Spec'ing a Transcraft 53' step ... Boy, this thing is heavy!
 

A brand new 53 ft long combo Transcraft with a 10' upper deck, 43' lower deck, tandem axle (rear axle slider), 17.5" tires, all steel wheels, weighs 12,279 lbs! It's not a trailer, it's a tank :)

that's not a combo. visit their website. the DTL-2100 is a steel trailer. The Eagle is a combo. Least I think that's what I'm seeing.

Whats your truck weigh? I'd make sure I could scale 48,000lbs with all your gear. I was told a sliding axle added 400 lbs to the weight. That was on a Transcraft or a Fontaine combo.

another option
 

I have a 07 transcraft 53 ft three axle. and yes its heavy. i have an 07 coronado with a 260 wb and can scale about 86000, in texas. has a 43 bottom. 22.5 tires. ride height can get to around 37 with all three axles down. you can run spread, tandem and tridem. back two can lift with just a swith. done very good with it. It is for sale. it is a 3100 series transcraft all steel. only reason i am selling it is i just bought an extendable so i am looking to unload it. wanted to keep it but economy is what it is time to dump it i think the price is right at 25000 US. rubber about 75% brakes the same. just a thought. oh and because of the axle set up even if you have to run tandem you dont get the sway they were talking about. and california legal as trandem and all three down as long as you are permited.

Transcraft steel trailers are heavy, but they seem to hold up well. I have the sliding rear axle and container locks. Both add weight. I believe my empty weight on the trailer is around 13,200. There have been few loads that I can't haul with it. I would buy another, but I don't know if I would buy the container locks unless I was planning on hauling a lot of containers. It sure saves a lot of time when you load a container.

rank, you scared me :) I thought the salesman mixed EVERYTHING up! i went to the transcraft website and then talked to the seller. dtl-2100 is a combo, but it's a weird combo because they use aluminum only on the floor and railing! no wonder it's so heavy. the all steel trailer is called dtl-3000. and you're right again, the REAL combo trailer (the one that has alloy cross members) is called an Eagle. The model is D-Eagle. The dealer said it's more expensive but he's going to send me the new specs in an hour. Will keep you guys posted. The "tank" DTL-2100 came in at US$32,000. It's be curious to see what the price tag on the D-Eagle is going to be. All the specs are going to be the same (10' upper, 43' lower deck, 17.5" tires with a rear sliding axle)...

i think about 19k lbs. it's an international 9400 with a mid-rise sleeper and 230" wheelbase.

we don't haul containers so i'm not going to spec the locks. but light weight would surely help. according to the transcraft website, d-eagle (combo) should weigh 10,120 lbs with standard options (plus sliding axle weight and heavy suspension on 17.5"tires). Transcraft: Drop Decks : D-Eagle

I bet you can get a real combo (not a steel trailer with an aluminum floor) from Wilson for ~$32,000 US. 17.5" rims, fixed tandem, no tool boxes.

I don't want to sound like a Wilson salesman because I'm not. I've just been down this road that's all. Sometimes it comes down to the dealer more than the trailer. I've talked to Doonan, Manac, Transcraft and Reitnouer. Some aren't very helpful.

Tracer. You have a PM.

and the numbers are in
 

The Transcraft dealer sent me the specs of their D-Eagle COMBO trailer. Same specs as before (53/ 10/43 ft; tandem with a RAS, 17.5" tires) but we used steel wheels. No steel coil package as far as I can tell ... Total weight (incl. 18 sliding winches) is 11,758 lbs. It's priced at US$34,200 F.O.B. Anna, IL (I pick it up myself). See the attachment.

Then I talked to my loan guy and complained about the trailer weight, he suggested I call a local Wilson dealer.

With all steel wheels, the Wilson Road Brute combo (same 53/10/43 ft; tandem, RAS, 17.5" tires) came at 11,260 lbs and US$34,570 F.O.B. the plant in MO. Practically the same price as with the Transcraft, but it has Michelin tires whereas Transcraft has Continentals; so if I go with Continentals the price would be the same. Plus, many people here said Wilson's quality is better AND it is 500 lbs lighter! I think I should go with the Wilson. Now all I have to do is get the financing.

what's the deck height/drop on these trailers?

