Question regarding Van vs curtainside flatbed

Some, not all. Same the other way, no all flat bed loads will fit a curtain side, no crain loads.

 

Our backhauls were always dry freight, never had a problem.

Instead of loadlocks, straps were used.

 

I've been pulling a curtain for almost 2 years & as far as I know we haven't lost a load yet because of it. There are shippers that won't put van freight in a roll tarp, but a curtain with solid rear doors and roof seems to be OK pretty much everywhere.

 

As many times as I have had my flat banged by a fork truck I could see the potential for problems with a sliding sider. I never pulled one, looks nice and easy compared to tarps. I have seen the curtain sides and the ones where half the track slides from one end to the other. Seen some lumber loads and wondered what would happen if they got tagged while loading or unloading.

 

We've had them for over 15yrs, the tracks are tougher than you'd think. Seem to hold up to the worst forklift drivers.

 

Well, I am a newbie and still have a lot to learn, I am pulling a flat now... I can think of few loads that a curtain side may not be able to haul... I could be wrong also... but, The hay that I have hauled.. don't know if a curtain side would of worked... another that comes to mind is bee's... we used our screen tarp.. so perhaps you could use the screen tarp inside a curtain side...

I think any type of trailers has it's pro's and con's...

 

I differentiate between what you're talking about by calling it a roll-tarp or a conestoga, as opposed to the curtain vans I pull which have solid roofs and swing doors.

I don't much like roll-tarps. You can't load anything over 96" wide and they always look like big sails with all the loose canvas going down the road. I don't think you can haul a lot of van freight with a roll-tarp.