When towing trailers, ensuring a smooth ride and balanced load is important, especially for those who frequently haul heavy loads. Tandem axle trailer suspension plays an important role in achieving this desired towing experience, offering enhanced load balance and improved ride quality.
But what makes this suspension setup so essential, and how do you choose the right suspension kit for your trailer? In this article, we'll discuss the key features of tandem axle trailer suspensions so you can find the best fit for your towing needs.
Does My Trailer Need A Tandem Suspension?
Choosing the right suspension for your trailer is a critical decision that impacts ride quality, load balance, and overall towing safety. A tandem axle suspension, like the Timbren Silent Ride, could enhance your towing experience. But how do you know if it's the right choice?
Understanding Tandem Suspensions
Tandem axle suspensions consist of two axles mounted in close proximity, allowing for better weight distribution across more wheels. This setup provides several advantages, particularly for those who frequently haul heavy or uneven loads. By distributing the weight more evenly, a tandem suspension reduces the stress placed on individual axles and tires, which can lead to longer equipment life and improved towing stability.
Key Benefits For Towing
- Enhanced Stability and Control: A tandem suspension's lower ride height, like the Silent Ride's less than 15-inch height from frame to ground, lowers the center of gravity, contributing to more stable and controlled towing.
- Superior Ride Quality: Tandem suspensions are proven to reduce road shock more effectively than single axles. They offer a smoother ride by absorbing impacts and vibrations, making the journey more comfortable for both the driver and cargo.
- Flexibility in Rig Design: Tandem suspensions offer options for different axle types and can accommodate larger tires and brakes, allowing you to customize your trailer to meet specific needs.
Is A Tandem Suspension Right For You?
Consider a tandem suspension upgrade if:
- You frequently haul heavy or variable loads and need enhanced load stability.
- You want a smoother towing experience with reduced road shock.
- You are looking for a durable and low-maintenance suspension system for your utility trailer, boat trailer, or cargo trailer.
Why Not Just Buy A Stronger Single Axle?
While it might seem tempting to choose a stronger single axle for its simplicity, a tandem axle suspension like the Timbren Silent Ride often provides greater benefits. Let's explore why investing in a tandem suspension could be a more advantageous choice.
Tires
To accommodate heavier loads with a single axle, you would need to switch to higher-capacity tires. These tires tend to be larger in diameter, which can affect the overall bed height of the trailer and require additional adjustments to the trailer's setup. Larger tires may also impact the trailer's aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
By contrast, a tandem axle suspension distributes the load across more tires without the need for significantly larger wheels, maintaining a reasonable bed height and overall trailer design.
Safety
With a single axle system, a damaged tire can quickly become a major issue, potentially causing instability or accidents. Tandem axles provide an extra level of safety. If one tire is damaged, the additional tire on each side allows for more controlled handling and the ability to safely pull over or find suitable assistance without jeopardizing the stability of your haul.
Load Distribution
A tandem axle suspension distributes the trailer's load across a broader portion of the frame, adding strength and improving stability and handling. This even load distribution helps prevent undue stress on specific parts of the trailer, reducing wear and extending the lifespan of both tires and axles.
Ride Quality
Tandem axles significantly enhance ride quality. Thanks to the load-sharing equalizer, the load is distributed over multiple points, allowing the suspension to absorb bumps and potholes smoothly. This system helps minimize bouncing or jarring, offering a smoother and more comfortable towing experience that protects both the trailer and its contents during transit.
While single axles may appear to be a simpler solution, the benefits of a tandem axle suspension system like Timbren's Silent Ride, from improved safety and load distribution to superior ride quality, make it a top consideration for those who regularly tow heavy loads.
Which Tandem System Is Right For My Trailer?
Trailer axles and the accompanying hardware are readily available and fairly standard. The challenge is to choose the best tandem suspension setup for your trailer. Let’s look at some of the various options.
Leaf Spring
The leaf-spring suspension system is the most common and also the least expensive. When looking for a tandem leaf-spring setup, the choice comes down to either “Slipper” style (fastened with a bolt at one end) or “Double-Eye” (fastened with a bolt at both ends). As a rule of thumb, think “Slipper” for heavy loads (6000 lb axles and more) and “Double-Eye” type for lighter applications (4000 lb axles and less).
An equalizer must be used to place both leaf springs in tandem. This will help distribute weight more evenly between the two axles.
Torsion Axles
Two torsion axles side by side should be referred to as “Twin Axles” rather than “Tandem Axles.” Why? Because the two axles do not interact with each other. Therefore, they can’t equalize (load share) when the road is uneven.
If you hit a bump or pothole, the front axle will take the entire load, forcing the rear axle up into the air. Depending on your capacity, this might become a serious overload issue. While it’s true that torsion axles handle overload conditions better than leaf springs, the tires and the frame do not.
Hybrid Equalizer Using Rubber
One of the advantages of using rubber torsion axles is the vibration damping. Similarly, by adding rubber to the equalizer for a leaf-spring tandem setup, much of the same effect is achieved. The rubber provides vibration damping and equalizing, allowing the axles to share the load when the road isn’t level while offering vibration damping.
