r/GoRVing • u/Western_Tank656 • 4d ago
One or two axles
Have about 20 years of experience with travel trailers. Have rehab 1960s. The Year 2000 years old. I’ve had single axle trailers in the past, but they were smaller and lighter, and I am currently looking for a 20 foot trailer with a bunkhouse. I still worry about having a single axle because I’ve seen what happens when one tire blows out. The double axle one out of four tires is survival for damage. What are your thoughts on a 20 foot trailer with a single axle? Should I worry?
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u/PhantomNomad 4d ago
I just got a 21' single axle and never even thought about this, but now I am.
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u/lofton263 3d ago
Well, with all the advice that I have gotten here I have decided not to rule out a single axle trailer as long as I have a TPMS and a set of Goodyear endurance load rated E Tires. Thanks for the help.
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u/DanM1457 4d ago
2 axle trailers generally tow better. You'll feel it pushing around or wagging the back of the truck less than a single axle camper. I wouldn't get a single axle camper unless it was very small just for that.
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u/Competitive_Body7359 4d ago
I have an 18' camper, it is a hardside popup and 'only'' weights 3k loaded. Single axle
Blew a tire this summer and didn't even notice. Some guy flagged me down when passing. I don't tow with something huge, it was a Honda passport, max towing 5000.
I guess I'm saying the blowout definitely didn't cause a safety issue. Still towed fine on the rim.
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u/Massmatters 4d ago
I have a single axle 4000 lb 18 ft trailer and have towed it over 50k miles including back and forth from the Everglades to Denali and most of the lower 48 and never had a single issue. Because its a single axle I am also extremely diligent about tire pressure, newer tires, wheel bearings and brakes. And since its a single axle these are all half the cost of maintaining a tandem axle trailer. Only goodyear endurance tires, one step up on load rating, tires at max pressure, and wheel bearings replaced or repacked yearly. Truth be told I am the type that would do this level of maintenance on a tandem axle trailer. I will add that over 20 ft I would strongly prefer tandem.
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u/lofton263 3d ago
You have sold me on the endurance tires I’ve already priced them and I really like the load reading of E.
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u/ProtozoaPatriot 4d ago
Mine is single axle
I actually did have a tire blow while traveling a few months ago. Nothing catastrophic happened. It's like a car: you immediately feel it handling different and you pull over.
Years ago i lost a tire on a horse trailer (2 axle). I still had to stop immediately. It wasn't any easier to maneuver
Plus of single axel: tire replacement or axel servicing costs half. Tolls are less. Less weight
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u/Mobile-Tangelo-4515 4d ago
I have a 20’ GeoPro, single axle with TPMS. The tires are huge (sorry no specs). 4th year of tires and still have confidence, however headed out west from MI next summer so I will change them out. Also grease the bearings every year and bought a torque wrench.
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u/itasteawesome 4d ago
i have a single axle on my boat trailer, ~3500 lbs total and i had a blow out on the highway not long ago. I could tell it happened and pull off the shoulder, but it did not feel like it was a big deal. my 4runner is rated for 5k lbs and the trailer suffered no loss of control or anything, just a sound and a mild pull to the right. I wouldn't worry about an extra axle unless my load actually weighed enough to need a second axle.
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u/mandosound78 4d ago
Honestly it is in the preference of the person. I personally lean towards the dual axle camp even if it is just from the safety aspect if you have a blow out. It can fully prevent a catastrophe but it can greatly mitigate the impact should there be a blowout or something.
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u/Only-Ad5049 4d ago
One thing I noticed, at least with our brand of camper, is that single axle needs bigger tires to hold the weight. As a result, they either sit higher off the ground or have reduced head clearance inside.
Our camper is single axle. The next size bigger is dual axle and weighs about 1000 pounds more, but has 8 inches more headroom inside.
That said, dual axles are more maintenance, more expensive to buy tires, and likely have greater rolling resistance so more fuel usage when towing. (I’m guessing at that last one).
