Lowboy Trailers

Lowboy trailers were invented in the 1920s and are unpowered trailers commonly used in hauling and transporting taller goods and items. These trailers usually haul items that are taller than the legal height of items that can be carried by flatbeds and are usually industrial equipment like bulldozers.

A lowboy (low-loader in British English, low-bed in western Canada and South Africa, or float in Australia) is a semi-trailer with two drops in deck height: one right after the gooseneck and one right before the wheels. This makes the deck sit very low compared to other trailers. It allows a truck to carry legal loads up to 12 ft. tall, which other trailers cannot. Lowboys are used to haul heavy equipment such as industrial equipment, bulldozers, etc.

Maximum Dimensions of a Lowboy Trailer:
Maximum freight weight 40,000 pounds (with two axles) and up to 80,000 pounds with extra axles
Maximum well length 24 ft. to 29.6 ft.
Maximum well height 18 in. to 24 in.
Maximum legal width 8.5 ft.
Maximum legal freight height 11.5 ft. to 12 ft.
Maximum legal overall load height 14 ft.

RGN Trailers

Removable gooseneck trailers are commonly found on flatbed trailers called lowboys. A removable gooseneck hitch is detachable, allowing for swapping rigs.

There are multiple types of detachable goosenecks, including ones with hydraulic lifters called hydraulic RGNs or HRGNs, as well as standard mechanical RGNs (or MRGNs). MRGNs are usually preferred on longer trips since they don’t require an extensive detachment process. They are ideal for heavy hauls since they are lighter than their hydraulic counterparts. There is less overall weight on the trailer’s frame and tires, which means less drag and less fuel expense, increased breaking time and more.

Most standard RGN trailers are used for transporting heavy haul equipment, machinery, or large vehicles. This type of trailer will range from 48’ to 53’ in length.

Here are some stats on RGNs:

 

Maximum RGN Hauling Capacity: 150,000 lbs.
Maximum (Legal) Freight Hauling Dimensions:
Front Deck 10’ 7” Long x 8’ 5” Wide (102”) x High 8’ 5” (102”)
Main Deck 30’ Long x 8’5” Wide x 11’8” (102”) High (142”) with a Main Deck ground clearance of 15” to 24”
Rear Deck 9’ Long x 8’ 5” Wide (102”) x 10’ High (120”) and can expand to 13’6” Long
Description 2 axles, 3 axles, 4 axles and trunnion axle with booster
Size 26’, 28’ and 30’ well; 102” and 10’ wide; deck inserts up to 42’ total flat deck
Configurations 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9 axles
Models 35,40,45,50,55,70, and 85 ton
Setups 8’6” wide and 10’ wide with 8tire and 16tire
Deck heights 20” – 26”
Deck lengths 26’, 27’, 28’, 29’, 30’ (40’ and 42’ includes 10’ and 15’ deck insert)

Potential Capabilities

Lowboys and RGNs are great for quite a few applications. Some loads can only be shipped on these trailers, while for others, it simply makes things easier. Large concentrated weight loads, heavy equipment, oilfield equipment, crates, and cargo all benefit from the use of these trailers. The hydraulic removable neck is great for drive-on loads, reels, and OD commercial machinery, as well as presses and shears.