The trucking industry offers multiple types of services. Two of those include lowboy trucking and step deck trucking. Because there are a few similarities, some people get the two confused, making it hard to choose the right service. However, there are also differences in step deck vs lowboy trucking. Three, in particular, that stand out.
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Before going over these three differences, it would help to gain a basic understanding of these two types of trailers. With lowboy trucking services, a gooseneck (RGN) detaches thanks to large hydraulic cylinders that raise and lower the trailer. For shoring up the neck to the truck, a smaller cylinder gets used. With that done, a large piece of equipment drives over the front, going onto the trailer’s deck in preparation for transporting cargo.
As for step deck trucking companies, also referred to as single drop, drop deck, and open deck, heavy equipment hauling companies and others use these trailers to transport much of the same kind of freight as that of a flatbed. For both options, a trucking company can haul a significant amount of large and heavy cargo. Along with these differences, consider the three mentioned below.
1. Decks –
The design of a lowboy trailer includes a single deck, whereas a step deck has two: a main and a front. That means instead of one continuous surface as seen with a flatbed, this trailer has an upper deck that sits above the tractor unit, measuring between 10 and 13 feet long. The main deck measures 38 to 40 feet long and just 3 feet and 3 inches off the ground.
2. Dimensions and Load Capability –
Other differences in lowboy vs step deck trucking include the length of the load accommodated and load capability. A lowboy, which has two axles, carries cargo up to 12 feet high and with a load capacity of 70,000 pounds. In comparison, a step deck trailer’s height/dimensions limit is maximum of 10 feet for the main deck and 8.5 feet for the front deck. This type of trailer can haul up to 48,000 pounds of cargo.
3. Height Capability –
The thing about a step deck trailer is that it works great for tall freight. However, for extra-tall shipments, a lowboy trailer is the better option. With the deck only 18 inches from the ground, this trailer has no problem transporting items up to 11 feet and 6 inches tall.
Whether interested in lowboy, step deck, or open deck trucking services, MGA International Logistics is a superior choice. For information about our company and all of the services that we provide, please visit us online or call to speak with a representative.
Low bed trailers come in various structures and each one of them has its definite characteristics that make them suitable for certain applications.
Low Bed Trailer Ultimate Guide – What is a Lowboy/Lowbed Trailer?
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However, not many people have clear guidance to help them choose one trailer over another. Their ability to take large cargoes leaves everyone mesmerized and excited about their function.
Even with these transportation capabilities, knowing what trailer type you need for your job is very important.
It is highly recommended that you take time to study these differences and establish the reason why you would choose one trailer over another. Ask the experts in the trucking business to advise you based on your needs.
Here, you will get to know about two different trailer categories: the Removable Gooseneck (RGN) trailer and the Lowboy trailer. Their naming has something to do with some of their defining characteristics.
So, what exactly is the difference? Why would you choose a RGN trailer over a lowboy trailer? Here is detailed information to help you learn about the two different types of trailers.
1. What is a RGN trailer?
Removable gooseneck trailers have been around for some time. They first were introduced in the transport industry in 1958. It was all a work of design to provide a trailer with capabilities of carrying long and tall cargo.
In this design, the front part can be detached. Once the detachment has been made, it allows the trailer to be lowered to the ground. In this position, any self-powered cargo can be loaded on it.
The most common type of cargo carried on this type of trailer includes cars, heavy machinery and other trucks as would fit on it. Therefore, the detachment is useful in the loading and offloading process.
This is the most distinguishing feature of an RGN trailer from other types of trailers. With this type of trailer, you can get one with front loading cargo, Its gooseneck is detachable.
The RGN gives you an option of adding as many axles as would fit your application. Should you want to transport much heavy load, you can add extra axles either at the rear section or to the side.
A standard 3 axles RGN trailer can take maximum freight weight of 50 tons but can be exceed with the inclusion of extra axles.
The legal maximum height is 3.5 m. However, the length and width can be designed according to your demands.
1.1 Important Benefits with an RGN trailer
Here are some of the reasons that would make you choose a removable gooseneck trailer over other types of trailers.
Gooseneck trailers have a lower platform for loading the heavy cargoes.
RGN trailers can load a equipment easier than low bed trailers.
