Used Flatbed w/ HA Rack

What do you plan to do with it?

Why do you want a headboard on it? Just seems like another thing to add weight and be in the way.

 

Poorly secured load will blast through a headache rack and your cab in the blink of an eye.

I don’t even know why they are called headache racks - they’re flimsy. And a bulkhead is just that.

 

Thats the first question to ask! There is no "best" trailer, although there are bad trailers. Some seem to hold up better, but may not have the features one wants. Hauling coils shotgun? Reitnouer would probably be "best". Center rails to put coil racks so they're always centered. Center j hook rails so you can use 2 chains for 4 tie downs. Coil package standard. But if you're doing something else, those features don't matter.

Regarding a bulkhead, it's not stopping a poorly secured load, but it holds your chains and binders if you have no room for a headache rack on the tractor.

 

When talking about used trailer brand name is less important than how it was used by the previous owners. You can buy a "quality" name trailer but if some jackwad has been throwing 60K coils on it for years it might be worn out. You could buy an unknown brand trailer that somebody used to haul 5Klb custom freight and it would be basically brand new.

Everybody has their brands that they like and those they don't. Most trailers use one of a small number of suspensions because there's only a few manufacturers in the heavy truck/trailer game.

I run mostly Benson/Transcraft flatbed and step decks. The local dealer for them has had good service and prices so that's what we use. They also happen to be pretty good quality trailers that we load heavy. Also got both a Reitnour step and flat that each have 3 axles. Both trailers have had 80-90K single piece loads and held up great. I wouldn't hesitate to buy either brand again.

I also run a Brandt RGN. At the time they had just come out but build quality and paint all looked pretty good and the local dealer had them for a good price so we bought 1. The were basically unheard of in heavy trailers at that point but it's been great to run and had no major issues.

Local service/parts availability where you are based out of and where you run are also important things to consider. Most parts on a trailer are pretty universal across brands but some things are unique to each brand.

I also wouldn't necessarily base anything on a brand name. I for sure wouldn't call anything made by Peterbilt "quality", but that's just my opinion.

As for the headboard:
If part of your securement plan is to hope a piece of 1/8" aluminum will stop 40-50K from running you over, you need to rethink your securement. They are a false sense of security and will be the first thing to slam into your back as the freight pushes it right off the front of the trailer. Same for "headache racks" you mount behind the cab. Almost every single one has a label that says it is designed for storage of equipment only and not designed or intended to save you.

 

I run for a company with quite a few flatbeds hauling lumber and building materials. We use Manac brand. They hold up very well. Make sure your dunnage/ladder rack is on the passenger side if all your straps are on the drivers side. Otherwise the strap winches are always in the way to get anything out. We have one like that.

Also all our trailers have header boards. I like them. They are certainly safer than nothing. Also if the header board has ladder steps on it that is very handy to quickly climb on your load.