Dual or Tri-axle Stepdeck trailers. Which is better??

Can you do that on the interstate? If I remember my Kansas days correctly we could gross 85,500 with a tri axle hopper but in the interstate it was still 80,000 I thought Nebraska and Wyoming were the same way. In Ohio we can put 48,000 on a tri (still can't exceed 80,000 without a permit) but on the federal roads it's 45,000.

 

Yes you can run the interstates. These weights are ALL without permits. This is what you can register the truck for. And this is with divisible loads but you still need to have the axles to make it all legal.

 

Depending on the spread and where you go, you can register for 21,000 kg - 24,000 kg (46,300 lbs - 52,910 lbs) on a tridem. So, 43,500 kg - 46,500 kg gross (95,900 lbs - 102,515 lbs) on a tandem-drive tractor, tridem trailer.

National Standards for Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions: http://www.comt.ca/english/programs/trucking/Standards.htm

 

Most versatile trailer?

Three axle stretch step deck. Trailer will come in 16,000-18,000lbs. With a 19,000lb tractor you're 37,000lbs empty.

53-ft with 8ft upper deck, 18-inch kingpin.

Run on 19.5 or 17.5 tires (name brand)

Why?

You'll pass some step deck and flatbed freight because of your higher empty weight, but, you can payload 43,000 lbs, put together partials and look for lighter loads like PVC pipe, fencing materials, etc.

A friend has one. For heavy work it's rated to 80,000lbs in 16ft, that's immensely stout for a step deck.

Long enough lower deck to do containers.

On the ultra low pro tires it has an deck height around two feet. Fenders are cut out, has an adjustable suspension, can be set to ride even lower.

Gives you three for permitting heavier loads with a trailer capable of high spot-loading.

Stretches from 45-71ft on the lower deck, rates to 40,000lbs at full extension, would allow very long freight.

On high quality 17.5s you'll get 5500lbs per tire, that's 22,000lbs per axle, 66,000 gvw on the trailer.

Ultra low deck also means, carry some stout oak blocks with you, drive machinery up the back like back in the day.

Low, long, and stout, a little lighter than the lowboy, capable of some fairly large stretch loads, deck capacity to handle anything like a 270 Komatsu or 325 CAT, no need for outriggers with these, but also the flexibility to do a fair amount of step deck and flatbed freight

Good luck finding one though. They weren't common trailers.

 

@ColoradoGreen You mean like this one?????
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=6424661&dlr=1&pcid=2000804331

 

This is what I used to run on 17.5, with some additions; a live roll at the back, mid-trailer split kicker rolls and a lift plate at the front of the lower deck. I was looking at buying some new ones and I was going to go with shorter trailers to be all-states legal and add a flip beaver tail/live roll combination at the back. Also, the bumper was set up for a booster and there were airlines to the back. I preferred Manac because I could get them with virtually no arch so it made hauling shacks, containers and other assorted items much easier. Very stout (read: heavy) though.

 

I have four stretch steps, 3 manacs and an old XL. I will say they are versatile if you have the freight but they are hard to load off the boards as they are heavy heavy. One of the manacs is on lopro 22.5's the others on 17.5's if running the little rubber be sure and run good name brand tires and carry a couple spares. If heavy don't run fast of you'll use all those spares.