Split(spread?) axle reefer trailers. What's the deal with them?

Fixed axle 10'1" spreads on 53' is kind of stupid in my opinion.
The kpra axle law for California reads max 40' for trailers longer than 48'. Meaning that trailer would likely not be legal there. Other states measure trailer wheelbase differently, Google kingpin to rear axle by state laws. There is a good map to check out. One off the top of my head is michigan- max 37' measured kingpin to center of axle group. So if your fixed spread axles were at 40' and 29'11 that would put you at roughly 34'11.5" making you illegal for Michigan. Can you slide it and still be good weight wise? Perhaps not!

The whole idea is so you can more easily load 40,000 pounds on the trailer, 20,000 each, which makes life a lot easier say if you are loading 1 coil that weighs say 47,000 pounds. So your legal max limit is still 80,000 but now you have higher axle limits in the form of 12k steer 34k axle and 2x20 on the trailer. You see reefers with the spread axle mostly on 48' and this is because lots of reefer loads will put you at maximum gross weight before you run out of trailer floor space. So you can still haul most loads and it is easier to load it and have more weight riding on the trailer- plus it rides very nice. It does take some getting used to but it is nice if your operation can use it. A spread on a 53' reefer in my opinion doesn't make sense judging by trailer wheelbase laws, and further to that if you have a clue how to properly load your trailer you can easily adjust your weight to 34k on the tandems with minor adjustments. Defeating the purpose of a spread.

 

Slideable spread is the way to go, you adapt to the state if needed.
Generally when they're forward on the slider you never have to mess with anything loading....... If you have them to the rear or they're fixed you might have issues.

 

40,000 pounds back there 10 foot spread, 20K per axle on the scales.

That is the biggest advantage to me. With that kind of capacity on the ### end, who cares what your tractor carried provided your gross is not more than 80K

 

This is true & probably only useful for certain customers or personal preference.

One company who uses sliding spread 53's is S.S. Skikos out of Santa Rosa,CA; they do a lot of local/regional work with wineries & bakeries.

Used to have a really cool fleet of mostly 386's & T660's & even a couple 379's but have fallen for the Cascadia bug.
Have been to their yard a couple times to pick up loads; every van & reefer had a spread on it.

Their new trailers look weird as hell since they squeeze a tiny side skirt in before front axle.

I can't stand spread trailers when the back axle isn't flush with rear...also can't stand trailers with skirts having tandem to skirt gap over a couple inches - just doesn't look right

Best practical advantage of a spread to me, besides the 40k lb, is being able to fill the gap with a huge toolbox on one side & spare tire carrier on other; much easier access & fits look of trailer better then somewhere in the middle.
See them all the time on flatbeds but very rarely on reefer/van; also see reefer fuel tank in between spread on very rare occasions.


Another awesome innovation, East's stepped rear deck, no ladder required.


Harder then I remember to find SS Skikos pics online for some reason.
Pic of new trailer with half skirt & spread slid to rear

Pic of old trailer with spread slid forward

New trailers can be ordered the same goofy way

 

Hello everyone, I was just going over what everyone had to say about the spread axles on the reefer trailer and I wanted to know that if I get the spread axle can I have both a slider and liftable axle or is it one or the other? Also, about the liftable axle, is it better for the front axle to lift or the rear axle? And last question, is it possible to have both axles lift so that in case you rather pivot on the last axle instead of the front axle you could do so?

 

Your only limited by your check book for lift axles, I’m going through the spec sheet of a new GD and I have it spec for a front lift and dumps on both, swapped to a 10’2 slider instead of 12’ fixed, current one is independent slide for closed/spread but there’s no reason to close them with dumps on both axles

 

Ok thanks.