I've used flatbed trailers more that any other type
of trailer. Hauled hay,
wool, tractors, buildings etc. When I was in the custom haying
business, I'd put a tractor with loader hooked to a big round baler
on my flatbed and put up hay all over Colorado. I've had trailer house axles, triple axles, greaseable
and oil bath axles. It's easy to overload a flatbed and I did many
times on the farm.
I like Titan Trailers, made in Kansas with lots
of iron. The Rough Neck's we used in our "2011 Heavy-Duty Hurt Locker Shootout
Truck Comparison were tested with nearly 10 ton's of bricks,
right at the maximum capacities of the new one ton Ram, GM and Ford dually's.
Titan Trailer provided
us with the three brand-new, 30-foot gooseneck flatbed trailers.
Each empty trailer had a curb weight of about 7,100 pounds. The Ruff
Neck flatbeds feature tandem dual-rear-wheel 10,000-pound rear axles
to support some of the heaviest loads you can tow with a pickup.
The 3 trailers had
tandem dually oil bath Dexter axles, heavy duty slipper springs, 24'
flatbed floors with 6' dovetails. The treated 2x8" wood floors were
1 piece planks with angle iron hold downs on the ends. The ramps
were 6' wide glides, spring loaded deck plate that can be pinned in
their upright position for more room for tractors. We pinned the
ramps up to give us more wind resistance in testing truck speed at
the Chrysler Proving Ground near Yucca Arizona.
All Titan's come with
recessed sealed
LED lights of course. These trailers had dual pin spring loaded jacks
rated 12,500 lbs each. The springs in the jacks made hooking and
unhooking up easy, which we did dozens of time in the truck
comparison tests. Upfront is a big chain box with
a lockable lid between the jacks. The trailer frame is coated with an
automotive sealant.
I reported on the DuPont paint process in my Titan Trailer factory
review, Titan has the best paint of any trailer I've reviewed.
Under the floor planks are 3 inch
C-channel cross members on 16 inch centers.
The floor outside rub rail
5" channel has stake pockets and round tubing for ropes and chains.
The gooseneck uses the same I-Beam as
the frame, the Rough Neck version that we used, angles the neck
I-beam down for a shorter stronger coupler tube. Titan's wiring is
top notch also,
conduit wiring, junction boxes at the axles and the trailer
electrical wire at the neck goes to a junction box.
Loaded at almost 10 ton
each towing 2200 miles from
50 to 110 degrees and up to 80 mph, we took the trucks and trailers
to the extreme. Never a problem even with the
severe brake tests we did in Arizona. Maximum load, 110 degrees and
80 mph, that's why were called test dummies.
Rough Neck model
uses the same I-beam in the neck as the frame
A place to hang
the safety chains, background is the Chrysler Proving
Grounds in Arizona
Even
a handle and rod for hanging chains at the neck upright
Oil
bath wheel bearings make axle maintenance easy
This dual jack
system is what you need for dropping off loaded trailers
Reinforcement around jack
Chain box is
big.....
....the lid has
rubber seals and locks
Pinning the
ramps upright gives you more loaded space for what you drive
off
The big springs
make the 6 x 4 ft ramps easy to lift
6 ft wide glide ramps give you full use of the deck
Ramps in up position is for tractor room, holes in the
ramp for tail lights
This pin slot allows the ramps to fold flat up and down
Ramps pin down or...
... up
securely with spring loaded latches
Ramp pins are
welded
Spring loaded ramps take the work out of dropping the
ramps
Even a receiver tube on the end if you're licensed for
multiple trailers like me
We
loaded the pallets of bricks as evenly as possible, strapped
them down, did the saran wrap, only cracked one brick
Ramps up for more drag on time trial
with the "Hurt Locker" truck test
Diamond plate deck gives you
more hauling capacity
Ramps pined in up position have holes to see the tail
lights
The one piece
floor planks, held down with angle iron, much easier to
replace
Stake pockets and pipe for rope
or chain
3"
channel cross members on 16" centers with braces, see
how well the springs are attached
30 ft. overall flatbed,
we looked like hotshots running the ports
We also used a Summit Hauler Freightliner M2
as an alternative dually
10 and 12 % grades on the desert and 100
plus heat, this stretch was fun with a 90 degree turn at the
bottom of the hill
Good looking trailers,
30 ft. overall, ten ply radial tires, mudflaps, heavy duty slipper
springs, everything you need in a flatbed.
