Today I tow two trailers on a 60 mile loop to see witch one performs better behind a midsize suv. For Everyday Man Merch Check out my store shop.spreadshi...
You helped make up my mind. I've got a Toyota 4Runner and am shipping for a trailer to tow a KRX1000. That machine is right on the edge of weighing too much for a single axle with the derated 2990lb GVWR. I was wondering how much worse a heavier tandem axle trailer would be on fuel mileage, and I guess that's a non-issue. Having brakes and the ability to get off the road safely if a tire blows out are also huge factors with a tandem axle trailer.
Perfect video for what I was looking for. I’ve got a single axle and a tandem axle, and we used to have two side-by-sides. We’ve sold them and bought one four seater, and I was trying to decide which trailer to use. I am using a weight distribution hitch with sway bars, which I think will make a significant difference on either trailer it is installed with, but the fuel economy difference is surprising. Might as well use that better tandem axle trailer. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
So good! Thank you for this comparison. I have a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder that can tow 2700kg (6000 pounds) and this video was super helpful to show me that I can easily tow a tandem axle trailer. Much appreciated.
Thankyou so much for the comparisons of the axles. I am interested in buying a travel trailer and didn’t really know if I should get the single axle or the dual axle. Thankyou for the informative video 😊 I have a jeep Cherokee 2022
There's a number of factors involved, but normally, longer the trailer, the more stable it is, depending on the axle locations. Now I do prefer pulling double axle trailers at 80 mph then single axles. Single axle boat trailers pull pretty good though.
Thanks for the vid. My 2 cents, with proper axle placement a single axle pulls the same as a tandem. I have a 20' tandem and a 16' single and the only difference is their load capacity they both track straight and ZERO sway.
Great video and unexpected result.... The other thing to mention is loading unloading tandem is much easier and more predictable, especially with smaller vehicle hooked up. One benefit having single axle is how easy to move it around by hand... and this is probably the only benefit....
Thank you for all the information on tandem and single axle trailers although the video had me holding on to the toilet seat as you're crossing the bridge with a single axle. I'll definitely look for a kingdom axle now.
Thanks for taking the time to put together such a good video. This video pretty much was made to order for me. I'm shopping for one to haul my UTV and you helped me out with my decision considerations.
I haven’t even finished watching the video yet and you get a comment and a thumbs up sir. I saw the beard icon and heard your accent and knew this would be gold. Appreciate your time sir, many thanks!
This is the best video I have found that fits my thoughts. I have 2 single axles trailers (6×10, 5×8) and the bigger one was total a few weeks ago so I order a 77x12 tandem so I could have a heavier and bigger trailer that fits my needs. It would be tow with a 2017 explorer a lo t ot times and was wondering about which would pull better. I knew about tandem being better but I thought it would hurt the mpg a lot. Thanks man for taking the time and making this very informative and helpful videos.
I just discovered your video single vs tandem. I have been looking at the very question you tested with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I have a single axle trailer and a Grand Cherokee with the Hemi. I am considering purchasing a tandem axle trailer. The short wheel base of the Jeep was causing me to focus only on the shorter single axle as I heard the saying a bigger trailer is like the tail wagging the dog. Just like you said the steering on my Jeep caused my trailer to jump around especially in a sweeping curve. With your comparison I feel like I can make a much better and informed decision. Thank you so much for your video.
I've towed both for 10s of thousands of miles. I own both. I wouldn't flip for the difference in the way they handle or the mileage I get with either one. The load I need to carry dictates which one I choose use at the time. If I could only own one or the other, it would of course be the tandem. Not because it handles any better, but because of the load it can carry.
Thank you for this. I have a diesel truck which is more than capable of pulling the extra weight, but I almost bought a single-axle trailer thinking I would get better gas mileage.
Great video. My 5.7 Grand Cherokee just pulled my 24ft pontoon about 1200 miles round trip on a single axle trailer. Avg 10.9 mpg at 65ish mph and the trailer sway was noticeable but not unmanageable. There were a couple times where the trailer felt like it was wagging just a bit too much, but kept the Jeep straight, and she followed on up. Just remember safe towing practices and you will be fine.
