With legal dimensions in mind here are factors to consider when choosing between a step deck trailer or flatbed.
Step deck trailer height from ground.
This is up over the 8 6 maximum height on a standard flatbed.
Step or drop height the step or drop of the trailer is the transition height from the upper deck at the front to the lower deck.
A typical flatbed trailer is 5 feet above the ground meaning freight cannot exceed 8 feet 6 inches in height.
Height 8 5 feet 102 step deck trailer.
It s important to point out that a step deck s trailer dimensions can vary on factors like make and model tire sizes etc.
48 to 53 feet top deck is 11 feet long width.
Generally step deck trailers can haul taller loads than flatbed trailers and often have ramps for unloading.
This first graphic explains the step deck trailer dimensions.
Using a double drop trailer or what some call a lowboy you can increase that max height up to 11 6.
Also known as a single drop trailer the step deck flatbed has a lowered deck.
On a standard step deck trailer you can load up to a max of 10 high calculating from the lower deck.
43 000 lbs why use it.
Upper deck and lower deck that drops down after clearing the tractor unit.
60 inch top deck and 42 inch bottom deck weight capacity.
Commodity height the advantage of a step deck over a flatbed trailer is that the commodity height of a step deck can legally haul heights of 10 and sometimes more.
8 feet 6 inches deck height.
Step deck trailer or drop deck trailer is an open type of trailer with two deck levels.
This allows the step deck to haul loads that are too tall to be transported with a conventional flatbed trailer and still require a 30 to 42.