Trailer Rentals | Comparing Single-Axle vs. Dual-Axle Trailers

When you need to haul something behind your truck and don’t have the money to buy a trailer, investing in trailer rentals is the easiest option you can consider. Even when renting a trailer, you need to make the right decision. When considering trailer rentals, there are several you need to consider. From the type of trailer to its load-bearing capacity and axle configuration, you must factor in many things to get the best bang for your buck.

While there are many factors to consider, choosing between single-axle vs. dual-axle trailers is an important part of the decision-making process. Do you need help choosing between trailer rentals with single-axle vs. dual-axle configurations? This post will be your guide on trailer rentals to help you compare and choose between them.

Remember: Making the right decision when getting a trailer for rent is about understanding everything you must know about them. To make things easy for you, we will discuss the defining qualities of both axle configurations. Once you understand that, you can consider other factors to rent the best trailer for your needs.

What is a Single-Axle Trailer?

Arguably the more popular choice between the two when trailer shopping, single-axle trailers are a good choice for many people. One of the biggest reasons for its popularity is simply its lower price. Single-axle trailers, as the name suggests, are trailers with one set of wheels. With half the number of wheels than dual-axle trailers, it is much lighter. Two wheels instead of four also mean it has a more straightforward design. Their simpler design typically goes hand-in-hand with a smaller size than dual-axle trailers. Make no mistake about it -- their small size doesn’t mean they can’t handle their load. Single-axle trailers can haul various types of cargo, whether light or heavy.

Another great quality of single-axle trailers is their maneuverability. Since they feature one set of wheels, they can easily turn tighter corners than dual-axle trailers. On the other hand, dual-axle trailers might demand taking even wider turns. With fewer wheels and a simpler design, single-axle trailers are comparatively less expensive to maintain. The lower the number of moving parts, the less you have to spend on its maintenance.

Pros and Cons of Renting Single-Axle TrailersPros of Towing With a Single-Axle Trailer

Here’s a quick overview of the advantages of towing a single-axle trailer behind your truck:

• A lighter weight means that single-axle trailers offer you the chance at much better fuel economy. The less weight your truck pulls, the less fuel it burns. Hauling the same cargo on a dual-axle trailer will burn much more fuel over the same distance.
• A single-axle trailer’s maintenance won’t cost you as much as a dual-axle trailer’s will. Why? Because it has fewer wheels and moving parts. Maintenance costs typically aren’t something to worry about when renting. However, renting one for the long term makes it an important factor.
• With two wheels, it is easier for you to make tighter turns around corners with a single-axle trailer. Since they’re usually smaller, it will be easier to navigate tighter spaces in general with one.
• The lighter overall weight also makes it easier to manage towing a single-axle trailer. Think about it: The lower the weight, the less of a difference it will make in your vehicle’s handling.

Cons of Towing With a Single-Axle Trailer

As good as they are, single-axle trailers aren’t perfect for everybody. Here’s a quick overview of the disadvantages of towing a single-axle trailer behind your truck:

• Fewer tires are not always a good thing. Since there is one axle, the weight of the entire cargo will be set on the tongue and tires. The tires on a single-axle trailer are likelier to wear out faster than on dual-axle trailers.
• While capable of hauling plenty of weight, single-axle trailers usually have a lower load-bearing capacity than their dual-axle counterparts. Depending on what you are hauling, single-axle trailers can be limiting for your needs.
• Simpler and lighter single-axle trailers don’t often feature heavy-duty suspension systems. When the suspension system is not up to the mark for your cargo, a single-axle trailer might be less stable on bumpy roads.
• Several models featuring single-axle configurations don’t have independent brakes. Without a trailer featuring brakes, all the strain will be on your towing vehicle’s braking system. With your vehicle’s brakes handling all the load to slow down and stop, they can wear out much faster.

What is a Dual-Axle Trailer?

Also called tandem axle trailers, dual-axle trailers are exactly what their name suggests: Trailers with two axles. The second axle on such trailers is usually located right behind the first one. They might not be as popular as single-axle trailers because of their price. However, dual-axle trailers have several qualities that make them excellent for many people. Two axles mean dual-axle trailers come with four wheels. With more wheels to distribute the weight, each tire has much less load on it, reducing its wear and tear.

Since these trailers can disperse the cargo’s weight across more tires, they tend to have greater load-bearing capacities. You can haul significantly heavier cargo while towing a dual-axle trailer. With the ability to carry more weight, these trailers are better suited to transport heavy-duty equipment. Between a greater load-bearing capacity and twice the number of tires, they are a popular choice for trailer rentals.

Pros and Cons of Renting Dual-Axle TrailersPros of Towing With a Dual-Axle Trailer

Here’s a quick overview of the advantages of towing a dual-axle trailer behind your truck:

• With more tires to distribute the weight, dual-axle trailers tend to be more stable over bumpy terrain than single-axle trailers. The suspension also has it easier because of the weight distribution.
• While not necessary, most dual-axle trailers feature independent braking systems. They connect with your towing vehicle’s brakes, and you can control the stopping power, especially with electric brakes. With extra braking power available, your towing vehicle’s brakes will see reduced wear and tear.
• Because dual-axle trailers have more tires to disperse your cargo’s weight, their tires might take much longer to wear down than tires on single-axle trailers.

Cons of Towing With a Dual-Axle Trailer

While they’re really good, dual-axle trailers have their limitations. Here’s a quick overview of the disadvantages of towing a dual-axle trailer behind your truck:

• Since they feature another axle and two additional wheels, tandem trailers are heavier. The more the total weight your truck pulls, the more fuel it burns as it runs. You might have to pay much more for fuel with a tandem trailer in tow than with a single-axle trailer.
• Trailer tires are not like regular vehicle tires. They are built to handle much more weight and are more expensive. While it might take longer with tandem trailers, the tires will eventually need replacements. With two additional tires, your long-term costs with a tandem trailer might be higher. Of course, this will not be a concern if you are renting one for a short time.
• The tandem axles on these trailers offer more stability in bumpy conditions. However, it also makes it more difficult to navigate smaller and tighter spaces with a tandem trailer.
• While not necessary everywhere, there are some roads with tolls charging you based on the number of axles on your vehicle. When you have a tandem axle trailer in tow, you may need to pay more for the tolls on some roads.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of considerations you need to make when deciding between different trailer rentals. When it comes to getting the right trailer, the number of axles it has is just one factor. You must also consider its dimensions, load-bearing capacity, hitch type, and much more. The axle number will most likely be closely related to its load-bearing capacity.

Suppose you find yourself in a situation where you can choose between the two types for the same weight capacity. In that case, think about these things to help you decide:

• How far do you plan on towing? Single-axle trailers are not as reliable as dual-axle trailers for long-haul towing.
• Will you be driving through tight spaces? Dual-axle trailers are typically longer. Single-axle trailers are far easier to navigate through tight spaces.
• What will you use to tow it? If you’re considering two options of the same type, single-axle trailers are lighter than dual-axle trailers. If your towing vehicle doesn’t have much pulling power, a single-axle trailer might be the better option.

By asking yourself these three questions, you’ll have an easier time deciding on the axle configuration. Provided you’ve figured out everything else, you should be good to go. Are you searching for high-quality trailer rentals and don’t know where to look? In that case, Neighbors Trailer might be the best place to look. It’s America’s first peer-to-peer trailer rental marketplace. You can find plenty of trailers for rent across all types and axle configurations there. Just remember the tips we’ve shared in this post, and drive safe.

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