Flatbed vs step deck

You're doing better than me.

I have a 53' Fontaine Infinity, Max I can scale with half tank fuel is 46,600. I'm 34,600 full of fuel (150 gal tanks) and all my gear.

My next trailer will be all aluminum.

Hurst

 

Just to clarify, I said typically.
Many drywall places load at the same level as a regular flatbed trailer, and won't load step deck.
Otherwise, no reason it couldn't be done.

 

I've done drywall a few times with regular flat. One place I went I was required to drop my trailer and wait on it. The other 2 I had to back into a loading bay where the dock height matched the bed height. No way a step could be loaded inside of there.

I know it can be done. Problem I have is that I cant scale the weight they would want to load me with, nor have I seen any that are paying enough to haul that much weight, much less tarp it.

Hurst

 

Short people like me (4-8)like step deck better

 

We are not short, them dang flatbeds are too high!

 

Can't dock load on a step (including pit docks that are flatbed height), and usually can't scale upwards of 50k lbs legal on a step. Usually see $3-$5/mi on loads that are flatbed only (usually a dock issue, since I can barely scale 47,000lbs with all the steel welded on my trailer).

That being said, I'm leaning towards a step as my next purchase. You can get into all kinds of trouble with partial loads on one of those.

 

More

and

only thing about step decks is if you have to bump a dock

 

I'm 6' and still hate regular flats. Step decks are the best imo. Seen one guy delivering a step deck that was maybe 2'6". Insanely low. But he said if he had a coil in the middle he would drag the bottom going over bumps.

 

Every load I haul out of my direct shipper will go on a step. Not every load will go on a flat. I use one of each.

 

How much of a weight savings would you save with an all aluminum?

You have a Cat in that truck, any idea what that weighs over a Detroit 12.7?