We're going all 53's. Believe our "newest" 48's are approaching 5+ years old. The reason? Rather have and not need than need and not have. The weight difference between the two is marginal and after a month you don't even notice the 5' of tail swing on the back.
Depending on the make of the trailer, 2000-3000 lb difference. No tailswing, shorter wheelbase, easier to maneuver, and the side marker light marks the middle of the trailer. For the most part, the 48 flat holds all the advantages.
Unless you're running ltl type freight. I was often bulkhead to back curtain doing multiple stops. A lot of times I could have stacked some more freight up if I needed to. If you have a quick draw it's almost always out of the way opened to the rear too. Most of the company's running 53's are not running ltl freight though. I would almost bet they are not even getting a premium for the longer trailers. 53' long skin cart. Ltl loads
I haul mainly equipment and machinery,.. so no,.. my 53's are not utilizing all of the deck space all of the time. How ever there are certain machines and/or combination of machines where the 53' becomes a necessity. I have the 53's because when it comes to being versatile,.. it is better to have and not need, than to need and not have. The same reason I have 6 sets of coil racks when I dont do that many coils. I have 4 pipe stakes that I might use once a year,.. if that. I have 20 30' chains and 24 binders. Extra ratchet straps, cargo blankets, tarps,.. extra battery operated beacon lights, flags and banners,.. etc etc. You never know when you will need it. Its there to cover my bases. When a broker calls and asks if I can cover the load,.. 99% of the time,.. the answer is yes,.. yes I can. I'm not stuck looking for a load wasting time. Keeping the wheels rolling = money. Edit: Here ya go,.. all that open space. LOL Hurst
I can't speak for every trailer out there only from the very bleak experience I have in comparison to many of you. Our Great Danes and Utilities are specced virtually identical to one another. 53x102, no tool boxes, no dumps, coil package, and no sliding axles. The distance from king-pin to center spread is the same on all of our flatbeds regardless of length. One of these days I'll remember to get my empty weight with our dying 48's but I know for a fact with full tanks, all my ####, 53' Utility I'm under 30900# in our T660's. I'd highly doubt our 48's would even take 1500lbs out of that number.
One advantage is shortening up the front and rear projections for hauling 60'. Up here most of our trailers are tridems. We can put on a full 55,000lb tandem load and still put on 20,000lb of LTL. Even on your weights down there more deck to sell is never a bad thing.
I have a 48' and will probly keep it till the wheels fall off. I stay plenty busy in my lanes. However if I bought a NEW one (price of used ones is stupid) it would be a 53' without question. There are enough 53' trailer ONLY loads out there to warant it. However, it is not worth the cost to CHANGE what I currently have just for those loads. Most 53' spreads have the same axle locations as a 48' so the only thing that changes is the tail swing and maybe a few hundred lbs.
