tandem or spread axle

Spreads are hard on tires and sharp turns want to pull the truck backwards. I prefer closed tandems myself, even on my flat.

 

Spreads don’t require as much thought to load placement, that’s about it.

A local guy with a sawmill just bought a new flat spread. He hauls the same load of lumber all the time. I asked him why he went with a spread. His only reason was “because that’s what everybody else runs”. In his situation, it makes zero sense to run a spread, I guess he just likes to buy tires.

 

Unless you can run more weight. I used to have a spread axle reefer with a slider on the front axle. Running Washington, Oregon, and Idaho I could license to gross 84,000 on a 48' trailer.

 

Only going to do heavy commodities? No strawberries or fresh leafy greens? If you're always doing those 20 pallet or less, say potatos onions apples etc. then get a spread 48'.
Or were you considering one of those very odd looking setups of a 53' with a spread? Which would run into trailer wheelbase issues depending where it operates.

 

I was unaware of that. I’m mostly familiar with TN and surrounding states.

 

This applies to most states in the Northwest, so for regional work it can certainly be an advantage, depending on the region.

 

A while back I was sitting in little mom and pop restaurant with truck parking two reefer drivers pulled in at the same time I did and set near me inside. One of them had recently got a 53' sliding spread and was talking about how much he loved said he could scale any load even in California.

 

That does not compute to me.
Kpra is 40' if trailer length is over 48'. So a 53' the rear most axle has to be at 40'. So where's that put the first axle? 29'11"?
Or is it independent sliding axles? To close as a tandem for California and other places can run with them open where there is no trailer wheelbase law, like most of the western states.
?