Getting 48 spread

Chimney block loading of pallets (Turned sideways...)

Source
Loading, Chimney Block Style

Generally a 48 foot reefer with a 10 foot spread axle set has several advantages. At minimum you need to dump just the aft axle to do steep tight turns very carefully with all the weight resting on the forward axle under the trailer.

I don't think you need to worry about bags failing under the weight. It will simply add more air.

A 53 offers volume and 5 extra feet and that's it. For big fluffy loads. A 48 is still a very good trailer.

The greatest advantage of the spread is to carry 40K back there and who cares? Not the scalehouses. Do not ever, ever cheap out on tired and weak tires back there. Spend a dollar for some seriously strong ones.

And always be gentle when docking, after you dump the aft axle all the pivoting and weight will fall on the forward trailer axle making for a rather interesting docking path. Basically coming in at 45 degrees until a certain point and pivot the thing into line and push it into the hole. It's not quite the same as backing a standard tandem.

 

For clarification it is 10'1". Don't forget the 1".
I wouldn't worry about when you have to dump one axle air bags, essentially lifting it. You only do it at slow speeds and never for any length of time. You can order from the factory if you want a manual dump valve, I'm sure you could get independent dump valves but I don't see the point. And a switch in your truck for dumping just one axle. It would also be nice for each axle to have load gauges on them.
Chimney block loading means one sideways other straight in then reversed for next 2 pallets and you will fit 26 pallets I think. Or sideways them all for 28. This should not be a common issue because the idea of a spread axle reefer is for heavy loads, for example apples onions potatos bananas etc where you have maybe 20 pallets. You aren't likely to get loads of strawberries or other lightweight reefer loads because they are often <1000 pounds per skid and they always want to ship 30 pallets and if the customer doesn't want to cut the order for your shorter trailer they won't.

As far as getting work goes it depends on who your customers are and how routine your business is. If you are an independent I would think very hard if it is necessary for the 48 spread axle. They sure do look nice and ride nice except if you are often loading for brokers they usually demand 53' and if you are always loading at new places and do not know for certain a 48' will cut it you will lose out on work. You will always be looking for the heavy stuff, which is fine, just make sure you have plenty of shippers in your book where you know a 48 works. I am at a point now where I could do it, I have a frozen shipper that always loads about 43000 and leaves maybe 8' at the end. And on the return I load chicken or juice boxes - same story. I may get a 48 for a second unit. As a 1 truck show at the moment I see it as more of a hindrance than a benefit. Business changes and you have to change with it. Should my shippers give the loads to a cheap guy that comes in and expects me to match the price I need to have a backup plan. And if I only have 48' that would severely limit me to other future target customers in my area. Most of them require 53' which I know is not a b.s. request seeing as I used to load there.

 

I have a 48 spread reefer I just bought, being a flatbed guy for years, I'm used to running a spread axle...I did it for a long time without a dump valve, you just need to change your approach to backing and take more of a curved entrance into a hole.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep it loaded.

 

What's ur 20 ?
Utility Keystone in Mt. Joy PA can do your dumps and anything else you need..

 

Can only get 25 pallets on a 48 foot reefer. Assuming they are 48x40.

 

Won't make much of a difference anyway, how often do you have a load that grosses out weight wise that takes more than maybe 22 pallets? And if it doesn't gross out weight wise they likely will require a 53'... I guess if you were going to do ltl with it.

To me it still maths out to 28 sideways pallets as most produce rides on 48"x40" chep boards...

And how do you come up with an odd number in any case?

 

I come up with an odd number because that is how many 48x40 pallets you can put on a 48 without putting them sideways. A "block" of 13, then chimney block to the back with 2 last going straight in. Most of the reefer trailers I have walls are to too thick to put 48+48 sideways next to each other, depends on the trailer.

And I regularly can gross over 22 pallets. Depends what you're hauling.

 

Ah ok.
I have never had a problem loading them sideways. Have my own trailer...never an unknown wagon.