Buying a step deck. Should I get the ramps too?

Yes you need ramps for a step deck. Not because it will make you good money (these loads rarely pay well, unless they are trying to sell you an rgn load and break off the rear end of your $80k trailer).

It’s because it’ll get you that backhaul load where otherwise you would have to go empty, because again of what others before me said, there’s just so little freight for this type of trailer.

On the other hand, If you are trying to ensure the investment pays off, it’s probably money better spent to have a set of 10ft drop tarps. Nobody wants these loads, but there’s where you can actually squeeze some $.

 

Holy smokes! I would’ve never guessed that kind of price difference.

If one lived in IL/IN/OH, no question, a flatbed is the way to go. A driver can literally run 24hrs a day, all week long, running steel. I used to do it, pulling a covered wagon, on paper logs, back in the 90’s.

If I were doing it today, I’d pull a quad-axle w/conestoga.

 

I have never seen one of these before. Why exactly?

 

I hauled some Transit Connects out of Kansas City last summer to Birmingham for Circle Logistics out of Ft. Wayne In. The load wasn’t anything I would write home about, it was brokered contract freight which was just ok money. But my load to Kansas City was a home run so it was worth hauling. If you could find overflow freight out of KC that is the big money currently.

 

Revenue.

Back in the day, a lot of guys were pulling double loads, in 2-axle covered wagons (100K-120K pound gross). With a quad, I’d be doing it legally.

 

Yesterday, I saw a couple guys rolling similar setups as yours. I can’t help but think the versatility of that rig is the way to go. There really isn’t any 2-axle vehicle you can’t haul.

 

If Carhauling is your gig a stinger is the way to go. Mine is built to haul 10 units, but hauls 3 big units very easily.

 

That’s going to be an awesome trailer.

Yep. Cam-lock latches are the way. You won’t have to worry about them popping open or Jimmy McMeth prying them open.

Three boxes! Dunnage rack, too! Haha.

It always gets me to see a company flatbed rig with the absolute least of equipment. Sure makes being a flatbedder miserable, driving for those companies.