Lighter Combo Flatbed Trailer: More Pounds Back for Your Payload
When you’re running a flatbed fleet, extra trailer weight means less revenue.
Every extra pound built into your trailer is a pound you can’t put on the deck. For flatbed fleets, that directly affects payload capacity and earning potential. Multiply that across loads, weeks, and an entire fleet, and the lost revenue adds up fast.
That’s why we reengineered the Freedom combo flatbed trailer to remove a little over 200 pounds, creating a lighter-weight flatbed trailer without compromising the strength and durability your operation depends on.
“We listened to our customers who wanted weight reduction on their combo trailers. By refining the design on several key features, our engineers removed 200 pounds from the trailer, making it an even lighter option that brings together the best of both worlds – delivering significant weight savings while preserving the strength and durability our customers rely on,” said Mark Spain, Design Engineering Manager for Great Dane.
Before you take a closer look at the design improvements that helped reduce our combo flatbed trailer weight, want to check out our interactive model highlighting our flatbed features that deliver safety and performance? Start here.
3 Design Improvements That Reduced Flatbed Trailer Weight
Mark explains what our engineers focused on and the results of reducing significant weight on our combo trailer without compromising strength or performance. Take just a minute to listen in.
As Mark explained, the weight reduction provides more payload – and our rigorous testing proved that strength wasn’t sacrificed.
Our engineering team redesigned three high-impact structural areas:
- Siderail: Redesigned to remove excess material while reinforcing high-stress areas, reducing weight without sacrificing side impact durability.
- Crossmembers: Redistributed stress more efficiently, allowing material reduction while preserving load performance.
- Upper coupler: We analyzed the stresses in the upper coupler assembly and strategically repositioned material, achieving weight savings while maintaining its integrity.
Lighter Specs: Multiply Your Weight Savings
Weight reduction doesn’t stop at the frame. Strategic spec decisions can compound your gains.
Consider these options:
- Flooring: An aluminum floor is significantly lighter than traditional wood, offering durability without density.
- Wheels: Aluminum wheels are generally 20-25% lighter than steel wheels or opt for wide-base super single tires that reduce rolling resistance and weight.
- Suspension: Choosing a combo instead of a steel trailer or fixed suspension instead of a sliding suspension can also save weight. If your operation doesn’t require the variability of a slider, a fixed suspension offers a leaner profile.
When combined with the structural weight reduction, these spec choices can meaningfully increase your total payload capacity.
Talk with our team about how our Freedom combo can make a difference for your operation.
Looking for immediate availability? Take a look at pre-owned and new Freedom flatbeds that are in stock and ready to roll.