Center Pivot / Walking Beam
An entirely different approach to a tandem axle setup is the Center Pivot – also called the “Walking Beam” suspension – to accommodate equalization. A good example of this type is Timbren’s Silent Ride Suspension.
This is a quality system, but it is more expensive than a conventional leaf-spring suspension. Since much of the load is concentrated in a relatively small area, the trailer frame might need to be strengthened where the hanger is installed.
Tandem Axle System Mounting Tips For The Most Stability
Achieving optimal stability in your tandem axle trailer is vital for safe and efficient towing. Proper placement of the trailer axles along the frame determines your trailer's performance on the road. Let's explore important mounting tips to ensure your tandem axle system is set up for maximum stability.
Strategic Axle Placement
The placement of your trailer axles can significantly improve towing safety. Proper axle placement ensures that the trailer maintains a balanced distribution of weight, preventing undue stress on both the trailer and the towing vehicle.
When axles are mounted too far to the rear, the trailer hitch bears excessive weight, leading to unnecessary wear on the tow vehicle's suspension and tires. Alternatively, if axles are placed too far forward, the tongue weight becomes insufficient, causing the trailer to sway and potentially leading to dangerous driving conditions.
Finding The Right Mounting Point
For both single and tandem axle setups, the recommended mounting point is 40% of the length of the trailer bed, measured from the back end (length x 0.4). In a tandem axle configuration, this 40% mark should align with the center of the equalizer. This positioning allows for balanced load distribution, enhancing both stability and handling.
The Role Of The Trailing Arm
A trailing arm is a particularly stable method for mounting an axle, contributing to the stable feel of torsion axles. While torsion axles are known for their smooth ride quality, they lack load equalization when used in twin setups. Therefore, while they offer a stable ride, they might not provide the load-sharing benefits of a tandem axle system with an equalizer.
Importance Of Using An Equalizer
When two leaf-spring axles are mounted without an equalizer, the back axle functions as a leading arm, which is inherently less stable. However, by connecting these axles with a central equalizer, stability is significantly improved.
The equalizer kit helps distribute the load more effectively between the axles, reducing stress and improving ride quality. This setup allows the trailer to better absorb shocks from uneven road surfaces, resulting in a smoother and safer towing experience.
By carefully following these mounting tips, purchasing the right trailer parts, and considering the axle placement location, you can ensure that your tandem axle trailer provides the stability and safety needed for a reliable towing experience.
Timbren's Silent Ride Suspension Is The Ultimate Tandem Axle Trailer Upgrade
For those seeking to enhance their trailer's towing performance, Timbren's Silent Ride Suspension is the ultimate tandem trailer axle suspension kit. This innovative system combines advanced technology and design to deliver unmatched ride quality and stability. Let's explore the features that make the Silent Ride Suspension a top choice for trailer owners.
Easy Installation
One of the Silent Ride Suspension's standout benefits is its straightforward installation process. Designed with convenience in mind, this tandem axle kit comes with pre-drilled hangars, pre-cambered axles, and pre-assembled hubs, brakes, and axles. The ease of installation allows for quick upgrades, enabling trailer owners to experience enhanced performance without delay.
Built-In Camber
The Silent Ride Suspension incorporates a built-in camber, optimizing wheel alignment for improved contact with the road. This design enhances tire performance, promoting even wear and reducing the risk of premature tire failure. The built-in camber also contributes to the overall stability of the trailer, ensuring a safer towing experience across a variety of terrains.
Equalization For Load Distribution
One key feature of Timbren's Silent Ride is its effective load equalization capability. The system's design ensures that weight is evenly distributed between the axles, minimizing stress on individual tires and parts. This equalization provides added stability and prevents issues such as trailer sway, resulting in a more controlled and confident towing experience.
Added Stability
Stability is safety when towing heavy loads, and the Silent Ride Suspension delivers with its innovative design. By maintaining a lower ride height, the system significantly enhances the trailer's stability, reducing the risk of rollovers or loss of control. This stability is especially helpful when navigating challenging road conditions or when making sudden maneuvers.
Quiet Rubber Ride
Thanks to its rubberized construction, Silent Ride lives up to its name by offering a quiet towing experience. This design effectively dampens vibrations and road noise, creating a more peaceful ride for drivers and reducing the wear and tear on the trailer. The quiet rubber ride not only enhances comfort but also protects valuable cargo from the jarring effects of rough roads.
Smooth Handling - Loaded Or Unloaded
Whatever the load, Timbren's Silent Ride Suspension provides consistently smooth handling. Whether your trailer is fully loaded or empty, this suspension system ensures optimal performance and reduced impact from bumps and potholes. Its versatility makes it ideal for a wide range of towing applications, from heavy-duty commercial use to travel adventures.
Timbren's Silent Ride Suspension is a comprehensive solution for upgrading tandem axle trailers. Its easy installation, built-in camber, effective equalization, and enhanced stability create a superior towing experience, providing drivers with the confidence and comfort they desire on the road.
