Legal CDL trailer no IFTA/IRP!

Cool thing about them Crossman's is they are all huck bolted. Only welds on that trailer are the stake pockets & rub rail.. You are correct, finding a good aluminum welder will be a bit more difficult & costly..

To each their own. I can see your concern, but a quality aluminum wagon that isn't abused should hold up for a long time. I run an all aluminum stepdeck with no worries about it. I went with aluminum for the weight savings as I still run a fairly light operation myself @54,999lbs, with a single axle semi..

As for the IFTA & IRP conversation, it only seems more daunting than it really is. All you have to do is record your mileage every time you cross a state line,(jurisdiction) & record how many gallons of fuel you buy in each state..

Hell, I just write my odometer down each time I cross a line, then subtract from the miles from the previous state. Even easier, a truck GPS will automatically record it too. Then you just use those same miles for IRP when you go to renew you tags next year. Its really quite simple..

But on the flip side, I also would not run over 26k with a single rear tire truck. Honestly, I wouldn't run a hotshot at any weight with a single tire truck, but that's just me. Way to easy to overload the tires. I'm not saying doing it is wrong, but I'm personally not a fan..

 

So I switched from hotshot to a single drive axle semi Dec '17. I've been out of the light duty stuff for a few years. With that said this is what I'd look at if I had the same mindset you are currently in..

I'm not really a Big Tex fan, but if you're not really going to be loading it to the max weight, I'd consider the 22GN. I don't like them because this model uses 12", 16lb per foot beam, where most others in this class use 12", 19lb per foot, some 22lb per foot beam.. It flexes to much for my liking, especially in the 40'er. The 36' & shorter could be a good compromise, or even the 40' if not loading 16k lbs on deck..

I'd probably get the 36' straight tail. Then dump the duals for a single tire, aluminum wheel, 235/75r17.5 load range J. That will save another 240lbs. Then you got your 10k dexter axles, the lightest, cheapest steel wagon, & "most" states allow 4' rear overhang so you can still load a 40' container on there..

Do you know what your 350 weighs? That 36' big tex with super single 17.5's will weigh ~7000lb.
Add 500-1000lbs for gear.
Hopefully you can get your 350 down around ~8000lb. (My dually was 8500)
If you can get down ~15500, or 16000lb tare weight, that'd leave 10,000-10,500 lb for freight. Might stand a chance. I'd prefer 12-13,000lbs for freight, but that's hard to get with a 24k-25k rated wagon. Now you know why sub 26k guys are running 14lb per foot beam trailers, & 7k axles..

 

Part of the issue is you are wanting to run light, with equipment made to run heavier loads. You really need to spec light weight if you want to run light weight profitably..

Might think I'm crazy, but this is what I'd spec if going into a less than 26k outfit..

A '98.5, or '99 2nd gen dodge, 5 speed, ext cab, dually 2wd. Pull the box, got a 6200lb truck. ELD exempt, & I like vp44 trucks. If you prefer full mechanical, get a '94-'98.. (4 speed auto is fine too, but will probably need to rebuild it with upgraded parts for $4-$5000.)

I also think the new Fleetneck's look really promising. Finally an engineered beam like a real semi trailer. See in the bottom pic how it curves up before the axle like a semitrailer.? Light weight & strong. Finally, something that looks serious..

8k oil bath axles
17.5 tire
Aluminum 17.5 wheels
Spec a 34'-40' straight tail depending on just how light they really are. Have to call, as I don't see weights listed on web site yet. (Big tex 35+5 16GN says it weighs 6330lb)
If the Fleetneck can match that ~6300lb.?!
Add 6200 dodge +
6300 trailer + 500lb tiedown gear. 13,000lb tare weight
13000lb payload in a sub 26k outfit, with 40' of deck, & eld exempt in a pre egr/dpf/def rig sounds like a winning combo to this guy..

 

Shaker always got some good data.