Are typical flatbed loads usually heavy?

No way of knowing really.
The previous owner could have hauled insulation with it, steel, or anything in between...

Martin

 

Flatbed loads, atleast for me, are all over the place. Last load was 47390, load I got now is 10,000. Its a crap shoot on what you get, atleast for me.

 

You better get the mileage reading from the ECM not the speedo. To look at mine it says 381000 when if fact its got 584000 miles. It an 07 also.

 

I agree with the info said here so far as in depends on what he was hauling and where (lots of mountians, flatland, etc) and get the true mileage from the ECM. I would also let someone (another shop or mechanic) take a look at it. It could have had a really easy, well maintained life but you will never know until you do some investigating. Im hauling a 28000 lb load right now and the majority of my loads are under 40k

 

I don't think weight is the issue. Vans and reefers use catscale as much as flatbedders do. it is possible for the truck to have issues with being driven off-road at jobsites and such.

 

Check the ecm for mileage and fuel mileage. That "can" be telling if the truck's fuel mileage is seemingly low and the idle time is low too. No real telling though, as I pull step deck and very rarely have more than 20,000 lbs on the trailer.

 

I know most of the places I go on the flatbed side are not paved. Some do get really rough. Ive seen potholes I couldve gone fishing for whales in.

 

LOL I have seen them and ones that could swallow a truck and trailer whole

 

Ya. I try to avoid those lol Some of these places make me wonder how anyone gets in or out without tearing the truck/trailer apart. They really need to invest in some pavement, or new pavement.