Flatbed Trailer and Flatbed ManufacturerA flatbed trailer is manufactured with no roof, doors or walls permanently installed. Sometimes they are referred to as platform trailers. Often they haul freight that is difficult to load through rear doors like on a dry van trailer. Some flatbeds are made of steel. Some are made of aluminum, and some are combos. Combo flatbeds use steel main beams and across members. The side rails and floors are made from aluminum. Flatbeds also have what is known as a nail strip usually made out of api-tong. A very dense hardwood. Some trailer manufacturers offer a less expensive alternative wood. I would recommend sticking to the api-tong. Installation is usually double the cost of the wood. More than the amount you save on the lower quality wood will be spent on replacing it in about 3 years. Usually there are two nail strips but you can spec up to four nail strips. Some hardcore old school-er's stand firm by their all steel skateboards. However, where freight is paid by the ton weight and fuel is as volatile as the drivers who pull them, weight savings makes an all aluminum platform trailer king. Some will be tempted to pull a combo. Don't do it. If you are tempted to buy a combo here is one sure fire way to change your mind. Find yourself a combo trailer that is at least 5 years old. The easiest place to look is where the main beam meets the rear bolster. That my friend, is where electrolysis meets DOT shut down. You see steel and aluminum are dissimilar metals. Metals that are not alike corrode when exposed to each other along with moisture and oxygen. Yes they make Mylar tape and yes it does work. The problem is that most combo manufacturers skimp out on the good stuff and use what I think amounts to packing tape or some type of paint process they claim will prevent electrolysis. Why risk it. All aluminum flatbeds are manufactured by at least five different trailer manufacturers. Most if not all aluminum trailer manufacturers have at least one trailer capable of hauling heavier loads than all steel or any combo flatbed. My experience has been that all aluminum flatbed trailers are easier to maintain and have a lower cost of ownership. What makes flatbeds the most exciting are all of the customization accessories you can add to your flatbed trailer. All aluminum flatbed trailer manufacturers
Combo or all steel faltbed trailer manufacturer
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