What is the average cost of adding a lift axle?

Because you aren’t listening

 

Thanks. I’m going my instincts reply to you but for giggles I will. The story of my truck: bought truck 2.5 yrs ago from company for flatbed. Had very little reason to know what my drives specs should be: always keep it under 34k. All money that I have is made by this knowledge: that is I made the money in trucking and hard work. Not looking for accountants nor sophisticated investors. Just entrepreneurs to help me make it work!

 

I’m actively working on a solution to have the right tractor for this trailer. So far my situation is: wrong tractor: single frame, frame not long enough for lift axle, ground clearance too low, fifth wheel placement, etc., heavy trailer because it’s a stretch, don’t have direct customers for the stretch trailer specialization, etc.
Things I have working for me: Will out work (that is stay out for months at a time), will have low overhead, will actively acquire the right tractor.

 

I am. I see my mistakes. Now I have to overcome them.

 

You realize you are talking to entrepreneurs that have made it work. You are getting sound advice from guys that have been there and still doing that. Not a one of these guys counts any body else’s pennies but there own. Yet you’re insistent they don’t know diddly.


By your own admission you’ve run about just wingin it. That has worked. So if you want to continue to wing it stay put and count your money. If you want to be a professional and get professional money learn all you can, then make it work. Because currently it won’t. I don’t haul over size however that doesn’t mean I’m not specialized. I have also rigged out a few trucks.


The last 379 Pete I stretched from 265 to 291 inches to add a 7500 pound steerable pusher all in (owner opted to go with a later cut off) hit the final price tag at 22500.00 parts labor paint etc. didn’t move fuel tanks etc.


so I ask are you wanting a steerable pusher?

Or do you need a fixed 20K pusher?

What’s your current wheelbase?

Whats the center line rear of cab to center of your front drive?


I’ll give you a hit no need to go with a 20k on 40’s. Though a fixed with singles would net you what the tires are rated for.


I’m also gonna put this on you. Just makin er work may work out or it may kill a bunch of people. How do you feel about that?

Nothing wrong with not knowing, you can learn. But not caring is a totally different deal and hand your in the middle of not giving a #### right now which is beyond not caring.

 

Killing people? That's something I don't wing. Making it work to me is safely and using what I have. Not winging it and hoping no one dies! This thread has went off the rails. I appreciate the advice from all.

 

You had every need to know what your axle specs were.

How much is your steer axle rated for? There are a bunch of tractors with little steer axles (11k), and a lot with 12k. Makes a difference in where you can put your 5th wheel.

What are your tires rated for? IE are they g or h rated? And what's the difference between the two?

These are things a driver should know before buying a truck.

 

Ok, I’m going to be nice and give you a huge tip. Not all oversize Rgn freight is the same. And there is no one trailer that is good for everything. You have bought an extendable. That is what you need to focus on. I know the trailer is right around 30k so I assume you are about 50k empty. You should be good for around 112k total. That leaves 62k max. You need to look for extendable freight that weighs less than 60,000. Don’t try and load a 40 ton track hoe on that trailer

 

Thanks. I talked to my company and they said they will be assigning a dispatcher who is experienced with RGNs.

 

I will give you a real world problem to solve - you have very little time think seconds to minutes to come up with the right answer.

you have purchased a mechanical stretch trailer.

you load it with a 50k 45’ load

now you go down the road with 4” of ground clearance and an inner bridge in the mid 50’s

with no experience - you misjudge a railroad crossing. This results in you high centering on live tracks.

what do you do? And in what order.

you have now imperiled your life and the lives of the train crew and perhaps train passengers if you aren’t lucky.

trust me with zero experience- you will get high centered - there or on a driveway or making a turn or any of a dozen places.