Tandem Trailer | Tandem Axle Trailer: What To Know Before You Purchase

If you look on freedictionay.com you’ll find that a tandem trailer is defined as “A trucking rig consisting of a tractor pulling two trailers, one behind the other”. But don’t let that confuse you.

When most of us use the term we’re describing a trailer with two axles – also known as a duel axle or tandem axle trailer. They can be open or enclosed trailers. Tandem axle trailers typically have a higher load capacity than single-axle trailers and normally ride more smoothly. The additional wheels from the second axle also add stability when the trailer is unhitched. Some trailers have three axles and are known as tri axles.

Tandem trailers come in all shapes, sizes and specifications. Some are designed specifically to carry mini machines such as diggers and excavators and will generally have non-slip mesh beds and ride on ramps. Others are specifically designed to carry cars, ATVs (quad trailer), mini machines such as mini diggers or even a New Holland skid steer for example, plant machinery and equipment (known as plant trailer). Then there is an entire category of catering trailers used around the country for the mobile food industry.

Other tandem trailers are built for more general use. A tandem bed trailer for example will have a flat solid bed used for carrying (say) dirt, gravel, garden waste, rocks, household appliances and so on. Some models can accommodate a bolt on manual dump accessory to allow tipping and quick dumping at the offload point. The tipping mechanism involved is usually a scissor or hydraulic jack to raise and lower the bed.

Note that a tandem bike trailer is a difficult product altogether. It describes an attachment that can be added to a standard bike (it is clipped under the seat on the main stem) to convert it into a tandem bike that can carry two people. The attachment comprises a bicycle wheel, pedals and a seat. Tandem bike trailers are sometimes referred to as a trailer bike or a trail-a-bike.

Tips for purchasing the right tandem trailer for your needs:

Ok so now that we've got that cleared up here are some tips on buying a trailer:

• Your first step is to think about the type of load you will be carrying. If you are only planning to transport light loads, maybe you only need a trailer with a single axle. These are less expensive. As a general guide, single axle trailers start at around US1,000 while double axle trailers will start at $3,000 with trailer models able to carrying heavy loads costing considerably more. The load bearing capacity is measured in the US as the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (G.V.W.R.) on the trailer. This is measured as the weight of the unloaded trailer added to the maximum payload (distributed property of course) that the trailer can carry.
• Remember that you may be limited by the towing capacity of the vehicle. Check for this in your driver’s manual.
• Check the kind of hitch you have on your towing vehicle. Most trailers require a hitch that mounts to the vehicle frame (rather than lightweight alternatives that are only attached to a bumper). Most hitches form a pinned ball and socket connection to allow for movement between the towing vehicle and trailer while towing. The two main types of towing hitch are the bartlett ball and swivel pintel hook. Ring feeders are not recommended for heavy toeing and do not have a load rating in some countries.
• Remember that trailer registration is the responsibility of the owner and not the manufacturer.

Finally remember that there are many rental options available. Unless you plan to use the trailer multiple times during the year, renting a tandem trailer may be more cost effective and less hassle. It’s also a good way to test out different models so that you can narrow down which is right for your particular needs.