3 car wedge?

Hello would you mind answering some questions for a someone thinking about getting into the business?

 

Yes, it is not bad with this set up. Actually, we did pretty good until the pick up truck started showing signs of repair. We had the wedge trailer for 3 years and sold it after upgrading to a semi with 7 car hauler. Now, if we had a choice between a wedge and a flat trailer to pull with a 1 ton dually, I would choose the flat trailer to maximize income. If you can repair your pick up truck yourself even better.

 

I have a flat bed 35ft trailer but I haven’t really used it sense I bought the 3 car wedge (it’s for sale if anyone’s interested). Only load board I pay for is central dispatch. Tried DAT for a free trial but never even booked a load off their. Why do you say flatbed for maximized income. It seems you must have the ability to haul heavy with a flatbed to earn a decent buck (more heavy then a 1 ton can handle). As far as repairs go I don’t mind getting dirty with a wrench if I have to. I’m not gonna claim my truck never needed repairs but for the most part it was just wear parts I was replacing. 1 auto transmission rebuild done at 160k miles when stock converter started getting weak. Rebuild has been holding like a champ and cost me about $2500. I installed it myself. Just recently bought a slightly used 2017 ram, hopefully it’ll be as reliable as my old when. Which I still have, couldn’t let it go because it’s just been to good to me.

 

I believe when he said flat bed he meant 1 of the many trailera designed to haul cars that is flat, not the inclined wedge type.

Those are much more versatile, much less chance of roll over, easier and safer to load/unload.

If I were forced to go back to a pick-up based operation i would only do it with that kind of trailer and I would at all possible effort NOT use a pick-up at all but at least a class 7 tractor.

 

That’s the kind of flatbed I have. It’s designed to haul cars but I’ve moved tractors, scissor lifts and even a couple of fiberglass front ends off of semis before. However I don’t understand why people say the wedge trailer are not safe. Your not in a race car. Don’t try going around a turn as fast as possible and you’ll be fine. You have to be smooth with the steering like you should always be. As far as picks up vs semis, each has its benefits. A set of tires for a pick up will run you about the same as 1 semi tire. Sure you will get more miles out of semi tires but I’ve managed to squeeze 60k out of a set of tires on my pick ups. My oil changes are only 3 gallons and dodge recommends changing every 15k I don’t, 5k and it gets a oil change. Breaks also don’t last as long as semis but I’m sure mines last longer then some company driver in a semi (it’s how you drive). Also you can get a new pick up for around 50k, what’s a new semi cost? From talking to other drivers and operators dry van freight is really cheap right now and I’m able to get over $2 a mile but my long term average has been around 1.80cpm
Like I said each has their own pros and cons and what might work for someone might not work for someone else. But I’ve researched this and talked to other owners who have both semis and pickups and they say the pickups aren’t a bad setup if you know what your doing. I also really enjoy not having to go into scales in CA (no pickups posted at every scale) as well as a few other states that require over 26k to enter.

 

Some examples of why a wedge is potentially more dangerous than a flat type trailer..

#1 is obviously the grossly higher center of gravity potential with a wedge. Load it exactly correctly every time with the goal of minimizing this will help reduce this problem. But in reality nobody does this. They load in whatever order will allow the load to fit, or the order of multiple stops for pick (or drop) and most don't even have a real understanding of loading for lowest center of gravity means much less how to do it.

Yes, driving smoothly and carefully obviously helps but that's hard to do when you blow a steer tire at 70.. Or the 90 or so that some retard with 2 duallys pulled all the way to the front of a wedge with extra long and super extra tall over cab extensions passed me yesterday with nothing on the back (lower part of the trailer) to even sort of maybe counter weight any of that sky high weight. As he passed me the top of the front truck was swaying side to side at least 2 feet each side. Rear suspension of the truck completely bottomed out, front tires barely on the ground, headlights in the trees.. and only 5 tires on the ground on the 3 axle trailer. He didn't even bother to chain the empty axle and the brake backing plate was skipping off the road (brake drum MIA)

OK, os another way a wedge is more dangerous.. the incline makes it harder to load, add rain or snow and its slippery. Not an issue with a flat deck. Both have ramps to deal with but once off the ramps and on the trailer, no question, flat is easier.