1.2 RGN trailer specs, capacity and dimension
There are many models of Rgn trailer, you can learn the detailed parameters, height, capacity of the trailer from the following specifications sheets:
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30 T RGN Trailers
Dimension
11000mm-16000mm x 3000-3500mm x 1650 mm
Loading Capacity
20-30 T
Axle
2 units 13T BPW/FUWA/Chinese brand
Rim
6.5-20/7.5-20/8.00-20/8.5-20
Suspension
Double-axles Mechanical suspension or Air Suspension (BPW brand)
Tires
825, 1100, 1200R22.5
King Pin
JOST brand 2.0 or 3.5 inch (bolted or welded type)
Main Beam
Height:450mm-580mm Q354B steel
Side Beam
16mm-30mm “I” Steel
Ladder
Manually operated or Hydraulic type
Gooseneck
Hydraulic detachable gooseneck
Brake Chamber
WABCO (brake system)
Light
LED light
Voltage
24V
Surface Coating
Sandblasted, anti-rust chassis surface is available with 1 layer of anticorrosive primer and 2 layers of top coats.
50 T RGN Trailers
Dimension
11000mm-16000mm x 3000-3500mm x 1650 mm
Loading Capacity
40-50 T
Axle
13T BP/FUWA/Chinese brand
Rim
6.5-20/7.5-20/8.00-20/8.5-20
Suspension
Tri-axle Mechanical suspension or Air Suspension (BPW brand)
Tires
825, 1100, 1200R22.5
King Pin
JOST brand 2.0 or 3.5 inch (bolted or welded type)
Main Beam
Height:450mm-580mm Q354B steel
Side Beam
16mm-30mm “I” Steel
Ladder
Manually operated or Hydraulic type
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Gooseneck
Hydraulic detachable gooseneck
Brake Chamber
WABCO (brake system)
ABS
WABCO
Light
LED light
Voltage
24V
Surface Coating
Sandblasted, anti-rust chassis surface is available with 1 layer of anticorrosive primer and 2 layers of top coats.
80 T RGN Trailers
Dimension
11000mm-16000mm x 3000-3500mm x 1650 mm
Loading Capacity
60,70,80 T
Axle
13T, 16T, BP/FUWA/Chinese brand
Rim
6.5-20/7.5-20/8.00-20/8.5-20
Suspension
Four/Tri-axles Mechanical suspension or Air Suspension (BPW brand)
King Pin
JOST brand 2.0 or 3.5 inch (bolted or welded type)
Main Beam
Height:450mm-580mm Q354B/Q460 steel
Side Beam
16mm-30mm “I” Steel
Ladder
Manually operated or Hydraulic type
Gooseneck
Hydraulic detachable gooseneck
Tires
825, 1100, 1200R22.5
ABS
WABCO
Light
LED light
Voltage
24V
Surface Coating
Sandblasted, anti-rust chassis surface is available with 1 layer of anticorrosive primer and 2 layers of top coats.
2. The Lowboy Trailer Option
You will come across different names for this type of trailer: low-bed trailer, float or low loader, based on the region you are operating from. To understand more about this trailer type, it is very vital to know about its structure and capacity.
Just like other type of trailers, the Lowboy trailer was introduced back in the 1920s to address certain needs. The ability to have a trailer that is customized to suit your specific needs.
They usually are large enough to carry the tall cargo. Should your cargo exceed the legally set freight height, the lowboy trailer is the solution you need.
You will need this type of trailer to transport industrial machines such as bulldozers.
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2.1 Capabilities with a Lowboy Trailer
Why would you need the services of a lowboy trailer? It all depends on what you want to transport. Defined herein are some of the reasons that would make you consider going for a lowboy trailer.
Cargo Weight: The maximum freight weight for a standard lowboy trailer having two axles is 20-30 tons. However, any other with more than two axles can take up to 100 tons.
Dimension Considerations: The common length scope of lowboy trailer is between 8 and 14 meters. On part of the width, you can carry a load of 3 m. The permissible legal cargo height is set between 3.5 and 4 meters. The different countries have different standards. Therefore, be careful to check the requirements in your country.
You must have realized how important dimensions are to your operations. It is easy to pack and load your cargo when you have the legal dimensions with you.
This is the only way to gauge what you can possibly transport using a lowboy trailer.
3. RGN vs Lowboy Trailers: Marking the Difference
In your choice of a trailer for your transportation, your type of cargo is very much instrumental in guiding you. You can use these characteristics to match with the list of trailers available in the market.
Here are the main differences between a lowboy and an RGN trailer:
Gooseneck. Notable characteristics of an RGN are that it can be detached from the front unlike with a lowboy trailer. This feature has been provided in an RGN to enhance loading and offloading of cargo. The user has an easy time during such occasions. This is unlike for a lowboy trailer that load the cargo from rear.