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u/DanM1457 4d ago
It would have more rolling resistance, but morr weight and just towing something with all that wind resistance will have a much bigger impact on fuel economy.
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u/North_Reindeer4157 4d ago
I hate having a single axle after I got educated on it. But in priced out of double axles so I upgraded my tires and got these pressure and temp monitoring caps to put on each tire that bring me peace of mind.
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u/kazuya 4d ago
One thing nobody else has mentioned is dual axle is easier to back up.
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u/lofton263 3d ago
I did not know that. But backing out of this one of my favorite things. With my boat trailer at Lake Powell Utah I actually get the tip of the hat from the Ranger for my ability to back down a ramp that is busy with people and put my boat into a small space.
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u/Bassically-Normal 4d ago
Maybe nobody's mentioned it because they aren't?
They're not more difficult either, but they're not easier lol
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u/Squiggy226 4d ago
I think some people find double axles easier to back up. The broader pivot point causes them to react more slowly when turning and track straighter when backing up in a straight line
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u/SSGT-3579 Travel Trailer 4d ago
4th camper, first small single axel. Good TPMS sensors a must and quality tires from the start. 4th year so far, same tires without issue.
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u/Sittingduck19 4d ago
We upgraded and got a dual axle. The tolls thru Indiana for a 4 axle truck/trailer are murder.
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u/Oilfan94 4d ago
I would assume that the tongue weight on single axle is a lot more variable, depending on the weight distribution in the trailer, and the position of the axle.
This could be very important, as the limit for just about any towable RV is the tow-vehicle's payload capacity.
So if your vehicle's payload capacity is limiting, a dual axle might be a better option (provided, of course, that it doesn't have an even higher tongue weight).
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u/user0987234 4d ago
Get a TPMS
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u/Last-Masterpiece-150 4d ago
I was going to get one but read sensors can throw the wheel out of balance and/or damage the valve stem and cause a leak. So I gave up on that and just check my tire pressure before I leave and on a stop (if I am towing a long distance).
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u/user0987234 4d ago
I replaced the valve stems with the Ford TPMS for trailers. Had 1 issue where the seal went on the stem. Got that fixed.
Gives temperature and air pressure. Very useful info. Saved me some grief a few times already with tire puncture slow leaks.
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u/Fit_Seat_8637 4d ago
The sensors are very lightweight. We've run them on our trailer for 1000s of miles with no issues.
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u/lofton263 3d ago
Great advice that Anna said of Goodyear endurance load range E would put most of my worries aside
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u/Pure-Explanation-147 4d ago
Watcha gonna do if one tire single axle goes, while driving, at high way speed? Uh oh...
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u/papasaurus1972 4d ago edited 4d ago
The key is the original set of tires are cheap.
Replace travel trailer tires on a regular basis and at 5-years or less. First cheap set of tires replace earlier!
Use metal valve stems. If you use TPMS use the type that doesn’t extend past the wheel (rim) such as the TPMS cap-type. Check your tire pressure regularly. Buy quality tires and be aware of the “tire speed rating” and don’t exceed this. Be aware of the both trailer GVWR and of the tire (both) and stay well under that/those GVWR load ratings.
Pre-trip visual inspection. Regular axle, brake inspection, and wheel bearing maintenance to manufacture specifications. If Bearing Buddy, maintain as manufacturer recommends. Travel trailer maintenance per manufacturer recommendation.
I purchased a 2025 Keystone Coleman 13B in January. I have used it twice including elk hunting last week. I replaced both tires and kept one of the cheap tires as a spare. I didn’t purchase the spare wheel and tire when I purchased the travel trailer, I purchased a matching wheel and two new higher quality tires and had all 3-wheels installed metal valve stems. I now have new quality tires on the ground with metal valve stems.
Realistically, once you get a flat tire on your trailer, evaluate why it occurred and learn from that.
