The Truckers’ Report flatbed Hall of Shame.

I know that is true.

 

Reit trailers are like the beloved Ravens, or Transcrack. Sorry Transcraft. They have a good looking turd, that sells at a premium price and wonderful marketing. Current market. And all have issues. Mac,East aluminum, Dorsey for a steel aluminum combo. They all will build to your exact order. Wilson comes up alot. I run a Wilson hopper. Can't say enough. But I don't have any experience putting iron on a Wilson. There quality is there. Just don't know. Extreme, seen them extremely broke with big singles.

 

This is a 1967 that a friend of mine rebuilt 2 years ago. Added air ride to it and freshened everything up. It’s still running today. He had a 1963 up until last year when he sold it.

 

So i have no first hand experience and not one to chat about things I don't know. But you should agree that the technology exists to test metallurgy of any metal or size. I don't see it as feasible on a steel or flatbed trailer when your eyeballs can do the initial job. However it's 100% possible. I'm just a dirty wrench and hand, I can't explain it more.

 

One of our Mercaptan bottles when I worked for Phillips 66 was one of the coke bottle trailers, '53 IIRC. They had updated the suspension and brakes at some point in the 70's. We had another one only a little bit newer that was a two compartment and very short. We couldn't gross it out anymore after the states started paying attention to the bridge laws. I rolled across Cheyenne one morning right at 80,000 and when I saw him walk out with the tape measure I knew exactly what was up.

 

My experience is so little I can't add much detail. But I know your right.

So I'm in the Midwest rustbelt. I'm still pulling a 42' spread. 10'1". That's what's required for 40k. The reason most are spec. 10"2" is because the scales cops could get creative with a tape measure and screw you. So manufacturers went to the 10,2. Lots of history in trucking if you wanna learn it.

Thanks for sharing. I do what I do. But was raise by the men who caused them to create those laws. Most have zero idea what it was like in the past.

 

They done a darn nice job on it.

 

Well… you still can not “magnaflux” aluminum. Or stainless for that matter. I agree 100% that there is technology to achieve the same results. Be it spray or x-ray or highly trained carpenter ants. It’s been my experience though, if a trailer develops a crack there is no need for any of those. There is no doubt that it’s cracked or where the location of that crack is.

 

Magnaflux is a brand name not a test. Your reference in a iron particulate test which can not be done on aluminum. Magnaflux corporation offers die for aluminum to serve the same purpose.

 

Much like channel lock pliers is a brand and yet all adjustable pliers are called channel locks and all locking pliers are called vise grips. I believe we have covered this already. And this horse is dead and beginning to smell.