48vs45ft

I've hauled onions for Oregon to Mass a few times. They do pay very well but it's heavy and a hard pull most of the way. On top of that onions are really dangerous to get on top to tarp. They always say it's 45,000 pounds and 960 bags. I found out 960 bags weigh more then 48,000 pounds. So, I always fill my tanks with 300 gallons and tell the broker I'll do it for a fixed price instead of by the bag. I end up with 900 bags after I scale and they take 60 bags off.

 

I've never pulled an onion or mulch load that didn't pay well, or wouldn't have fit on a 45' trailer. You can stack them pretty high.

 

One point perhaps worth noting is this; With a 45' trailer you will most likely be 65' or less OA. That will let you get into some off the beaten path type places out west here.

 

Plenty of pa roads say no 102".... Nj too. I've run them 107 w the Connie. Signs say no 102, no doubles, nothing over 48' if I recall. I'll be down there tomorrow, double check myself.

 

Also wouldn't you have to have a rather short tractor wb to make under 65' ? With a 48 I want to say I'm 72. 30kp. With the step I just got with the 18" kp I'd be that much longer

 

I've got a 240" WB...Mack CH with the SFA. Pulling a 39' end dump, I'm 59'6". Depending upon how far back from the nose the kingpin is set, I'd be pretty darn close to that 65' OAL. Might have to slide the 5th wheel up a notch or two and run 13K on my steers to squeak by, but it wouldn't work with any more truck than I've got.

 

One other thing that annoys me with our 53 footers is backing in till my tires touch the curb, and still have most of my hood sticking out in the aisle.

 

With a 36" KP on a 48' trailer I can get down to 65' OA with my 216" WB Cascadia. With a set-forward axle you can be 230"-235" WB & still get there. I used to drive a 256" WB 379 pulling a 46' curtain again with a 36" KP. That one would be under 65' even with the 5th wheel slid back some. That's why you see 46' trailers out here on the left coast, you can get them down to 65' with a longer truck for the back roads in OR & CA.

Of course, none of this means anything if you are staying on the Interstate.

I hate being old & slow, I like being light & short.

 

I started as an O/O back in March and picked up a 45x96 because it was cheap. Since then I have lost out on probably 5 loads total because of the length. I just bought a 48x102 just because it was a lot better trailer overall. The 45 length never really hindered me, you just make sure to check prior to arriving at a shipper that they'll load it onto a 45.