Understanding Single Axle vs. Double Axles on RVs
In this video, we explore why a single-axle RV, like a Bowlus, is not only easier to tow but just as safe as multi-axle RVs.
Contrary to popular belief, more axles don’t always mean better safety. Bowlus travel trailers are designed to be lightweight, with a gross vehicle weight of 3,500 to 4,000 pounds, making them perfect for single-axle configurations. This offers several advantages, including easier campsite positioning, lower maintenance costs, and better towing efficiency. Thanks to its aerodynamic design, a Bowlus can be towed effortlessly by SUVs, crossovers, and even electric vehicles, providing a smoother and more fuel-efficient experience. Watch the full video to see why lightweight single axle travel trailers are the best for performance.
Join Geneva Long, CEO of Bowlus, as she explains the differences between single axle and double axle travel trailers and why the single axle travel trailer makes the most sense for performance.
FAQs
Video Transcript
Hi! I’m Geneva Long, CEO of Bowlus, and today I want to talk all about axles and specifically single axles and why the Bowlus has a single axle rather than a double axle. Let’s flip the camera around. So all Bowlus trailers have a single axle and what’s important to know is that heavier is not always better and this is particularly true when it comes to the number of axles on your RV. Now, don’t be fooled: many die-hards will tell you that you need to have two or three axles to make an RV safer, but that’s simply not the case. Single axle RVs are just as safe and easier to tow, especially if you’re towing a lightweight RV like a Bowlus.
That’s because the number of axles on a travel trailer is determined by weight. Each axle, and each tire on that axle, has a load capacity rating—the amount of weight it is able to safely support—which is usually about 2,000 pounds per tire. The longer and heavier the RV, the greater number of axles required, with the rear axles often having up to four tires each. Often you’ll see recalls on two or three axle RVs; that’s often an excellent example of loading rates and why that’s so important in an RV, and why it matters how much weight your axle and your tires can take.
Now, single axle travel trailers are by definition lightweight. The Bowlus has a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of 3,500 pounds to 4,000 pounds—that’s 3,500 lbs. on the Bowlus Rivet and 4,000 lbs. on the Endless Highways. We design the Bowlus to be a single axle travel trailer because there’s so many advantages to owning a lightweight RV.
Let’s talk about those advantages! First, when you combine that single axle with a jockey wheel, which also comes on every Bowlus trailer right here up at the front, it’s really a breeze to position your RV in any campsite. If you need to shift your travel trailer to the left or to the right to maximize the view—no problem. Even a small adult like myself can quickly reposition the Bowlus on a flat surface, and I will link the video of me spinning around Bowluses in this very showroom.
If you want a hand moving your Bowlus, it’s also worth considering adding the option of Bowlus AeroMove, which is new for 2025. That uses a handheld device to position your Bowlus exactly into place—again, a feature that is entirely unique to Bowlus and possible because of that single axle. Also, with a single axle RV, you’ll have less upkeep on your trailer brakes, bearings, and tires because, of course, there’s fewer of them to maintain. Maintenance cost, time, and effort increase exponentially with the number of axles that you have. For example, we recommend replacing the tires on your RV at least every seven years or, of course, when wear dictates that; the cost of two tires versus four versus six is obviously considerably different.
Then, most importantly, there’s that towing. A lightweight single axle RV is just so much less stressful to tow than badly shaped “white box” heavy RVs. That’s because the turning and handling is so much better. Bowlus has those beautiful aerodynamics on the front, so there’s less drag and less rolling resistance. That means that you can tow a Bowlus with crossovers, SUVs, and electric vehicles, and do so with better fuel economy or range in the case of EVs.
If you have any other questions about towing a single axle RV or why a single axle RV makes the best decision for a lightweight towable travel trailer, feel free to contact us at sales@bowlus.com or bowlus.com.
