When to use a low bed trailer?

Type of trailer

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For the item of furniture, see Lowboy

A typical lowboy load configuration

A lowboy (low-loader in British English, low-bed in western Canada and South Africa or float in Australia and eastern Canada) is a semi-trailer with two drops in deck height: one right after the gooseneck and one right before the wheels. This allows the deck to be extremely low compared with other trailers. It offers the ability to carry legal loads up to 12 ft (3.66 m) tall, which other trailers cannot. Lowboys are used to haul heavy equipment such as bulldozers and large industrial equipment.

History

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The first lowboy trailer was invented in the 1920s; it featured a riveted gooseneck and solid rubber tires. The first detachable gooseneck trailer, referred to as an RGN (Removable goose neck), was invented in 1958.[1]

Types

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The lowboy trailer comes in several types, for a wide range of tasks. Some types are:

• Fixed gooseneck (FGN): allows a longer deck length and has the lightest weight. These are lower trailers than normal, with low-profile tires, usually with drop ramps in the rear to facilitate loading of equipment, but are not actually considered "lowboys". The neck is arched in such a way that, when lowered, it becomes a ramp, thus allowing the front tires of equipment to be pulled onto the deck.[2]
• Fixed-neck: the neck is fixed to trailers; offers the lightest weight, but sacrifices the ability to detach and load over the front
• Hydraulic detachable gooseneck (hydraulic RGN or HRGN)): fastest and easiest to detach, at the expense of weight and deck length. It is the most common and versatile of lowboy trailers; the gooseneck is detached using large hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower the trailer and a small cylinder shores the neck to the truck, removing the neck so a large piece of equipment can be driven over the front onto the deck of the trailer for transport. The hydraulics can be run from the truck auxiliary or from a pony motor mounted in the neck of the trailer.[3]
• Mechanically-detachable gooseneck (mechanical RGN or MRGN): while usually lighter than the hydraulic detachable gooseneck, users sacrifice ease and speed of detaching. Used for long specialty hauls.[4]
• Mechanical folding gooseneck (MFGN): The deck folds down to ground level to provide a ramp for trailer loading.[5]

Features

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Lowboy trailer features include:

Suspension types

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• Spring ride: lowest cost; however, it has a rougher ride and adds more stress to the trailer
• Air-ride: smoother ride, adding to the life of the trailer frame. Air rides can also be adjusted for a higher or lower deck height.
• Hydraulic suspension: an oil-filled system, allowing wide variation of axle movement
• Independent suspension: a double wishbone, hydraulic suspension, which offers more stability, greater steering angle and more travel

Structural types

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• Main structural steel type: mill rolled beams save money; although being around 4,000–6,000 lb (1,814–2,722 kg) heavier, they also reverse camber after a few years due to the much-lower strength of the main beams.
• T1 or A514 beams save weight and allow more versatile engineering of the trailer; they are cut to the highest-strength shape possible and welded together.

Gallery

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See also

Haiheyuan Product Page

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References

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Trailers are not one-size-fits-all. You must use the proper trailer while transporting certain goods or machinery. There are different sorts of trailers navigating these roads to safely get items from one place to another in the best condition. Various trailer types are designed to serve specific functions. Still not sure if a lowboy trailer is best for your hauling needs? Here’s a guide on our lowboy trailers for sale and everything you should know about them.

What is a Lowboy Trailer?

A common question many ask is, “What is a lowboy truck?”This is a type of trailer that you’ve probably seen hauling construction equipment and industrial machines. They are one of the most adaptable as a semi-trailer with a drop-neck.

A lowboy is sometimes referred to as a double drop trailer. It consists of a front neck, which may be fixed or removable, a deck, and a set of rear axles. The important feature of a lowboy is that it is very low to the ground for maximum payload height, and the deck sits below the height of the trailer’s tires, marking the second “drop,” with the other being at the neck.

What are Lowboy Trailers Used For?

Lowboy trailers are frequently utilized to transport heavy or oversize items. Lowboy trailers are ideal for transporting bulldozers, cars, and other large equipment or freight. Basically, anything that won’t fit on a flatbed or single-drop trailer. Because lowboy trailers are used to transport such huge and oversized cargo, extra safety precautions must be followed when operating them.

The Importance of Lowboy Trailers in the Transportation Industry

Lowboy trailers are a perfect solution for tall or oversized freight. In other words, lowboy trucks provide trustworthy businesses with another option for better serving customers. When big or heavy freight needs to be shipped, the lowboy trailers apart of your fleet can assist.