Very helpful thank you. I was dead set on a single axle due to price point. I will be using the trailer to do just that haul my sxs. Guess I will be biting the bullet on the tandem axle trailer
Nice video and good experiment. I have a 7'x10' single axle and I've traveled long distances with it. That trailer tracks very true and I've never had any trouble with wobble. I think it depends on the single axle trailer and the tow vehicle (above commenter talked about a jeep that was jacked up with big tires--that's not gonna pull ANYTHING good). Of course, 70 mph is pushing the limits on speed with either of these trailers. I'm in Virginia. In VA, if you have a 2nd axle, you MUST have brakes which means you need a brake controller. Also in VA, brakes mean the trailer must be safety inspected--yearly. The other warning for tandems with SUVs, you can get them overloaded (for the tow vehicle) pretty easily. I think most tandem trailers will carry more than most SUVs can (safely) pull. Whenever I see an SUV pulling a tandem axle trailer (camper or cargo) my first thought if there's any kind of load on the trailer is that's too much for the SUV.
My side by side weighs about 1,800 pounds and a bit more if loaded with spare tire etc. I can’t seem to find a single axle trailer with brakes OR the load capacity I need. Thank you very much for this video - my experience with trailers is limited and it the advantages of a tandem axle never occurred to me.
@@edmondlau511 Mission aluminum dual axle 6-1/2” x 14” trailer with brakes. 4-1/2 hour trip Downeast with lot of hills went well. Friend borrowed it to move a ton of stuff and said the dual axles made backing up and maneuvering so much easier. I am very glad I didn’t listen to the “you’ll be fine with landscape trailer from Tractor Supply”.
@@chipsterb4946 I'm going with a dual axle 6'x12' this week. I only have a Highlander which can tow 5,000 pounds but I'd rather tow less in the trailer now and upgrade to a truck later than to have to upgrade to a truck and upgrade the trailer later. Thanks for the quick response.
@@edmondlau511 hi - I was torn between the Highlander and the 4Runner as a tow vehicle. My Subaru wasn’t going to cut it (please laugh). Both Toyotas are rated at 5,000 pounds. My total load is somewhat under 3,400 pounds and I wouldn’t want to pull much more than that with the 4Runner which has more torque and weighs a couple hundred pounds more than the Highlander. On a long trip with lots of big hills I had to switch to “S4” at least half the time. If you have a new Highlander with that 8-speed transmission, it’s going to be shifting gears a LOT unless you live in Florida. I’m not trying to discourage you - I mistakenly thought “oh 5,000 pound rating so I’ll be great.” My 4Runner is fine with 3,500. For trips under 30 minutes and flatter country 5,000 pounds would be more realistic. Before I forget - I got a Redarc brake controller. Install went OK after reading and watching multiple videos. Fantastic product from Redarc, including a wiring harness specific to my “truck”.
@@chipsterb4946 my Highlander does have the 8 speed. I travel between west Texas and Florida. I was only going to use it for a few months before getting either a Taco or Ranger. The 4Runner kind of shocked me with the same towing capacity as the Highlander. I’d really like to get one of the new Sequoias but the price tag is scary. They can tow 9,000 😯
Some may say pulling a heavier tandem trailer is harder on your suv, but if you get the same or better gas mileage, doesn’t that mean it may be easier on your vehicle?
I could use a dual axle trailer to tow my SxS but I settled for a single axle. Two reasons: 1) I got if for $400. 2) I don't have to register it every year (AZ). My trailer gross weight is right at 2700 lbs plus any added cargo I'm carring in my SxS. I like the dual axle because each tire carries 1/4 the gross weight vs 1/2 for the single axle trailer. Maybe less rolling resistace with the dual axle trailer explains the slight better fuel economy. The experts tell us that we should have proprly inflated tires on our cars for better fuel mileage. Under inflated tires (similar to over loaded tires) isn't good for mileage.
Nice run down, rule I learned and live by. Get the biggest trailer your truck can town and keep withing its weight. Longer duel acres are more stable and the farther from the hitch the axles are the easier it is to reverse. Inputs are much less finicky. My next trailer is a tri ax 21x8
You nailed it. I pulled a small single axle with my pickup & never had any issues. Then I coincidentally got a utv and a Jeep Wrangler around the same time. Let’s just say a 4 hr ride was clenched steering wheel. So stressful. Idk why but it didn’t occur to me to try pulling utv with pickup to see if difference. The Jeep was lifted with big tires so the steering was awful even without trailer. I’m back to driving a pickup truck & already looking for dual axle. Also if you get a flat with single I worried about that utv up there causing uncontrollable sway.
