I want to buy a flatbed trailer,which brand is good,tks

I like Benson. I've heard great dane is good, although i never pulled a GD.

A flatbed without a side kit will allow you to haul way more types of freght then a step or curtain. Side curtain wont allow crain loads. Some shippers wont load a step. If you want the most flexibility a FLAT flatbed is the best, although taping can be a PITA.

To me, i want multible winches on both sides. I want aluminumm for weight savings. I want a nice workable height. Lastly i want chain pulls so i dont need to chain to rub rail. Jhooks would be a plus.

I think the features you get are more important then the brand. I felt fontain ride kinda ruff and I like the bensons a lot.

 

The 2 best I know is reitnour & mac.

 

I'm partial to Reitnouer myself.

 

I like and am looking into buying a all aluminium East or Chaparral trailer I'm leaning towards the East trailer hauled one for a couple years when I was a company man

 

Still miss my Reinke my new Mac gets me by!

 

I would shy away from the east I'm not very impressed with mine but it's what I'm stuck with. It DOES NOT hold it's arch 2 bundles of 10k 40ft long round stock will flatten it out, it's light no doubt I will give them that. 2 8ft drop lumber tarps, 2 steel tarps, 14 pipe stakes, straps and the rest of my junk and I'm around 32500 with full tanks keep in mind the truck alone is about 22k full of fuel with all the chains and binders. plus there's another 1500lbs of crap in the trailer so around 8000-8500 tear weight on the trailer with 3 boxes.

If I were going to buy another flatbed I wouldn't buy anything but a MAC (said it before and made a mistake with the east) although they're heavier they're better engineered IMO. Reitnouer isn't bad depending on the years. I've heard bad about the newer ones never pulled one though and I think they're WAY overpriced in the bubba series. Chaparral is a good trailer and there's one old boy that yanks one around who parks at the same truckstop I park at that loves his. He says it's been a great trailer for him. Benson is a product of transcrap I wouldn't touch one with a 10ft pole. I hate transcraft with a passion that alone is enough to steer me away from them. I've seen more transcraps with cracks and problems than carter has pills.

We used to have a Wilson road brute combo. Tell you what that thing was a beast even with as old as it was. They're a cheaper trailer price wise quality wise I wouldn't be afraid to buy another one if I had to. I was happy with it although you have to buy winches that are specifically made for a Wilson trailer which can be a royal pain if you have problems with one. I realize they don't go bad that often but as they age and get harder than hell to turn or bet bent by some idiot on a forklift it can get you in a pickle.

There are a few other things to look into when it comes to options. Depending on what you're going to haul. I'd recommend a rub rail with double pipe spools and your stake pockets. 16 chain drops 8/side if not more, make sure you get winch track on both sides no just road side and I'd go with no less than 16 winches 8/side 12 is standard but I'd have 20 on mine if I had it my way and it wouldn't add so much weight. I loved winches on both sides it made some loads more stable like pipe pulling from both sides as opposed to just one side. Buy a trailer that's got a coil package, even if you're not going to haul coils the next guy might want to haul coils. 10'2 spread 48x102 at least 2 boxes between the axles. Dump valve on the rear axle at least if not both axles I would go both personally. Also get a full suspension dump on a ball valve DO NOT GET AN AUTOMATIC DUMP WHEN THE SUPPLY IS PULLED!!! it causes dock walk and you will eventually load from a dock I hate them darn things and dumping from a ball valve isn't that hard. Dock bumpers are nice to have even if you think you'll never load from a dock. Aluminum wheels, also a dunnage rack is a good option to have as well if you can get one. It will effect the aerodynamics of the trailer but putting dunnage on the gear is a pain and you can only fit so much between them doesn't work well when you've got 10 pieces of dunnage and have to strap 4 pieces to the deck. Aluminum or combo is good I'd go all aluminum though myself. Also a must for a flatbed get 2 big signs made for your main beams...BIG RED LETTERS that say quote "YOU HIT IT YOU PAY TO FIX IT!" Bumping trailers is common when it comes to flats and welding and bending rub rails especially on aluminum trailers isn't cheap. And it will never be the same as it was strength wise. Also consider getting movable j hooks. I have them on my east love them. Most MFG's are making trailers with them now and it's just another option even with the chain ties it's still a nice thing to have. I can use my J hooks with straps as well which is also nice. Spec the trailer out so it is basically a do it all trailer and you're prepared for everything. Better to have too much trailer than not enough. once again just my opinion but it's worth it for piece of mind.

 

Buy a decent used combo flat. Utility, fontaine, wilson, east.. it doesnt matter. As long as the frame is not cracked and its ready to work. You are good to go. I own a 2005 manac. I love this thing. Its all aluminum and I have put 50k lbs on it, and it still had an arch. The big arch on aluminum trailers gets to be a pain with certain loads though, but you can solve that with different sized dunnage. Just research the trailers that fall into your price range. A manac like mine had a bad rep because the 2003 - 2004 models were crackin the main beams by the front axle. That was fixed by reinforcing the frame with some aluminum plate supplied by manac. My year does not have this issue as the design was updated to address that issue.

For every person who loves mac , east, reitnouer, benson, you will find a person who hates them or had a bad experience. Just research what model you are looking at to make sure it will be able to handle the work you plan to use it for. Good luck finding what you need.

 

I put a 47,000lb coil on my Reitnouer and it retained 80% of it's arch. Mine is the Maximiser, rated for 52,000 in four foot, weighs 9,230lbs with two boxes, 2 J-hook channels on each side and one at the rear and one at the front. I will miss this trailer.

 

I have manac,and like it