Advice on Flatbed Trailers?

The company I work for buys almost exclusively Reitnours. We have 40+ trailers and I haven't seen any problems other than normal wear and tear maintenance (tires, brakes, lights, etc).

Your best buy would be to find a late model used one. New ones aren't cheap.

 

You can buy the same trailer that you have now for 24k from the supplier. Talk to Brian at the trussville terminal. You probably know him. Good guy. Tell him that I said Chicago sucks

 

If you haul a lot of steel, especially coils, a sidekit is a great way to go. It saves a lot of time when you need to tarp. Reitenour makes a good trailer, but they are pricey. I have a friend who has owned 2 East all aluminum trailers. He spend quite a bit less that he would with a Reitenour and has gotten good service from both of them. You can buy a plywood kit for about $1,800 and a lightweight one for about $3,600.

 

It's really just office. Not much really terminates there.

 

You don't want a fUtility, Rick. Or a Transcrap.

A new aluminum and SK is gonna need deep pockets.

 

I have an older Fruehauf with a sidekit. It is a 95 and still makes money. It still has the original floor from the factory. It is steel, but has held up pretty well over the years.

 

I've been calling around for prices on new trailers for a few weeks now. Best prices I've been quoted on a new flat was through East Michigan Trailer Sales on Reitnouers. They even beat the prices I was quoted for EAST trailers with basically the same specs.
About $41k out the door for a 50x102 w/PSI system, air scale, alum rims, etc.

 

If you plan on financing your purchase, it will be easier to get better terms on new.