New Driver Purchasing Equipment Question Flat Bedders

Hello everyone! This is my first post on this forum. I’ve found many helpful threads here so far and am excited to be part of the conversation in the future.

Long story short I’ve farmed for the last 15 years but due to family issues I won’t be farming this year. I have chosen to switch to hauling grain for other farmers as well as hauling whatever flatbed loads I can find over the road. Good Idea or bad I’m all in.

I drove for a boom truck all over this country for three years before coming home to farm. While farming I drove a day cab with a 42ft trailer so it was an easy task driving through town to the grain elevators.

I purchased a 2019 Kenworth W900L with the 83” sleeper. That’s a stretch from a day cab. I consider myself to be a good driver but I don’t want to purchase too long of a flatbed for this setup and get myself into trouble down the road. I will also be purchasing a new grain trailer and maybe a cattle pot. For now my main concern is length of trailer with this W900 and its large sleeper. I have young children so I’ll be able to haul grain locally when school events and family time is needed.

For farming tax purposes I’m going to have to purchase my trailers new so they can depreciate over time. Who knows, if this all works out well I may not go back to farming. Ive missed the road now for a while.

By the way… The only reason I purchased such a big sleeper was more of a “have to” rather than a “want to”. My wife and kids want to travel with me at times while school is out for the summer. Gotta keep them happy even if it causes me a little more of a headache while hauling.

So ya, after all of that, how long of a trailer is too long for the semi I purchased?

Thanks in advance for all of your advice. It’s greatly appreciated!

Tony

 

Lol!!! Yes, Ive read all of the spread axle and tandem slide threads. I’m pretty sure I will be going with the Reitnouer spread axle with the rear dump. Thanks for the reply! I will post it there as well.

 

I can but with corn prices as they are and i lucked out marketing well this year I have a lot I have to purchase to keep Uncle Sam from getting it all. Good problem to have but hard to manage in transition. I also don’t want to have to fix used equipment this first year.

 

I have a 53 footer reserved to purchase after Jan 1st