Community Forums

fwschreiber · 09-21-2021, 01:26 PM

How serious is the risk of a single axle trailer rolling over if a tire blows out on the highway?

Old-Biscuit · 09-21-2021, 02:08 PM

Slim......

Tire blows out....rides on rim

Loose the whole wheel assembly and trailer drops down onto ground...drags/spindle digs in ---then you might have an issue

dmctlc · 09-21-2021, 02:32 PM

Now this is what we came upon on RT. 26 in Columbia NC if I recall during our trip back to NE for a visit this summer. We were heading from Summerville NC state to our next stop in Gladys, Va of Rt. 81.
I don't think it was an axle that gave out though... I see the Tractor Trailer park on the side with Drivers side front end damage. Not sure if he hit the TT or the TT hit him... no idea. Good news seems the owners might be out walking around the flipped TT and it's tow vehicle. Glad it wasn't me on that side... I think we saw traffic back up for many miles...
Though as luck we have it on our return trip to Florida we ran into similar traffic due to a MVA.
Anyway be safe and prepared.

HarryStone · 09-21-2021, 04:48 PM

If you get into trailer wag bad enough, that is exactly what will happen.

JIMNLIN · 09-25-2021, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fwschreiber

How serious is the risk of a single axle trailer rolling over if a tire blows out on the highway?

Little to non has been my experience with a blow out or a run flat or lost the wheel.

fwschreiber · 09-26-2021, 08:37 AM

Thanx to all who replied. Still leaning to a double axle trailer, but nice to know a single axle isn't asking for catastrophe!

charliez · 09-27-2021, 06:07 AM

I went with a single axle this time. I wanted smaller and simpler. No issues. There's too many factors involved with trailer, mostly people not knowing what they are doing and trying to fix it with gadgets they buy instead of learning how to. Just having a single axle is not ever going to cause a roll over. Look closer at this, it's a double axle pictured.

charliez · 09-27-2021, 06:10 AM

FYI...when I got my single axle TT, I knew it had cheap tires sized at the bare minimum and that I would be replacing them. I watched them and maintained them as close as i could. leaving a park, keeping an eye on them, one started to wiggle as it rolled. Stopped and looked an it was coming apart, like I expected, so they both got their planned replacement o that trip.

My maintenance and keeping an eye on things, and properly planning the replacement kept me out of a mess.

Toby Dog · 09-27-2021, 06:18 AM

Only problem I can see with a single axle is the inability to limp it very far if you need to. We had several when we started RVing but never had an issue. Don't buy cheap tires.

PulNSerenity · 09-27-2021, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toby Dog

Only problem I can see with a single axle is the inability to limp it very far if you need to. We had several when we started RVing but never had an issue. Don't buy cheap tires.

I hear this quite often. If you have a blow out, it is unlikely you are going to be able to limp along without tearing up something in the process. All of that loose rubber is going to be hitting everything! Brake lines, fenders, other tires, not to mention possibly ruining the aluminum wheel. The only limping that should be going on, is you getting your vehicle off the road & onto the shoulder.

Badjuju · 09-27-2021, 01:31 PM

I can attest to the fact that it doesn't feel at all sketchy, as I just experienced this on a recent trip to NY. The passenger side tire exploded and ripped to shreds at about 65 MPH. Tire came apart so quickly that the rim was dented when it hit the pavement. The trailer did not feel like it was anywhere near tipping over or unstable. I was able to quickly slow the trailer and pull over to the side without any loss of control.

In my case, I was lucky that the tire bits and exposed cords didn't do more damage to the wheel well and undercarriage. As luck would have it, all the wires for the rear of the trailer and the brakes were run down the driver side of the trailer. Had it been that side that blew, I suspect far more damage would have been done.

Scariest part of the whole tire change operation was using the truck jack to lift the trailer--without a dedicated cradle to hold the jack securely to the frame rail, I was holding my breath every time a semi would blow by at 70+ MPH and rock the entire rig. Needless to say, I didn't get any part of my body under the trailer or between the wheel and the undercarriage!!!

charliez · 09-27-2021, 01:36 PM

One thing I've seen is people tend to store their tools for changing tires on the drivers side. They don't use them for camping so camp stuff goes on the passenger side. Then something happens and they have to stand in the roadway to get out a tool needed. Something to think about before you need it.

it helps too to practice changing a tire. Even if it's not flat. At home. With no reason to panic or rush. Figure out what you need and don't need. Figure out the best place to store tools. Figure out if you spare is buried deep into a compartment with tons of junk to remove to get to it.

Before your in a real hurried situation on the side of a hot or raining or freezing or dark busy road.

Arch Hoagland · 09-27-2021, 02:01 PM

I had both passenger tires blow out at the same time on a 27' Komfort travel trailer at about 55 mph. It didn't roll over, however the trailer did begin to sway a bit like the wind was blowing it.

Toby Dog · 09-28-2021, 04:04 AM

"One thing I've seen is people tend to store their tools for changing tires on the drivers side. They don't use them for camping so camp stuff goes on the passenger side. Then something happens and they have to stand in the roadway to get out a tool needed. Something to think about before you need it."

The brainiac that designed our 5er decided to mount the spare standing up and well secured of the road side in the storage. Had a flat, no problem right. Called the local Police to run interference as there was no shoulder. They got there within minutes. I unbolted the spare retainer and discovered that the door on that side was smaller than the tire. I was so happy.