Why have two axles - Bigfoot 5th wheel - Fiberglass RV
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Old 05-26-2007, 02:03 PM   #1
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I notice that the Bigfoot 5th wheel trailers were available in single or double axles. Why? What are the advantages of one over the other?
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Old 05-26-2007, 02:43 PM   #2
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It's largely personal preference. Tandem axles tend to track better and naturally resist sway. They tend to move more slowly when backing (not pivot around the axle as quickly). Depending on how the trailer is built, there's the potential of better weight distribution over the axles.

The disadvantages are increased complexity and expense; four tires, and four sets of wheel bearings to maintain, as well as on some trailers, four sets of brakes. Some tandem axle trailers still use only one set of brakes.

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Old 05-26-2007, 04:19 PM   #3
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Tandem axles will reduce the tendancy for the trailer to bounce when on rought roads or hitting bumps. The axels should walk over the un=even surface, transfering most of the trailer weight between them. Tandems also work to dampen an up and down oscilation when going over curbs or driveways. Without tandems it's left to the truck shocks to dampen the oscilation.

Manuevering at slow speed scrubs the tires since they can't pivot, but drag each other sideways.

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Old 05-26-2007, 07:15 PM   #4
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I notice that the Bigfoot 5th wheel trailers were available in single or double axles. Why? What are the advantages of one over the other?
Single axle = less toll $$

Dual axle = more toll $$$
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Old 05-26-2007, 08:08 PM   #5
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1 tire out of 4 going flat (I picked up a screw. ) is much easier to deal with than 1 tire out of 2 going flat.

Always carry a spare!
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Old 05-27-2007, 07:58 AM   #6
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Tandem axles will reduce the tendancy for the trailer to bounce when on rought roads or hitting bumps. The axels should walk over the un=even surface, transfering most of the trailer weight between them. Tandems also work to dampen an up and down oscilation when going over curbs or driveways.
This has not been my experience, especially with speed humps. There is a set across the driveway of the complex where I store the trailer that comes to mind. I think my 12" wheels and relatively close spacing (4" tread-to-tread) may have something to do with it.
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Old 05-30-2007, 03:39 PM   #7
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Tandem axles will only effectively "walk" over bumps if they are connected by a load-sharing system. This is normal for leaf-spring trailer axles, which use an "equalizer" link between the springs. Almost every factory tandem egg (including the Fiber Stream) uses leaf springs, while most eggs use independent suspensions with rubber springs.

Unfortunately, the common "equalizer" link is not perfect, and the independent rubber suspensions don't load-share at all, which is even further from the ideal. Airstream still uses tandem and even triple rubber-torsion axles, but the weight and complexity penalty is high... although cost apparently isn't a big issue for Airstream buyers.

If suspension damping is needed (and I think it really is on many trailers), then shock absorbers (on the trailer) are the obvious answer.
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Old 06-01-2007, 05:20 PM   #8
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I don't notice the Bigfoot 5th Wheel at all but they are mentioned on this site.

They are not on Bigfoot's web site so I assumed they didn't make them anymore??

Can some Bigfoot expert help me out here??

If Bigfoot does not produce them anymore, what was the last date of production?

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I notice that the Bigfoot 5th wheel trailers were available in single or double axles. Why? What are the advantages of one over the other?
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Old 06-01-2007, 07:44 PM   #9
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I'm no Bigfoot expert, but there is a single axle 1988 Bigfoot 5th wheel in the Bigfoot Album, and just after it a set of exterior and interior shots of another single-axle Bigfoot fifth-wheel.

No, Bigfoot has not made these for years (I don't know how many).
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Old 06-03-2007, 03:24 PM   #10
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Thank you

Wonder why Bigfoot stopped making them, with fivers being so popular?

I like the small size too.



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I'm no Bigfoot expert, but there is a single axle 1988 Bigfoot 5th wheel in the Bigfoot Album, and just after it a set of exterior and interior shots of another single-axle Bigfoot fifth-wheel.

