48 or 53.--- 96 or 102---flat or step

with all gear? doesn't sound that bad? although its an older trailer, at that price you should be able to buy it , keep the gear , use it and sell it for the same amount

 

The gear could be in poor shape. No markings on chain, chaffed straps, etc...

 

ahhhhh party pooper. Youre right lol..... dunno hopefully hes lucky and scores an awesome deal

 

If I was going to go back to running a step OTR I'd probably buy either a steel or combo 53-step with ramps. To me, it's the most versatile trailer. Not sure if they make a combo step with ramps, I know the make steel with ramps. Allows you to do all sorts of machinery, but, still have maximum deck-space. Excepting some palletized stuff, you can still have stuff sitting on the ramps when they're flipped up. 10-2 or better on the spread, and with the ramps you're spread is far enough forward to be Cali legal.

Anything longer than a 10-foot upper-deck is a waste in my opinion, and I prefer an 18-inch kingpin setting for a little more room on sliding the fifth wheel.

If you're going to be heading east, it's worth it to look at finding a step sitting on 19.5 rubber and rims versus 22.5 rims on 255 rubber. There's quite a few machines that are right on the edge of that 14-foot mark running 255 rubber which is solved by the low-profile 19.5 rubber. You don't lose any weight rating on the tires, either, if you're running good brands. The 255s on the alum. step I pulled were 5500lb rated per tire, the 19.5s on the Trail King fliptail I pull now are 5675lb per tire.

Pulling a step, don't get it rolling too fast on hot days, whether it's 19.5 or 255 rubber, they heat up a lot faster versus your truck tires. so, watch that bit, as well.

 

I would have to go with a 48' 102" step.... they are extremely versatile and if you run Cali then you ran run it as a spread and not have to close the axles.. although you could also run a Cali legal spread on a 53'

 

I have a 48x102 combo spread axle and a 53x102 all aluminum spread axle. Both flats. Don't need the 53 that often but when they specifically ask for it the pay reflects. If hauling Ltls,s definitely a 53. I would go aluminum with whatever I chose. Also an 18" to 24" kingpin setting. I like the spread axle myself. I have seen people have trouble loading a 53' California spread and it is because they try and load off the center of the trailer. You have to load it like a 48' trailer because the extra 5' are just added to the back. The axles are in the same spot. As long as you are supervising the loading no problems. If you drop your trailer to be preloaded it will sometimes confuse new loaders or crane operators who are not being properly supervised but they quickly learn after having to reload after a couple of times.

 

seldom when I had a step did I need to be lite,,90% of my freight I was less than 75,000lbs gross..aluminum gets stressed after few years hard to get it weld to last. steel hs stronger tie down points too. today a lower deck of at least 40ft is good because you can haul 40ft cans.. spread is best,,if you run to Calif,,need to be able to have meet Calif kig pin to rear axle regs, I had a Doonan step great trailer,,great factory help and 5 year bumper to bumper warranty,,to my surprise when I went to an RGN it had great resale value,,any time you buy a used step or RGN have to check it carefully ,many used ones are tweaked from being overloaded and you don't find out until you can keep tires on them,, no matter what kind of used trailer one buys best to g et it checked and inspected by a very good shop. Once you buy it you either live with the hidden problems or spend big bucks to fix it.. Even new trailers can have engineering and design defects,,

 

102 is the standard nowadays and some customers will not load a 96 incher. I usually see 96 inchers on the local scenario only and most are older trailers. I'm not sure if they even make 96 wide anymore...