Choosing axles for race car trailers is the most important decision you will make, as your entire trailer and it’s cargo relies on these axles. When choosing axles, consider the weight of your cargo and the weight of the trailer itself. Make sure that there is ample capacity to haul your race car trailer.
Determining Axle Size and Number
The overall weight of your trailer and its contents must be calculated. It is very important to be accurate because a large error in calculation could cause many problems in the future. Including bent axles and tires blowing at high speeds. If you have a living quarts race trailer you must take into account the weight of all the holdings tanks: black, grey and fresh. Once you add the intended cargo weight and the trailer weight the axles capacity can be determined.
Axle Configuration
Race trailers will have either two or three axles. One reason to go with higher capacity axles is that some highways may charge tolls by the axle. So a trailer with three axles would pay more than two. Also depending what places the trailer may travel, most people think that two axle trailers are easier to get in and out of tight spaces. The triple axle trailer can offer more stability and higher cargo capacity.
So for an example a race team wants to carry one car, 400 pounds of fluids, 800 pounds of tools and 300 pounds of other associated items. Their car weighs 2500 pounds. The team figures to carry all of their items they need a 44′ trailer. A good rule of thumb for a gooseneck trailer weight is 225 pounds per foot. That would require a total axle requirement of 13,900. In this scenario Millennium would likely recommend triple 6,000 axles. Tandem 7,000 would not leave enough capacity if for so reason two cars were cargo or a cargo and 2 engines or a transmission. In addition a 44′ gooseneck trailer would have better resale value because of the additional cargo weight capacity. The triple axles may also add stability.
Axle Sizes
Generally axles come in the following sizes:
- 3,500#
- 5,200#
- 6,000#
- 7,000#
- 8,000#
- 10,000#
For the type of trailer the general public uses, axle capacity is kept under 26,000 due to government regulation. Therefore even if triple 10,000 axles are provided the stated manufacturer GVWR is 26,000#. For tandem 5,200# axles the manufacturer normally down rates this configuration to 9,900# to avoid some government regulation.
Brand Name Axles
Currently there are two main brands of axles being sold:
- AL-KO
- Dexter
Both offer a quality product with great customer service if an issue arises. It is prudent to purchase quality, name brand axles as your cargo is riding on it. If you have $70,000 in a car and support products, it does not make sense to attempt to save $500 and risk $70,000.
Servicing
It is important to service your axles by repacking the bearings with grease. The industry rule of thumb is to do this once per year, but it depends on how much the trailer is driven. Once surpassing 15,000 miles it is prudent to check the bearings and make sure they are in good working order and greased. A bearing failure could cause the hub to fail. During this failure you may lose a tire, rim and damage your trailer. This is another area to consider cost benefit. It is wise to avoid this type of issue because of the huge cost and danger. A tire that comes off the trailer at high speeds can cause property and personal injury.
