Benson flatbed trailer

Call Benson? 877.489.9020.

 

Benson closed down a year or so ago.

The 2000 is the small beam trailer correct? I'm pretty sure it is. I don't know what your going to haul with it, but if it is the smaller beam you might want to look at another trailer. Them weren't the best build trailers.

 

The original Benson closed but were bought by Wabash. The bottom of their website says "A product of Transcraft Corporation" which says enough for me. If it's a "524" it's rated for 52,000# in 4'. The "724" is rated for 72,000# in 4'. If it doesn't have the big number sticker on the frame it's the lighter of the two.

I had one and used it for lumber. It was ok I wouldn't buy another just because it was pretty weak. Not an issue for most but mine had a Conestoga tarping system and a 48k pound load of lumber would completely take the arch out of it which made the tarp loose which caused a lot of maintenance problems. If it was cheap and your not hauling steel coils it's on par with a East Beast for strength. But like Les said, they weren't the best built trailers. But if given a choice between a steel or combo trailer like a Transcraft or a Benson, I'd take the Benson hands down.

Here's the one I had. Trailer weighed about 10k with the box, bulkhead, 13 winch straps and all alum wheels, 12,200 with the Conestoga

 

Sorry but I've seen to many Bensons (524 724 and older) that looked like they was gonna snap right at the dolleys, I'd take a Transcraft, if it was an older model in good shape. Well, ok maybe not!. Although I do like the way they built the Valley Transportation Bensons, if they'd just built the rest of their trailers that way they'd have a good trailer!

 

That's exactly where ours would sag, sad really. But unlike the 3 transcrafts I tried it never cracked. Perfect Styrofoam trailers!

 

The biggest problem with Transcraft is people adding extra support to them to stop the swaying. I hauled nothing but coils with mine and the heaviest single was a 55k and all it did was level the trailer out. I was actually impressed with the fact the trailer was a 94 and when I bought it, it was 10 yrs old.

 

I have a 94' 48' by 96" all steel trans, my first & only trailer so far.it has done a great job. I haul 45 50,000 lb single coils. every day. I did not like the benson's based on what I saw & the owners have told me. I have been shown by owners how just where the trailer is bolted to the frame, at, around or near the air bags, how it would break & have to get reinforced. the prob was it was harder to get some one who could weld aluminum rather than the steel trailers. I would buy a used retinour before a new benson. I scratched my head at the 4 little bolts that held the bed to the frame on the benson. just looked like they could break off in a tight turn with a lot of weight.

 

bensons are known for cracking where the suspension bolts to the frame in the bolt holes

 

So are the older East's, I have one that was just repaired. The large plates that connect the frame rails above each axle from top to bottom. While it was in the shop they also plated the outside of the frame and replaced the kingpin plate (thanks Michigan for the salt). I've seen a lot of them done this way. 2 of the 3 transcrafts I had ended up cracking the frame just in front of the axles hauling only lumber. I sold the last before it had a chance. Ended up replacing them with 965 Wilsons which are twice the trailer for only about 4k more money.