The main purpose of a lowboy is to make it easier for drivers to load and unload their cargo. Lowboys offer more stability while you’re loading it up so that there is less risk of tipping over while you work on getting everything ready for transport.

Types of Lowboy Trailers

There are some main lowboy trailers to be aware of: fixed gooseneck lowboys, removable gooseneck lowboys, and stretch lowboy trailers, or even schnables. Let’s go through each one in more depth to give you a grasp of the styles of lowboy trailers:

Fixed Gooseneck Lowboy Trailer

The fixed gooseneck lowboy trailer (FGN) has a larger deck length and is lightweight. Because it is a lowboy, a FGN is low to the earth and usually includes drop ramps in the back for quick and easy equipment loading.

Removable Gooseneck Lowboy Trailer

This trailer, also known as an RGN, has a shorter deck length. Not to be confused with a RGN, the difference between lowboy and RGN are essentially an RGN is a kind of lowboy. So, the capacity of the trailers is what separates them.

Thanks to a hydraulic mechanism that can raise and lower the trailer on demand, the gooseneck may be swiftly and easily withdrawn. An RGN is perfect for driving, rolling, pulling, or pushing equipment onto a trailer bed.

Stretch Lowboy Trailers

A stretch double drop trailer is intended for oversized freight that is too long for a conventional step deck trailer due to length regulations. It also acts as a brace, preventing overhang. Loads up to 10 feet in height are permitted on the lower deck. The trainer is designed with a longer component, or well, at the back deck and middle areas of the trailer, often measuring 25 to 29 feet.

Pros and Cons of Using a Lowboy Trailer

While we’ve briefly discussed some of the types of lowboys and their functions, there are countless other reasons to consider using a lowboy trailer for your next haul.

Advantages

Advantages of lowboy trailers include:

• Stability: By their lower center of gravity, lowboy trailers are more stable than other trailers. This is because they used to moving equipment without violating height limitations.

• Versatile: Low-bed trailers have a wide range of applications. The low-bed semi-trailer was originally designed to transport the heaviest weight without violating safety standards or placing the driver or cargo in danger.

• Longevity: These trailers are very durable and designed to last for many years without needing any major repairs or maintenance work done on them regularly. Some other types, depending on what they are made out of, need more repairs so they don’t break down while driving or while loading/unloading the trailer.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of lowboy trailers include:

• Investment Cost: The initial investment of buying a lowboy can be a lot upfront, even used lowboys. The routine maintenance may be far between but they are costly.

• Freight Limitations: Due to weather conditions, a lowboy may not be best to ships electronics, home furnishing, or perishable items. There may also be a need to keep the temperature of the cargo regulated which you don’t get with a lowboy.

• Skill Difficulty: Transporting big loads necessitates special handling and hauling abilities. Even securing the load can be hazardous when connecting straps and chains onto the load.

Is a Lowboy Trailer Right for Me?

Lowboy trailers are typically used in industries like shipping and construction, where they’re needed to transport very heavy and tall loads over long distances. So, if you’ve been thinking about getting a lowboy trailer for your business, ask yourself before making a purchase:

• Will my company need to haul heavy loads? If so, how often will we need to do so?
• How much room do we have in our vehicle fleet? Do any of our trucks have the right kind of hitch to pull a lowboy trailer?
• How much money do we have set aside for new equipment purchases? Would it be better to work with lowboy trailer rentals instead of buying one outright?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, a lowboy trailer might be the right choice for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much do Lowboy Trailers Weigh?

The weight of a lowboy trailer can vary depending on the manufacturer, model, and carrying capacity. A lightweight, 35 ton lowboy may weigh in the 15,000-18,000. Trailers designed for oversized loads can approach 40,000 pounds.

How Long is a Lowboy Trailer?

The length of a lowboy trailer can vary, but it typically 53 feet. Additional axles may add additional length. Often, it is the length of the well which is more important, which is typically 24 to 26 feet. Some models may go up to 29’6″.

Haul More with Hale Trailer

If you need to transfer large cargo and equipment, consider diversifying your inventory of transportation solutions. Hale Trailer offers a variety of lowboy trailers for sale that can be used to transport what you need.

Hale Trailer has the expertise to connect you with trailer options that are ideal for your next haul. The next addition to your fleet can be selected from our line-up of trailers ready for the road available to you for purchase or rent. Our selection can be found online or stop by one of our locations to learn more about how we can work for you.

For more Low Bed Trailerinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.