Single or tandem axel?

NannyJam · Veteran Member

Single or tandem axel?

cruisaderhilton · Senior Member

confuse confuse confuse confuse For what its worth ,Just come back from a 6 week trip with the van ,travelled near 7000 km,s ,our van is a 22ft crusader with tandem axle 200kms from home one of the tyres blew out ,it had delaminated lucky we could pull off the road at that particular time ,the car and van maintained correct line during the blow out and we pulled over safely . just wandering what could have happened if it had been a single axle van ,might not have been as lucky .Anyway what ever you get i hope you have as much fun and excitement with it as i have ,travelling around this great big land

NannyJam · Veteran Member

Very good point, thank you!

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Single......

Cheers,
Peter

NannyJam · Veteran Member

Why is that please, Peter?

Swoffer · Senior Member

I think Cruisaderhilton is onto it .

If you cant decide picture what would happen if you have a blowout at say 80kmh with a tandem , then try and picture the same blowout scenario if you have a single axle . I know what I'll be doing .

iana · Guru

Being a solo van camp person would change the requirements of the van substantialy. It can be much smaller, lighter etc. We had a Jayco Swan, that towed beautifully, never had a puncture or a blowout. Remember with a tandom axle, you will have twice the rolling resistance when traveling, that will increase fuel consumption, you will have twice the suspension to have services, and tires will cost twice as much.

It also means you could get a smaller vehicle as the tug.

My thoughts would be to go single axle, and install a tire pressure monitor on your vehicles dash. That way you can pick up problems before they get to the terminal stage. They monitor tire pressures and temperatures, and probably sound an alarm if things are getting bad.

Another point you may want to enquire about, is with a pop top, I understood a lot of heat came through, or was lost through the canvas or fabric about the roof. I went for a full van for that reason.

Swoffer · Senior Member

The thing is a tyre pressure monitor wont help in any way if there is a blowout , they happen too quickly and you wont necessarily get any major change in pressure in time to take a warning . Yes you will have 4 wheels to keep serviced but trust me if you blow a tyre on a single axle rig you will not be able to save it .
JMHO , but there you have it .

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Tandem any day!! Stability is king . Keep good tyres on them . Check pressures often .Age also .

Lancelot Link · Senior Member

Smaller van, single is fine, fitted with electronic stability control. Dual tends to inhibit backing control unless extended towbar is an option, only my experience so please don't hang, draw and quarter me! The longer the tow with the wheels set further back from the pivot when backing, dual seems to be better. The longer the tow vehicle, dual gives greater stability. If you go to a boat ramp and watch the types of boats being backed down the ramp and the trailers they use, you will get a great idea between distance from pivot to axle, length of drawbar and number of axles. Only a thought.

macka17 · Guru

Smallervans.
You won't get Tandem.

Not practical.

After using vans for 50 odd yrs. Living in and travelling..

Short term Long or short distances.
Decent weather. Probably SIngle.
But NEVER a lift up roof. EVER...

That's a Victorian thing for carport Storage.

After banging your bonce 50 times in first week of ownership.
You'll change your mind about owning one too.
Apart from Aircond not working properly. Plastic sides flapping o.Nite in wind.
ALl cold coming in. Heat going out.

Nahhhhh. Not this little one. Again.

Forget that last statement with short arses.
Missus 5 ft 1 1\2 in. 'Nuff sed.

Long term unknown roads. Stability. feelgood behind the van.
And maybe a little more juice.
depending on size.

Tandem. I've had 3.

6.5mtr semi Offroad full height. towed at road speeds normally.
Averaged (over over 13 yrs) 6.5ish KMPLwith van.
9 +KMPL without. in a Patrol.
Also. if on longer trips. Think about the times

s--t weather for week, or two. nowhere to go.Cold. WET.
Who's gonna cut who's throat in thedark after second week.

with a much smaller van

Current van 535mtr. Full height. Tandem.
Towed from Melb to Central QLD.

using little more than going down there.
Some vans are lighter. some boxier.
some just too big.

Once you get the "biggest. most stuff I can carry"
out of your minds.
A lot haven't yet. But I won't say anything
Around the 18ft ish for couple can be nicely set up nowadays.
Our tut is inside. Shower in tent alongside.
OUTside. Not a problem.

Single beds and removing fixed table makes a heck of a difference.
2 x 6x3 ply and move mattressses around. for exercise.

A small van becomes a LOT bigger.
When you can walk right through. Not halfway.
Believe me.
Just go to van show\dealers. and go into a Double. Then a 2 singles
Keeping memory of prev one in mind

Ive used both.
Nowadays. 18ft Tandem Outside shower. FULL height.
Sensible price.

some real good second hand units on market if you look and don't buy the first one.
Specially down in Melb where most MFG's are based.

