Spread axle vs. Tri-axle flatbed

Where are you wanting to run and how much weight? I don't have an answer probably, but the guys who do will need to know

 

Echoing big road, Your extra weight allowed with the triaxle will not help unless you have enough contract freight or stay localish and everyone around you runs a tridem, it is a liability on the open market

 

Most of our trailers we can move each tandem separately, so we can make it a spread axle if needed,Manac Darkwing,and a lot of other brands.I did have 1 load we put on a tri axle stepdeck because of its weight,no permits needed for that load.

 

You'd have to look it up to confirm but I believe some provinces in Canada do not recognize spread axles. Something to look in to if you run up here.

 

I know Manitoba does not like spread axles, the drivers slide the spreads together as Canada allows more weight on a tandem than the US does.

 

I have pulled fixed tandem flatbeds, fixed spreads, sliding spread and now I pull a tri-axle 53' step deck. I've had some issues in the past when getting heavy on a spread and really having to position the loads perfectly to remain legal on both axles like many other flatbedders have experienced. Now, I really enjoy pulling my tri-axle step deck because I can get almost anything I want on the trailer and not have to worry too much about going over an axle. Most states in the USA allow 42,000lbs. on a tridem axle trailer without an overweight permit. With three axles on the ground my heavy loads are really easy to load and still scale legal. I can only think of one or two times where I had to adjust my load of equipment to make the front trailer axle scale legal.

When hauling OS/OW many states will allow 60,000lbs. on a tridem. It's always best to check with the states you are hauling in to and verify what their legal weights are when hauling standard 80,000lb. gross weights and when hauling overweight loads.

Side note..

When hauling overweight into Oklahoma, you must make sure your cab card shows the maximum weight allowed in Oklahoma which is 90,000lbs. Once you have your cab card adjusted to reflect that 90,000lb. weight you can obtain an overweight permit and be legal.

If you do not have the cab card showing 90,000lbs. you will be considered overweight even with an overweight permit. I found this out the hard way a few months ago because I didn't do enough research about this topic. Luckily I just received a stern talking-to by the Seargant at the scale and he explained everything to me. The state of Oklahoma will issue you an overweight permit no matter what your cab card says which is nutz in my opinion.

Also, remember that having that extra axle on the ground requires 4 more tires, additional brakes and brake parts, and more maintenance when compared to a spread axle flat or step. It cost a little bit more to operate but I can justify the extra maintenance cost because of what I haul and how much money I make. Your mileage may vary. Good luck in your choice.

 

The tri-axle 53' stepdeck is my favorite.Another company I worked at had one you could stretch out and get some long loads on it too.

 

Yeah man. So far out of all of the trailers I have pulled and owned this tri-axle step deck is my favorite by far. It pulls so good and in my opinion it makes the ride smoother when loaded with odd shaped loads or when lightly loaded.

 

The western provinces will only allow 10k on each axle of a spread. Or at least that’s how it used to be.