Aluminum Flatbed Trailers

**camaro68** · 07.14.2012

Why do aluminum flatbed trailers have that bow in the middle. Do they come new like that? Or is it the weight of the load that eventually bows the trailer over time?

**-insert name-** · 07.14.2012

All trailers are like that, if its flat while empty or lightly loaded, retire it from service before it bottoms out!

**SHC** · 07.14.2012

The bow is an ARCH and there because alumnium will flex with weight and when it is loaded it will flatten out like a wood deck trailer. The ARCH usually stays in the trailer for quite a few years, but will eventually go away and you have to get the beams re-arched again.

EMPTY

LOADED

**camaro68** · 07.14.2012

Originally Posted by SHC

The bow is an ARCH and there because alumnium will flex with weight and when it is loaded it will flatten out like a wood deck trailer. The ARCH usually stays in the trailer for quite a few years, but will eventually go away and you have to get the beams re-arched again.

How do they re-arch the beams?

**SHC** · 07.14.2012

Originally Posted by camaro68

How do they re-arch the beams?

That I have no clue about, never had it done.

**-insert name-** · 07.14.2012

Get two bulldozers and push either end

**camaro68** · 07.14.2012

Thank you for the pics, shc, that's a good example. What year Western Star is that? What brand aluminum trailer do you prefer?

**camaro68** · 07.14.2012

Originally Posted by -insert name-

Get two bulldozers and push either end

That would be the quickest way to do it.....lol

**SHC** · 07.14.2012

Originally Posted by camaro68

Thank you for the pics, shc, that's a good example. What year Western Star is that? What brand aluminum trailer do you prefer?

It is a 2004 Lowmax, the trailer is a 2012 Fontaine Revolution.

I like the revolution for multiple loads and different kinds of freight. But if I was only going to haul steel/pipe I would buy a MAC 80T

**haulhand** · 07.14.2012

SHC is mostly right and has good pics. The technical term for the arch is camber and all trailers have it put in them for strength otherwise they would sag with negative camber when they where loaded and eventually break.