Tired of fighting the arch

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by mtoo, Jan 27, 2015.

  1. mtoo

    mtoo Road Train Member

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    Bought my first aluminum flatbed back in 1986, that's all I've owned since. My plan this year was to get rid of this Big Bubba and get a Mac. But lately I've been thinking how nice it would be to have a "flat" deck. I don't haul heavy anymore. I just like the looks and resale value of aluminum.

    So thinking of going combo, or even all steel. It would get my deck height down a little and get rid of the arch. Just running thoughts thru my head. What are your thoughts on this?
     
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  3. kona911

    kona911 Light Load Member

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    My mac is rated for 60k and there's not much of an arch. It's not like some of those heavier rated trailers that's for sure.
     
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  4. QUAD 40

    QUAD 40 Bobtail Member

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    Just a thought here. Take the average weight of the loads you're carrying, then determine what your empty weights would be with a steel or combo trailer and see which would let you carry what you wanted and not go over 80,000.

    I hope this helps a little.
     
  5. The Admiral

    The Admiral Heavy Load Member

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    Order a trailer and tell whatever brand you want how much chamber you want in the trailer. I'm sure Mac or Reitnour will build what you want. Same deal with a combo. I have a Wilson combo SD plenty happy with it. I have not owned an all steel trailer in over 35 years. Steel crossmembers and outer rail are a major pain.
     
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  6. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    I bought a new Wilson all aluminum Premier with 17.5" rims last month. Took it back and ordered a combo to get rid of that arch. What's the point in owning a low deck step with a 39" deck height? Put 24 ton on it and it only dropped an inch. Useless IMO.
     
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  7. OldHasBeen

    OldHasBeen Road Train Member

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    Only flat beds I pulled were steel and loaded with sack cement, although I did work for a sheet rock company many years ago loading sheet rock on flat beds and at that time you did not see the big arches.

    In the last several years they've been running up and down the highways quite a bit, saw one the other day empty going toward Little Rock on I-30 between Texarkana and Fulton and boy did it have a big arch. I suppose the arch on an aluminum trailer is to give it more strength.

    I was just wondering what is the disadvantage in the big arch.
     
  8. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    Disadvantage is you can't load tall freight.
     
  9. OldHasBeen

    OldHasBeen Road Train Member

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    Why can't you load tall freight?
     
  10. mtoo

    mtoo Road Train Member

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    The highest point of my arch is 61" If I load something light that is 8'7" tall, it is not heavy enough to pull any of the arch out. I am now 13'8'' tall.
     
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  11. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    What they mean. You can still put the same load on a flat deck versus an arched deck BUT with the arch you may need permits to haul because with the higher arch you are now an oversize load.
     
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