Bruce, the wilson trailer salesman, told me Wilson has come up with a way to lower the trailer a couple of inches now even with 22.5 tires - without using wheel wells. My spec sheet shows the trailer will sit approximately 34" above ground at the lower deck when fully lowered. It'll be lower when empty or when having a light load. They measured my truck (my fifth wheel sits at 45.5" from the ground) and promised to make the trailer fit the truck for perfect weight distribution (no other dealer offered to do this!).

I just came back from meeting the salesman in their office near Cambridge, ON. Here's the final version of what we spec'ed for my first stepdeck trailer:

length: 48 (mackinnon said they get requests for a 53 step once a year)
upper deck: 10
lower deck: 38
kingpin: 24"
axles: 2 (the rear axle sits at the very end of the trailer)
spread: 10.1" with a front axle slider (41" from kingpin to center of axles when tandem is closed)
composition: combo (the model is called Wilson RoadBrute CFD-900)
floor: aluminum with 4 nailers
toolboxes: none (for some strange reason I decided not to pay US$800 for a toolbox; call me weird)
oversize load lights: none (this little option would have cost me ... US$651; thank you, but no, thank you)
extra lights on the sides: none
steel coil package: yes (mackinnon said i might haul coils on occasions)
l.e.d. lights: yes (I asked for standard lights but he said LED was now "standard")
load levelers: none (the price is US$627; I declined because you cannot use them as ramps)
tires: 17.5" bridgestone ($25 per tire cheaper than the original michelin)
wheels: all steel (I saved US$1,200 here by switching from "good-looking" aluminum rims)
frame color: yellow :)

Total weight: 10,210 lbs appr. Price (F.O.B. the Wilson plant in MO, USA): US$33,912

How big are the tool boxes for $800? That isn't too bad of a price as long as they're big. Most of the time they're 16x16x48 or 16x16x60 which are very small.

On most steps you can fit 18Hx24Dx60W under the sliders. It hangs low, but it works.

But I'm thinking with the low deck height 16x16 is about all you can fit. Them are some small boxes! You need a LOT of storage Tracer. Believe me. I have three boxes and it isn't enough. My headache rack is also completely full. I actually have some chains in the boxes as well. I still have to put one tarp on the deck. I also have my "rubbermaid toolbox" which is just a rubbermaid box, it is sitting under the headache rack. It's full also.

Talk to as many dealers as you can, the more information the better. Talk to the Chaparral dealer. They make good units.

>Wilson has come up with a way to lower the trailer a couple of inches now even with 22.5 tires - without using wheel wells.
hmmm. I wonder how they did that.

Here's some interesting trailers:

2007 DOONAN Aluminum Tri-axle step deck Drop Deck For Sale At TruckPaper.com

2010 CHAPARRAL MATS SHOW TRAILER 53' CHAPARRAL DROPDECK Drop Deck For Sale At TruckPaper.com

2008 DOONAN Rear Sliding Axle Combo Drop Deck, CALF LEGAL 50' Drop Deck For Sale At TruckPaper.com

2010 DOONAN LOW DECK Drop Deck For Sale At TruckPaper.com

Well, I wasn't sure the price was okay but the box/bin actually looks pretty good. See the attached picture. It's 60 inches long.

they did something to the suspension. either that or they make you drive around with half-inflated tires :)

That's for tarps or dunnage. Can you put tool boxes on your truck?

Low profile suspension. Also any combo or all steel trailer will be lower then an all aluminum trailer. I think Chaparrals are pretty good though.

no, i'm still going with the brand new wilson roadbrute. we did modify the specs a little bit. now it's going to have a REAR AXLE SLIDER, with the spread of 10'1" in the open position and 72" in the closed position. 72" spacing is the maximum allowed in Western Canada. So, I'm legal in the money-laden Alberta and BC :) Because the rear axle's center sits at 31" from the rear of the trailer and the king pin location is 24" (the upper deck is 10' long) the pleasant surprise of this modification is that now this 48' trailer is california legal! in the closed position, the rear axle is just under 40" from the king pin. the deck height with 17.5 tires is still rated at 34" when loaded. because of the rear axle slider the dealer said they have to add a reinforced bumper called "Rear Impact Guard". That added $300 to the price and a little weight... It's now at 10,300 lbs and US$35,769 F.O.B. Breslau, ON, Canada (or $1,500 cheaper if I pick it up myself in U.S.).

