Aluminum are they worth it?

Depends on what your doing a Reitnouer is a good trailer but if you're going to haul big coils or mill rolls a Mac is the only way to go. I've had a 86k mill roll on my Mac and it still had arch in it. Even the Bigger Bubba would not hold up to that.

 

As a rookie flatbedder pf almost 2 years experience, having dragged both Reitnour "Mac" all aluminums and Great Dane combinations, I'd give my right arm for another Reitnouer!

Outfit it with a lift axle, take care of it, and walk your happy butt to Profitsville! I've tried to tall my carrier into upgrading our trailers to all aluminums to no avail. Boss hates the idea of buying new trailers (but keeps a nice, steady turnaround on the trucks, so that's to the good). I swear I thinl some of these Great Danes are older than I am!

 

I would't buy a combo. Are you hauling coils? Do you need the coil package? If you are, I think you will like the flexibility of the sliding tie down vs chain tie downs every 2'.
I've noticed that there has been significantly more alum flats on the market and the prices of alum flats have fallen pretty significantly in the last few weeks. I'm wondering if there is more downward pressure coming before the end of the year.

 

Lots of shippers assume "aluminum" and the ability for the typical truck with the typical aluminum trailer to handle XX lbs cargo. The 1200 lbs may keep you out of some shippers who expect to ship a given amount of product on a single load.

If you plan on roaming nationally, it's not a matter if if you miss a good load, it's a matter of when. Unless you don't mind running a 1,000 over gross on those peaked load.

 

You can't always put the load on dunnage or you would be too tall. With these boxes we were at 14'6" already, not going to add another 5.5 to 6" just to keep them off the deck. This is why I like a wood deck over aluminum. OTR trucks usually never haul this kind of stuff though.

 

IMHO , Reitnouer

 

Something else to think about is repairs. With the Reitnouer everything is bolted so you can replace it yourself if you do not know how to weld aluminum.

 

I love my Mac but it's not as heavy duty as the big bubba. I also have a fontain revolution 52 all aluminum and a Great Dane combo. Go with the all aluminum. You will also recoup a lot of the difference when you sell it.
With a 379 flattop and my Mac I can scale 50,000. Not that I like hauling that but will if the money is right. Also comes in handy when doing LTL's
The only time I would consider going the other way would be if I were hauling pipe exclusively and then I would want an all steel trailer. Mainly because the Mexicans at the pipe yards love to use your side rails as brakes for the forklift.