Pretty much the same as me. B model cat. 18 sp. Maybe the difference is in the trailer. I also carry 12 4x4's for dunnage. I know my 31500 gets on my nerves so I feel your pain.
When it's feasible I'll be getting an all aluminum trailer.

You might just have to look elsewhere for freight.
How big are your fuel tanks? Maybe that's where some extra weight is. Mine are 110 gallons.

 

Heh, I've got an all aluminum East and I'm still over 32k. By the time I get the toolboxes I need, and tire chains, I'll be close to 32.5k or even a little more.

 

for a 53' step:

(1) 8'drop with flap for the upper deck
(1) 10' drop with D all the way up to 13'- 6" for the middle
(1) 10' drop same as above except it has a rear flap.

also have a 2 pc 4' steel tarp

Then there are the 12' drop tarps for the 53 double drops....wanna talk heavy?

 

always have to have more than the next guy don't ya.

 

I carry 5 tarps on my step deck. I started with a flat and had 2 steel and 1 lumber tarp. I didn't have trouble hauling anything with those three tarps. Unless you haul lumber all the time you should not need 8' tarps most of the time. Many people order 8' tarps and sometimes don't even need 4' tarps. I picked up a load a couple of weeks ago and was told that they needed 8' drop tarps. When I picked it up the load was less than 2' tall. I rarely use 8' drops, even on my step deck. Of course, there have been times when 10' would be good, but that is rare and on a step deck. When I pull my flat bed I only have the 2 steel tarps and 1 lumber tarp. That is all you should need unless you want to have an extra lumber tarp. However, if you are concerned about weight you can just turn the steel tarps sideways and cover the load with a single lumber tarp and 2 steel tarps.

 

I also carry three of those blue throw away tarps. Can't remember the sizes but it's enough to go from front to back on the trailer. I have a frequent load that I use them on, saves a lot of time. Just run them underneath the straps and go.

 

Think ill go with 2-steel 1-lumber, but kevlar or something. Thanks for the replies!

 

Unless you plan on doing a lot of LTL freight or lumber that should be all that you need.