Things to Consider When Buying a Flat Deck Trailer

 If towing is something new to you it can be quite overwhelming since there are different types of trailer designs to choose from. One of the most versatile and therefore most commonly used trailers are flat deck trailers. These trailers are used to transport heavy loads especially in the mining, agriculture, and construction industry but you can see them being used in the forestry and the oil & gas industry too. Flat trailers offer better stability since they have a low centre of gravity and they are also extremely versatile too when it comes to the shape of the load. Basically, a flat deck trailer is one that has nothing on the sides or on top giving you the most amount of space. You just get a platform to put your items on.

Finding the Correct Flat Deck Trailer

Size

The first and most important property of a flat deck trailer is the size of the cargo you'll be hauling daily. The size of the cargo is a factor that determines every feature found on a flat deck trailer Australia wide. No matter what a flat deck trailer is made of it needs to be able to accommodate the size of the items you're be hauling or it won't be useful for you.

Capacity

The load capacity of a flat deck trailer is determined by the size of the load you'll be towing. Usually the bigger the load the heavier it is going to be and the heavier it is the higher the load capacity the trailer needs to have in order to support it. But you must also keep in mind the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of your truck. The higher the capacity of the trailer the heavier it will be and both the capacity and it shouldn't go over your vehicle's GVWR.

Axles

The axles or rather the axle configuration is also important when it comes to flat deck trailers as it determines whether or not your trailer is legal. There might be some laws regarding the type of axle configuration you need to have on your trailer as well as the support it provides for the cargo and the type of wheel assembly you get for your trailer. The axles need to be compatible with the type of wheels you have on your trailer.

Tires

For safety reasons you also need to have the correct tires on a flat deck trailer. You may think that a single tire system flat deck trailer Austalia wide may be good enough for you but the government may not think that way. Make sure you follow local regulations in this case. 

Durability

The better the build quality of a flat deck trailer the longer it will last you. The build quality of flat deck trailers depends on the materials used to manufacture the platform as well as the axles. Usually, steel is considered is a strong material but aluminium can be used too as it is long-lasting due to its naturally occurring anti-corrosive properties.

Loading a Flat Deck Trailer

Weight

When loading a flat deck trailer you need to first ensure that you don't go over its load-carrying capacity. The weight of the cargo is crucial for the safety of the trip. So make sure to check out the tongue weight, axle weight rating, road weight limits, and equipment weight alongside the weight of the trailer and truck towing weight. Even if the cargo doesn't reach the limit of your trailer's capacity you then need to secure the load so that it doesn't fall off when driving, especially at high speeds.

Positioning Load

1. To secure the load you need to first position it properly. You'll want to load the heaviest items first as they need to be closed to the bottom to prevent any sway. Make sure that you also spread out the weight of the load evenly between the axles.

2. It's best to have the load more centred more to the front as it makes for a safer ride and one that you can handle more easily. In this case, you should watch out not to overload the tongue. If you need to pile up items then make sure the lightest items are sitting at the top.

3. Once you're done positioning the load use chains and/ or tie-downs to secure the items. Double-check all the straps and chains when done secure the load and then get ready to do some additional checks before you get hauling.

Check

The final checks are in regards to the load and tires too. When you secure all the items you need to check them for shifting. If the items shift a bit it can be dangerous when on the road. In this case, you need to re-tighten the tie downs and chains and check them once again.

Once the tie downs and chains are well-placed check the tires of the trailer. Make sure they are not worn out and that there is no damage to them before you take off. In case a tire is damaged and doesn't have enough tread on it then make sure to replace it with a new one. Not having enough tire tread means not having enough grip which is especially important when towing heavy loads.