Eight foot upper

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Grumman, Dec 1, 2012.

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  1. Dec 1, 2012 #1
    Grumman

    Grumman Light Load Member

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    Hey anybody using a 48' SD with the 8' upper and 40' bottom? What brand and any complaints or regrets. Need to get another trailer real soon and thinking of leaning towards this set up instead of buying another 53'. I haven't seen but one manufacturer in the truck paper (Doonan) with one of these. Of course other makers probably build something like this as more of a custom build. That Walker's in Monroe, LA was the only dealer I've found so far to have one in stock.
     
    Grumman, Dec 1, 2012
    Grumman, Dec 1, 2012
    #1
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  3. Dec 1, 2012 #2
    ralph

    ralph Road Train Member

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    You'll have a 12" pin setting and your 5th wheel will be way behind center. You won't have/get weight on the steer axle.
     
    ralph, Dec 1, 2012
    ralph, Dec 1, 2012
    #2
  4. Dec 1, 2012 #3
    fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

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    If it's not for length laws, I'd do a 50'. I just dropped a Fontaine 8/40 from 2004 the other night. I like the 51' I picked up far more. Your fifth wheel will have to be on top of the rear axle for swing clearance, which screws up getting weight where it needs to be if you're heavy. I don't haul heavy, so it wasn't a problem for me. If you haul weight, you might want to consider a third axle.
    The manufacturers I've seen so far are:
    Fontaine (no longer making these)
    Doonan/Chapparal of course
    Transcraft (saw a 8/45 53' a while back too)
    I believe Wilson makes one.
    Best bet of course is to call them up and find out.
     
    fortycalglock, Dec 1, 2012
    fortycalglock, Dec 1, 2012
    #3
  5. Dec 1, 2012 #4
    Cummins_444

    Cummins_444 Medium Load Member

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    Reitnouer will build you one new. But it's a custom option, they only have two standard neck sizes that don't cost extra 10ft6in or 11ft. I think it's a 2500 dollar option to get any size neck you want, it's the same as making the trailer a 53ft if I remember. Reitnouer lead time was running about 9 months.
     
    Cummins_444, Dec 1, 2012
    Cummins_444, Dec 1, 2012
    #4
  7. Dec 1, 2012 #5
    flat-step

    flat-step Light Load Member

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    I've been down this road Grumman, i have a couple of steps with 11' top deck and wanted to have a 8/40 step but due weight and king pin issues i settled with a 52' Reitnouer .Like cummins_444 said Reitnouer will make you one but it's an expensive option and so will MAC. Doonan will make you one as well but you really got to know your weights. You'll be adding about a 1000 lbs in weight from a 48 to 53 step (Reitnouer in my case) but that extra deck space comes in real handy quite a few times.
     
    flat-step, Dec 1, 2012
    flat-step, Dec 1, 2012
    #5
  8. Dec 2, 2012 #6
    Grumman

    Grumman Light Load Member

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    Locust Grove, GA
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    Well thanks to everyone for responding. Probably won't be the way to go. Must not be a real solution as not many manufacturers are building these things as a standard thing. We were just trying to think of a way to get lighter without having to go to an all aluminum and still have a 40' bottom for cans. With the longer than 48' trailers we can't really go in and out of Cali heavy.
     
    Grumman, Dec 2, 2012
    Grumman, Dec 2, 2012
    #6
  9. Dec 2, 2012 #7
    SHC

    SHC Spoiled Rotten Brat O/O

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    I have a Landstar 51' step right now. It's a Fontaine with a 10' top and 41' bottom. I'd suggest a 53' step as that extra couple feet can always add a $1,500 LTL onto a run. Plus being able to close the rear axles makes a big difference with turning and backing, plus it saves tire wear. I am in the process of deciding if I want a 53' step or a 53' flatbed. Either will have a rear slider ;)
     
    SHC, Dec 2, 2012
    SHC, Dec 2, 2012
    #7
  10. Dec 3, 2012 #8
    Grumman

    Grumman Light Load Member

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    Nov 7, 2009
    Locust Grove, GA
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    Ya SHC we got one of those 51s and a 53' Fonatine SD right now. The only problem we find is you can't load heavy on the bottom and go into California as you have to close the spread. I picked up a conatiner out of Long Beach once that was around 39k. It put my trailer tandems at 39k closed. From eveything I've read so far regarding the 8' uppers we'll probably just have to stick with the tried but true since it will more than likely require modifications to the 5th wheel mounting to pull that type of step.
     
    Grumman, Dec 3, 2012
    Grumman, Dec 3, 2012
    #8
  11. Dec 3, 2012 #9
    fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

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    You can also order a step with a Cali legal spread.
     
    fortycalglock, Dec 3, 2012
    fortycalglock, Dec 3, 2012
    #9
    SHC Thanks this.
  12. Dec 4, 2012 #10
    fireba11

    fireba11 Heavy Load Member

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    Tracy City, TN
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    I pull one of Landstar's 8/40 drop deck sleds. Besides being over 15k, I have had no problem. My 2004 Volvo with a ISX puts 12k on the steering anyway and all I had to do was slide my 5th wheel all the way back and I have room enough for the mud flaps to clear the trailer while turning.

    I have only used the upper deck 1 time, everything else has fit on the bottom with no weight issues.
     
    fireba11, Dec 4, 2012
    fireba11, Dec 4, 2012
    #10
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