Tire Scrubbing with gooseneck trailer?

[deerefanatic]

Hi guys. I've just gotten my first gooseneck trailer. It's a 22 foot (on the floor) gooseneck stock trailer with living quarters in the front. It's for my sister and her draft horse. It's got tandem axles with leaf springs, and 16" ten ply tires. I've noticed that when backing or turning tightly, the tires don't like to "scrub" very well. Instead, it causes the wheels to "bend" on the end of the axle. This worries me as I DON'T want to break an axle under any circumstances. Is this normal stress that the trailer is designed to take, or do I need to take it really easy? I've noticed it's the worst on pavement, although packed dirt makes em flex too. I try to always turn as wide as possible, but some of these fairgrounds and horse events have some tight area's to try and put a 35' long rig into....... :)

Either way, I'm glad I've got a short box truck now! :)

[grancito]

I have a tandem travel trailer, and on a turn it looks like the wheels are going to break off, so guess it is normal.

[rodincol@yahoo.com]

i pull a 32 foot gooseneck every day for work. have to turn really tight sometimes. it is normal on a gooseneck. as long as you are under your max weight limit for your axels you will be fine. every now and then just check your spindle nuts.

[deerefanatic]

Ok, so as long as the axle isn't overloaded, it won't break off and will look like that. Good to know.

That's another reason why I like straight axles over the torflex axles..... I don't think they'd take to kindly to that kind of side-force......