Aluminum vs. composite flatbeds

What do you mostly haul?

 

You can’t beat a Reitnouer big bubba they are bullet proof, and hold value. I know mac makes a great trailer also. One of these two trailers will out last any transcraft. I can legally scale 50,000 on the deck with my kenworth and big bubba full of fuel.

 

Look out around where the axels bolt to the frame and around the 5th wheel plate, personaly i have a 00 Ravens and its bin a great trailer i put 54,000 lbs on the deck and the arch is still like new if you haul alot of coils make sure the trailer is set up for it i wheigh 30,500 full of fuel with my 379exhd with 2 sets of tarps, log stakes and all other equiment.

 

Don't do the maxlite it doesn't have a coil package its only rated for 45,000 in 10 ft The maximiser is rated for 50,000 in 10 ft, the big bubba is rated for 60,000 in 10ft. The bigger bubba is rated for 74,000 in 10 ft.
I'm not sure on the pricing. I just bought a brand new 2010 reitnouer dropmiser 52ft 6inch for 39,900. Call reitnouer they were advertising 2005 big bubbas for $16,000 48ft102's. Old prime trailers if they still have them, you have to pick them up in Springfield mo. Good deal.

They are light trailers. My step deck weighs 10,200 pounds and it's a 52ft 6inch spread.
Not sure on the big bubbas never weighed them by themselves, but I can do 50,000 on the deck legal full of fuel, and I carry 5 tarps, a spare tire, tons of equipment, 6x6 lumber coil racks(use to haul big single coils 50-72,000 pounders).

 

Hey I just bought a Benson 2000 year for $10250 and I had 47000+ lb and arch is still good and it weighs 8900 lb .has coil package they are great trailers.I like East and Mac but cant afford them. 1999 Benson will serve you best and wont hurt your bank account.my2cents good luck

 

Mac is by far the strongest. The 80k model is rated for 80,000 in 4ft with 2 axles, 100,000 in 4' for 6 or more axles, The closest competitor is the Bigger Bubba, MMX East, 724 Benson all at 72k in 4'. Reitnouer is probably my 2nd choice. I've got 2 East's, one Beast and one MMX, 3 Wilsons (2 combo one all aluminum) Had a Benson, it was as strong as a wet noodle. That and Transcraft now owns them so I'm sure the quality went farther in the crapper.

If your wanting a sidekit or a conestoga don't get a weak trailer. The East Beast I have is a POS for hauling coils. The trailer is so weak you can barely get the side boards out loaded because the trailer sags. It's a 4 axle so that's the only thing that saves it, you have to drop one extra axle in order to put the side kit back together. Same with a conestoga. I've seen transcrafts with only a 45k coil flatten out so much the conestoga is loose, which just kills the tarp from the wind. A friend had a Transcraft with a Conestoga and even with lumber the tarp was loose. There are so many repo trailers around you can find a great deal. Just watch out for some guys on truckpaper, they are asking more for used stuff than a new one costs. Also IMO Intraxx 300 suspension is a must. There is barely any weight difference between the 250 (25k) and the 300 (30k) but the ride is much better.

I wouldn't buy a combo flat. I've got several now and have sold several. New there is only about $5k difference in price but not having any rust is worth the extra money. There isn't a whole lot of weight savings between the 2 but aluminum trailers are rated for a higher capacity. Most will tell you that you don't need the weight capacity. But as I'm sure you know with your 11 axle you've never thought to yourself "man I wish that trailer was a little weaker"

Before I paid $26 for an '06 Maximizer I'd buy this 2008 Mac.
This isn't the 80k but still a strong trailer. 2008 for $20k I believe this is the 60k (60k-4' but they did make a 70k for a while)