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.