Trailer lift axle - ROI

If a guy ran empty a lot, it would probably be worth it just in fuel savings over the long haul.
I don't know what the initial cost is though.

 

The hard part kit is $500.00 the valve is about $150.00 plus installation.

I run empty %20 of the time and could probably run light enough to use it another %20 of the time.

I haven’t put one on my spread flat but if I buy a new one it will have one. And disk brakes.
Don’t know that it really saves any fuel but guessing it saves on tires on a speed axle. also can save you a little on tolls too.

 

I've been noticing them more and more lately. You'll probably start seeing them more also. As people start using them.

 

Looking at used flatbed trailers there is as small premium if it has a lift axle.

 

I’d for sure have it if I owned a spread axle or 3 axle trailer. A lot of guys have them here in all variations.

 

I see them every day. I put a manual dump on the rear axle of my spread for crab walking into/out of impossible quarries and drop sites. Started strapping the rear axle up in the air just to see and it was up to .75mpg but was easy to flat spot the hanging tires. Glided real good.

Very basic metal skills can build an air lift axle kit. Nothing special about it.

 

They're catching on with the bigger private fleets near me. Pepsico has a lot of their new dry-vans with auto-lift front tandem axle, for example. Also, a large portion of the O/O flatbedders, potato haulers, tankers, and dumps are going to one or more lift axle, often leaving only one axle on the ground running empty.

 

My old flat deck company had manual air-lifts on almost every newer aluminum high-boy (and pneumatic for that matter). Boss said they cost over $7000 CAD to install and got really upset if he saw a driver running empty with them down.

Most were front lifts on tridems, a handful were centre lifts on tridems. All the quads had center lift and obviously the fourth middle axle. B-trains were front lift or front/rear lift on the leads and front lifts on the pups.

Lots and lots of dry/liquid bulk outfits use them, so there must be some added benefit (since they are heavier, that would impact their total payload space). I personally can't see tire wear impacting the ROI that much, but what do I know, I don't have numbers to run, I just drive the truck.