High Rail or Low Rail? What's your preference? And Why?

If you want maximum versatility, high rail wins, hands down. Especially if you are doing multipick/drop loads, the ability to load or unload a car from the middle of the stack without unloading the whole top of the trailer has saved me more time than I could ever count. If the bottom is empty, you can unload #2, 3, 4, without unload any other cars from the top. The 7510 Cottrell low side can accomplish some of these tricks, but it's a tank and not as durable as the high rail. I put 800+k miles on my last one, and had one post crack near the end, but no other structural welding was ever needed. And that truck was rarely under gross. The low rails can be a touch quicker to load, especially with smaller loads, but when the loads get big the high rail wins again. Getting out isn't the major issue every one acts like it is (as long as your top rails are outside the posts,) and you learn where to load what, and only very long wheelbases on the 4/5 split cause problems.

We just bought 6 new Stars with CX-9s, and they are nice for the ability to place a dually in multiple positions, but I wouldn't take one over a high rail if I were to get back in a truck. Maybe if I only loaded 4 half-tons on the trailer everyday, I'd like it, but can't see any advantage worth the loss of flexibility.

 

times 2 on the high rail. You will get guys that want nothing but a low rail and guys that want nothing but a high rail. Kind of like a Ford vs Chevy thing.

 

The versatility of the high rail is why I own/run one. I ran a quick loader many years ago which is a form of the low rail but the top deck was all one unit with just the front that slid out. You can be very creative on a high rail as far as where to put units. As Hammer said you will hear guys mention low rails as there is no posts on the top to avoid when getting out of vehicles but once you know how to set up a high rail (meaning where to position decks park etc) you can put most anything on without a problem. The only thing is duallys which you are limited to basically one on a load. I try not to put them on period though due to weight etc. I let the truck hauler trucks move them.

 

Yes and no. It's easier to learn the equipment with a low rail, but it you make a mistake on load configuration, you can usually fix the issue on a high rail without unloading the whole truck. You mess up loading a quickloader, you're unloading until you get to the unit in the wrong place.