step deck or dd?

So what are your thoughts about the 17.5's? Are they 235/75R17.5? I am thinking of converting my step to the "little" tires to get a smooth deck without the humps over the axles. To keep the 34" lower deck height I have now, I have to have a 6" hump 1/2" flat plate fenders over the tires to keep the deck low in the middle. It is a pain to sometimes have to deal with load leveling to get the deck flat for some loads. It would be nice to have a strait shot from the drop to the beaver tail with no bumps. I came across an add for the 235/75R17.5 that have a load rating of 5515 dual at $190 each. I always carry 2 mounted spares with me, so I could go one or 2 17's and one 24.5 for the tractor. I am wondering how they are holding up? The loads would only be 36K on 50" spacing tandem for interstate. The heavy (up to tire rating) would only be when hauling equipment here in NY state where I have annual over weight permits. Haulhand already gave me some great info, just thought I would ask around some more.

 

I think the little tires will hold up, if you keep the speed down. Brakes won't last real long either, and are more prone to brake fade.

 

That's why I have never tried them. i always thought I would need a tri-axle just to get enough braking power....and since I didn't want the extra weight I have gone with 22.5's and wheel wells.

 

The wheel wells dont seem to be a pain in the butt? It would seem simpler to just have a flat deck. I dont haul freight on flatbeds normally so thats why I am trying to figure this thing out.

 

A flat deck is definately simpler but we can work around the wheel wells. First of all they will take a good bit of weight. Only thing that has damaged them is a heavy roller/compactor...basically a steam roller with lugs sticking out of the drum. When we load excavators we lay 4x4's down to bridge them. A low deck step is a small niche business...especially when you've got 42' or 43' on the bottom deck. The only other option for some freight is two regular steps with 37' on the bottom or a extendable double drop.

 

Prolly weigh 15,000lbs? Our 53' with 22.5" x 121" spread weighs 10,700 with tool boxes. Next week we are loading a divisible load that is said to weigh 48,000. They either load me or they're probably looking at paying for two trucks so you can imagine what that does to the bargaining position. Just something to think about. What's your truck weigh?

 

This is what I was going to say. I have hauled a JD dozer and blade that had a weight of roughly 44K. It was to heavy for an RGN without weight permits. I was hooked to a step similar to the ones that Pape pulls, it has above deck wheel wells and it had a deck height of 34". I loaded the dozer on and got my O/H permits as ordered by the company expecting it do be in the 13'8"-14' range. I got up there and measured it and BAM 13'6" exact, no permits needed and was as 78,500 lbs roughly. Also just because the load was on a stepdeck does not mean that it was hauled for a SD rate. It was bid at a RGN rate and that was the rate that was given. I would have to dig it up in my notebooks but it paid me very well for a next day run out of Pape's backyard down to OKC.