Trailer length and maneuverability

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Bdog, Nov 27, 2015.

  1. Bdog

    Bdog Road Train Member

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    Up until now the extent of my experience driving a tractor trailer was taking my road test. My class A driving experience has been driving dump trucks and hauling backhoes on pintle trailers.

    I now have some equipment I need to move all over the country and a tractor trailer is the most reasonable solution. We don't go to any cities just rural farms and ranches but some of them can be tight getting into.

    I think I have worked out a trade on a Pete 379 and am working on choosing a trailer. My load will be no more than 25k and it would fit in 35' of length. It could be a drop deck with 10' of it going on the upper deck and 25' of it on the main deck.

    I don't really have any plans of hauling other people's stuff or needing flexibility for other loads.

    Now the background info is there my used trailer searches are pulling up a whole ton of 53' trailers and not a lot of shorter ones. A 53' would certainly work but I wonder how much harder maneuvering it would be vs a trailer that was say 10' shorter. Is it a huge difference or will I get the hang of a 53?

    I would like to find a trailer in the 20k or less price range.
     
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  3. Arky

    Arky Heavy Load Member

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    Getting the hang of it wouldn't be much of deal, getting it into out of some of the county roads farm roads is a toss up unless you know they were built for t/t to navigate them.

    The shorter the trailer, the less it will off track on a tight turn. You should be able to find plenty of 48' flats and steps. There are shorter trailers than that as well. Truckpaper.Com is always a good place to do research. They do have searchable trailer section.
     
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  4. johndeere4020

    johndeere4020 Road Train Member

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    What is the weight you want to haul?
     
  5. Arky

    Arky Heavy Load Member

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    I think it could be done with a gooseneck even? Borderline?
     
  6. Bdog

    Bdog Road Train Member

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    No more than 25k of equipment on the trailer.
     
  7. Bdog

    Bdog Road Train Member

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    If I split it on two trailers maybe but one machine is 18k by itself. That along with a 7k trailer is a lot of load for a pickup.
     
  8. Arky

    Arky Heavy Load Member

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    Single axle class 7 truck with 36-40 ft gooseneck? Could a dually handle it?
     
  9. Arky

    Arky Heavy Load Member

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  10. Arky

    Arky Heavy Load Member

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  11. Alberta trucker

    Alberta trucker Bobtail Member

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    I use an International Workstar with a 208" wheelbase, N13 engine, 14k steer and 23k drive axle, pulling a 40' hydraulic dovetail gooseneck. I haul rental equipment all over western canada and my usual load weight is 22-27,000 pounds. I have the extended cab with the bunk option.

    Another driver I know does the same thing with a 34' gooseneck and a 07 international 8600 day cab but he only runs local loads.

    I would say get a Freightliner M2 crew cab with the bunk, a cummins 8.3l, a nice deck on it and the gooseneck.
     
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