craig - I'll try to give you the "readers digest" point of view on a spread axle. Bridgestone tire Compamy did a study on straight axles vs spread axle trailers. What they found were that a standard axle traiers will experiences less tire wear than a spread axle. This was due to the spread axle trailer experiencing more pressure from side forces. Both trailers wore the same on a straightaway, but the spread axle tires wore worse the tires were put in turning position. On the upside of the spread axle trailer are; safety, weight distribution, overweight permit and less trailer wear. I beieve it was Barrett that has stated, the frame of a spread axle is less prone to wear than a standard axle trailer. This is because the frame heats up, eventually causing stress factures in the metal, but a spread axle trailer has an axle near the center of the trailer, which can cut down on the flexing of the trailer and this helped cut down on the long term frame wear. I hope tihs helps and i'll comment on the triple axle next. In the mean time Keep "Mooooving" those Cow's! Kenny Custom Cattle Company, INC.

Craig - I noticed you said you, "kind of run all over." I think if your running the souhteast area having a triple axle could cause you some problems. Since most of these states are pretty strict about the 80,000 lbs! Part of our business we contract haul ten loads a year from Sulphursprings, TX. to Alberta,Canada (holstiens). I thought about buying a triple axle trailer just to get loads out of Canada (89,500) back to the midwest (of course dodging scales) and then eventually back to Texas. When I did the math on this it became apparent to me I would have to haul at least once a week or 6 months out of the year to justify this expense.I would think in your area and the area of the midwest with some states allowing 85,500 you might be able to make a tri axle work, certainly a spread axle would. I guess it all boils down to knowing the needs of your business, areas of operations and the amount of maintenance your willing to endure. I hate having to come out of Canada and dead head to the states, but i do it ten times a year. i will say this, I found that I can load anywhere USA with a 50 to 52 foot trailer.We current have three 53 foot trailers that when the need comes I'll replace them with 52's there just not enough profit margin for me to warrant the extra foot of trailer. Scasling usually becomes a problem for me with the 53's, not always but sometimes. I wish you the best if you do purchase the tri axle trailer. One finally thought, depending on how your building the trailer, the heavier it will become for you, and if you put low profile tires on it, be ready for height difference in loading chutes ect... well i'll talk to you another time getting ready to load hear in KY heading home to TX!