1999- low 2000's Transcraft Eagle

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Rich_Trucking, Jun 20, 2014.

  1. Rich_Trucking

    Rich_Trucking Light Load Member

    248
    21
    Dec 11, 2012
    0
    If its rusted it won't pass DOT ? Correct?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. The Admiral

    The Admiral Heavy Load Member

    894
    561
    Jul 18, 2010
    Akron,Ohio
    0
    I thought Eagles had aluminum crossmembers. If the main beam has holes,i would pass and if it has heavy scalely rust I would be checking that scale with a ball peen hammer.
     
  4. barroll

    barroll Road Train Member

    1,096
    544
    Nov 23, 2010
    Southwest Michigan
    0
    I've got a 2000 48' Eagle Super Beam. I've had it since it was about 10 years old. If they've done a lot of sitting, that's where they start to give out. Had to slap a new kingpin on it in the first year for $3000 at Jim Hawk. Other than that, the square tubes that run diagonally from the beam to the deck crossmembers are sealed on the bottom and open on the top, so they fill with dirt and water, so they need to have a hole drilled in the bottom to drain. The steel crossmembers need a good going over with a ball peen, wire brush, and rattle can once a month to see which ones have daylight coming through them now. My main beams have rusted through on the upright behind the landing gear, but that's a cheap fix with plate patches. The beams above the axles do tend to rust first, but it's only about $200 each to have the smaller ones replaced. If you park with an axle in the air, the airbags have a tendency to tear. The shocks have three upper mounting holes, which is nice. The stock Grote lighting can be a pain to find replacements for, but it's all standard sizing, so as long as you change the wiring pigtails, you can convert it to whatever you want. The aluminum deck is a bit thin, and I've got the forklift holes to prove it. The stake pockets crack on the welds, but that's a cheap fix compared to the chain boxes, which tear. The recessed chains in the deck are really nice, and probably the first thing I'd miss.

    All that being said, and with all the work I've done, it got a pretty yellow sticker during a level I a few weeks ago.

    The crossmembers under the deck are aluminum, and the ones between the main beams are steel, and oh boy do they like to rust.
     
  5. RenegadeTrucker

    RenegadeTrucker Road Train Member

    2,754
    2,383
    Dec 25, 2009
    Montana
    0
    I towed a transcraft for 6 months, it was a 1998 model trailer, this was in 2004, in the time I pulled it had to have the frame welded twice and the bag brackets kept breaking on it.

    It was junk, pure solid junk.

    Do yourself a favor and buy a Doonan.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.