Opinions on Flatbed Trailers
 

I will be buying a flatbed trailer or drop deck within the next few months and I am wondering if there are any flatbedders that could give me some pointers or opinions on the trailers that they have used.

I am looking at the following makes:

Reitnouer
Benson
MAC
EAST
MANAC
Fontaine
Transcraft

I have heard that MAC is not a good trailers but they sure are pretty!

I had one dealer tell me that Doonan are some of the best trailers out there, was he blowing smoke?

Most new trailers at the dealers are 102's but alot of the guys I know are stil using 96's. I figured I am mostly going the be hauling I beams and coils. But I want the option to haul anything that will fit on a flatbed.

If my main product will be I beams, coils, lumber & etc is it worth the extra money buying a drop deck for the occasional tall load?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinion!!

If you are planning on mostly hauling steel, I would probably stick with a flatbed. Most step decks weigh more than a flat and some plants won't load a step deck. I have owned a 96" flat for years and have rarely had a problem with the width. However, when I get rid of it I will probably buy a 102".

I also own a Transcraft step deck. I bought it new about 2 years ago and it has served me well. I know others who have bought Transcraft flats and been very satisfied with them. Reitenouer makes a good trailer as does East. Most who own them like their choice. There are benefits and drawbacks to owning an all aluminum trailer. Personally, I prefer steel. Aluminum does give you some weight advantages, but there are typically more stress fractures to an aluminum trailer. I am not sure that they would be worth the cost difference to me. A new Reitenouer will cost in excess of $40,000. Doonan makes one of the best steel step deck trailers. They are also rather pricey.

If you go with a flatbed, I would suggest either a Fonaine or Transcraft for the money. Both will hold up well and won't kill you on the price.

Thanks Gman! Boy I love this site!

One thing to think about is the paint on steel trailers. If you run in the great white north and get into the harsh chemicals that are on the roads now any nick from a stone, strap buckle etc. will soon be a rust bubble. If the rust bubble isn't knocked down and repainted the bubble will retain water and soon you will have a pitted mess.

I have a 50' Kayln 3 axle steel drop deck 102" and a 48' x 102" aluminum flat bed. The drop deck weights almost 5,000 lbs more that the aluminum flat. The flat is a Reitnouer and I love it. I bought it used from a man that hauled coils and I have not found any cracks.

I haul allot of stuff that comes on 48" x 40" pallets, I am sure a 96" wide trailer would work but even on my 102" I have bagged stuff coming close to hanging over the sides.

I have a friend that has a 96" wide trailer and when he gets a load that should of been on a 102" and it has to be tarped, water gets up inside the rub rail and gets the load a little wet.

Hope this Helps
Mike

Buy whatever you get a deal on.

We have 3 steps. 2008 Wilson combo, 1999 Lode King combo, 1996 Reitnouer all aluminum. Love the Lode King, love the Wilson but it's brand new so that means little. I've spent the last two days welding on the Reit. A month ago both frame rails were repaired after the main beam split. Now I'm fixing the bogies because they're cracked too.

I have no idea how the Reit was treated before we bought it, but I'll stick with combo's in the future thank you.

Hi Rank Sorry to hear that you are having problems with your Reit. Where abouts did you start seeing the cracks at first? And what are bogies?

Thanks Mike

go with a flat. because you cannot rear load/unload. i used to do a dedicated run to mi & back home with good pay, but it was skidded coils . so a step would have prevented me from getting that run. flat can be loaded side or at rear off a dock for those rear loads. not to mention the plastic pipe i hauled that worked on a flat. i have a 94 transcrft. it has been great, but ive always wanted a retinour. i also will most likely go to a 102'' from my current 96'' when i upgrade.

The main beam was cracked immediately forward of the first axle.
The "cross tubes" on both axle assemblies (bogies) were also cracked. These "cross tubes" pieces of formed steel plate that keep the tires from spreading under load.

Note, that I am not criticizing Reitnouer. We bought this trailer used and I don't know how it was abused prior to that. The mainbeams were patched when we bought it.

i've always wanted a retinour, but every time i finish a week with my ole paid for transcraft trailer, i think why replace what's already working for me. i have thought about buying a new trailer every year for the last 8 years. same with a truck. but as long as mine keep performing well, i'll keep what i have. :lol:

I agree hauler. new stuff isn't better, just shinier.

Well to be honest I don't want a new trailr but I am afraid of buying an All Aluminium trail because of the stress cracks!

I noticed that 1-7 year old combo step decks in the trader papers are only $5k-$10k less than a brand new trailer. They sem to hold their value.

Just take your time and inspect the trailer real thorough.
I flew to Wisconsin to look at an all aluminum Benson, and ended up buying an all aluminum Chaparral.
I spent 5 hrs and went over the trailer with a flashlight and a fine toothed comb. Now I'm not saying this trailer was perfect,..it has its issues, but the main structure is rock solid and there were no stress cracks, or any other major issues. The floor has a couple of small holes (2" by 3") and the toolboxes are hanging a bit wacky.
I bought the trailer for $9,000, and then bought a bulkhead off e-bay for $150.00.
there are some good deals to be had,....I have seen this same trailer for no less than $15,000 in truck paper, so I feel I got a good deal.
The biggest thing is to know what to look for and check it out well.

yep... you better get stretch your head & neck over & above the rear axles & look with a flashlight to see cracks in places that you cannot see by just browsing over the outside.

Did I ever!!!
I'm not talking a small flashlight,...I used a 1,000,000 candlepower light,..it would heat up the aluminum.
The guy who was selling it was closed the day I arrived, so I was able to crawl all over the trailers to see which one I wanted without having him looking over my shoulder.

I have a question? is it hard to install a axle dump in your truck,the new retinour I have has a connection for it.

It is pretty simple. You can usually have someone install one for about $300. That is mostly labor. I believe that the valve is only about $10 or $20.

That's good, I can do the install. Turning with a spread axle really tares up the tires on that front axle.

Thanks GMAN

You are welcome, Maxbeard. You can go through a lot of tires with a spread unless you have a dump valve.

We have a large number of Reitenouer flats and steps in our fleet (we run into Canada) and the biggest problem I see with them is the stainless steel slide rail for sliding the axles keep coming loose. It's all good till you go to slide them into tandem position then POW! There goes an airbag. Ours are 2012's and 2014's.

I have been looking at trailers and came across a Antares? trailer they were bought out by Direct Trailer LP they have a Rite slide composition trailer that both axles slide and the steel frame is galvie all for under 30k with 1 box outside alumium wheels coil package with 6 pair chain pockets in the center all this and its under 9700 lbs

I am not familiar with that brand of trailer. When you say that both axles slide, do you mean that it is a tandem or that you can open it so that it is a spread axle? If it is a solid trailer then $30M is a fair price for a new trailer. The light weight could be helpful as long as the trailer is solid. I have a step with chain pockets the length of the trailer. I mostly haul machinery and equipment or fabricated steel. I am surprised that the trailer is that light weight with a steel frame.