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Trailer Upgrade to Dual Axle's
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:26 pm
by Fresh Breeze
Hi Everyone,
As I mention on another thread that we are up grading our original trailer to a dual axle. Well it's done and it only took a week to get it done locally. First thing to do was to get the boat & trailer weighed, we stripped out the entire boat leaving only the house & start batteries & galley in, even took off the mast & sails. We reloaded the boat (No Mast this time) down to the Marina to drop the boat off, then back to Dixon Trailer's in Gympie, that afternoon back on board, all is good so far, then the weather turned, so we spent a few night's in the marina. A day later Neil (the trailer guy) sent a photo, of under our draw bar, Oh Dear

there was a crack, so that had to be replaced. The trailer is now ready for our boat.
The job is excellent and it didn't cost us an arm and a leg very reasonable $2,000. Dixon Trailer's is very much worth a call if you are thinking of upgrading to dual axle's. We will post photo's soon.
Give us a PM for more details
Cheers K & C
Re: Trailer Upgrade to Dual Axle's
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 2:58 am
by Mac26Mpaul
Thanks K&C,
Great news, but I'm confused by the 2k price?
To rate the trailer over 2000kgs you need electric break away breaks. Did you manage to get duel axels and electric breaks and have it recertified for more weight for under 2K? I got quoted about 4 or 5K I think.
Have they managed to get another axel the same, or have they dumped the US stuff and put all Oz stuff, (axels, wheels, springs, breaks) If so, the trailer must sit a fair bit higher wouldn't it?
Yes pics thanks

Re: Trailer Upgrade to Dual Axle's
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 3:36 pm
by Fresh Breeze
Hi Paul, We kept the original braking system which already has a break away. Breaking is on the front axle, the second is a floating axle, both axle's are on rocker-rollers all new springs, ford wheels and hubs matched the USA ones. The trailer has now an aggreate trailer mass of 2000 kg.
All the parts used are all Aussie made, here in Qld. ( axle, springs, hubs, tandem mud guards, marine seal bearings, ford stud pattern rims & tyres)
http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/arbor ... g.html?o=0
If you want to know any more give us a PM
Cheers K & C
Re: Trailer Upgrade to Dual Axle's
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 11:20 pm
by Mac26Mpaul
Thanks for sharing the photos, Looks good and I reckon that should definitely give you some peace of mind when towing,
but I'm more interested in breaking that magical 2000kg limit. I want it to be certified for at least 2500kgs so I do not have to take all the crap out the boat when trailering. That will require an electric brake setup. The local guy reckoned with his mods, he could certify it for 3000kgs (mind you, he has closed down now..)
Re: Trailer Upgrade to Dual Axle's
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 1:57 pm
by Fresh Breeze
Paul, The boat tow's really well, track's so much better and there is no flex in the trailer, thank heavens for our Qld roads are a atrociously rough in places.
A single axle breaking system has a legal limit of 2200 kg, so I am told by QLD Transport. We could have all four wheel's breaking with the original breaking system, that would have given us 3500 kg but our budget didn't stretch that far.
As for you wan'ting a 3000 kg? Has your car got that capability? I know our car has 3500 kg towing capacity and handles the boat & trailer well.
Paul, you should give Neil from Dixon Tarilers in Gympie a call and asked him all the question's, He is very helpful and his workmanship is A1.
Also Electric break's, under water?
Cheers K & C
Re: Trailer Upgrade to Dual Axle's
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:46 pm
by Mac26Mpaul
I bet it does tow a lot better, worth 2k just not to have to be the on the edge of your seat all the time when towing! Although for me its mainly the slight angle of the wheels that stresses me out, otherwise I don't mind the trailer. Except for the weight issue and the fact that insurance is worth nothing when over that 1905kgs....
He just said he would certify it for 3000kg. 2500kg is the limit of my current tow hack and its all I need I think. 2200kg without electric breaks? mmm I thought it was 2000. No definitely don't want electric brakes, but I thought it was the only option to get legal with a loaded boat on the trailer. The trailer guy told me I'd have to have em..
I have been umming and arrring over this for a few years now, will probably just do it for a few more

Still, we are planning another Sandy Straits trip, a Clarence river trip, hopefully a Whitsundays trip, and possibly a Sydney Harbour New Years eve trip, in the next two years - now sure how my heart will take towing the trailer on all this..

..
Hope you are doing okay up there at the moment...