does anyone have an opinion on a 1989 ravens maxim flatbed

Both of them are 48x102?

what kind of wheels are on them?

Tires? brakes?

how are the frames and decks? any cracks? cross members bent?

Both reitnour and ravens are great companies and the only 2 places I would personally buy a trailer from, but everyone has their own preferences.

 

If the cost is the same...then the 1997 would be a better deal as it's newer. Reitnoeur is considered one of the best.
I almost bought one but opted for a Fontaine Renegade instead...
Reitnoeur parts can be expensive....at least that's what I was told..

FYI: A 1989 trailer is already considered 24 yrs old....

 

The Ravens should be fine. I would not be conserned about the alum i would be more concerned if it was steel. How is the arch? I know guys running alum trailers in the 80's, both flats and dumps with no issues.

 

The reitnouer is the better trailer of the two. The reitnouer is easy to fix anything on. Everything bolts on. How are the bushings? Corrosion between the suspension boxes and the frame?

 

If price is comparable go with the 97. Aluminum does have a fatigue life and 24 years is getting up there. Plus a lot of old aluminum trailers are heavy. A friend had an old Ravens that weighed 11,000 lbs. It was a good strong trailer but it weighed the same a new combo! It depends on what the trailers hauled also if the new only hauled 50,000lbs coils and the old one hauled insulation that changes a lot.

 

I pull a 2005 ravens with an 07 volvo vnl 640 and with my ###### and all my stuff in here plus chain rack and 3 boxes on the trailer my empty weight is 29000. I sometimes forget there is a trailer back there when empty.