Double axle feedback

[curtiss]

I upgraded my stock 26M trailer by adding a second axle. I felt it might be interesting to the group to give my impressions of the difference and why I did it. A little background first. I bought my 26M May of 2009 and picked it up in Los Angles at Marina del Rey and towed it home to Sacramento. The trailer and tires were about 7-8 months old. On the second day I blew a tire on the freeway about 60 miles from home. I immediately pulled over to the shoulder without losing control as I was only going about 57 mph. The rim was bent but got new tire on and I eventually made it home but the experience made me wary.

My next long trip was in August to the San Juan Islands. It was about 1700 miles round trip. I pull my boat with a six cylinder 4x4 2003 Ford Explorer with factory tow package. I didn't drive much more than 60 mph and the Explorer was fine but I felt the combination was sufficient but bordering on uncomfortable. I really had to pay close attention at all times. The driving was mostly fairly tense.

My next trip was to be from Sacramento to Loreto Mexico in Baja California in April of this year. This trip was going to be over 2500 miles over much more challenging roads so I decided to get a second axle. My thinking was that I didn't like what happens when you have a flat with a single axle trailer and the second axle might improve the towing stability of the trailer. Also I thought that two extra tires would reduce the loads on any one tire and that would probably be a good thing.

I just got back a week ago and here is the report. The psychological benefit of the extra security of the second axle was great. Some sections of the road in Baja were rough and there were pot holes and deteriorated parts that made me feel better with four wheels under the boat. I just didn't worry as much. The towing stability was better and the tracking was improved. The Mexican roads in Baja were very narrow with little room for error and the trailer tracked straight and true even with the large trucks passing the opposite direction. The scariest time was with 25-35 mph cross winds on the high desert. I got pushed around significantly. The only answer was to slow way down and I was still white knuckling it. The best bet was to pull off the road but there was no pull out or towns for miles. I still think the second axle added some tracking ability in these conditions but have nothing to compare it with.

It cost me $1670 to add the second axle, tires and new fenders. I would certainly do it again as I plan to travel with my 26M across the USA and Canada starting next year.

As an aside I got between 12-13 miles per gal on the mostly freeway driving on my first trip to the Seattle area and 10.5 miles per gal on my Mexico trip on two lane roads up and down and around and up and down and around. I probably will be getting a larger tow vehicle because I want to carry more stuff. The Explorer if fine but on the lower range of being fine in my opinion after towing the 26M over 4700 miles with it in all kinds of conditions. Hope some of this information helps.

Curtiss on LaVida

[Chinook]

Good summary of the differences between 1 and 2 axles. Our experience was similar. I really noticed the solid tracking, compared with the tail wagging the dog previously, and we were towing with a 3/4 ton Chev diesel pickup. Thanks for posting this.

[Hardcrab]

curtis,
Thanks for the info.
My 2005 Tacoma 4X4 sounds very close to your Explorer as a minimum sized tow vehicle, also IMHO.

A couple of questions.
Did you do it yourself or pay to have someone do the work?

If you did it yourself:
Where did you source the second axle?
Axel cost?
How did you do the surge brake issue?
What measurements did you use for locating them?

If you paid someone else, can you provide insight to any of the above?
Where did you get it done, if that's the case?

Lottsa questions, sorry.
I'm considering the same move and hungry for any/all info beyond the "why".

[Sumner]

Thanks for your before/after impressions.

I've just added a second axle to our 26S factory trailer and also extended the frame back for one more bunk at the rear that is about where the laz bulkhead is in a 26S. I hope to have the trailer painted by this time next week and will try and post some pictures,

Sum

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[curtiss]

To answer a couple of questions about my trailer upgrade. I had it professionally converted by California Trailer Works in Sacramento ( http://www.dhmtrailers.com/online/home.php). They ordered the factory axle from the people who supply McGregor. They moved the original axle forward and installed the new one behind. The disc brakes are the original and now on the front axle. The brakes worked fine on some very steep grades in Mexico and the "Grapevine Range in California".

The new axles spacing was equal distant from the original axle placement so as to preserve the center of support. They installed new galvanized fenders that covered both tires and a bunk board along each fender to keep the boat from rubbing. I forgot to mention that I also had them install a new larger winch on the trailer. I will try to post a picture later.

Curtiss on LaVida

[paj637]

To piggyback on the previous post, a two speed winch is a must for the or the . What a difference it makes. Eliminates the need for the "Mac Bump" in my case on my

[Doug W]

Curtiss, Sounds like you did it right! I'm curious, have you noticed any difference when turning a sharp circle such as in a parking lot or cul-de-sac? What about its maneuverability when backing the boat?

