Hello all. I'm new to towing travel trailers and have a question on the wide axles vs standard axles. What handling difference is there between the wide axles and standard spread axles? Is the wide axle better for handling sway? If so how much? Thanks for helping this newbie.
Is the wide axle better for handling sway? If so how much? Thanks for helping this newbie.
It could or should be better where sway is concerned but if your overall adjustment and setup is not correct it won't be much help.
Personally with the sharp turns and narrow roads etc we have to negotiate here in western PA, I would not want it. Much more tire scrub and stress on the mounting points when making tight turns.
You still need "10--15% Tongue Weight " with this axle spread for proper setup! They try to pass this off as a way to Tow with a under rated TV! Youroo! !
I agree with both Mr Havercamp and Youroo. The tracking on the road differences would be negligible long vs. short as long as we're talking tandem axles. The difference in the tire scrub long vs. short would translate to a lot more stress on the tire casings with a longer axle distance. ie. I don't have a great deal of manoevering room getting the TT in my driveway, so I go back and forth a couple times to relax the tire sidewalls before I disconnect since I can't straighten out the whole rig for 15 ft. Certainly, there has been ample discussion on the C rated tire durability
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2016 Flagstaff 27VRL Emerald
14K Equalizer
2020 Silverado 2500HD CC 4X4 6.6L gas 3.73
Thanks for the replies. From what I've read one of the most, if not the most, important thing is proper setup and adjustment. I will do my best to make sure this is right (Wife calls me anal. I say I'm meticulous) So if I'm understanding what's been said is the wide axle design is better for sway control but there is more stress on the sidewall of the tires in sharp turns/narrow winding roads. The standard width axles don't have as much stress in sharp turns/winding roads and is not as good with sway. The wife and I are looking at the Freedom Express 281 RLDS and the Apex 279 RLSS. One of the differences between the two is the FE has the wide axle and the Apex has the standard. We really like both of them but I want to be comfortable towing the TT. This is our first TT.
Check the tire size it comes with. Mine came with the infamous P 205-75R14 C load range tires and 2" of space between the wheels. Not too much out there in D load range tires and going to a bigger diameter isn't much of an option from this size tire and 2" of room to deal with. If it is equipped with 15" tires you are probably OK
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2016 Flagstaff 27VRL Emerald
14K Equalizer
2020 Silverado 2500HD CC 4X4 6.6L gas 3.73
Youroo! ! 
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