I'm spec'ing a new drop deck & it's that same old question - make the fixed spread legal or f' it. I've put a down payment on a 51' Wilson fixed 24" kingpin with the axles set forward to 41' from KP to please Johnny Law. This will leave 8' of rear overhang from the rear hub to end of the trailer (that's a lot of dang overhang). Running legal is priority, not into hide and seek games with the coppers, but I wonder how this will balance out a load compared to a standard set back spread. Will I load out my 40,000 on the spread to easily with it shoved forward?
I pull a 50' now with a fixed spread at the rear - not legal in some states including my home state of TN. I have never been bothered about this, but spec'ing new I'd just prefer to do it right up front & not be bothered by this down the road.
Whats the opinion from the forum? I'm not concerned about the "ugly" look of a forward spread, just want a money making trailer that's not drawing DOT attention while still scaling out a nice load.
Not interested in a slider
New trailer spread spec
Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Son, Mar 16, 2018.
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Why a 51’? I’ve never pulled a step deck and I don’t run all over the country so I’m just asking.
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Just seems right to me. I like a fixed spread - cheaper to build and cheaper in the long run with fewer wear parts. 1,000lb lighter & less messing around pulling pins and sliding. I thought that was for reefer's.
Plus it's less to overhang if I'm going to build this to be kingpin legal.
But my question is, with the axle set so far forward will I be able to fill out the bottom deck without overloading the spread.
General drop deck freight - roll on equipment, crane loaded industrial machine's, flat bed freight when all else fails.
Loaded a 40' high cube container thursday @ 50,000lbs. That put me at 48k on the spread. I would have been just that much more over weight with the new spec'd trailer....got me thinking about it.
The weight was corrected before it rolled....... -
Why see you specing the trailer with a 24 inch king pin? All but our standard flats use an 18 inch king pin
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If I'm trying to get "legal" then that's 6" less to hang over the rear. I run 18" now but have also run 24" and never thought twice either way. Slide the 5th wheel and it sit's the same.
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I guess what it really boil's down to - is it worth playing the game. I run my own authority & keeping a clean record is #1 priority. I try to be invisible to the Man. So that's why I spec'd a 41' kingpin. Build time is 10 weeks out so now is the time for second thoughts & aggravating my salesman.
I'd keep my current 50' Doonan but she's falling apart on me. It's not what I'd call a heavy built trailer. Cross members cracking -
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Can you buy a permit in TN and not have to worry about your measurement? I used to buy the FL permit when I was running all over with a 52ft spread.
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I'm building this trailer. Worst thing I've heard is that it will be ugly, I can live with that. Keim & Melton both spec 53' with legal fixed spreads so I guess it's no big deal. Just strange to me that owner opps don't run them.
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