Another; If you happen to screw up(and new haulers do it more than you would think!) And drive off the side of the trailer its far easier and safer to deal with on a flat deck than slanted.

Another; if you happen to slip and fall from the front of a wedge your 6 or 7' off the ground. A flat deck your usually less than 3. You pick: fall from 3' or fall from 6'... hummm?

Another; it seems that most wedges have 3 axles, single wheel. I personally had 1 for a time and I'll never again have 1 for any reason. There are multiple reasons why and multiple threads already about this (1 currently going on) so I'll not start that particular debate here but if you absolutely must have yourself a wedge get a dual tandem set up, NOT triple axles. That's still not great by any means but way better than triple singles.

 

You make valid points, however some of those points are more of a idiot proofing. I will agree the tri axle singles suck. But I bought a 2007 tri axle wedge for 3k and after new tires, lights, brakes and bearing I was less then 5k into it. Needless to say it paid for itself in a matter of a couple of trips. I wouldn’t mind getting a new trailer but this one has been good to me and doesn’t weigh to much. That’s why I’m keeping it and trying to sell my 2016 35ft flatbed.

 

I can understand you points on the Pu vs the semi, but you have to look at the big picture, If you are looking at this as a steady gig for years to come, first off, you don't buy a new semi, you buy a slightly used on, I picked up a S/A Cascadia last year that was loaded, leather int, heated and cooled seats, all aluminum wheels, a DD13 at 450 hp and 1650 TQ, coupled to a DT12 tranny.

Out the door was 63,000 or about what you would pay for a "fairly" equipped new diesel pu, and the Cascadia had ,,,,,,33,000 miles on it, from past experience with my other Cascadias I change the oil at 25,000, could go to 50,000, brakes will last me around 600,000 miles, should go about 800,000 before it needs a clutch, drive tires will go around 250,000 steers about 160,000, If we were to run both trucks for 6 years at 130,000 per year, I would JUST be starting to get into heavy repairs, you would be on your 4th pickup truck!!!!

None of this even scratches the surface on safety, resell value, braking ability, jakes, or the fact that you can put a real trailer behind it with air brakes and tires that will not have you worrying about when they will let go, I have done both, there is no comparison, AS LONG AS YOU SHOP WISELY!!!

 

I don’t disagree, semis are the way to go. However like I’ve stated a pickup with a 3 or 4 car trailer has potential to earn more then a dry van hauling cheap freight. I’ve never been a driver and started out with a older 1 ton bought for cash and a small trailer. Got my own authority and started hauling. I was lucky to get trained by my cousin, who has had his class a for over 20 years without a accident. Eventually I would like to get some bigger equipment but one thing that has helped me was the lack of payments and getting into debt and over my head. I’ve recently bought a newer pickup which requires me to get a CDL because of the greater gvwr. I would not have bought the truck if I didnt feel I could afford it. Being that my company is going on its 2nd year with 100% rating on central dispatch, I don’t have any trouble getting loads and have brokers calling me asking if I can help them with a move. Even the bigger ones (cars arrive, ready logistics, rpm) know which lanes I service and often ask me to help. Each has its benefits, sometimes a pickup can make it to a location that a semi can’t. I also like not having to deal with IFTA and PUC amongst other stuff like heavy use tax. But still eventually I will get into a semi with a bigger trailer. Might need help with dispatching as I probably won’t be able to load my self at that point.

 

You got a cdl because of greater gvwr, which I assume you will be over 26,000 lbs so now you do have to deal with IFTA, PUC and HUT.
Why is everyone so scared of dealing with IFTA when truckers have all told me its a 10 minute deal once a quarter? Is 40-60 minutes of paperwork a year that much of a problem?

 

Actually no, I have to get a CDL because my gcwr between truck and trailer is greater then 26k but I plan on registering at 26k still so no need for all that.