Dan, here's my take on this.

Sorry it's real long.

I've been following this and think your going to appreciate the Tandeum axles better when loaded.

I have two car hauler trailers, one with single axle, and a tandeum axle one. Soon to have three trailers. The baby trailer is 12 ft, all aluminum, and single axle. The Momma trailer is 16 ft steel and tandeum axles and tandeum brakes. The big Daddy I'm building, as I get time, is 30 ft and has 2 axles now and maybe three axles with brakes on two of the axles when I get done with it. It needs a floor and new tires to finish.

I can carry a Samuri well enough on the aluminum single axle, but for anything heavier even behind my 3/4 Dodge it will kick me in the back of the head the entire trip. It will never let me forget it's back there. Even when I'm just hauling my motorcycles. It's tounge is long and has a compartment for the tie downs and the spare tire inbetween the frame rails forward of the axle. I made it so the axle will slide about 30 inches to get better balance with the loads. It was originally built to haul my Baja Dune Buggy. But, it has carried Samuri's, the Troopers and even the Rodeo (before the SAS). Not recommended because the Rodeo was too heavy. The torsion axle is adjustable and is rated at 4K lbs.

But with the 16' tandeum, I sometimes have to look in the mirror to make sure it's still back there because it tows so well. The axles are rated at 3,500lbs each.

Both trailers have electric brakes and I have even towed both at the same time. The aluminum one in the rear. (that's how I got Jeff Mason's Sammy here from Georgia.) As far as stopping, electric brakes are the way to go cause you can dial them in as you need them. Had surge brakes on the single axle for a while and it was always a crapshoot, as far as I was concerned, as to wether there would be enough braking when I needed it. Balance was a lot more critical as you know. But the tandeum balance isn't such a big deal. Balance and tounge weight are real important if your tow rig is a little on the light side.

I'm on my second set of tires on the tandeum and let me repeat what Dallas said. Your gonna wish you had tandeum axles if you ever blow out a trailer tire on a single axle trailer with it loaded. Talk about pucker factor! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Ask me how I know!!!!
We're on the fourth set of tires on the aluminum one. I cut more tires on it for some reason, and just don't trust them with a load at 70 mph that way.

Just remember that as you design and build this trailer that once you have it available your going to find more uses for it than just carring your Amigo on it. I've hauled more firewood on my aluminum trailer than I want to think about. The short trailer is better for parking in the lot at work when I make araingements with the Company Tree Trimmers for a load of firewood. Cool Perk when I can get it.

You know all this already, but I felt compelled to reinforce the General Concensis.

Later,

Curtis