I do not think the California rule applies to 48 foot trailers. Here is a link:

Truck Route Classifications

I will add a couple more things:

1) If you have a 10 or 11 foot upper, and a REAR slide, you may have problems axling out 30-35 foot loads that go on the bottom deck. The trailer axles will have too much weight. That was part of the reason for going with an 8 foot upper. Many Americans don't have to deal with this, that's why you don't hear about it. Of course a spread may fix the problem. But it won't in western Canada because your axles will be so far up.

2) With the big push for 6 axle 97,000 lb setups in the states, I would really push for a triaxle setup with a lift rear axle. Imagine buying a new trailer and a few months later it's made obsolete.

I just loaded yesterday, and would've been able to take 5 bundles on a flat. But because of my step interfering with the load(29 foot bundles) there was too much weight on the rear trailer axles. It was around 37,000 lbs. With an 8 foot upper and a rear slide, it still wouldn't have worked. BUT with an 8 foot upper and a front slide it probably would've.

Remember that with a spread, you cannot scale more then 20,000 lbs on the front axle. That usually means you can do about 38,000 lbs on a spread.

Also I've talked to many guys at my company with 72" spreads(that's what I have) and they wish they went with a super tight spread instead of 72". Easier to scale.

Cali does not have the 40ft bridge law on 48' trailers.In ca only trailers that are longer than 48' have to comply with the bridge law.I live out here in ca and have a 48' 102" spread axle 10' 1" wilson road brute and have never been messed with.
I do like my wilson by the way, they make a great trailer and are nice to work with.The people in Souix City,Ia will do what ever they can to help you out.Also they do seem to sit lower than the other trailer mfg's steps with 255/70-22.5's.I can haul 10'8" on in the western states legally and 10'4" thoughout the rest of the country without getting into permits.
I have had people with the lo pro steps try to tell me when I show up to load with them "oh you can't load these with a std. step you will be over height" I tell them not a prob. after I get loaded we will get out the tape and see.When the see the overall height they are confused that it comes out legal.
My lower deck is 40" with no load put a load on it and it flatten's out to about 37"-38" depending on the load.

OK need more info on this? What push?

Where is this rule? In the US at least, I thought they treated a 121" spread like a group and let you have 40,000? i don't think I've ever had anyone scale my trailer axles seperately.

is this a western canada thing?

It's all over the news? Almost every trucking website has had quite a few articles on it. There's a bunch of trade groups lobbying Washington to push it through. ATA is a major backer. 6 axle setups weighing 97,000 lbs.

The group can have 40,000, but each individual axle cannot be more then 20,000. Since the front axle always takes more weight, that means we cannot have 40,000 and meet the other rule.

Anything over 72" can only have 9,100 kgs(20,000 lbs) in western Canada. Hence the reason for single axle sliders.

Jeez! You'd think trailer salespeople would know such things! Thanks, Alan. I'm sending an email to my trailer "pro" to see if we have to change the specs again.


So, what would be a good solution for this. Since now I don't have to worry about California, maybe I should just make it a FIXED SPREAD of 72 inches, like yours? This would be legal in Ontario and Western Canada and save me some money and weight.

I saw DeckX stepdecks all have their axles tight together and at the very back of the trailer. Maybe this is the best way. I'm not sure now what to do :( Why does MacKinnon say "a front axle slider is essential"? This is just BS.

For the time being I"ll just hide the chains and binders in the truck's side compartments.

Check out the attached PDF with Alberta weight rules. The thing with Western Canada is they allow the spread to be anywhere between 1.2 m (47.2") and 1.85 m (72.8"). As far as I understand the spacing doesn't affect the weight limit at all. If it's a tandem axle with dual tires you can load 17,000 kg or 37,400 lbs. I don't know why my spec shows 72" spacing in the closed position with a rear axle slider. And why do I need to bother with these sliders at all. Allan is right ... with my 38 ft at the bottom there'll be too much pressure on the rear axles UNLESS they are in the very rear.

DeckX uses steps and flats. They run Western Canada and Ontario. See how their trailers are spec'ed here transX - Equipment They all have closed FIXED tandems in the rear!

note: couldn't attach the pdf files; they were too big.

