If you’re wondering what a double drop trailer is, we may be able to help you learn all about them. Double drop trailers (sometimes referred to as a lowboy or RGN) is a specialized trailer that has many very unique capabilities. The deck design on double-drop trailers is unique, meaning it’s low to the ground and specifically meant to service the oversize and overweight (heavy-haul) trucking industry. One of the advantages of double drop trailers is that they are capable of shipping items that are excessive in height and that otherwise may require a special oversize trucking permit to be transported. That means transportation costs will be higher to ship the item successfully. However, thanks to the double-drop trailer transporting machinery and excessive items in height are cheaper to perform. This review will cover double-drop trailer dimensions, axle spacings, axle groups, weights, accessories, and much more, so let’s check it out in detail!
Learning Double Drop Trailer Basics
Be smart and safe, and know what you’re doing before shipping your load on a double-drop trailer. Understand all state laws, regulations, rules, and limitations before shipping your load on a double-drop trailer. Regulations in each state vary, and you should thoroughly research them before moving any load. Oversized and heavy-haul loads require specialized trucking permits. Refer to your state-issued permit for any discrepancies.
Note: It should be clear that any weights or dimensions listed below are an example only, so you can learn about double drop trailers.
- Empty weight: refers to the actual weight of the semi-truck and the double drop trailer.
- Item weight: refers to the actual weight of the item being shipped. Generally speaking, a double-drop trailer can ship from 41,000 to 43,000 pounds maximum legally without obtaining a heavy-haul trucking permit.
- Overall weight: refers to the weight of everything combined. That includes the weight of the semi-truck, the double drop trailer, and the item loaded. The maximum gross weight of any combination must not exceed 80,000 pounds (GVW). Otherwise, the shipment will have to obtain a heavy-haul trucking permit from each state where the item will be transported. When overweight items are being shipped, extra axles are required to spread the item’s weight over a larger distance, so its footprint on the road is still the same as a legal shipment under 80,000 pounds. The exception to this general rule is road bridges. Therefore, all heavy-haul shipments transported over bridges must comply with the federal bridge formula to ensure safety.
Heavy-haul loads: When a load exceeds the overall maximum allowed weight or axle group weight limits set forth by the state’s regulations, a special heavy-haul (overweight) trucking permit must be purchased from the state transported in. Heavy-haul trucking permits usually cost more than a basic oversize trucking permit.
Accessories Used With Double Drop Trailers
Quite a few double drop trailer accessories are available to make loading/unloading easier and protect the item that is being transported. In many cases, the owner of the double drop trailer may add ramps to the trailer, thus making it easier and quicker to load/unload items like farming equipment or dozers, loaders, backhoes, scrapers, or any specialized equipment with tracks or wheels. One of the most popular accessories is tarps. Tarps protect items that are being shipped and can cut down on the possibility of damage. Keeping insurance claims to a minimum is always a brilliant idea.
Double-drop Trailers With Additional Axles
Heavy equipment shipping is a demand that is increasing. As we grow, so do our capabilities which usually means larger equipment. As you can see in our illustration above 5, axle double-drop trailers are in demand these days, and the owner of one with the right customers can have a 5-axle double-drop combination running team drivers pretty much year-round.
