Putting a curtainside kit on a flatbed

Get the one that you can run with open.

 

Was that the slinky yard? I just loaded there just before new years no problem.

I wouldn't go with shur tech if I had my choice. I don't like the way the end flap secures. The bars bend a lot.

Which ever brand you get make sure you get a door cut in the front for easy access and have the bulkhead mounted to the front of the trailer not on top. Mine is on top and I loose a good 6 to 8 inches on the front and all conastogas will loose a couple on the back. Then you go to pick up a 48' piece and it's hanging off the back.

 

Oh and I'll add that you're limiting your freight by doing this. I emptied out in San Antonio Wednesday night and I'm sitting empty in Houston. Loads can be a bit harder to come by.

 

That dent tho......

 

Some of the problems we have run into loading curtain side trailers at the wallboard plant,
48 foot loads don't fit in 48 foot curtain sides 99% of the time! Can't close the back properly. This is especially true with 54" wallboard (billboard loads).
102" wide loads perfectly loaded still interfere with closing most curtain sides that we've dealt with.

JD

 

Can't help people who don't pay attention and rear end you.

It's happened a few times. Not too bad if you're careful about where you go. Sout texas is a big gamble.

The other thing is brokers. I don't see the rate cones or all the rates but it seems I still haul a lot of the same stuff we did with a regular flat. So we're getting the same rates even with our specialized equipment. Every once in a while we get a conastoga only load which can be in the 2 to 3 buck a mile range. I don't know if that's just the market or my dispatcher not having me in the right lanes. All I do know is if I owned the truck and trailer I would not limit my freight base unless I had a direct customer that needed the specialized equipment. With a regular flat I could have had a load of pipe yesterday morning. Still sitting btw.

 

Yep. Never had a problem with wall board but super sacks can be an issue sometimes. Just depends on the bulge. Usually have to have the loader spin them around or pick one with less bulge.

 

ouch