RV FEATURE
WHAT DETERMINES AXLE NUMBERS ?
Weight : Without question , this is the number one consideration for determining how many axles a caravan will have . The more axles , the more wheels will be in contact with the road , distributing the weight across more points . Further , individual wheels and tyres will have a limit on how much weight they can support .
Imagine a single-axle trailer with tyres rated to 425kg . This means the maximum weight the trailer can be will be limited to 850kg . A dual-axle trailer fitted with the same tyres can , theoretically , carry twice that load .
So if weight is important to you , or you ’ re looking for a long caravan and believe you will need to carry heavier loads , then a trailer with dual axles may be more suitable .
Here you can see the solid axle connecting the opposing wheels of this trailer .
This axle is fitted with rubber torsion suspension . Even though it has a connection between opposing wheels , it is actually an independent setup .
Length : Caravans are essentially big boxes on wheels . The sides are large and flat , acting much like sails in the wind . The longer the caravan , the further away from the wheels the ends will be and the greater the effect of a side wind , especially at the front and rear of the van . This might cause instability that might turn into an uncontrollable wobble . But having more than one axle will create a larger area of contact with the road , providing greater resistance to the effects of sideways movement .
Stability : As a trailer gets longer and taller , the forces creating pitching ( front-to-back movement ), rolling ( rocking sideto-side ) and swaying have a greater effect , causing the trailer to be more unstable . Adding axles can counteract and control these forces .
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