The "Spread" of Ignorance

??? Not sure why you'd want to dump the front axle of the spread. Sure it might help with tires but your making the trailer act longer instead of shorter. Trust me I've got one with a front axle lift and it drives identically to a 53' van with the axles all the way back.

As far as quick dumps go you can just use a cheap solenoid valve and a cheap quick release valve for brake chambers. When the solenoid valve starts dumping the axle the quick release valve senses the pressure difference dumps instantly.

Here's a link to a quick release valve (although I've gotten them as cheap as $11.00 and there are several brands\models) These are for brake systems and are highly reliable.

You need a "normally open" solenoid valve, their around $100.00 Again here's a link.

I've also got part numbers for valves that kill the service brakes for lift axles, they work good for dumping the rear axle before you stop and not smoking the tires.

Keep in mind you don't NEED any of this stuff to run. It all just makes your life easier and saves money.

 

thats where we have ours !!!

 

I'm with JFaulk, why would you want a dump on your front axle. Your trailer
would still turn the same only difference is that you would not have as much
pressure on that front axle.

When you dump the back axle the trailer only turns on the front one leaving
the rear axle to just glide over the ground saving your tires.

 

now ours is setup for our needs. it may not work for others but works for what we need it to do . besides we cant turn shorter no matter how we do it !!!!

 

allow me, i think you and my boyfriend are from the same old school . thats they way he explained it to me when i was mentioning this thread to him. he has been driving for 45 years.

 

Whatever works for you is great, not sure how you can't turn shorter it's simple physics. You move the pivot point forward, your going to turn shorter.

Yes it does turn the same as a 53. Keep in mind the pivot point of the trailer is the center between the axles. So a 48' spread axle trailer with the front axle lifted or dumped turn's on the 48' point. (of course minus the kingpin setting) a 53' tandem slid to the rear makes the center of the tandem roughly the same as a 48' since the pivot point is between the 2 axles. Trailer is 53' over all, center of the tandem (pivot point) is about 4' from the rear of the trailer which makes them almost identical in a turn. Drop the front axle of the spread and the pivot is back between the spread at 43', dump the rear and it's at the 38' mark.

Also your comment that "any trailer backs or turns easier with the last axle all the way back" all depends on where your trying to back. Straight line? Sure the longer the trailer wheel base more forgiving (anyone who's tried to back a jetski trailer with a 4dr long bed pickup will agree, sneeze and you've jackknifed) However if your trying to turn around a sharp tight corner the shorter the better.

Your preference may work for you but 99% of all spread axle trailers running around with dump valves are on the rear axle. Why? Because the purpose is maneuverability, stretching the trailer out by dumping the front is counter productive. I put a front axle lift on to save tires when running empty, it makes a huge difference getting around town.