17.5,19.5,22.5 ???

Thats what my carrier runs,.. not 100% sure on that size,.. but I know all he buys are the Continentals in the 17.5.

When you see his tri-axles,.. all the tires look butchered up. I dont know if thats a driver issue or if its just the way they are. The 2 rear axles lift. Most of the time the trailers are run as a spread. Thats how I had it when I pulled it. I didnt pull any loads that needed all 3 axles on the ground.

Hurst

 

I've had my trailer for a little over a year and it was 3 months old when I bought it. I had a inside tire that got run with no pressure both by the guy I bought it from (crazy wear when I bought it) and me a couple times till it was replaced. The outside was ok and I kept it for a spare. I've put 80,000 plus on the trailer, mostly as a tandem and all the tires are awesome. I run the speed limit and go to some crazy places jacking the trailer around. Sounds like a driver or trailer issue.

 

I use 245/70r/19.5. Only use new. Recaps can't take the heat. Most of my tires wear out in 6 months, some make it to a year, not many.
I run under/at 65. I'm switching to 265/70r/19.5 when my current set wears out.
I'm hoping the extra weight rating will give them longer life. This will be the first time I replace all the trailer tires at once.
I have/had a sliding rear axle that I had bolted solid to frame when I put new axles on last year. Since I also had the trailer aligned made a big difference an strange wear patterns. Used to have the shoulders wear out and would have 3/4 tread in the middle.
Good luck.

 

Go with 22.5's. Like others said the 17.5's don't last. I have 17.5's on my goosenecks we pull with pickups and they work fine for that because they don't see near the weight but I would not want them on a step deck. Sure the lower deck height is nice but it ain't worth it if you are always having to replace tires.

 

I pulling a 48ft step with the 17.5's right now. (Temporarily till mine is repaired)

Not sure exactly what this trailer is supposed to be spec'd for.. but its not serving me any good compared to my 53 with 22.5.

This trailer has a 3'1 deck height. My 53' Fontaine with 22.5s has a 3'3 deck height. All this trouble to have 2 inches? I dont see where this pays off.

Not only that.. but it has an 11' upper deck and 37' lower deck. I cant even put a 40' container on here. It would stick out the back 3 ft. Not sure how well that would go over with dot. It has ramps for the lower deck.. but no ramp hangers for the upper deck. This set up is no good for me at all. Who needs 11ft of upper deck space? 90% of what I do always goes on the lower deck.

Other than that its not a bad trailer.

Hurst

 

11 foot upper deck is great if you have a drop axle. Otherwise you cannot get the weight on the steers.

 

Normally he has a 386 that does have a drop axle pulling this trailer. Basically a 7 axle set up. Same truck also pulls an RGN most of the time. When the RGN rates dropped,.. he puts that truck with this trailer. I just never paid much attention to the way the decks were laid out until I started pulling it.

Is there a specific reason to only need a 37ft lower deck? I mean what s the advantage (If any) to have an 11ft upper deck on a 48 ft step deck vs say,.. an 8ft upper deck with 40 ft lower deck? The latter would make more sense to me.

Is there a specific market for this type of trailer?

Hurst

 

Major clearance issues with an 8' upper as well as getting weights right. 11/37 and 10/38 were the most popular until the loaded container ruling where all 4 corners have to rest on the trailer.

 

I asked my carrier about that. I said this trailer could not do a 40ft container,.. he said as long as its empty,.. I can hang it over the back. I argued and said no,.. because there is no way to properly secure it. I dont think straps over the top are enough.

Is it legal to hang an empty container over the back? Reason I ask is because seems I'm going to be stuck with this trailer for at least 3 - 4 weeks until mine is finished. They are waiting on parts from Fontaine before they can even start on mine. I dont want to argue something I am not 100% sure about.

Hurst

 

Empty only. Snug it up to the step with a chain. Run some chains pulling forward from the rear eyes and throw some straps and you'll be fine.
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/393.126