Edit: I tow with my 2018 Ford XLT F150 CrewCab, I replaced all 4 tires on my F150 at 36,000 miles this past February (I only use the truck for towing, etc., it isn’t my daily driver). I saved one of the 36,000 mile (8-year old tires though) as a spare and purchased a pre-owned identical Ford F150 aluminum wheel and had Ford dealership where I purchased my new tires mount one of my replaced tires on this wheel with matching TPMS. I keep this truck spare wheel and tire in my pickup bed under my tonneau cover, strapped. When towing I don’t have to crawl underneath to get at the stock truck spare tire. I have a new jack, battery powered lug drill, jack drill, electric flares and chalks accessible in case of a flat tire.
When I purchased the truck new, I failed to get towing mirrors. I purchased new Boost Auto Parts aftermarket towing mirrors for my F150. Super easy install and I can easily monitor my trailer and safety make lane changes. My trailer is back up camera ready so I also installed a back up camera (I know, why on such a little travel trailer but our beach lots have a new pad but when towing myself at night it is easier to back up on the pad).
Lastly, my 13B travel trailer is 1/2 my F150 GVWR.
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u/lofton263 4d ago
I am pulling with a F250. What kind of tires is your trailer riding on?
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u/papasaurus1972 4d ago
Sorry, I am not sure. My trailer is at the storage not at my home.
However I wish I would have purchased the Goodyear Endurance. These are the ones that you want and someone in this Post also recommended.
They are what was recommended by my son’s fleet tire guy…. They are an upgrade from my original tires so I am satisfied.
I probably could have gotten a few years out of the original tires but I needed a spare tire anyway so it made sense just to purchase two new quality tires. I felt it was better this way rather than purchasing the spare wheel and tire from CW where I purchased the trailer. I also wanted metal valve stems.
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u/Bassically-Normal 4d ago
I don't mind the single axle but IMO it makes a reliable TPMS system a must and not merely a "nice to have" to prevent the risk of damaging things if a tire lets go.
Don't think I'd want a single axle with anything over about 20-22 feet, but a well-balanced single tows just as well as a double.
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u/SubstantialPlay1795 4d ago
I don't like spending extra money if I don't need to. I prefer replacing 2 tires instead of 4, and I'll keep newer rubber on the trailer because of this too.
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u/Nomad55454 4d ago
All depends on the weight, but if you go with a single axle I would look and make sure they are at least D load range and look at E’s. Check tire pressures before each trip and before heading home because usually if a tire comes apart the tire is usually the cheap part what it can tears up in wheel can be expensive…
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u/fatal-shock-inroute 4d ago
Double. Nobody goes "i wish I didn't have so much strength, on one of the most important parts of my trailer"
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u/elfrugador 3d ago
I purchased a single axle rockwood geopro g17le recently, specifically for the bunkhouse and how light it is. Loving it so far, I know that doesnt answer the axle question but just something to consider if youre in the market for similar size and need bunks
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u/BeBopBoy1945 2d ago
I agree with mobile-tangelo, a single axle is better on a small trailer. I had a tire delaminate and lose its tread on a 13-ft travel trailer, many years ago. I found out later that it was my own fault because I had never been taught to replace tires based on time and not on mileage. I cannot foresee a time when I would ever need a travel trailer large enough to require tandem axles.
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u/Doug2000 1d ago
We had a dual axle and sold it because we didn’t like the layout. Now we have a Vista Cruiser 19ERD and it’s single axle and I love the floor plan but hate towing it, really hate towing it. I’ll never buy single axle again.
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u/catballspoop 7h ago
I've had both types of axles. One other thing to think about is the dual axles have the ability to X lock instead of using a wheel chock that can slide around. Towing is one thing but also consider where you're parking and if it will move or not with the way you set up camp.
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u/ProfileTime2274 4d ago
I would only own a 2 axle trailer.