Different trailer types are built to fulfill different purposes. If you are moving large and heavy goods, you need to use the right low bed trailer. There is one type of trailer you have likely seen hauling construction equipment and industrial machinery - the lowboy trailer. Here’s a quick guide on lowboy trailers to learn everything you need to know about low bed trailers, what they’re used for, and how to find the best one to meet all your hauling needs.

What Is a Low Bed Trailer?

A low bed trailer is a semi-trailer with two drops in deck height: one right after the gooseneck and one right before the wheels.

This allows the deck to be extremely low compared with other trailers. That means the tail end of the lowboy trailer sits above the well but remains lower than its front. This is why low bed trailers are also referred to as double drops, lowboy, low loaders, or floaters.

The Difference Between Lowboy And Standard Trailers

Most obviously, low bed trailers are lower to the ground compared to standard trailers. As a result, low bed trailers come with a double-level drop system wherein they have two drops in deck height rather than a standard height across the whole length of the trailer.

What Is a Lowboy Trailer Used For?

Low bed trailers are commonly used to transport heavy machinery such as bulldozers, excavators, backhoe loaders, and other heavy equipment. Some items that cannot be transported on a flatbed trailer can often be transported on a low bed trailer.

The deck of a low bed trailer can be lowered to near ground level, so oversized items, such as heavy machinery can be loaded onto a low bed trailer more easily. Depending on the style of trailer chosen, oversized items can be loaded from the front or the back.

Some low bed trailers are operated using a hydraulic system that uses a hydraulic ram to lift the trailer to meet the unit after it has been loaded. Semi-trucks tow low bed trailers, which are equipped with air brakes.

Advantages of Low Bed Trailer Transport

Stability

The low deck of a low-bed trailer means that the trailer has a low center of gravity. They are more stable than other types of trailers when transporting heavy or oversized loads.

Safety

Low bed trailers are designed to carry heavy and oversized loads that would otherwise be dangerous in other types of trailers. Large and heavy loads can be loaded and unloaded with relative ease.

Versatility

Low-bed trailers can carry not only heavy loads but also extra-wide loads. Heavy industrial and construction equipment is often extensive. Almost any type of cargo can be handled within the load range of a low-bed trailer.

Compliance with height and weight restrictions

Some countries and regions have laws that regulate the height of cargo that can be transported by road. Low-bed trailers allow carriers to transport oversized loads without violating applicable laws. Compared to a regular flatbed trailer, a low-bed trailer is designed so that it is very close to the ground. This makes it most suitable for transporting cargoes that are incredibly tall.

    Contact Us To Learn More    

Different types of Low Bed Trailers

There are several kinds of lowboy trailers. The three main types of lowboy trailers are:

• Fixed gooseneck lowboy (FGN)

• Fixed neck lowboy

• Removable gooseneck lowboy (RGN)

Fixed gooseneck low bed trailers with drop-down decks are easy to load from the back. The gooseneck itself can be reconnected to keep items on the trailer loaded smoothly.

Fixed neck low bed trailers is attached to the trailer. This makes them a lightweight option. The fixed style means they cannot be loaded from the front.

Removable gooseneck lowboys (RGNs) are heavy-duty haulers. RGNs can have as many as 20 axles giving them the power to carry as much as 200 tons of cargo. They come in handy when the cargo needs to be pulled, pushed, rolled, or driven onto the trailer bed. You may also load bulkier, heavier items from above if need be. RGNs are also known as detachable gooseneck lowboys.

Removable gooseneck lowboys have two main types: hydraulically removable goosenecks and mechanically removable goosenecks. Hydraulic removable goosenecks use hydraulic cylinders to adjust height and separation, but the hydraulic system requires additional maintenance.