No, Bigfoot has not made these for years (I don't know how many).
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Old 06-03-2007, 04:06 PM   #11
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Popularity is cyclical with this stuff, just like with fuel-efficient cars. As long as folks can afford to tow a heavy rig, they do. When they think they can't, they look for lighter stuff. The popularity of small pickups comes and go. Remember the compact Toyotas and Nissans? The original Tundra was a "full size" truck. Now the Tacoma is the size of the original Tundra, the Tundra is the size of the 3/4 ton Fords and Chevys, and there's nothing the size of the original Toyota compact trucks. They'll be back tho... the manufacturers follow the sales trends. When small stuff is what sells, they start building more of them...

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Old 06-03-2007, 05:34 PM   #12
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Quote:
I don't notice the Bigfoot 5th Wheel at all but they are mentioned on this site.
They are not on Bigfoot's web site so I assumed they didn't make them anymore??
Can some Bigfoot expert help me out here??
If Bigfoot does not produce them anymore, what was the last date of production?
Joanie, Paul and Paul (jrnutpaul & jrnutpat) have a 1994 20' Bigfoot 5th wheel tandem axle...that's the newest BigFoot 5th wheel I can remember reading about

I HEARD BigFoot lost the 5th wheel molds in a fire (sounds familiar ), unlike Scamp they chose not to rebuild the molds (YET).
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Old 06-04-2007, 02:19 PM   #13
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Given recent Bigfoot product choices, I would not expect them to revive the moulded fifth-wheel; instead, a sandwich-wall fifth-wheel model (like the 3000-series trailers), possibly labeled 3000-series or 4000-series, seems more likely to me. Fifth-wheels are top-end products, and the top end of every Bigfoot line (truck campers, trailers, motorhomes) are all the same non-moulded construction.

Again following current trends at Bigfoot and elsewhere, it would be a tandem (with leaf springs).

But who knows?
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Old 06-04-2007, 08:17 PM   #14
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Quote:
...double axles. Why? What are the advantages of one over the other?
Click image for larger version

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Deluxe Tire Locking Chock

I find this is an easy to use system!
Do I need two (one for each side)? One seems to hold the trailer OK...
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Old 06-05-2007, 02:04 PM   #15
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Deluxe Tire Locking Chock

I find this is an easy to use system!
A parking brake would be an even more convenient way to achieve the same thing, but our trailers almost never have them in North America.

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Do I need two (one for each side)? One seems to hold the trailer OK...
Does locking one side (which has two tires), plus whatever is happening at the tongue jack, hold well enough? Maybe. Without tandem axles, blocking both sides (with chocks or parking brakes) seems like a better idea to keep the trailer from pivoting around, but in this case the tandem doesn't-want-to-turn characteristic helps. Doubling all the axle hardware to save using a brake on one wheel doesn't seem worthwhile to me... I'd still rather have one good axle!
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Old 06-05-2007, 02:32 PM   #16
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Single axle = less toll $$

Dual axle = more toll $$$
Not in Illinois anymore. A small trailer of any kind is now a "Commercial vehicle"

$3.90 and up IF you have the I pass box, otherwise it's double.

Needless to say I take the back roads.
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Old 07-05-2007, 09:26 PM   #17
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So what's the consensus? Which Bigfoot 5th wheel would you get - single or double axle?
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Old 07-06-2007, 06:16 AM   #18
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So what's the consensus? Which Bigfoot 5th wheel would you get - single or double axle?
Cam, they're rare enough now that if you can find one of either style in good shape, buy it! You may be waiting a loooong time before you find another.

Roger
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Old 07-06-2007, 06:40 AM   #19
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That's what I thought, too, Roger; until I sat down and started to google them. Found ones for sale in Windsor, Regina, Lethbridge, Prince George, Creston, and Edmonton. It was almost enough to make me run out and buy a truck....
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Old 07-06-2007, 06:51 AM   #20
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Yeah, they're only difficult to find on the U.S. side of the border. Sigh.
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