Flatbed vs step deck

U can't haul 48/53" pipes on a step

U can't haul over height freight on a flat

Both are different for different type of work and freight

 

You can haul some of the same freight on both but not every load will be compatible.If you carry some load levelers on your step you will be able to do more with it.Load levelers are positioned at the rear of the step and are the same height of the platform nearest the fifth wheel.I use a couple of aluminum leveler all the time.There light.They can be moved by hand

 

You can haul just about anything on a step you can haul on a flat as long as you have load levelers. In the 5 yrs I ran my step I only had 1 customer that would not load on a step.

 

Drywall is typically flatbed only.

 

You can and I have. 6 inch out Gary IIRC. Used both of my load levelers. Wish I had pictures,.. sorry I do not.

I do have a pic of some 40 - 48ft caissons I hauled a while back. This load could not be done on a regular flat due to the excessive height needed. 13'3 on my deck.



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I enjoy showing this pic because it shows excellent utilization of deck space and load leveler usage in order to make 2 loads work together.


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I have also done 50ft steel plates, utilizing my dunage to fill the gap in between the load levelers.

While I agree,.. the step is not the most ideal for long pieces,.. it can be done in most cases. Not much that the step can not haul or be fitted to haul.

The advantage the step has is the lower deck height allows for taller loads to be transported safely with out over height permits.

Disadvantage is cost, weight, limited ground clearance in certain applications. The step has afforded me loads that while not paying as much as I would have liked,.. they did get me out of areas where if I did not have the step,.. I would have had to wait for something else.

Hurst

 

You got me there,.. I dont think I have ever done any dry wall on my step.

Lumber, shingles, bricks, stone etc,.. never done drywall. LOL

Hurst

 

Box guy here, sorry if question is silly.

Is steps could be build to haul heaviest coils (huge concentration of weigh on short lenght) ?

 

i ve done drywall on a step more than a few times, I would opt for a step almost always over a flat unless i had specific weight based commoditiy to haul as a regular customer where i needed that extra 1500 pounds. Although with my volvo and a 48 fontaine coombo i can still scale 47500 with half tanks. so i my vote would be step .

 

Yes,.. though it would depend on the trailer. The trailer I have has the X-beam coil support. Its also dummy proof,.. says,.. "Place single coil here".

43k lbs coil here.



Hurst