All Aluminum Step Deck

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by RJ Lopez, Feb 29, 2016.

  1. ColoradoGreen

    ColoradoGreen Heavy Load Member

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    The biggest issue I see with a lot of the common aluminum steps (Benson, Chapparal, East) is the deck isn't gusseted. Your combo, @Hurst, along with most steel steps I've see, have gusseting from the main-rail to the outer-rails, and that makes a world of difference on how the trailer handles heavier spot-loads. I loaded a 46,000lb. man-lift out of Moses Lake one time on a Benson 53-foot all aluminum. I stood at the back of the trailer and looked down the outer-rails, and the deck was warping and deforming under the tires. A 46,000lb. machine is a light piece of equipment, and any trailer warping underneath that was a junk trailer in my opinion. I didn't bother about the potential damage to the trailer because it was owned by the company I was pulling for. If they wanted me to smoke the trailer loading what they found, so be it, but, I'd never do that to my own trailer, and because I prefer flexible loading options, that's why I wouldn't run an all aluminum. Always said he would start finding cracks in the main-rail and warped decks if he kept loading his trailers like that.
    I always thought the design on the Benson neck was absolutely horrendous. It didn't matter whether it was spot-loaded or across the entire deck, but, any time I put more than 42,000lbs on the trailer, the neck would crane downwards, at 42,000lbs of freight. That's a common, even on the light side, full load for a stepdeck, and it was warping and torqueing the neck.

    I pulled a combo flatbed quite a bit when I ran local more handling crane moves. It was our last-resort trailer for crane moves, only used when we needed every open deck we could get our hands on. That thing was a joke compared to the others for loading large crane counterweights and boom sections. Hated using it and grabbed anything but it if I could.

    I understand needing to keep weight down on the combination. Even though running lowboys you get used to 40-50,000lb empty weights, it's still a consideration for us. But, as my opinion goes, I'll give up a little payload (make it up on the tractor, you don't need a condo bunk, or a 15L to pull a step doing legal freight) so I know that the trailer is going to last and handle pretty heavy loads.
     
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  3. 1951 ford

    1951 ford Road Train Member

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    I'm a Ford guy, and I wouldn't by a new ford pickup.
     

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  4. Fast1

    Fast1 Bobtail Member

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    Hutchinson,Ks
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    View attachment 134086 Here is my Mac with no supports from the frame to the rub rail & 53,000#'s of truck on it. The pics are of a Reitnouer and a Chaparral. The Reitnouer and Chaparral both have the supports from the frame to rub rail.
     

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  5. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    50 miles north of Rochester, NY
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    I didn't think anyone made a deck without knee braces. That's crazy. We have Lode King, reitnouer and Wilson. All have them.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2016
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  6. Fast1

    Fast1 Bobtail Member

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    Hutchinson,Ks
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    Mac will, when I ordered this trailer I had seen other Macs with out the braces & told my rep I liked the clean look with out them, he told me that's no prob they can build it with out them- not sure what they do to get around it but I seem to think they have it figured out.
     
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  7. Ruthless

    Ruthless Road Train Member

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    Those pictures are impressive. Really shows what's what
     
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  8. Fast1

    Fast1 Bobtail Member

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    Hutchinson,Ks
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    Thanks- The Mac rep liked the pics also.
     
  9. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    So you don't want a mac without the braces to the outside of the deck?

    Second thought who makes the best all around step..? Hauling a little palletized , some bld supply's and a machine or two.....
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2016
  10. Ruthless

    Ruthless Road Train Member

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    When did you start that?

    I've always thought highly of Mac, the pictures @Fast1 put up are pretty powerful examples.

    For occassional use as you described, I wouldn't be rushing out to get something that fancy.
     
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  11. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    I could not tell the make of trailers in the photos . I thought the mac had the bow ....

    I'm just trying to learn ....(just in case )
     
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