Types of Heavy Haul Trailers

In a world that boasts some of the largest and heaviest pieces of equipment, there’s a special breed of truck known as a heavy haul trailer to transport it. There are several types of heavy haul trailers and knowing about each of them will help you determine which one you need.

Stronghold Trucking is here to offer you or your business the expertise you require to get the job done.

What is a heavy haul trailer?

You likely have seen heavy haul trailers while driving down the highway. These special trailers attach to big semi-trucks and carry oversize loads that are usually preceded by a normal vehicle, usually a pick-up truck carrying a warning for other drivers to prepare for what’s coming. Without these trailers, the transportation of oversize loads would be more difficult, if not impossible.

Heavy haul trailers have several wheelsets known as axles that help categorize them. The more sets a heavy haul trailer has, the higher the capacity it can carry. A heavy haul trailer can have as few as 5 axle splits or as many as 19 or more depending on what you need to transport.

What do heavy haul trailers haul?

Again, heavy haul trailers are built to carry the heaviest and largest of loads, and you’ve likely seen them on the road several times. Some types of loads a heavy haul trailer carries include:

  • Homes
  • Cranes
  • Timber
  • Boats
  • Planes
  • Boilers
  • Piping
  • Agricultural equipment
  • Mining equipment
  • Turbines
  • Wind energy equipment
  • Excavators

Of course, this is just a sample list as heavy haul trailers can transport just about anything. The most common that you have probably seen is a trailer carrying a double-wide trailer home. Because of heavy haul trailers, we can build or move heavy loads just about anywhere. But there are different types of heavy haul trailers for different transportation purposes.

What are the different types of heavy haul trailers?

There are different types of heavy haul trailers to choose from that can handle different load sizes and weights.

  • Flatbed Trailer

One of the most common types of heavy haul trailers on the road today is the flatbed trailer. Flatbeds, as the name makes pretty plain, are flat surfaces featuring no sides or railings so they can accommodate all kinds of freight. For longer loads such as piping or lumber, you can use a stretch flatbed. These trailers can carry a maximum of 48,000 pounds.

  • Lowboy Trailer

Capable of carrying up to 40,000 pounds, a lowboy trailer features two drops in the height deck, which hangs lower to the ground, hence the name. Because of this feature, lowboy trailers can carry loads that are 12 feet in height and they are perfect for hauling heavy equipment such as bulldozers.

  • Dual Lane Trailer

Dual lane trailers are for the heaviest and widest of loads, which is why they are most suitable for hauling turbines, generators, and industrial pumps as well as other massive equipment that smaller trailers cannot carry. These trailers often feature more than 19 axles and can haul up to 360,000 pounds.

  • Gooseneck Trailer

Gooseneck trailers feature a detachable front and a bottom that can lower into a ramp, making it quite a versatile trailer. They can haul up to 42,000 pounds or more if you use a stretch gooseneck trailer.

  • Step-Deck Trailer

Another common type of heavy haul trailer is the step-deck trailer, which is basically a flatbed with a bottom and top level. Step-deck trailers feature a ramp for easy loading and are capable of transporting weights up to 48,000 pounds. The types of loads these trailers carry are usually construction equipment such as cranes.

  • Stretch Single and Double Drop Trailers

These trailers can stretch up to 65 feet and are perfect for carrying the longest of loads such as piping and lumber. They can also carry a weight of 45,000 pounds.

What are the trailer types sizes of long-haul trailers?

Long-haul trailers come in several different lengths including 24 feet, 40 feet, 45 feet, 48 feet, and 53 feet. The most common is a flatbed trailer that is 48 feet long. The legal maximum height and width are usually 8.5 feet, but special accommodations can be made for taller and wider loads.

How do you calculate the capacity of a heavy haul trailer?

Calculating the capacity of a heavy haul trailer involves five key components to take into account.

  • Size and weight of materials you want to haul
  • The overall weight the trailer can carry
  • Area of the deck that can carry the loads
  • Travel speed
  • Safety

Every trailer is different so take care to figure out the carrying capacity of each one before making a choice.

What are the safety precautions and regulations for heavy haul trailers?

Because of their size and the weight they are carrying on the road, heavy haul trailers can be hazardous, and that’s why there are several safety precautions as well as federal and state regulations.

  • Oversize permits and route plans may be necessary to accommodate transport.
  • A pilot vehicle that drives ahead of the trailer may be necessary to alert other drivers.
  • Federal bridge weight requirements limit how heavy a load can be for a trailer to pass over it.
  • Overpass height requirements prevent taller loads from passing under the overpass.

There are also federal maximum weights on highways, width regulations, and other requirements to consider.

Contact Stronghold Trucking

Stronghold Trucking offers repair services for heavy haul trailers. We have the skills and expertise to repair just about any problem with your trailer so you can get back on the road as soon as possible.


Our services include:

  • Hitches, pins and coupler repairs
  • Wiring harness installation and repairs
  • Fifth wheel hitches and tow bars
  • Lights and strobe installation
  • Welding and fabrication
  • Toolboxes, accessories and supplies
  • Preventative maintenance services
  • Diesel engine diagnostics and repair
  • HVAC diagnostic and repairs
  • Frame/rust repair
  • Transmission and PTO
  • Suspension and steering
  • Body repair
  • Brakes
  • NYS state inspection
  • Rust repair
  • Electrical systems and controls
  • Full machine shop
  • Mobile welding, maintenance, and repair trucks

Stronghold Trucking proudly serves Westchester County, Putnam County, Dutchess County, Orange County, and the New York City Metropolitan area. To contact us, call our office at 914-235-8280 or visit our website today!

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