. The gauge makes for less stress and saves loading time. You can watch the gauge and have load moved while loading.
I've owned sliding front axle and a sliding rear axle trailers. The trailer I have now is a fixed spread.
I can see how a sliding tandem would be useful.

My fixed spread is lighter than the sliding axle trailer.
Good luck

ProfessionalNoticer · Oct 18, 2021

SamuraiTater said: ↑

Spread axles are for guys that can’t do math and can’t conceptionalize how to balance a load.

I prefer sliding tandems for two reasons :

1. Even after the load has been placed on my deck, I still have the ability to manipulate weight. With a spread ( even though you have 6000 extra pounds back there to work with ), you are stuck with however it was placed on your deck by the loader.

I ask two questions EVERY SINGLE TIME…. “What’s this going to weigh ?” and “How much of my deck will it take up ?” Sometimes you can’t get answers to those questions. Sometimes you get incorrect answers to those questions. Sometimes the components of the load vary in weight and the loader really doesn’t know how much each part weighs.

If you’re pulling a spread you have no choice but to take the loaders word, place it where you THINK is best and hope his numbers were accurate. Give me the sliding tandem, I’m smart enough to have the loader place it where I’ll still have autonomy to work around his bad math.

2. I like being able to skew the weight forward, then bring my tandems up and shorten my deck. The added maneuverability is advantageous.
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Sliding tandems or not and you're pretty much always belly loading your trailer and wearing it out faster if you have concentrated loads like coils or mill rolls. Also your tandems don't ride as well as a spread does. Some people think driver comfort and a longer lasting piece of equipment is key.

Dadetrucking305 · Oct 18, 2021

SamuraiTater said: ↑

Spread axles are for guys that can’t do math and can’t conceptionalize how to balance a load.

I prefer sliding tandems for two reasons :

1. Even after the load has been placed on my deck, I still have the ability to manipulate weight. With a spread ( even though you have 6000 extra pounds back there to work with ), you are stuck with however it was placed on your deck by the loader.

I ask two questions EVERY SINGLE TIME…. “What’s this going to weigh ?” and “How much of my deck will it take up ?” Sometimes you can’t get answers to those questions. Sometimes you get incorrect answers to those questions. Sometimes the components of the load vary in weight and the loader really doesn’t know how much each part weighs.

If you’re pulling a spread you have no choice but to take the loaders word, place it where you THINK is best and hope his numbers were accurate. Give me the sliding tandem, I’m smart enough to have the loader place it where I’ll still have autonomy to work around his bad math.

2. I like being able to skew the weight forward, then bring my tandems up and shorten my deck. The added maneuverability is advantageous.
Click to expand...

Or you have gauges and once loaded you check them and see if the load needs moved.

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