Old ravens flatbed questions

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by hazzmatt89, Sep 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM.

  1. hazzmatt89

    hazzmatt89 Light Load Member

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    Do these welds look alright? It’s an older ravens trailer 1994, it’s on the rear axel inside above suspension. Tried screenshotting the video the best I could. looking at buying the trailer I get it is an older ravens but want to make sure it would be safe to haul even though it’s been repaired.

    plate on the outside has them above all outside axels I believe from reading some older threads on here that was factory.

    Would be hauling local mixed freight with occasional coils from time to time. Have a good price I could get the trailer for needs a few boards swapped out but I have hauled a 95 ravens that I really like but it didn’t have those plates on the outside not sure if it was a different model
     

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  3. OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    Looks good to me. I’ve seen a whole lot worse on flatbeds.
     
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  4. hazzmatt89

    hazzmatt89 Light Load Member

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    thank you, wasn’t sure once repaired there if it will be a constant problem or not
     
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  5. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    My opinion only from pics. Looks like bird ####. I'm guessing lead axle. Mostly from turning sharp,hard,fast. Doesn't look like hardened bolts, nuts, definitely not washers. They didn't bother to clean up welds so bolts would tighten properly. Probably will come loose. Ravens is known to be brittle when old. Not a fan of them.

    But I've only seen a few pics. If your just looking for a cheap trailer to get some work done, that's understandable also.
     
  6. OLDSKOOLERnWV

    OLDSKOOLERnWV Captain Redbeard

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    Grade 8 fine thread would been better choice in my opinion….
     
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  7. hazzmatt89

    hazzmatt89 Light Load Member

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    I can get the trailer for 5500 needs two tires and rear brakes. I don’t want to get to much $$ into it cause of the price. I can’t shell out 10k at the moment been renting a trailer for awhile but with truck repairs it just hasn’t been in the cars for a trailer, found this one and was in budget but might just wait
     
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  8. FLHT

    FLHT Road Train Member

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    Ya think the trailer is a bit too old for coils ?
    If I were the shipper I would not load the trailer.
    Half assed repair short a few washers and grade 8 bolts ?
    It does have the makings of a good scrap yard trailer.
     
  9. OLDSKOOLERnWV

    OLDSKOOLERnWV Captain Redbeard

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    That trailer have a dump axle? I’m suspecting it doesn’t….
     
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  10. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    I would agree it looks bad. Not sure what I'd do in your position, but no way in hell I'd put a coil on that.

    I'd keep renting. Buy that and you might have a customers load hijacked cause DOT puts you OOS
     
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  11. hazzmatt89

    hazzmatt89 Light Load Member

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    No dump axel that I’m aware of,

    Yes I need something I can put Coil once or twice a week up to 44k not trying to get out oos and not trying to get into a trailer for a good bit of money, I had a nice trailer I was gonna buy for 10k but had some truck repairs and couldn’t do it. But I don’t know much about welds so the reason I ask on here
     
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