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Aluminum Flatbed Trailers

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by camaro68, Jul 14, 2012.

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  1. Jul 14, 2012 #1
    camaro68

    camaro68 Medium Load Member

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    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?
     
    camaro68, Jul 14, 2012
    camaro68, Jul 14, 2012
    #1
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  3. Jul 14, 2012 #2
    -insert name-

    -insert name- ATM squishier

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    All trailers are like that, if its flat while empty or lightly loaded, retire it from service before it bottoms out!
     
    -insert name-, Jul 14, 2012
    -insert name-, Jul 14, 2012
    #2
    camaro68 Thanks this.
  4. Jul 14, 2012 #3
    SHC

    SHC Spoiled Rotten Brat O/O

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    Westville, IN
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    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

    [​IMG]

    LOADED

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    SHC, Jul 14, 2012
    SHC, Jul 14, 2012
    #3
    camaro68 Thanks this.
  5. Jul 14, 2012 #4
    camaro68

    camaro68 Medium Load Member

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    How do they re-arch the beams?
     
    camaro68, Jul 14, 2012
    camaro68, Jul 14, 2012
    #4
  7. Jul 14, 2012 #5
    SHC

    SHC Spoiled Rotten Brat O/O

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    That I have no clue about, never had it done.
     
    SHC, Jul 14, 2012
    SHC, Jul 14, 2012
    #5
    camaro68 Thanks this.
  8. Jul 14, 2012 #6
    -insert name-

    -insert name- ATM squishier

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    Get two bulldozers and push either end :p
     
    -insert name-, Jul 14, 2012
    -insert name-, Jul 14, 2012
    #6
    camaro68 Thanks this.
  9. Jul 14, 2012 #7
    camaro68

    camaro68 Medium Load Member

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    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, Jul 14, 2012
    camaro68, Jul 14, 2012
    #7
  10. Jul 14, 2012 #8
    camaro68

    camaro68 Medium Load Member

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    That would be the quickest way to do it.....lol
     
    camaro68, Jul 14, 2012
    camaro68, Jul 14, 2012
    #8
  11. Jul 14, 2012 #9
    SHC

    SHC Spoiled Rotten Brat O/O

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    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
     
    SHC, Jul 14, 2012
    SHC, Jul 14, 2012
    #9
    camaro68 Thanks this.
  12. Jul 14, 2012 #10
    haulhand

    haulhand Road Train Member

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    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.
     
    haulhand, Jul 14, 2012
    haulhand, Jul 14, 2012
    #10
    SHC and camaro68 Thank this.
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