Help me spec out a new trailer

Truck : 2002 KW T800, ~20,000 lbs full of fuel and gear

Running area : Western Canada, Midwestern US, Southeastern US primarily. NO California, truck is not legal anyways.

Needs:

- 53 foot trailer for adding LTL to full loads, this is my gravy
- Sliding axles is great, 10 foot spread for the US, closed tandem for Canada, not a requirement but a huge plus doing what I do
- Lightweight is also another huge plus, I'm currently about 30,800 lbs
- For years now we've been getting 50X more flatbed only loads than stepdeck only loads, so I'm leaning in that direction

I will be keeping my 06 East step and renting it to my dad, so flexibility isn't an issue if I buy a flatbed. I'm primarily looking at the Fontaine Revolution and Alutrec Capacity. Here's the specs I'm looking at:

53 feet
tandem
Centrifuse drums with dust shields
1 toolbox (Revolution includes 4 turtles and 4 wheel chocks)
Revolution is either superior slide (dual independent out in Q4) or rear slide only(which is on my spec sheet), no front slide, this is straight from fontaine they will *NOT* do it
Capacity can be anything, but their independent slider system is out now and is a reasonable weight, that's what I specced
UBL lift kit
Michelin X-line Energy T 11r22.5's on aluminum wheels (80 RR, no brainer here)
Parrallel spindles
Oil hubs axle vents but no inflation system (might add one anyways)
22 sliding 3 bar winches, revolution adds 22 rope hooks which double as flat hook retainers


Still hammering out the details, but these quotes are close enough:

Revolution comes out at 10,428 lbs and ~47k USD
Capacity comes out at 8,600 lbs and $56,800 CDN

Some details:

Revolution will *NOT* do a front slide, if one axle slides I want it to be the front. It would suck being stuck with a 38 foot wheelbase in canada with ~11 feet of overhang. That's just brutal for loading.

Lift axle details, the Capacity is specced with a lighter suspension (AANT) that Hendrickson recommends only being lifted in an unloaded condition, the Revolution has the heavier axles (AANL) which allows lifting the axle in loaded or unloaded condition. See here for info : http://www.hendrickson-intl.com/Trailer/On-Highway/UBL-Under-Beam-Lift

I'm told for a flatbed it is about 325# total. So that narrows the difference between the two trailers. Oddly enough a step deck can add a UBL kit without changing suspension. I'm wondering if I can get away with the AANT and just raise the suspension a bit, also keeping the tandem completely closed would help.

Oil vs. Grease hubs. Oil comes with a 1 or 3 year warranty, grease comes with up to 7 year warranty but 5 year standard. I do not like grease hubs, especially when it gets to -40 up here. You also cannot check the condition of the bearings easily. This is a no brainer for me. I have no issue doing wheel seals myself, I can get the trailer into my shop easily.

Parrallel spindle, this makes both bearings equal size, and allows more oil inside the hub.

Axle vent, I've had vents plug on the hub cap blowing the wheel seal, axle vents will not plug.

Fontaine claims 3% MPG improvement, Alutrec claims 6-9% improvement. You can see why, but I think Alutrec is being a little generous here. But it is a slick trailer.

The deck height of the Capacity is VERY low. The goose is 3.5" thick, my 5th wheel is 47.5" high so that gives me a 51" trailer height at the front. Most Flats are around 59-60". I'd actually be half way to a step deck.

 

They both have 22 sliding 3-bar winches and alternate down the sides.

 

You're right about the recolution, and I feel it's probably the same with the capacity. I will ask.

Western Canada is the same as is minnesota.

 

Low profile. Most flats are around 58-60". East offers one at 54" and alutrec has one at 52" deck height. This allows you to load 9'2" which is half way to a step deck. If you get a "low" truck and go with a shorter ride height on the trailer you can go even lower.

Does anyone know the 5th wheel height on a western star lowmax? My t800 is 47.5"