Have fun.

-- Edited by macka17 on Friday 6th of January 2017 02:55:47 AM

Fringe Dweller · Senior Member

I have a 16' 9" single axle Pop-top.

I run good LT (Light Truck) tyres , don't have any problem with the air con.

I don't have any whistles , bells or gadgets . I stay in caravan parks.

When I am on holiday , I am on holiday . You cook for me.

I don't go on holiday unless I can afford it.

Oh . Th flat tyre . I'll deal with that , if & when it happens.

NannyJam · Veteran Member

Thanks so much for the informative replies! Certainly a few things to consider that I hadn't thought of.

The thought of a blow-out, or even just a flat tyre whilst towing a single axel isn't appealing (I've towed horse floats that were tandem, and had a flat tyre with 2 horses on board, and could just keep going. Not sure why I didnt make the connection ð lol)

The flapping canvas and heat/cooling loss is a serious one for me to consider! Thanks for that. I have a Ford Falcon S/Wagon so could potentially tow a larger hardtop caravan... not sure though, they always look so *big*!

Had already decided on the single bed option - pooches get one bed, I get the other! And that's that! lol Again, thanks for the advice! :)

And this won't just be a 'holiday' van... this may need to be 'home on the road' long term.

-- Edited by NannyJam on Friday 6th of January 2017 06:40:52 AM

Landfall · Guru

It all demends on your choice of van, buy what YOU like.

There are pros and cons for both tandem and single, we have had both and I found the single axle towed better.

As for blowouts with a single axle we lost a wheel at 80kph and accelerating at the time in the right hand lane of dual carriageway, indicated left and pulled over into a convenient lay-by without any hassles. Van stable and well in control.

Blowout, same as above. In fact, if it hadn't been for the tyre monitoring gauge we would not have realized the tyre was shredded for a few seconds longer.

It's all about loading and setting up the caravan and towing vehicle correctly.

brickies · Guru

NannyJam the size caravan you are thinking about it would be rare for it to have tandem axle

Hey Jim · Guru

Hi Nanna Jam,

Wow now we have had all the hot air let go, we can get on with it in earnest. Tell us what your long term plan is. That's the Starting Point.

If you are planning to live long term in one with your best friends!!!! then firstly go and sit in one of many. Sit a while and look around you.

Now add 2 weeks of inclement weather and ask your self the first Question smile Can we live in here boxed up till the weather clears. Then you can start to work out what size van is best for you.

The bigger the van the bigger the under carriage you must consider.

For what its worth, I would go tandem. I tow both Boat and Van. Rock solid on the road.

One extra tyre on the tarmac will see you pull up safe.

In the end its your choice as to what you alone want to do with it and where you want to go See.

There's a lot of Australia Out The Back.

Regards Jim

-- Edited by Hey Jim on Friday 6th of January 2017 08:57:27 AM

erad · Guru

We have a 16.5 ft Jayco Poptop van, single axle. I monitor the tyre pressures frequently, and at last bought a tyre pressure monitoring system. I have had 2 blowouts - both a few hours after checking the pressures in the morning. I cannot remember how I noticed the first blowout - it was on the Bruce Hwy at 100 km/h in a divided road section with both Southbound lanes full, all doiing 100 km/h. I recall hearing a rumbling noise I think. I looked in the mirror and saw the van at an angle and thought Oh Oh! Changing the tyre was really fun - it was just over the crest of a hill. My wife went back up the road signalling everyone. She couldn't get past the van on the left side because it was hard into the bushes. It was the right side tyre which let go. A dangerous few minutes changing the tyre.

The second tyre blew on the Goulburn to Bathurst road. It was in an area where the road meandered for about 10 km, with a double line. Speed was about 70 to 80 km/h. A guy behind me saw the tyre deflate and was flashing his lights, but because I was concentrating on the road, I didn't immediately see him. He reckoned I had done about 2 km with the tyre going down (this is why I ultimately bought a tyre pressure monitoring system). Eventually I pulled over in a local driveway and there was nothing left of the tyre other than the beads and about half the sidewalls. I had been running on the rim for at least 1 km. The tyre place in Bathurst had to severly grind the rim in order to fit the new tyre without damaging it.

In both cases, I knew nothing about the tyre deflating. The van did not pull, swerve or do anything to indicate trouble. Both incidents happened in very bad places to change the tyre. I have heard so many people rile about 4 wheels - as far as I am concerned, I would rather have 2 wheels any day. Less weight, easier manhandling, fewer bearings to maintain. OK - for larger and heavier vans 4 wheels may be appropriate, but for me, 2 wheels any day.

