Post flatbed load photos here V2.0

Sure if I had a set. For how rarely I would actually use them they aren't worth the weight. I'm already too #### heavy. 35K empty with an all aluminum step. I have a rough time scaling some loads. Everybody wants to load 48K.

 

I meant for the future. I'm about the same, I was 34.5K with a combo flat.
I always wondered how shingle yards scale you empty at 34.5K, say they're loading 45.5K on you, then you gross 82K loaded. Magic

 

Yea we've talked about it in the past for our 2 aluminum steps. They are just not of use for our business model. I've had 2 times in the last 4 years where they might have been useful.

As for load levelers, there is one on each of our step decks and 1 spare sitting in the shed back home. I've used them 3 times in 4 years. A lot of times I take the one on the 3 axle step off and leave it home. Just don't need it and I wind up tripping over it.

The biggest use we have for the levelers is hauling 2 20ft containers. One of my customers uses 20s as portable machine shops and tool cages.

I voted for buying our new steps as 53ft with a 43 ft lower so we could haul 2 20s or a 40 and not have to mess around with levelers.

 

If I grab a steel frame in like 37K empty, pushing 39K if I grab the 3 axle.

 

It's funny how we are all so unique in what we haul. I've never hauled slinkies for instance. My boss tends to not book sticks n bricks.

Yet in under a year with him I've used ramps and load levelers on probably 12-15 loads.

But when you aren't carrying tarps is when you need them. Need a load leveler? At the shop. I had to use wooden crates and 2x4s as load levellers one trip.

You need to carry so much junk "just in case"

 

Man if I carried all the stuff I wanted for those once a year loads I'd have to have another trailer for it. As it is now both of my side boxes are full as well as all the space in the cab boxes under the bed. There's still more stuff I'd like to carry but I just don't have room.

One of those just in case things is coil racks. I've used them twice. If I need them it takes me 10 minutes to get them out. They are buried behind and under everything else.

I try to keep most everything in a way that I can get any any piece of equipment without having to move 10 other things. The rarely used stuff slowly works it's way to the back though.

 

Yeah but you need it you need it.

Maybe look into a swamper chase vehicle/service truck. Keep your empty gross low yet have a swamper and junk you need to make the run. Win win.

Ask @passingthru69 for tips here.

 

We haul mobile 20 ft machine shops alot, we have 53 foot steps with the 43 foot lower and do just like you said.

 

@Razororange

Here's a mobile shop w/tooling.

I like when it's just 1 shop container, it's light, no tarps, I chain them and go truckin'.

 

Its not uncommon for us to haul 4-5 containers to the same site depending on how big the job is. Along with 1-2 truckloads of miscellaneous equipment and another 2 trucks for the lathe I posted a couple weeks back.

When I brought up the idea of 53ft steps I got met with some stupid answers from some of our drivers. Things like:

"The extra 5 feet means another 5 feet of stuff you have to haul for the same price."

Or concerns about tail swing. Because apparently 5 ft of tail is a lot.

Looking at picking up 2 new trailers here shortly and I'm going to be pushing for them to be 53s with a sliding rear axle. If the other guys don't like pulling that I'm going to try to get at least one for me to pull.