Step Deck vs Flat Bed

What year are these trailers john? My dad has 2 97's thats hauled alot of weight and big singles and hasn't had to re-arch his yet.

 

I have a 94' 48 by 96" all steel transcraft. had it going on 12 years now. no problems. it does sway a lil from side to side. depends on the load. all I haul is steel coils. a 49,000 lb coil that is not tall rides fine & not much sway, but put on a 30,000 lb tall 7 ft narrow coil & it's all over the road. I am going to look into mac trailers. I assumed reit was bet, cause around here that is all you see.

 

That one is a 1999 with 4-9's.

 

Thats an old chuck kitchens wagon.

 

how do you go about re-arching a flatbed?

 

We had one done a LONG time ago and they chain the front and back down and hydraulic cylinders push the center up. I was told the center of the trailer was above your head and the kingpin was on the floor. However it was a City flatbed which were made different. Not a good design but one of the first the main rails were actually made with an arch meaning the top and bottom were both arched. Unlike new ones which usually have a flat bottom flange. Most flats today that are re-arched are also strapped where they remove the axles and pin plate, arch the trailer and weld another bottom flange the entire length of the rails then re-attach the axles ect. Then in order for the trailer to physically sag it has to stretch the strap Helps a lot but I believe it's pretty expensive so it usually makes more since to just buy a stronger trailer.

 

I would go with a 48x102 flat. All aluminum or composition (steel with aluminum floor) would work. I just purchased a 2002 fontaine (spelling?) for a reasonable $$$.. I need sliding spread axles as I run in Canada too and some provinces will not allow spread axles.


I'd like to see some pics of what you get.

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now thats a dadgone coil!!!! bigest i ever got was 47,ooo yours is impressive

 

I also like the (not sure what they are called) anchors that pop up to hook the chains too. Can we get some more specs on your trailer?

 

jfaulk99 i wondering how is the steel hauling business these day. is there much steel moving in or out of the southeast. matter of fact i saw a 379 that was a tri axle, with a trailer that had about 5 or 6 axles down in middle georgia today, only the second time i ve seen one of thoese down here.