Heavy hauling is a serious task that requires careful consideration. When hauling heavy equipment or materials, it’s essential to use a heavy-duty trailer that is reliable, sturdy, and, above all, high quality. The best heavy-duty trailers are manufactured by reputable companies known for their quality and durability. Here are some helpful tips for choosing the best heavy-duty trailer for your needs.
Select the Right Size
As a driver, it’s crucial never to overload your trailer, as this can lead to tire blowouts or even structural damage. In the worst case, overloading can result in accidents. Selecting the appropriate size of heavy-haul trailer is essential for safety and efficiency. Choosing a trailer that is too small can be hazardous, while one that is too large may come with unneeded capacity and additional costs.
Consider Its Purpose
What is your primary reason for needing a heavy-duty trailer? Trailers for hauling vehicles or heavy equipment differ from those intended for materials. While many people seek a versatile trailer that covers all hauling needs, specific trailers are designed for particular types of loads. Key considerations include the quality of the D-rings, the dimensions and type of equipment you’ll be hauling, and spacing requirements.
Check Its Hauling Capacity
Heavy-duty trailers are rated based on their load and hauling capacity, making it vital to pay attention to this rating and the weight of what you’ll be hauling. This helps you select a trailer that fits your needs safely. Overloading can lead to cracks in the trailer’s frame and axles, which can eventually ruin the trailer and make it unsafe for use.
A Reliable Towing Vehicle
The towing vehicle you choose will significantly impact the type of trailer you need. If you have a larger vehicle with a high towing capacity, it will handle a bigger trailer and heavier loads. However, if your vehicle isn’t designed for hauling heavy loads, towing a large trailer could seriously damage its transmission and engine.
The Right Type of Hitch
An essential factor to consider is the type of hitch you’ll use for towing. There are several types of hitches, including front-mount, rear-receiver, fifth-wheel, and gooseneck hitches.
This choice is crucial, as some hitches are better suited for heavier loads than others. With a wide variety of hitches available on the market, it’s important to research and select the one that best meets your specific hauling needs.
Examine the Decking
For ease of loading and unloading, it’s beneficial to choose a trailer that can accommodate your cargo smoothly. When selecting a trailer, consider the type of decking it offers. Some trailers come with tilt and fixed decks, which are ideal for hauling heavy equipment, as they allow easy loading and securement. These trailer types are commonly used in general construction and landscaping.
Select the Right Frame
The trailer’s frame type is another critical factor when choosing heavy-duty trailers. Options include tilt and gooseneck trailers, as well as utility and flatbed trailers. Some frame types may be better suited to your needs than others.
For example, if you’re hauling materials that need to be dumped, a side dump trailer would be ideal. Industries such as demolition, mining, road building, construction, and agriculture frequently use these trailers.
What is Heavy Hauling?
Heavy hauling is a specialized service provided by trucking companies, where a trucker moves overweight or oversized loads using specialized trailers. A cargo qualifies as heavy haul if it exceeds the standard dimensions for items typically transported by truck. Heavy-haul cargo can include anything from airplane parts to agricultural and construction equipment.
Heavy hauling plays a vital role across various industries, and finding a skilled driver for this task is essential. Moving heavy loads requires an experienced, steady hand, as it’s a complex and demanding job.
How to Determine If You Need a Heavy Haul
As stated above, a heavy load is any cargo that is oversized and exceeds standard limits. While regulations vary from state to state, a heavy load generally weighs more than 80,000 pounds and measures over 53 feet in length, 13.6 feet in height, and 8.6 feet in width.
For extremely tall materials or equipment, it’s best to use specialized trailers, such as double-drop, removable gooseneck, lowboy, or step deck trailers. Each of these is designed for oversized loads, though they differ in the types of cargo they can handle. Heavy hauling is commonly used for transporting construction equipment like the following:
- Bulldozers: Bulldozers are large, heavy machines that require a heavy-haul trailer for transport. Their substantial width and tens of thousands of pounds make them challenging to move without a specialized trailer designed to handle this cargo.
- Cranes: Cranes are another type of oversized construction equipment requiring heavy-haul trailers. Aside from their size, cranes have an awkward shape, making transportation difficult. A specialized trailer is essential to move cranes from storage to a construction site safely.
- Dump Trucks: Frequently used in construction, dump trucks haul and dump materials, making them in high demand. Due to their weight and shape, they qualify as heavy hauls and require a specialized trailer that can handle their bulk and unusual dimensions.
- Backhoes: Resembling cranes, backhoes are heavy and awkwardly shaped, often used for excavation. Their size and design complexity make transporting them challenging, requiring a specialized trailer for safe movement.
Van Raden Industries LLC specializes in the manufacture and repair of heavy-haul vehicle trailers. For inquiries, contact us at 800-522-0099 / 360-314-4965 or email wvanraden@aol.com.
