Heavy Haulers Daily Blog

Conestoga trailer pulled by a red semi truck

Everything You Need to Know About Conestoga Trailers

Conestoga trailers are sometimes known as “Curtainside” trailers. A Conestoga trailer is a specialized trailer segment designed and constructed with strength, versatility, security, and protection from external elements in mind. They are equipped with a retractable tarping system that spans their deck length. Conestoga trailers are designed and used in shipping large loads. Most of them have a maximum freight weight limit of 42,000 to 45,000 pounds. Larger trailers are between 48′ and 53′ long, 8’2″ wide, and 8′ high. Since they are specialty trailers, Conestoga trailers may take longer to acquire, so it’s always best to call ahead.

A Conestoga trailers are excellent for hauling playground equipment to sophisticated machinery and even oversize construction equipment transport. They are mostly used to ship items that cannot be transported on dry vans or other container-based trailers due to their sizes and handling considerations. Here are the features of a typical Conestoga trailer:

Rear Bows – They increase the trailer’s stability and enhance smooth rolling.

Penalized Tarp – It is used to cover the aluminum bows

Uplift Bows – The maximize the trailers inside clearance

Front Bows – They increase the trailer’s stability and ensure the smooth running of the tarp

Bulkheads – They enhance the strength, security, and stability of the load and the truck drivers.

Rear Ends – they are equipped with an exclusive locking mechanism and are operated from the ground.

While Conestoga is a special trailer, it does not require any unique maintenance besides the regular grease-fitting lubrication for the rear locks and inspection of the clap assemblies. All the same, the driver should perform a thorough load inspection before opening. They should also ensure that the tarp is well-tensioned. Any issues identified during the inspection should always be corrected before they develop into further damages. That is why it would be best to leave such operations to the expert companies such as Heavy Haulers. These companies are well equipped with state-of-the-art Conestoga trailers to help you move your goods safely and conveniently. This saves you the extra cost of hiring this equipment or purchasing your own, which comes with additional maintenance and repair costs.

If you do not need to ship your load in an enclosed space, you can go for any open deck trailers, such as flatbed and drop deck trailers. These trailers are readily available. In fact, you can find companies that can pick up and deliver your load one day after engaging them. Besides, the shipping costs incurred when transporting your load with open deck trailers are much lower compared to shipping with a Conestoga trailer.

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