Flatbed guys what are you running? Truck/trailer

I'm not flatbed but I drive a Ram 3500 cab and chassis and tow a 26k. My truck and trailer empty weigh a bit over 18k. Truck a bit over 9k and trailer is about 9k
I'm rated for 40k lbs and the heaviest I've been is 38k towing 3 diesel pickup trucks. Truck does well at 38k but I wouldn't want to be that heavy all the time. Comfortable at 33k.

Just put a down payment on a custom low profile step deck auto hauler because I'm losing out on good loads my wedge cant take because of height and wind resistance with a car on top is hurting my mpg. Might fill in the middle gap and try to grab some freight when it's worth it.

If I had to start over I'd look for a single axle semi.

 

Don't waste your time running a "heavy hotshot".
I ran mine at 36k lb gross with 17k lb on deck. It was fun & all but for all the same hassle you can run one of these joints. Full truck loads, better bunk, virtually same fuel mileage. You can get this whole rig cheaper than a new 4500-5500 before the upfit. Then cost of new gooseneck wagon..
That's ~26000lb on deck.. I can deck 28,300lb @54999 gross. No 2290, no kyu. No different than when I was a 36k lb 1 ton..
Also that hotshot will be toast when you're done with it. Even if my truck is scrap, this aluminum wagon will be worth $20-$30k..

 

10-4

Well to answer your original question ~17k lbs on deck is what I did max at 36k gross. 2012 1 ton ram.. The trailer was good for about 20k. Put 20k on it plenty of times behind this shaker while I was transitioning.

I know the new pickups are "rated" for 40k or 42k gross. They will do it, but won't last very long grossing that kind of weight on the regular..

Mine was only rated for 21k gcvwr. 6.7 Cummins 3.73 g56. It was a good truck.. this was about 16k of aluminum tubing, so 35k gross..

 

I wish I can find a big block M2 112 crew cab that isn't a sportchassis or costs like a sportchassis. Smaller than a semi, plenty of cab room/sleeper, more power than a 1 ton and air brakes to stop that heavy load. Throw on an APU and you're golden. I personally like the way they look.
I'd say that would be a perfect Hotshot rig that can haul heavy safely and comfortably.

 

Here singlescrewshaker gives the natural progression most everyone goes thru if they stay in this business. I have a friend who went thru the same progression all along his brother in law suggesting you should get a semi. Now the one saying to upgrade has drove big truck over 40 years. Now he admits he wasted a lot of money going his own way. There is a guy on here that runs a hotshot for about 25 years and he will not load over 15k on his trailers They mainly run freight and use cars to fill in so the are not competing against the semi car carrier. I believe Singlescrewshaker runs freight and uses cars as a filler. This is the information I have learned from these guys, me personally I run the lightest freight possible. I don’t put over 5 k on my trailer. I run stuff for the electric grid, I do not complete for this stuff, I wait until they call me.

 

This is the closest thing to a car I have ran with the step. Matter of fact, a Cadillac Escalade is really the only car like thing I think I put on my hotshot. The dove tail monster ramp set up was not really all that good for cars. A 2wd f150 I would have to block up with timbers so the front air dam wouldn't be damaged..

Usually the only vehicles I move are transfers for equipment rental yards. Nothing against cars, I personally didn't see the right $ for moving 1 or 2 when I needed too..

I have nothing against a hotshot that knows their sheet. I can't stand when I see one with all the freight loaded at or behind the trailer axles. Load your drive!! Driver!! Jackknife waiting to happen..

But yep, being based in FL I struggled with the hotshot. I survived it, & moved on to something that is better suited for the spot market. I say this all the time, but was so sick of hearing sorry, we know it will fit, but No Hotshots..

If I had direct freight that kept me in the money like @Lite bug I would've stayed with it.. Any way you choose, I hope you succeed.. From a business standpoint, this puts more money in my pocket, which is why I do this.. In this bad market we did $6440 last week, & $5350 this week on less than 2000 miles..