53 or 48? What else?

Oversize permits go by state. And is usually better to buy annuals then single trips. Arizona don't sell annuals though and are bought either online or at the scale. Only thing i know about wyoming is the office orders and gives you a number to which you give the port so they can print. @cnsper probably knows more about wyoming procedures. That's the only procedure i've had to deal with.

There are differences between hauling wide and hauling long. So you better have google handy when hauling wide. You can haul 4 feet overhang with no hassles. I've even seen double containers overhanging on a stepdeck. ( Divisible Load ). I wouldn't go past the 4 feet though when hauling divisible. After 4 feet you need flags and lights. Up to 10 feet. After 10 feet you have to look at restrictions per state. Most are still ok. Arizona is the only state i had an issue with so far. I took a 70 foot long truss ( 16 overhang ) through utah, nevada and california with no issues at night but did have morning curfew in sacramento. At 6 feet, is when you have to have permits. Arizona is 6 if i remember right. NM is 8. CO is 10. I"m not sure on UT, NV, and CA. We have annuals for those states up to 110 feet total length. Haven't hauled much through ID, OR, WA and it's been awhile so i don't remember those numbers.

All our trailers are 48's. Our steps have 11 ft. top decks.

 

I wish,..

Columbia with 53 combination step, full of fuel and all my gear/tools etc with me in the seat, 34,680 lbs.

I started with a 48 ft deck. Then took a 53' flat when the one I was using needed axle work done. Now with the 53' step,.. for what I do,.. I honestly love every bit of space I can get. 43ft lower deck 10 ft upper. I almost never have to move my dunnage which I store on my upper deck as a head wall.

I thought about possibly doing a 51 or 52' step to save some weight,.. but I've been in so many situations where that extra 3 ft on the lower deck made the load or putting on a partial possible. And to be honest,.. I've cheated and took a few chances with loads hanging off the back of my deck.

My next trailer will be all aluminum though.

Hurst

 

No I can not. I have 150 gal tanks,.. and can cut back on fuel to scale 46.5k.

I do mainly machinery and equipment. I do not do many loads over 40k. Personally they do not pay enough to load 45k+ on my deck. I pass on them unless the money is there.

Doing just fine. And running off the load boards to boot. Not hurting for money. But then I do not have a lot of expenses either.

Hurst

 

Sorry,.. I forgot to address the second part of your question.

For this I think pictures would explain best. None of these loads could be done on a 48. Well maybe the top picture,.. but it would be tight.



This one took all of my lower deck space to make the water truck and tank fit. I had to run the truck up on dunnage for the front sprayer to clear my upper deck.





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This was an interesting scenario,.. 4 of the CAT machines got off in SLC,.. the last one was heading up into Idaho. I managed to score a load of racks that were going to Wa state. Were it not for the length,.. the load would not work together.




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This is just a small example of why I prefer the 53 over a 48.

If your going to be running palletized loads or pipe where you dont need the extra length,.. or you plan to haul heavy and need to scale 47 - 48k,.. the 53 would probably not work out.

Hurst

 

I have a 53' Fontaine Infinity with the X-beam support for doing coils. Its rated for up to 80k lbs.

It has a tare weight of 11,400 lbs.
Thats minus my ramp kit, tools, gear, spare tires, dunnage etc etc.

Hurst

 

There is tarping. Not as much as with regular flatbed work. But I tarp at least twice a month, sometimes more,.. had 3 back to back tarp loads once,.. then had 2 more the next week. I hated all of it. I get some machinery that has electronics that needs to be tarped or as ridiculous as it sounds,.. I had to tarp a load of racks once. The consignee wanted it tarped and they paid to have it tarped. I hated doing it,.. but money is money.

As for the machinery,.. its much like RGN,.. some places you load at have strict insurance guidelines that forbid you to load the machine. Other places may have just a secretary that hands you the keys and bol. I've done a few where I picked up at auctions or after hours at job sites,.. they do not load or unload you. I have 15 yrs in construction operating equipment,.. so I am very familiar with many different machines. There are guys that see the ramps and get scared,.. they wont do it. Many places have loading docks. I always prefer to back up to a loading ramp or dock if they have one.

I do well with the load boards. Not the big money or dedicated hauls like many of the guys here with their own numbers run. But its consistent and profitable.

Hurst

 

Hurst what do you think of a Conestoga?

Too much weight and cost ? Take it you would rather stick to the odd machinery loads you do and avoid ones that need tarping.