Conostega or Curtainside

I pull a curtain side & 1 thing for certain is u cant haul veneer in the conestoga like u can the curtain side. I haul plastic & steel pipe lumber steel brick etc in my curtain side. U just got to know what ur doing on loading it.

 

So it sounds like it's possible to haul dry freight in a connie as well? The other day I saw a Conestoga going down the interstate with sealable doors on the back. Seems like it opens up a whole new world of opportunity for flatbedders.

Also, can you stack freight 8' 6" high in a connie?

 

I don't know how high it was, but I loaded veneer in my connie and I had to strap it down just to roll it shut. But it will fit, wasn't a little bit either. I was right at gross.

 

Will the Conestoga provide better fuel economy? I lost about 1mpg since switching to flats and I'm curious if I could get that back with a connie. If so, the fuel savings and time recovered from not having to tarp could pay for it in a little over a year.

 

In my experience with a Conestoga is that my fuel mileage dropped.

 

I wonder why that would be? Yes it does add more weight, but i'd think the aerodynamics would more than make up for it. But I guess it would also depend on if you had a midroof or fullsize truck.

 

It would depend what you haul. If you haul a lot of short loads that catch little wind you of would probaly lose mpg. If you hauled alot of tall loads that catch alot of wind you might break even or gain mpg. Also if you can get the gap between the sleeper and the front of the trailer minimal like a van trailer you might be better off. I know the the Conestoga I pull and the long 5' gap or so between the rear of the sleeper and the front of the trailer it hurts my mpg.

 

The other thing that you have to look at is where you are delivering. I haul concrete products on a flat and they are always loaded with a forklift but at the other end they may be unloaded with an excavator. Nothing like hauling a 12k lb piece and have the customer show up with one chain and an excavator. Then ask if they can just push it off the trailer. Yeah sure, I can use a new trailer....LOL

Of course, I never tarp these anyhow but the delivery is something to look at too.