spec'ing 53' dry van

They are available. I saw an ad in Overdrive last month. Hendrickson has a fully automatic system called Smartlift. Link to the brochure.

Don't know about the weight, but I'd venture a guess it'd be a worthy trade off.

 

You can get whatever you want if you have $. But yes you could get a spread axle van with a lift. There is no real difference underneath so you can get it. Weight wise, it should not be drastic, just another couple of hundred pounds.

 

When you find out how much it costs extra, please share. I'm afraid to ask LOL

 

That's pretty neat

 

I remember there is a beverage cup manufacturer that has lift axles on their tractors and trailers. I think their rigs are black. In the midwest I think. So there's an example.

 

It's really not that big a job to retrofit any Air ride trailer Axle to being a Lift Axle..

Just get one of these.

http://www.abstrailquip.com/Single Arm Lift System.html

And then choose whether you want Auto/ Manual raise/lower..

http://www.abstrailquip.com/trailer Air Valves.html

And rollin' You can even get them to work with your ABS, EBS, brakes...
Or you can buy the complete setup..
http://www.abstrailquip.com/fabricated arm Lazy.html

http://www.abstrailquip.com/FULL SET 138.pdf

 

just out of curiosity

what type of floor and walls are you getting?

i spoke to a trailer repairman some years ago, he said the best thing out there is a wabash duraplate and a stoughton z plate


he also suggested keeping wood baseboards because once that metal starts to bend, its over