-- Edited by erad on Friday 6th of January 2017 09:28:12 AM

-- Edited by erad on Friday 6th of January 2017 09:34:18 AM

Swoffer · Senior Member

Hey Jim wrote:

Wow now we have had all the hot air let go, we can get on with it in earnest.

SO everyone elses opinion is hot air and Jims is the only one that counts eh .

Way to go Jim , how to win friends and influence people .

brickies · Guru

Swoffer clam down ,HeyJim is the forum expert on buying Caravans .

Swoffer · Senior Member

brickies wrote:
Swoffer clam down ,HeyJim is the forum expert on buying Caravans .

Maybe so Brickies but I dont think that gives him the right to be so condesending .

Hey Jim · Guru

Swoffer wrote:
Hey Jim wrote:

Wow now we have had all the hot air let go, we can get on with it in earnest.
SO everyone elses opinion is hot air and Jims is the only one that counts eh .
Way to go Jim , how to win friends and influence people .

Hi Alan,

Wopsee, Im sorry if I offended you.

I was trying to say after the tyre has blowen Re: (When the tyre heats up from the side walls over heating, from been under inflated tyre in the first instance.Then and only then dose the tyre explode from the heat build up, and letting all the heat out, and its all to late.

Dose this make sence to you.

I did not mean to offend you, or anyone else.

I suffer from Dyslexia and have done so all my life.

Regards Jim

Swoffer · Senior Member

-- Edited by Swoffer on Friday 6th of January 2017 02:06:12 PM

-- Edited by Webmaster on Friday 6th of January 2017 02:06:51 PM

-- Edited by Swoffer on Friday 6th of January 2017 02:12:06 PM

-- Edited by Swoffer on Friday 6th of January 2017 02:12:50 PM

Swoffer · Senior Member

Hey Jim wrote:

I did not mean to offend you, or anyone else.

Regards Jim

Fair bump then , play on .

macka17 · Guru

4 tyres are safer that two for several reasons.

Normally a bit extra weight.
But gives stronger chassis, frame, body, While Normally bigger vans.
Gives extra room inside.
as long as you don't go too big and get clumsy\bulky\awkward to manouvre.
Specially if inexperienced.

People travelling long term in small single axle vans.
IF honest with themselves.
It's either economy. or economy.
Veh size v Van size v wallet.

Just up to 18ft makes a lot of difference in comfort. (535 is 17 ft 8in roughly)
and virtually no difference in cost.
Little more fuel maybe.
But a aerodynamic (most are nowadays) full height van.
has around the same as. and often less Air resistance, than a boxy pop top.

I went from a pop top to a larger full van a few yrs ago.
Same tug. same routes.
LESS fuel..

POP Tops are basically. Just big oblong square boxes. NO shape to them.

Look at shape of modern full size vans, from both front and profile.
Streamlined.
Tapering down to meet trailing edge of most pretty sq shaped tugs.

NOT just a square box, with flat front often bigger than outside profile of tug.
Dragging it through the air

Just looking at those two shapes should decide a person as to airflow and fuel.

Weights and lengths, plus extra tyre drag with extra weight. ( Full O\R vans etc).
can cost more fuel.

The line IS around the18ft length, b4 fuel costs go up

Currrent 535 Tandem.full van.
uses less juice than a prev 16ft 6in Pop Top Offroader single axle.

2 ton tandem full. v 1.7 ton single. Pop Top with flat front.

Just one example.

kiwijims · Guru

Here's one reason why I prefer a double axle caravan ,

In this case it is loss of stability, but it could have been a blown tire as well.............

https://youtu.be/kifrwBndszQ

K.J.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

So a tyre gets hot due to under inflating .. Right . But then blows out due to heat build up . Well ?? I'd say the tyre delaminates. Not from excess pressure . In any case too low tyre pressure .

Eaglemax · Guru

Hi Nanny Jam For what its worth. Plenty of single axle reasonable size vans out there with spacious internal layout. Comfy lounge a must. Tandem will give you 100kg extra load weight otherwise don't think its worth the extra costs. Stability? Yes no doubt tandem is better in that department but keep watch on your tyres and invest in a friction sway bar for $140. Mine cost $40 on Gumtree. My little van gvm of 740kg with the sway unit (attached to the drawbar) doesn't move an inch against road trains! So that will help with a blow out. Tow vehicle. Not going off road ? If you are going to stick to the bitumen then consider a diesel sedan. Depends if you will travel on dirt too which quickly can become mud. But many nomads stay on the tar. A 2 litre turbo diesel car will give you great economy towing and not towing. I'd hate to live in a poptop. Maccas right, streamlined modern vans just as economical. Flappin' wind headbangers. Apologies to current owners. Single person...a good awning easy to erect by yourself is crutial to daily happiness.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I guess as said it depends on van length ? Generally 18 to 20' and over is tandom . The frame would need strenthening to support single axle is this case so it be easier to fit tandom axle . Negating the extra cost . Under 18 ft or there abouts it goes the other way . If your free camping for any time ? Size, weight comes into it . Plus the distance your traveling . Here's STRONG winds out there ! Often think how some can withstand as the blow our motorhome big time ! Comfort unfortunately.. Size matters !! Load balance is a little more critical with single axle also . Though generally single axle vans carry much less extra weight or Accessaries .,

