48' or 53' What is everyone using?

Mine's a 48' reefer and I have no problem with it since I haul primarly food. If you are going with a drybox, definatley go with a 53' so you can haul those light asswipe and tampon loads.

 

If it were me looking for a new(er) trailer, I'd look for a 50' or a 50 1/2' spread axle reefer. There are not many out there to pick from though. I would not buy a 48' drybox no matter what. JMO

 

What Winchester said.
I've toyed with the idea of loosing my reefer and going to a dry box, but just can't seem to do it. I really like my spread axle reefer. I've only scaled it once and that was because I got a different tractor and had to adjust the 5th wheel regarding weight on the drives.

 

I run a 53ft reefer hauling food and ingedients. Many weeks I am loaded to the tail just to make things easier on me since I lump my own loads. Since WM and gears have more experience than me I would definetly trust their advice.

 

You've got 7 years on me!

 

Just to clarify, are you saying that you could stack some product if you had to, but that it's easier for you to unload when it's all on the floor? Or are you getting loads that actually require 53?

 

go with a '50=11' 1" spread reefer, that way you can haul cold or dry loads. just my 2c

 

I just sold my spread axle 48' and bought a new 53'. Not because I wanted to, but some of my customers changed their policies stating that they will only load 53' trailers, regardless of the load size. They claim they do it over liability, and that their customers have been requesting 53' trailers. Deal is, when you load pallets sideways, if you don't know what your doing, you can tip the pallet over when unloading. Also, if you deliver to a place that only has electric pallet jacks, the forks won't fit under ther pallet if it's turned sideways, so it has to be pulled off with a chain usually. But that's just my situation. You may never have this problem.