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Flatbed Trailer questions, aluminum plates on the deck? Tire sizes?

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by RollinThunderVet, Jan 19, 2019.

  1. Jan 19, 2019 #1
    RollinThunderVet

    RollinThunderVet Heavy Load Member

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    Apparently I cant find the right keywords to search for my question...
    1. What is the deal with some flat/step trailers having steel or aluminum plates on the deck? I've seen some over the wheels, and some at the front of the lower deck.
    Are they load bearing? Just for clearance with smaller tires?

    2. What are the pros and cons of having 19.5 or 17.5 tires vs 22.5s?
    Obviously lower deck height, but what else?
     
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 19, 2019
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 19, 2019
    #1
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  3. Jan 20, 2019 #2
    m16ty

    m16ty Road Train Member

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    Aluminum on the deck is to reduce weight.

    Plates over the wheels is to allow for tire clearance. They are load bearing, but usually it's not as strong in that area as the rest of the deck.

    The advantage of smaller tires is just like you think, to get a lower deck height, and nothing more. The disadvantage to smaller tires is, they usually don't have as high of weigh rating, they wear out faster, and have more blowouts. So there is a pretty big sacrifice for running something as small as a 17.5, but that sacrifice is justified if you need the low deck to stay within legal height on some loads.
     
    m16ty, Jan 20, 2019
    m16ty, Jan 20, 2019
    #2
    stwik, cke, Tug Toy and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. Jan 20, 2019 #3
    RollinThunderVet

    RollinThunderVet Heavy Load Member

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    I know aluminum decks are lighter, just weird on the one trailer I looked at, the plates were the front of the deck. Cant think of a reason to have plate their instead of actual deck...
     
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 20, 2019
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 20, 2019
    #3
  5. Jan 20, 2019 #4
    cke

    cke Road Train Member

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    Post a picture if you can get one
     
    cke, Jan 20, 2019
    cke, Jan 20, 2019
    #4
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  7. Jan 20, 2019 #5
    RollinThunderVet

    RollinThunderVet Heavy Load Member

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    Screenshot_20190120-111100_Chrome.jpg Screenshot_20190120-111039_Chrome.jpg
     
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 20, 2019
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 20, 2019
    #5
  8. Jan 20, 2019 #6
    daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    daf105paccar, Jan 20, 2019
    daf105paccar, Jan 20, 2019
    #6
  9. Jan 20, 2019 #7
    RollinThunderVet

    RollinThunderVet Heavy Load Member

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    Ramps wouldn't matter. Ever other trailer I've seen with ramps is full deck front to back. This is the only trailer I've seen like this..
     
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 20, 2019
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 20, 2019
    #7
  10. Jan 20, 2019 #8
    johndeere4020

    johndeere4020 Road Train Member

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    There literally a thousand reasons it’s that way, someone needed it for a particular customer or load. It’s impossible to tell.
     
    johndeere4020, Jan 20, 2019
    johndeere4020, Jan 20, 2019
    #8
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  11. Jan 20, 2019 #9
    RollinThunderVet

    RollinThunderVet Heavy Load Member

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    That's what I was thinking. Either load/customer specific or damaged deck and just replaced with plates...
    Should that placement effect most loads @johndeere4020 ?
    I would imagine if thick enough, the load rating would be negated...
     
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 20, 2019
    RollinThunderVet, Jan 20, 2019
    #9
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