Best flatbed to buy?

Mine too. I agree on the stake pockets. Saw one once that had no winches or chain marks on the trailer because he always used those tie down plates that hook into the channels on the deck.

As for the kingpin plate issue, how is taking out bolts harder than cutting, grinding and welding.I can think of a couple of reasons due to improper use of securement points for the pockets to pop out.

 

I just don't see aluminum being stronger than steel. Just lighter and way too costly. I will stick with what I know. Steel trailer, all wood floor. full set of twist locks and in floor chain tie downs. I pulled an aluminum trailer years ago and a 22,000# coil put permanent swag in it and busted some welds and it was rated for far more than that . A good used not abused steel combo trailer can be a very good investment. Just have third party inspect it that you trust before you buy.

 

I run steel 100% of the time, I run a fontaine steel frame with steel rub rails and aluminum floor. Great trailer, but get a coil over 53K on the deck and it gets to bowing out side to side depending on how your turning. Great trailer but the all aluminum MAC's and Rentinour's are built for the weight and they take it very well. If I can figure out how to get pics from my iPhone up loaded I'll add some of the loads I do.

 

I am for the MAC.

 

I've got an older east great trailer I wouldn't hesitate to buy another although the new Mac trailers look great have a ton of options and are priced great

 

Love my 53 foot Mac (2014). 47000 lb coil doesn't even take the arch out. And I don't have the exaggerated arch. Only weighs 9500 lbs . My other trailer is a 2006 Great Dane freedom. Has been a great trailer but weighs 2500 lbs more and it will get a sag in it with a 47000 lb coil. Both of the trailers have the coil package.
I Will not hesitate to buy another Mac.

 

I have 72k mac. By far the best trailer I've ever pulled. I had a reitnouer before this Mac it was ok. I did like the tall airbags on the reitnouer over these short ones on the Mac seemed to be a smoother ride. If your hauling a lot of coils I'd def find an all aluminum in good shape with a good arch left. Gonna pull alot better than a combo. If your hauling beams pipe etc. Freight the lenght of trl I'd recommend combo as the arch in an aluminum trl is often a headache. I guess mainly personal preference.

 

It's true! I found out the hard way on my last load. 50' steel beams. We had to double stack the dunnage up front.

 

Like this?



It is only a problem if you let it be a problem. I am not using this trailer because of the weight of the beam (it just happened that was what I was hooked to) but it saved a 500 mile round trip to change trailers.

 

My only point was to confirm The Great 1's original point that one who pulls a combo trailer will not have to deal with the arch in an all aluminum which may very well make it a better buy for his particular application. Of course some trailers are less ideal than others, for any given application, like your rgn<all aluminum <combo for hauling beams.