help Choosing a Drop deck

First I think you you need to consider the weight you will be hauling. Like what does your tractor weigh and what do you need to scale. That will give you a good idea of where to begin. Also, what will you be looking to backhaul? In your neck of the woods I would think maybe coils. In that case you would want to get a trailer that has a coil package. Do you need a 48 or 53? Do you need a Ca. legal 53? These are a few questions you need to know the answers to. Once you know those parameters I would probably look into a Reinke or Reitnouer. Can't go wrong with either of those. You need a good set of ramps and bridges also. And don't forget the side boxes. Has your driver ever done any flat/step work before? Then there is the headache rack. You will need to know the weight of it also. Do you want a chest type? Lot's of things come into the equation of setting up an operation like this. Much different than a van. Just a few things to think about. Hope it helps.

 

Stay away from Transcrap. I had two and they were rustbuckets. I have a Fontaine step now and am getting ready to order a new trailer, but it won't be a Fontaine as they don't have the options I want. Doonan and Reitnouer are at the top of my list right now.

 

Mac's are great. And they also cost less than reitnour's. I recently spec'd out both with similar specs the reitnour was $3500 more.

The only advantage to reitnour is all the parts are easily replaced. And their customer service is top notch. Mac has great customer service also but with all the welds on them parts are not so easily replaced.

Fortycal, why a doonan? They are great trailers but unless you get their platinum line. They are extremely heavy.
Between 11-12k. And the cost is substantially higher compared to most aluminium trailers on the market today.

 

You couldn't give me another Doonan. I've broke two of their extendables when they were closed up. First class piece of #### in my opinion.

 

I'm actually looking at Chaparral/Doonan. Looking for triaxle, aluminum or combo, 17.5 or 19.5 tires (36" deck height max), apitong floor, container locks and 51-53 foot.

Not very many manufacturers will make this trailer, but Doonan/Chaparral makes a bunch of them. I'm leaning toward the Reitnouer at this time pending availability of the wood floor. I've seen one with it, but I'm not sure if they still do them. As far as weight goes, I'm not too worried about it. I get by just fine with this all steel and wood 48' Fontaine that weighs about 13,000 or so.

 

I know mac offers an aluminum frame trailer with apitong flooring. Not so sure about container locks. I wonder with all the arch they put in aluminum trailers if you could get a light container down to the locks.

A couple guys I work with have Chaparrals. Good trailers I tried to spec one out with a Wi dealer with 17.5 and the dealer told me it would bei a one off. I laughed
and hung up.

But a doonan sounds about right for what you are looking for. If you get one with 17.5 tires double check the axle tags. Some of them axles are only rated for 17k. Which Tn will catch if your over 34 on the spread. They make an axle rated for 22k on 17.5.

 

I'll check Mac, I didn't know they did wood floors. As far as the container locks go, a step doesn't have nearly the arch that a flat does, plus they have new locks where the base is adjustable to secure light cans.
The quotes I've got so far have Hendrickson HT 25,000lb axles and suspension with the 17.5's, so no worries there.

I definitely have to order my trailer, as I've seen some close to what I want on Truckpaper, nothing exact though, and if I'm going to spend 50k on a trailer, it's going to be exact.