Companies that make an all alum step with 17.5's

[allan5oh]

ON has a really high tandem rating, I don't know why either. I thought it was around 40,000 lbs. The rest of Canada is 17,000 kg's(give or take) which translates to 37,485, 24,000 kg's for a tri, which gives you an extra ~16,000 lbs or so. Take away the weight of the extra axle you still have a good 14,000 lbs.

Where you'd make the good money would be permitted loads coming north. You can permit up to 112,000 lbs with a 6 axle setup.

Anyways it's time for bed. Too much thinking.

[rank]

ON has a really high tandem rating, I don't know why either. I thought it was around 40,000 lbs. The rest of Canada is 17,000 kg's(give or take) which translates to 37,485, 24,000 kg's for a tri, which gives you an extra ~16,000 lbs or so. Take away the weight of the extra axle you still have a good 14,000 lbs.

I had to make some assumptions but just for giggles, I put pencil to paper today and the number I came up with was ~10,000 extra available payload and 16' feet of available deck at the rear of the trailer. Seems like we are thinking along the same lines. Couldn't put anything ahead of your 42,000 lbs x 18' lg because you'd be over on the drives.

Where you'd make the good money would be permitted loads coming north. You can permit up to 112,000 lbs with a 6 axle setup.

With that 42,000 lb piece you'd only only have ~ 16' or so feet of trailer to cram 70,000 lbs on to. That's one mother of a big coil LOL. Besides, I doubt they will let you permit a divisible load/LTL.

Anyway, yeah by adding up all the tire ratings to get the allowable gross and then subtracting the tare, a theoretical 112000 payload seems close to the number I came up with. Whether or not you'd be able to scale all the axles out perfectly and still get the 112K is a different matter.

And then (in ON at least), my base plate cost would go wayyyy up if I registered for 145,000 gross (112,000 net + 33,000 tare). And you must register th egross before they will let you permit for over axle.

Certainly it's doable for non divisable pieces of big machinery and such. Whether or not it's worth all the extra costs in the million dollar question.

[allan5oh]

I was talking 112,000 gross in the US. 60k for trailer axles, 40k for drives, 12k for steer.

[allan5oh]

Talked to a few local guys, Wilson can make one but their beam ratings aren't suitable for Canadian weights. I think Mac or Chaparral are the way to go, and luckily one dealer is with both companies. He's going to get back to me on both about weight and prices.

As far as those other trailers I posted a while back:

GLASVAN GREAT DANE - NEW TRAILER 2009 CHAPARRAL

They want $48k CDN for it, no lift axles or disc brakes. Weight is approx 12,520 lbs.

2010 MAC ALUMINUM 3-AXLE Drop Deck For Sale At TruckPaper.com

This one is $48,900 USD, with lift axles but it's middle and rear, which is useless in Canada due to our rear overhang laws (can not be over 35% of wheelbase). I've emailed them a few times about the weight and if it can be converted to a middle fixed axle setup, still no damn response.

[allan5oh]

Well it appears that mac above is 11,070 lbs, which is pretty light. The guy said the front axle can be added as a lift, but I wasn't aware if you could have all axles on a trailer lift? I'm just shocked at how light it is, compared to the Chaparrals at 12,500 lbs.

[Les2]

Check and make sure its the heavy beam trailer, not the lightweight beam.

I don't even know if I'd bother with lift axles, I've seen so many with them that are bouncing the tires off the road consantly.

[allan5oh]

Macs 60k beam seems to fit the bill fine, but I'd prefer their 80k beam. Their smallest 60k beam is stronger then Wilsons strongest beam. I wonder if the bouncing is due to bad shocks?

[allan5oh]

It does have the 60k beam which is good for:

60,000# in 4 feet
70,000# in 20 feet
90,000# in 48 feet

It's damn near the trailer I want, except 80k beam and disc brakes. Lift axles can always be changed.

[Les2]

The bouncing is usually cause people don't have enough air in their up bags. With a stepdeck I'd think the lift wouldn't be high enough for regular roads, what are they gonna be, maybe 3" of the road?

Mac had to reconfigure their 80k steps, the belly of the trailer was just a few inches off the road and got drug around alot. Atleast thats what they told me.

[allan5oh]

Ah ok thanks for the tip, I misunderstood what you said. I'm assuming these trailers with the lift axles that bounce are probably 10 foot spreads, this would be a tri with 5 foot spreads. I'd like the middle axle to be fixed, so that should really help. The suspension travel on a 17.5 equipped trailer is 5.5 inches. I'm hoping that would be enough, but thanks for the tip.

I did find a local mac tri for sale, but it is a 2009 model. It also has 255/70R22.5's and REALLY low toolboxes. To the point that they're useless. Spec sheet says 12,549 lbs. Yet this other 2010 mac tri with lift axles and 17.5 comes in at 11,070 lbs from the spec sheet. Both are aluminum, 60k beam, 53 foot tris. The heavier one does have bigger brakes and wheels, and two toolboxes.

I don't know how they're 1500 lbs different. The main thing is the model year, two toolboxes, and the wheel/drum size. Toolboxes might be 200-250 lbs difference at most, and I really didn't expect going to 17.5's would save all that much. They also have different suspensions, aal VS. ht. Both are rated for 25k, but I don't know what axles are on the 17.5 equipped trailer. Spec sheet doesn't say. Maybe it has lighter axles.

[allan5oh]

The boxes are 5" from the ground. No go.

[allan5oh]

I specced out a 53 foot step with 17.5's, three load bunks, dunnage rack, tire carrier, front and rear lift axle, 20 sliders, and it came to $49,865 USD and 11,600 lbs. Unfortunately discs currently aren't available for 17.5's. I'll probably drop one leveler, add two pairs of oversize lights, lower the ride height from 6.5 to 4", and add more marker lights (9 or so from 5). Maybe add an auto inflation system as well.

[Les2]

Are you going with a Mac?

[allan5oh]

I think so, eventually. I'll talk to the boss again see what he says.

[rank]

... add two pairs of oversize lights...

How much are they charging for this option? We have them on 3 of our trailers and I don't think I'd get them again. I find the magnetic flashing strobes and or red lights that plug into the back of the trailer easier to mount on the widest part of the load or the corners of the load.