[raycarlson]

Hardcrab, the mac supplier for new aluminum trailer axles is Unique Functional Products, they supply axle,brakes, and coupler to Macgregor.They are on the web(google) and will ship an axle directly to your home for 280.00 plus frieght.I marked the center line of the existing axle,then spaced the new locations 16" fore and aft from that center line,and used the original axle with brakes in the forward position so as not to have to mess with lengthening brake lines.I used the original fiber glass fender by cutting it in half and just glassing in about 30" of filler in the middle.Not counting any of my labor,I spent about 700 for my conversion,two new goodyear marathons with rims being the most expensive part.I have several thousand miles on my trailer now including many towing to san carlos MX, and have no problems with its performance as far as tracking,braking or towing and would recommend this to any who tows on substandard roads such as mexico where there is no room for error at 60mph. i have never had a blow out,but have heard people with dual axles say under blow out curcumstance they had no problems maintaining a straight course until they could find a safe place to pull over.

[curtiss]

I also have not noticed any significant difference in backing or turning with the two axles. When you go over speed bumps of which there are many in Mexico make sure you take it slow over them with the two axle trailer because it will bump twice. So far I have not noticed any downside with my "new" trailer. One nice thing about my improved version is that I can stand on the steel galvanized fenders to work or reach onto the boat. It is not a big thing but it is nice.

Curtiss on LaVida

[bubba]

Last weekend I towed our Mac M to Seattle with our brand new 2010 E350 Van and the hight of the old hitch on the new van changed how the trailer handled. The trailer fishtalled badly if we drove over 50 mph untill I bought a hitch stinger which dropped the ball about 5.5 inches and the fishtailing stopped mostly, then we moved heavier stuff to the bow of the boat and it settled down, I guess the full gas tanks were too mutch weight in the aft of the boat. I hope to get a new axel soon and your modfication helped me make my mind up about 4 tires on the trailer. I then noticed driving at 60 mph the trailer tires got very warm as if overloaded so that may be why the tires eventially fail and go flat, but the bearings were cool so the tires definately were overloaded.

[curtiss]

Here is a picture of my modified trailer with the second axle.

http://s943.photobucket.com/albums/ad27 ... nd%20Axle/

Curtiss on LaVida

[DaveB]

Curtiss, I agree a double axel is great for the Mac.X or M.
I also belive these two axels should be on a Swival mount so load is distributed on both tires and going over bumps would give much less shock to the ride. Sitting on Trailer on uneven grounds also will give uniform loads to tires.
Here are some pictures of my Trailer, noticed the swing arm down slightly to adjust to uneven ground.
I couldn't tell if you have this arangement from your pictures.
Dave

http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x25/ ... er%20Macx/

Here is a picture of my modified trailer with the second axle.

http://s943.photobucket.com/albums/ad27 ... nd%20Axle/

Curtiss on LaVida

[bscott]

Dave, according to the guy that installed my second axle, your swing arm is called a "walking beam". We also installed an axle assembly sliding angle iron which we can move the entire axle assembly fore/aft to get the best weight distribution-it also beefed up the frame. With air bags in the rear Jeep springs I can level the trailer=no sway at 70 mph. No more gas cans in the bow

I was going to replace my Jeep with a 3/4 ton PU for a better tow but the trailer/Jeep mods work so well that I will keep the Jeep for another 50,000 miles and save the cost of a new truck.

Bob

[Hamin' X]

While I'm sure that there are different terms and usages, the ones that I am most familiar with are: Walking Beam (Hendrickson) is two axles (Tandems) with a single spring/side. Example:


For tandem axles with individual springs, an equalizer arm is used as a common spring hanger between the axles. Example:



This is the way that I have learned it, with 40 years in the transport industry.

~Rich

[curtiss]

My original trailer came with a single torsion bar type axle without springs. I just added an second additional standard torsion bar axle. I didn't investigate the style you have described. It looks like it would be nice. Two things come to mind for a conversion of the original aluminum trailer on the 26M as you describe. It might be more expensive as it looks like you would have to buy a completely different type of axle set up. Second, from the description it appears that it might raise the height of the boat from the surface of the road/ramp. Maybe you have more information on these issues. In any case I didn't compare the two as I was unaware at the time of the type you described. This is great information so the next Mac owner that wants to convert has more choices to explore.

Curtiss on LaVida