What is the Best/worst brand Flatbed trailers out there?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Cat nip, Aug 30, 2010.

  1. Cat nip

    Cat nip Light Load Member

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    Jan 17, 2010
    Magnolia, TX
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    Any thoughts on Utillity??? Definitely staying away from transcrap
     
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  3. ky wildcat 4ever

    ky wildcat 4ever Heavy Load Member

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    utility is a good combo for the money
     
  4. blanco

    blanco Road Train Member

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    Gwinnett County, GA
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    Biggest POS trailer has to be Manac. :ugh: My pops bought one new. The rear axles started cracking where they meet the axles. The bed started loosing screws left and right and started lifting. He tried to drill out the broken studs, but it was dang near impossible. He traded it in for a Reitnour.. :h5:

    Keywords for search: Do not buy Manac, flatbed trailer flat bed. Junk.
     
  5. RenegadeTrucker

    RenegadeTrucker Road Train Member

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    Redd runs a utility, seems to do alright with it.

    they are an alright trailer, not the best not the worst, they are cheap, so you could probably get a few good years out of one.
     
  6. Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    They made the Bigger Bubba to match the MMX East and 724 Benson (72,000 in 4' 140,000gvw.) But still lower rating than the Mac 80k.

    If I didn't own one I wouldn't believe you. I have a MMX East with 4-10's and a 80k Mac with 3-9's and a 10 and there is no comparison. The East is a good trailer but doesn't carry the load as good as the Mac.

    A friend had a Utility combo with a conestoga. Good trailer, well built. He only hauled lumber on it and it did fine.
     
  7. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    I've owned an old Transcraft TL3000 all steel (way too heavy)... a Talbert combo (good trailer) and a Chaparral all aluminum (good unit). Whatever you buy a flat isn't just another trailer that you hook to and forget about... you had better be checking the fasteners that hold the deck onto the crossmembers and be pro-active about looking for cracks and broken welds... not uncommon to find an any trailer.
     
    Big Duker Thanks this.
  8. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

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    Ihave a 94' transcraft all 96' by 48' all steel. I have had it for over 11 years. I have not had a problem with it. it bow's side to side some times with certain loads. I have always hauled hevy single coils. if I haul a short coil 49,000 lbs it rides well. if I haul a tall 7 ft narrow coil 35,000 lbs it sways side to side. my cross members under trailer from the center to the back are 3'' apart. it has served me very well. I have folks I know running with me for several years, one who has 4 trucks has utility combo's. they seem to hold up well for the price. I have noticed utility has really made an improvement & their I beam is much thicker than in previous years. the one's who run the reitinours are the best i.m.o. I try & go for value. just like I did when I bought my truck. I dont know prices on trailers, but id I could save 10 grand on going utility instead of reitinour I would seriously think about it, but only after getting opinions from folks who had pulled that type of trailer.
     
  9. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

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    that last post, should read all steel 48' by 96" be back AFTER I had my coffee! :biggrin_25521:
     
  10. RenegadeTrucker

    RenegadeTrucker Road Train Member

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    Driver, if it is leaning to one side when you haul a coil, you have a crack...
     
  11. Les2

    Les2 Road Train Member

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    Nope, its the transcraft design. Their trailer are built to give. I had a 45' that I hauled some pretty heavy loads on and never had any problems. The biggest single I put on it was a 55k and being that the trailer was a 94 and 10 yrs old I was happy with it, until I bought my MAC...lol

    Nothing compares to a MAC....Nothing!

    Sorry for all you reitnour guys, but the newer ones are junk! My dad has 2 97's that hold a better arch than the new ones!
     
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