I did a search on this and couldn't find an answer. I was driving down the road today and saw a four wheel trailer in a parking lot. Not a double axle, but a wheel at each corner, like a wagon. Are these ever towed on highways behind passenger vehicles, or are they limited to semi's (doubles & triples) and slow speed farm tractors? I imagine they would operate much like a tow dolly. And would the tongue weight drop to nearly zero? A disadvantage would be maneuvering it by hand; you would have to execute three point turns instead of just spinning on a dime. They would also have a fairly high center of gravity, but if the pivoting front axle were out ahead of the deck, I suppose you could build one very low to the ground. I ask because I'm about to put a fairly significant lift on a bronco (1974, 5.5" Wild Horses), but would still like the ability to tow a reasonable amount (a boat, for one, but also a trailer for picking up supplies at the steel yard). I'm concerned about a conventional double or single axle pinning the rear end to the ground. I've actually seen people going down the highway like this, and it looks as if they are driving while looking at the sky. Any input would be appreciated.

thanks,

-aaron

 

the main reason it doesn't get used much is the possibility of the unit starting to dive around, like a trailer sway, but self induced. This can happen at 30 mph. It would reduce the tongue weight to nothing, but you also have higher maintenance than the fixed axle design. More moving parts to service, the tires have to be aligned like a car kind of, and such. They used to make a horse trailer that used a steer axle like that, but not too many were produced apparently, as I don't see them too much. Height wise, it doesn't have to be high center, if you make the axle fixed and pivot the tires instead. I'm sure there is a good reason they haven't taken ff that well, as there would be plenty ready to jump on the lack of tongue weight, I'm sure safety and maintenance are the key reasons. I know legal troubles may arise, due to it basically being two trailers unless you had it permanently attached.

 

Aaron, Those wagons are primarely used in the farming community for moving hay and other items of large mass. Most don't have springs under them so like their predicessors ride like buckboards. lol

Here in the south, they are also used for parade floats, and pulled with pickups in Christmas parades, because they can be streached without a lot of additional cost.

John

 

They wander all over the road. You don't want one behind a bronco. Go with a good drop hitch and some air-bags under the back or air-shocks to keep the nose where it belongs. That and a good weight distributing hitch and you are good to go.

 

Have you ever used a wagon???? The only weight on the truck hitch is half of the tongue (maybe 15 pounds) While I wouldn't disagree that wagon tongues can be damaged buy pulling them in short turns with tractors, undamaged ones pull pretty straight. Parade floats are pulled from town to town at 60-70 mph, or so my bud says that does that.

John

 

they must have snugged up the pivot, most farm wagons don't do well over 30. Some of the newer ones might, but there isn't much for caster on those for load reasons.

 

I have to ask how a tow dolly operates then. It seems to me if you include the body and rear wheels on the car, the whole package would be very similar to a wagon. What allows a tow dolly to turn?

-aaron

 

most center pivot, but some have steer type turning, but they have caster to keep them straight. They also wiggle a bit on occasion if you go too fast or have to maneuver a bit to dodge something, or have a hefty crosswind. Many of the steer type have a dampener to reduce the sway.

 

Aaron, The tow dolly like the wagon has no weight on the hitch ball to speak of. The deck on most tow dollies swivel, and with the steering unlocked on the towed vehicle will follow along nicely. One thing you can hardly do is back one up.

You are correct in your asumption of the two being simular. IMHO

John

 

I have a couple of these wagon trailers. I lov eem, they serve a purpose, and do it well. They haul long lumber, pvc pipe, hay bales, and other weird stuff very well.
I wouldnt dream of pulling any distance with expensive stuff on one. I pulled long lumber 60 miles once, on state roads, not interstate. I traveled up to 65 mph with no sway.....but I was pushing my luck. Rode great up to 50......if it werent for all the weight, it coulda bounced and passed me up. Forget backing one of them things up on a hitch pin, about impossible.

 

Backing can be done, just takes lot of practice and a little luck, or is it the other way around... it's a lot easier with a tractor though.

 

It would depend on the type of front end on the trailer as to how it pulls at highway speeds. If it is the farm type that has tierods and the front tires steer like a car, they don't follow well at all down the road. You shouldn't travel much over 25 mph with one of these. If it is set up so that the trailer pivots in the center of the front axle and the axle is solid, then they should follow very well. This is like a semi truck pulling doubles. There is a dolly the back trailer attaches to that is basically set up like the back end of a truck, a frame with a 5th wheel and a solid axle (or two). Just this last week I pulled a combine header on a trailer that had a dolly on the front and it handled quite well. At 65 mph it did want to wonder slightly, but that may have been more the road than the trailer. The only problem with this type of set up is no weight on the hitch, which means no additional weight on the to vehichle. This might sound good but you need extra weight to get extra traction. I went up one hill on a gravel road and almost didn't make it, thought I might have to get out and lock the hubs. Backing up is more of a challenge, but it can be done and isn't all that hard, you just have to think about it a little more. I would still recommend a regular trailer though as it would be the safest.

 

If you need reminders why to be safe, just go find a highway patrolman with a trophy photo book. He/She is bound to have a good trailer wreck in there somewhere.

 

Mine are of the tierod variety.....I think it was all the weight that allowed it to follow well even at 60+ mph. I think you might be right, without the weight I think it might sway bad.
You would think I would no, but I didnt bring the trailer back.....left the trailer behind.