I have a steel 04 Transcraft 53' step, long spread. I keep thinking maybe this would be a good time to sell it and get a flatbed. My main broker has steady steel loads and I can't haul most of his loads because they're too heavy, or they're single coils which I may or may not be able to put on this trailer I really have been hesitant to haul any single coils over 30,000 lbs. with it. The other problem is the trailer has a short kingpin and the axles are set pretty far forward, so putting long items on the bottom deck that are over 40,000 doesn't work it puts my trailer axles over weight.
I do occasionally get premium loads that require stepdeck, but I also often get screwed up stuff that is a little too tall or heavier than what they said. Plus with the flat I would be able to haul some premium loads such as 50' and 60' beams.
I guess what makes me think maybe I should make the switch now is that there is such high demand for stepdecks I know I could get my money back on my trailer and get a newer lighter flatbed, increase my fuel economy, etc...
Really, I need to either do this or find some other steady freight instead of steel, this trailer is just not good for hauling steel.
What do you guys think ? I can't decide, maybe I would just be trading one set of problems for another ?
Oh, one last thing is the wood decking is starting to go bad in a few spots. It's not terrible, but it's going to need attention within a year or so.
trade stepdeck for flatbed ?
Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by dannythetrucker, Aug 26, 2012.
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I can only move about 41000 with my 53ft steel tri sd.
I mostly move equipment though so its not a huge deal.
dannythetrucker Thanks this. -
I have been looking at our load boards all week, and was thinking of getting rid of my flatbed for a stepdeck, because i like the lower loading height mainly. But when i go to a combo step, i will only be able to load about 47,000# which is not too bad. But once I looked at all the loads for a step, and then the loads for a flat, there was 65 load difference. the flats had more available freight, and most of it was actually light stuff, but said "NO STEPDECK TRAILERS".... so it has me sold on keeping my flat. I can scale a little over 51,000# with it with full tanks, not that I would ever want to haul that much all the time. But like the OS load I have on now, it paid me $8 mile not just for the OS (109" wide) but the weight is 50,700# so they bumped the rate and requested a tri-axle flat. I was able to get it on my trailer, and all axles legal. So that was just free money to me
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