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Friday 6th of January 2017 07:20:52 PM

Hylife · Guru

NannyJam wrote:
Evening all, Going to sell up and go solo and I'm just looking to start out with a small (13' - 16') secondhand poptop caravan - most likely a Jayco Freedom, Starcraft or similar. So my question is: Single or tandem axel? I was initially thinking tandem but being that they tend to be harder to manouver I'm having doubts... What are your thoughts/recommendations? Ta :)

-- Edited by NannyJam on Thursday 5th of January 2017 11:17:25 PM

Having actually read what you posted about "just starting out" heres my 2 cents worth.

If you are just starting out everyone wants to tell you their combination is best and you will have so many choices thrown at you, you wont know what to choose, so I'd recommend that you start with something cheap like a mid 90s Jayco Westport.

A 16 footer Jayco poptop from the 90s is only approx. 1100kg TARE and as a single axel is stable as and easy to tow and manoeuvre and will only set you back approx. $10K-$15K for a neat and tidy unit.

Heck, they are light units that you can comfortably tow with a mid sized saloon like a Camry if you watch your weights and load the heavy stuff in the car.

Once you have been on the road for a bit you will have a much better idea of what YOU want rather than what others think you should have and as you didn't break the bank on your first reconnoitre the upgrade will be far more informed.

Oh, and you can forget about all the scaremongering over blowouts. Everyone gets flat tyres and virtually no-one ever has any more trouble that if you got a flat in your car. Single or tandem makes no difference.
Just make sure you have the correct tools and do a practice run before you leave home. Always pull right off the road and carry a small plank of wood to go under the jack for stability on sand or mud.

Having done close to 80,000km around this great country, single axel units they are my personal preference, but that is just me with lots of towing under my belt. You might feel differently, who knows, you are only just starting.
There is so many more places you can go if you have the clearance regardless of the number of axels but having a tandem doesn't help when you have lumpy terrain or dips to get over.

The main benefit of a tandem is that for heavy vans the weight is spread over two sets of wheels and there is less fore-aft pitching which places less load on weak tow vehicle rear end suspension.
A well balanced van on a tug with a quality rear end won't be susceptible to pitching and swaying is usually the result of an incorrectly loaded van, so make sure your tow vehicle is suitable, load your van correctly, and go with whatever axel layout your first choice van comes with. If you don't go stupid on your first van you won't waste money when you upgrade.

macka17 · Guru

Hi.
Another one.
IF you goingto go "long term"
A 17 to 18ftish van will cover you. Single or Tamdem
Tandem as said. Easier to balance and carry more junk.

Second hand.

There are a LOT of such on market in that range.
from '95 to 2005 or later.
Very good cond. and VERY good prices.

16\16ft 6 Evernew. One of best MFG's on market and they can go anywhere the wheels will turn.

I've just gone through a 6 month check up on vans that size for a small trade down.but still good quality.

ALL were in the $7 to $16 k range. Some hardly used and kept in garages.

After looking I decided the next size up (For me) was more suitable.

I found a nice. well used. well maint, 535 Coromal Capri. semi offroader. Full height singles.
Tandem.
Under 2ton and tows real nice and economical behind my 2010 D-Max.
From Melb to CQ. used very little more fuel than going down there.

Asking $16k. Drove away for $12k . new tyres. Aircond.
Ins quoted Market value$19.800. I did agreed $19k and happy.

They are around. Just be patient.
and busy on Keyboard.
Evernew. Regal.Roadstar etc. Vict.
Coromal. and Bentleys (couldn't resist that) W.A.

It was MUCH nicer and practical size for my use than any smaller Single axle.
Evernew better quality again.

But these Coromal and another three or four, well designed AND around a long time.
Much better choice than any Jayco.

(old keyboard here. spacebar and several letterss playing up. SOrry)

Watch the walls of your tyres and change them EVERY 6 ish yrs.
Regardless of mileage run.
Use Light truck or A\T.
NOT H\T tyres and 10 pr over 8 pr.

You'll never have a blow if pressures kept right.

Have fun.
and don't be too bothered about travelling to a good van
Sometimes a waste. SOmetime well worth it.

I went to homeland of Evernew. For an Evernew.
and came back with WA Van, Ce-La Vie.