You won't over load the spread with an 11ft or 10 ft upper deck.You just have to know how to load the trailer.That is a myth i have loaded 45,000lb on my trailer before with 2 pallets of roofing material on the top deck and the rest on the bottom and was still under 40,000 on the spread.I run with the 5th wheel slid up as close to the truck as I can without catching my mudflap hangers on a truck with 260" wheelbase and load the front of the trailer heavy usually and work my way back.If I had to do it agian I would by a closed tandem though.If you know how to load a trailer a closed tandem is not a problem plus it save on tire wear and you will get a mpg increase due to less tire scruffing while going down the road.
I leased to a company once that had both spread axle roll off trailers and closed tandem trailers and me and the other o/o noticed a .5mpg increase pulling the closed tandem with the same loads and weights.
Just my .02

What size closed tandem? Just the same as they use on the truck's drive axles?

Here's what DeckX (Canada) uses for their steps:

Step Decks
Width: 102 inches
Length: 48 feet
Rear deck height from ground: 41 inches
Front deck height from ground: 59 inches
Bottom deck length: 37 feet
Top deck length: 11 feet
Trailers equipped with air ride suspensions

As you can see from the picture, the tandems are CLOSED.

They were just the std. closed tandem like on a van or tractor for that instence.

Anything that has pieces over 30 feet you'll probably overload the spread. Of course palletized won't matter.

Not true, hauled 40' sections of drill pipe before and casing you use load lev. and have hauled mach. that were 32'-37' before and never over on the spread you have to know which end is the heavy end an spot right on the trailer.With the 8' deck you can't get enough weight on the front which makes them more difficult to load and puts you heavier on the rear.With a 8' deck you also have to run with the 5th wheel all the way back so you don't hi the neck on the trailer with your tractor frame or flap hangers not to mention all the debris that gets on the 5th wheel plat because with a 18" pin it does not fully cover the plate.I would have got a 36" pin if I could have but they don't make them for a 11' upper deck so I got the 24".

I have an 18" kingpin it definitely covers the whole plate. I had a load in Feb that I couldn't take because of my 11 foot upper. If I had an 8 foot upper it would've been no problem. The load was one piece and about 9 feet high. It was also very long.

Not all freight can use the upper deck, or load levelers.

The final spec of my Wilson
 

Based on all feedback I got here (thanks, guys) and extensive research on the Net, here's what I decided for the final spec:

48 ft long Wilson RoadBrute combo (Model: CFD-900)
10 ft upper deck with a 24" kingpin
38 lower deck
34" deck height when loaded
17.5" tires with steel rims
CLOSED TANDEM with 61" spread (wanted to make it 49" but then the king-pin to rear axle assembly would have been over 41')
Fixed tandem (no slider); the rear axle center is at 31" from the rear of the trailer
No rear impact guard (was required with a rear axle slider)
Steel coil package

Price in U.S. dollars if I pick it up at the plant in MO: US$31,264. The weight will be just over 10,000 lbs.

This trailer will be legal everywhere incl. California and Western Canada. I'll be able to take up to 43,000 lbs over 4 ft space; up to 45,000 lbs over 10 ft space; and up to 48, 000 lbs over 20 ft space. Closed tandem like this is rated for 18,000 kg in Ontario, Canada and 17,000 lbs in Alberta, Canada (multiply by 2.2 to to get LBS). My tractor has a 52" spacing between the drive axles and a 230" wheelbase.

>The group can have 40,000, but each individual axle cannot be more then 20,000.
I don't think I've ever had those axles scaled separately.

Roof fairing when pulling a stepdeck
 

I have a full size removable roof fairing on my International 9400. Do you guys think I should lose it after I start pulling the step? I installed the fairing last year as I've been pulling dry van trailers exclusively ... The dealer said the darn thing weighs about 400 lbs. Would be great to shave off that much weight off the truck. Fully fueled, with my inside, my truck weighed today at 20280 lbs (11720 lbs for the steer axle; and 8,560 lbs for the drives). That's with the fairing and the steel rims on drives (I have alcoas on the front only).

I would lose it there is now benfit to having the roof fairing when pulling platform's.It will also buck the wind I have that problem with my classic its a condo and it play's hell in the wind.I was considering changing the top cap on mine to a flattop to help.

I would get rid of it tracer. I have a 770(full height volvo) and it really does play funny in the wind. Worse then with a dry van.

Congrats on beating "dry van disease". There is hope after all.