Weight and Height Capacity. Weight and height considerations are some of the considerations to make in your choice of a trailer. If they are a concern for you, go for an RGN trailer. It is the best type to transport cargo that is heavy and tall especially when these two parameters exceed the standard set by the law. While a lowboy trailer can help you in such occasions, RGN can take relatively higher capacity and dimensions of cargo. Again, RGN trailers are more dedicated to this function more than the lowboy trailer. For standard cargo, you can go for a lowboy trailer. However, an RGN trailer may not be an economically feasible option.
Cost Implications. RGN trailers are usually costly than their lowboy trailer counterparts. In that case, the choice of investing in a more specialized hauler for heavy cargo would mean spending a lot more money than when going for a lowboy trailer. The enhanced capabilities that make an RGN trailer able to take up a 70 tons cargo compared to an 40 tons cargo comes with increased cost.
Loading With Lowboy trailers, you cannot lower it any further. That means you can’t work without auxiliary equipment for lifting cargo and loading it onto the trailer. For that matter, it will limit you to the type of cargo that you can carry on lowboy trailers. With RGN trailers, you don’t have to be worried about this since you can almost carry all types of cargo. It is possible to carry heavy motorized machinery since the trailer can be lowered to its ramp. The appropriate trailer to choose depends on the cargo type that you want to handle. There are different types of lowboy trailers and should you shy off from the RGN trailer due to cost, go for the best lowboy trailer available in the market.
Owing to these notable characteristics, the RGN trailer is Easy to load. Ideally, the RGN trailer can load from front unlike with a lowboy trailer. This capability enhances the efficiency of the RGN trailer over that of the lowboy trailer.
Stability is a very important factor during the loading, transportation and offloading of cargo. Due to its low center of gravity, the RGN is the most stable option. You would want this type of trailer when carry heavy load that needs some good balance during transportation. Stable operations not only make your job easier but also enhance your efficiency. You won’t have to compromise on travelling speeds because of stability issues. In the end, you will have done your transportation swiftly.
Number of Axles. Most of the common lowboy trailers that you will ever find in the market have two or three axles. For RGN trailers, they have 3 axles or 2 axle-lines commonly. Lowboy trailers can taken any cargo within the set legal freight weight hence are applicable in most industries. At times, you will have some cargo that needs special trailers and in such a case, the RGN trailers are the best option. These are the type of trailers to use in motor and construction industries. Any industry that uses heavy machinery has an extensive use of RGN trailers. This is more so due to their stability made possible by their low center of gravity. The ladder angle on an RGN trailer is far much better than that of a lowboy trailer.
Trailer Structure. The RGN trailer offers you with a more durable and strong structure compared to a lowboy trailer. Due to the detachable design of the gooseneck and the need for a lower working platform as provided by the RGN trailer option, high strength material with a rational design has been put in place. If you are looking for such qualities in a trailer, you got the answer with you.
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The Bottom Line
Buyers of trailers need to put much effort into research and studying the different options that exist in the market.
Purchasing a modular trailer is an expensive venture and you obviously do not want to throw away your hard-earned money.
Making the right decision must be informed by how much you understand the different types of trailers at your disposal. Each trailer comes with its ability to perform a certain function.
Get to know the differences of all these trailers based on the strength, loading capacity, cost and stability among other factors as listed in here. The differences between the RGN and the lowboy trailers have carefully been listed in here.
Now you know why and when you should choose a lowboy trailer over an RGN trailer.
These two types have notable differences that must be studied by anyone who is serious about making the right purchase of a trailer that will perfectly suit their needs.
These two trailer types are good for you if you have cargo weight and height concerns. However, the RGN trailer gives you maximum capacity for these two aspects.
Choose an RGN trailer if you want to easily load your cargo since this type can be detached and lowered to facilitate that.
In that lowered position, self-powered cargo like construction equipment can be driven on top of the trailer before it can be reattached back ready to transport it. This is a feature you won’t find with a lowboy trailer.
However, cost implications with the choice of an RGN may compel you to go for a lowboy trailer. The choice is pegged upon a number of factors and that includes cost too.
There you have it. Matters to do with functionality and cost seem inseparable in your choice of a good trailer. This is what you need to known when choosing between an RGN trailer and a Lowboy trailer.
References
The Difference between Removable Gooseneck Trailer and Folding Gooseneck Trailer
Low Bed Trailer Ultimate Guide – What is a Lowboy/Lowbed Trailer?
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