3/4 Car Wedge vs 4 Car Hydraulic Lift

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by SE619HOTSHOT, Oct 20, 2019.

  1. SE619HOTSHOT

    SE619HOTSHOT Bobtail Member

    5
    0
    May 5, 2019
    0
    I'm undecided if I should get a 3/4 car wedge or a 4 car hydraulic lift. Does anyone have experience with both and can share their knowledge?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

    801
    874
    Feb 19, 2019
    New York
    0
    Had a 4 car hydraulic for a couple of months. Disregarding the trouble I had with my specific one i was kind of upset with what i could load on it.
    On the top you can fit a small SUV and a light car. Gotta be weary of your height, the top floor was 7+ foot tall. On the bottom you needed a very low car and on the tail anything goes.
    On the bottom front i had to let the air out of the tires of a chevy impala so the windshield or roof wont touch the top floor and damage it just so you get an idea of how low. Strapping cars on the top floor with straps was a hassle and had to keep a ladder handy. It can get annoying to find an exact load for it. At 10,500 lbs empty it's considered heavy and loaded would bottom out the suspension on my 3500 chassis cab.
    The only upside was it was a shorter trailer.

    Now I run a 3/4 wedge. I can carry any combination of cars. I only need to consider length and not height. Highest part of the trailer is 6 feet. A little easier to strap the top car. No hydraulic equipment to maintain. I can carry 3 pickup trucks or 2 sprinter sized Van's. One less axle to maintain and pay tolls for.
    On the downside it is longer.

    The 4 car hydraulic trailer is rated at 24-27k lbs, most wedge trailers are rated at 20k lbs. My Texas Pride wedge trailer is the only one I can find that is rated for 26k, which is the only upside to the trailer after all I had to go through with them, but the 20k wedge is not enough for 4 full sized cars weight rating wise in my opinion
     
    Lite bug Thanks this.
  4. SE619HOTSHOT

    SE619HOTSHOT Bobtail Member

    5
    0
    May 5, 2019
    0
    Thanks for your reply. Read your thread and it sucks you had to go through that. Definitely considering a 3/4 wedge. Think you could post some pics of yours loaded and unloaded?
     
  5. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

    801
    874
    Feb 19, 2019
    New York
    0
  6. SE619HOTSHOT

    SE619HOTSHOT Bobtail Member

    5
    0
    May 5, 2019
    0
    Nice shots! I'm definitely leaning towards a 3/4 car wedge. I heard Take 3 makes good trailers. Is that a 3500?
     
  7. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

    801
    874
    Feb 19, 2019
    New York
    0
    Yeah it's a 3500 and I wish I bought the 5500 to tell you the truth.

    Haven't seen the take 3 trailers but heard they were high quality.
     
  8. 1nicevette

    1nicevette Medium Load Member

    454
    502
    Dec 22, 2016
    0
    Love the setup does the trailer swing with as far as the axels are up on it
     
  9. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

    801
    874
    Feb 19, 2019
    New York
    0
    Yea but not too bad. Haven't had any problems with the tail swing. The 4 car had a much worse tail swing than the wedge.
     
  10. KANSAS TRANSIT

    KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

    4,080
    6,842
    Jul 28, 2011
    Glasco,Ks.
    0
    Not to butt in, but that is why I think the guys running pickups give up too much in the way of versatility, if you aren't going to have a pickup bed on the truck to get over, why not run a true low mount 5th wheel? You may haul 4 but you limit yourself so much as they all HAVE to be small lite cars, take a good look at my setup, a true 4 car, truck, bus, whatever you want to put on it, and this trailer only weighs 11,400, to each their own, I just don't see the attraction to the wedge type trailers, what am I missing??? Seriously, not looking for a fight or picking on anyone's equipment, just asking? 20150822_122634_resized.jpg 20170317_074220.jpg 23376645_1718104544879912_6518944400613608047_n.jpg temp001002003004005006007 (1).jpg IMG951806.jpg
     
    singlescrewshaker Thanks this.
  11. 1nicevette

    1nicevette Medium Load Member

    454
    502
    Dec 22, 2016
    0
    Kansas I agree with you I think it comes down to price of trailer is what I really think. May I ask how much your trailer cost?
    On a side note did you ever get the custom sleeper you were doing done? And how’s the day cab treating still?
     
    KANSAS TRANSIT Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.