Drop Side, extra blocking?

That's what I hate about a Fontaine, I love the way they hook/unhook though. Our main items we haul are big forklifts that won't work with the Fontaine hitch. We had a Dynaweld that had the Fontaine style hitch but was set farther back, flush with the end of the deck. It was a great trailer. We actually had a new 55 ton Dynaweld on order when the owners died in a plane crash and went out of business.

 

Kinda hard to tell in this picture but my hooks that connect to the neck are set back and flush to the deck.

 

Yeah, that doesn't look bad at all. Fontaine typically has their 18" flat deck heights spreader bar capable too. Watch for Talbert though if you are leaning in that direction and you need it 3+1 capable.
There is a video on youtube of a Talbert that hydraulically goes from a flat deck to a dropside deck. It also expands width ways. Pretty interesting that they came up with it and got to give them props for doing it, but if I were a betting man anyone half way weight conscience would never go for it as I imagine it makes the trailer a heavy sled.

 

Most rollback guys carry dish soap with them. Makes it easier to winch on and off, easy clean up and if you have ones that's puking fluids head to the nearest car wash and hose it down.
If you're gonna be doing a lot of winching invest in a snatch block on a short chain. You can hook it to the side of the deck and change the direction of pull. Or hook it to one end of the trailer to winch on and off. Lots of uses

 

Those little forklifts suck no matter what you do. I had to pick 4 of them up at an auction once. I use my outrigger planks and blocking to build ramps then they'll drive right on.

 

Got a link to that video?

 

No sir, but when you get on you tube type in
Talbert Rockico Custom Deck