Flatbed 1st time purchasing

Yeah I thought so too. I’m 31900 full tanks on a t660 and a 53 ft combo flat.

 

His old trailer was either steel or combo. Not aluminum. I'm pretty sure it was a 48' steel fontaine

 

I've got a 99 Benson. It's an all aluminum 48 and other than replacing 2 airbags and a light or two I've had zero issues. It still looks good and gets the job done.

 

Because they are not junk. He is talking out the side of his mouth. They break in the lead axle area because people just beat the trailer without proper maintenance. Fact older Reitnouer steel suspensions boxes are highly acceptable to corrosion jacking. When the corrosion starts disforming the suspension box it should be dropped and cleaned out and replaced with new bolts. If not the bolts stretch and will break if bad enough These Stretched bolts allow movement, and cracks can start to form at the bolt holes in the frame. We are talking old neglected trailers. Here in northwest Indiana there are lots of 20 plus year old Reitnouers still pulling coils every day with arch. But they have had proper maintenance.

Also he is recommending a Benson 724 which has a rating of 72,000 in 4 feet. That is a heavy trailer with thicker beams. That's the equivalent of Macs m-72, m-80 beams or Reitnouers BiggerBubba model. Those are over kill for general freight they're designed for multi axle heavy steel hauling . I'm hoping he is not suggesting if you want a Benson to not fall apart you have to buy the heaviest Benson makes.

 

524 means it is rated for 52,000 in four feet. So its strong and lighter for a better tear weight. The older 96in wide flatbeds at TMC were probably Benson older design. Everyone really has followed Reitnouer and Macs design of using extruded aluminum flanges(Reitnouer use a extruded c-channel).

 

At work we're unloading a few stepdecks and was able to bend the ear of the sales guy looking to purchase them. He sold Macs and Fontaine. I guess Fontaine makes a trailer that has crossmembers built into the floor so the underside was smooth. Makes it easier to wash. They call it Stirlite. Also they offer milled rub rails, but I think others do too. Despite all this he said if he were buying aluminum it would be a Mac. His .02

Fontaine Trailer, Flatbed Trailers, Flat Bed Trailers, Trailer Drops, Aluminum Trailers, Composite Trailers, Steel Trailers, Revolution Trailers

 

1997ish I worked in a fleet shop with 150 power units hauling steel. Any and every combination of trailers. They were convinced to try a group of 5 spreads.

They got more miles to and from the dealer for repairs than on the road working. They fell apart. Have left a bad taste in my mouth. That particular company your dare not even say that name inside the building.

I have personally know quite a few broken in half with guys that maintained their equipment. Those trailers are nothing special and I will never own one. With that said. Over the road general flatbed freight they should be ok. That's not what I do.