You havent mention about turning Dual axles can have issues ar full lock and also you cant really move around your yard without hooking it up. which is somewhat of a pain. I have to jack knife my tandem to park it looks like a wheels about to break off. Also how long a trailer is signficantly impacts how it tows being shorter doesnt help it.
I’m buying my first toy in my life and it’s going to be the Can-Am Defender Max Limited. It’s going to be used to take the grand kids for rides out at the cabin. I’m thinking I’m going to go with a 7’x16’ open aluminum trailer. What’s your thoughts?
Thanks for this! I have an VW atlas with the same towing capacity! I’ve been looking at light weight trailers single vs tandem and this has helped a lot. Only difference is I have a hog Can am that’s weighs about 2000 pounds loaded. So still looking light weight but def going for tandem
Excellent video. Do you think the added weight and length of the dual axle trailer also added to the stability? For example, do you think a 16’ beefier single axle trailer would pull any better than yours? Reason I ask is that I’m a boat guy, and most boats under 19’ only come with a single axle trailer. Im also considering a Grand Cherokee for the job.
I have a 20' express bay boat on a single axle and it pulls really well. I think it's the nature of the utility trailer with the 2 gate ramps and very un aerodynamic load that makes it unstable and not pull very good.
@@EverydayMan cool, good to know brother. Just to clarify, the Grand Cherokee does well with your boat? Or do you use your Ram for that, and just mean that the boat trailer does well in general?
I tow 16ft airstream 3500# loaded out single axle with f150 5.0 3.31 gears 15mpg all day long no weight distribution hitch no sway bar and never had any sway issues ever never tow over 60 mph only problem it is boring on long flat straight aways .
Wow surprised me too thought tandems would have a lot more resistance. awesome video thanks for that. Yes the tandom axle looked solid and more stable. Single axle trailers make me nervous especially if you have a blow out.
Single axle have much less likly a blowout. Blowout happens when a tire lose pressure, then the tire run with low air or flat and heats up, hot rubber lose stability and they fall apart, they doesnt explode. On a tandem trailer it is difficult to recognise if a tire lose air while driving, specialy when not fully loadet, they drive until they have a blowout, with single axle they recognise it and change the tire before bad things happends.
@@jonasstahl9826 I am confused how is it possible to much less likely have a blow out on a single axle? Tandem axles you have 4 tires one blows you have three more to carry you through and it is more stable than a single axle . If you have a blow out on a single axle you have one tire that is good, you can lose control and jack knife your trailer. You will eventually notice the a blow out on a tandem axle what are the odds of two or three blow outs happening at once on a tandem axle
@@contactusece7769 Like I said, blowout happens when you drive with not enough air, because they get hot and dismantel. When you have a low air in a wheel to do bad maintance or a screw on a single axle trailer you can simple spot that because the trailer leans a little sideways. When you have tandem axle the trailer doesnt leans sideways because the second tire carry that weight, you cant detect the tire with low air until they blowout. The problem is when one tire has not enough air the other has to carry the weight and is probably overload. When the first tire that has low air before blowout and dismantel the second tire is also pretty hot because it was overloaded, and get damaged by the pieces of the tire that blowout first, the chance is high that this also fail. Know you has all tires lost at one side like you have when a single axle trailer has a blowout, the different is you cant prevent this on an tandem axle trailer because you are not able to spot this.
@@jonasstahl9826 Are you kidding? Not sure where you are getting your data. Blowout happens whether you have a single or double. You are in better hands when a dually blowout compared to a single. You must have some magical powers to be able to feel or know that a tire on a single axle is about to blow. Lol
Glad I could help. Im really proud of this video and how it came out. I couldn't have been more transparent and surprised how it came out. Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Bought a single axle trailer for a small lightweight race car years ago - never again! It was AWFUL! Even with correct tongue weight, it swayed on concrete grooved pavement and with every semi tractor I passed by.
Good video but you forgot to mention one of the most important issues with a 2 axle trailer is the braking distance will be greatly increased over a single especially with a smaller vehicle.
I wouldn't say greatly if even noticeable. But it is so much better to pull it is definitely worth it. If any evasive maneuvers ever need to be made, I would rather have the dual axle.
Well, if you think a tandem axle trailer gets you better mileage than a single axle, then why not get a triple axle trailer. It will pull even better than a tandem and with better mileage.
