What Flatbed Trailer?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Turn3, Nov 16, 2009.

What Type of Flatbed?

  1. *

    Straight

    44.4%
  2. *

    Step Deck

    44.4%
  3. *

    Curtain Conestoga

    22.2%
  1. Turn3

    Turn3 Light Load Member

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    Oct 15, 2009
    Pacific, Missouri
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    Throwing out this poll for everyones opinion.

    I am wanting to get back into flatbed hauling and was wondering what the opinions of company owners and O/O have towards the type.

    Thanks for the help.
     
    Baack Thanks this.
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  3. Les2

    Les2 Road Train Member

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    kicked back in my lazyboy...
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    Depends on what your gonna haul, do you have any idea yet?
     
  4. Coonass

    Coonass "Freshy Fresh"

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    Sep 23, 2008
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    I'm with Les it all depends on what type of freight you plan on hauling from there
    then you choose the trailer that best suits what you are going to do.
     
  5. Turn3

    Turn3 Light Load Member

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    Oct 15, 2009
    Pacific, Missouri
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    I am in the St. Louis area and I have been calling on loads for the past month. There are all types leaving our area and 75% want tarps and most seem to be metal (no coil/no autos.. insurance will not cover it) and pallets all seem to be the average load. I want a trailer that will be the most versatile giving me the most options to get home. If most loads want tarps then I am thinking a 'curtain' and having to deal with folding tarps up, dealing with them in the weather and just the simple fact of keeping them secure to the load. I realize getting wet is part of the game when it comes to these trailers.. just trying to make my life a little easier.
     
  6. Les2

    Les2 Road Train Member

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    Being where you live you'll almost have to get insurance at some point that will let you haul coils.

    Conastogas are expensive and heavy.

    Stepdeck will be about worthless to you with your insurance company unless they are gonna let you haul machinery or your gonna haul pallets. But unless they are gonna pay you more to haul the extra pallets I'd just go with a regular flat.
     
  7. Turn3

    Turn3 Light Load Member

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    Oct 15, 2009
    Pacific, Missouri
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    I am new to the insurance company and they recommended adding coils on later. It shouldn't be a problem... he said this would be the best approach if I have coil loads come up. He also said I can just add the company I haul coils for as well.

    They have no problem with equipment just autos... in fact that is where I have most of my experience is with equipment.

    How heavy are curtain trailers usually? The one I am looking at is an all aluminum trailer.
     
  8. pullingtrucker

    pullingtrucker Road Train Member

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    Fostoria, Ohio
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    I had a 48' Retinouer with a Fastrack system on it. With my Pete I tipped the scales around 32,500 with about 1/2 tanks. A Retinouer is right around 92-9500 lbs the last I knew. The big problem with conestoga type systems is the bad reputation they have gotten from shippers and recievers. Some of the first (and even newer) systems don't tighten the tarp enough. This leaves the tarp flapping a little which could damage the load if things are near the side. Also many of the first trailers were 96" wides and they put the conestoga on them...there wasn't much room width wise for stuff like lumber. Do some research into what you are looking to haul mainly than make your desicion. Personally if I was gonna get back into flatbedding I would buy a 53" Manac step deck with sliding rear axle(or maybe a triaxle with 2 of them being able to lift). Line both sides with tool boxes and store everything under neath so nothing will ever sit on the deck. Load levelers are also a must with a step deck.
     
  9. josh.c

    josh.c Road Train Member

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    The outfit I used to drive for put an 8' tall Vango/Merlot system on a 48' flat, and it added 1800 lbs. You could really subtract the weight of your headache rack and tarps from that, because you wouldn't need them. Having pulled both, I'd recommend the Vango over a Conestoga, the Vango draws the tarp much tighter and the system is sturdier. They both catch a lot of wind, they're 108" wide on a 102" trailer, and you can really feel the wind gust if you're pulling it around empty. You also have watch forklift operators, the tracks for the rollers can be damaged easily. I don't think the money for a new system would be worth it (for me) but there are a couple of good looking deals on truckpaper right now.
     
  10. broncrider

    broncrider Road Train Member

    for the most versitile outfit, stick with a strait, 48'x102" or even a 96" flat......if its a spread make sure it has a dump valve, and still dont turn too tight (some wont load a 96" either)

    step freight has fallen on its face this last year, and there's still alot of places that wont load flat frieght on a step

    a constoga is going to limit what you can hual, and forget any OD....plus even empty that thing is still catching air and lowering fuel economy, and with a low load, your still 13'6"

    although a 50'x102" step tridem (with lift axles) would be cool, and you could haul heavier, your really gonna be restrained by bridge laws on 2 lanes.....i'v been looking at them just for a calgary to housten and back kind of run (they are awesome in canukida)
     
  11. Turn3

    Turn3 Light Load Member

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    Oct 15, 2009
    Pacific, Missouri
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    My reefer spread had front and rear dump valves... it was a great little trailer. Most trailers only dump the front axles.

    When you say step deck freight has fallen on its face is that because equipment hauling is down?
     
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