Truck\Trailer Combination?

How much is the air ride option?Im close to getting a new rig and trailer and Im thinking 36 or 38 ft as I dont want any issues with being over length.I am considering a hyd dovetail but maybe cant swing that and air ride.

 

tc3500. With our three axle lowboys. I don't feel the ride is bad at all. Maybe that's just me though from starting out years ago in a1967 long wheelbase freightliner cabover without a air ride seat, air ride suspension, a/c, or power steering? I drove that old truck 11,000 miles a month consistently for roughly the first 8 years of my driving career. Lol. I wish I still had that old truck just to let new guys take it for a drive. There's a reason they nicknamed old freightliner cab overs freight shakers.

As far as not having air ride, we don't lose any work here at my company by not having it.

I don't keep up on air ride hot shot trailers but I've experienced cold weather with air ride equipment. Seems to me like you'd also need a air dryer on one or you might experience problems with condensation in the system up there in Alaska?

 

Just something to think about,

These trailers with mega/flip over ramps can be a problem with some loads. Lets say you book a piece of freight taking up the front half of your trailer and then can't find another piece of freight but there are vehicles available. Or you book a couple vehicles out of a area where there no freight available. The problem I'm talking about is not being able to flip the ramps up, or back into position because a vehicle on the rear of the trailer is in the way, or over hanging of the back a little bit. With 40' of deck space we overhang a lot times with vehicles.

Another problem is the dovetail angle. A lot of vehicles will rub bottom on the break over point. And a lot of vehicles will even rub the front before the tires will make it on to the ramp.

Just thought you should be aware of these things because there are times when you'll want to, or even need to haul a vehicle or two.

 

Your forking out almost enough as a good tractor and trailer combo both used gently. The new pickups are so stupid ridiculous priced. I could by a hand full of used semi trucks for one new pickup. Im clueless.

 

I've owned many semi trucks over the years and I have to say I'm so glad I sold them off and switched out to pickups when I did. I'd never go back to buying semi trucks myself.

Yeah you can find a used semi with 800,000 miles or more on it for what a new pickup costs. And then that ex company truck that's had probably a hundred or more trainees on it starts breaking down on you. The engine will be ready for a overhaul, there goes $20,000 or more. Not to mention it'll need a clutch, and it'll have a pound or so of gear shaving sitting in the bottom of the transmission. And all those repairs will cost thousands of dollars, not to mention the loss of income while its sitting in the shop. No thanks.

Not to mention, will the emissions be up to date on that used semi truck? Probably not.

 

I see your point.
Emissions is not any concern of mine. I drive old junk over new trash any day. And i like sleeping in a semi better than hotel. Just my view. New is more shiny however.