Rigid vs rgn

We are in the process of moving up from a 160 to a 200-250 size excavator. We do a lot of residential, so access can be tricky. What setup is best, rigid or rgn trailer? Would like to haul multiple pieces of equipment at times . As well

For that size of machine, I would still stick with a rigid. Detaching neck is way too slow and difficult in residential areas. BWS, Arne's make nice units with air flip ramps and beavertails which are better suited then a regular lowboy that isn't great for loading smaller equipment.

rgn you can get 2 pieces of equipment on

It seems like rigids have more deck space. I am in kansas, 34 k on rears, can I scale a 56k machine with 2 axles or do I need 3?

treemover said:

It seems like rigids have more deck space. I am in kansas, 34 k on rears, can I scale a 56k machine with 2 axles or do I need 3?

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You’ll need three. Depending on trailer it will be 16,000-20,000lbs. Tractor could be anywhere from 15,000-20,000.

There are hard to find used, but 45' triaxle hydraulic dovetail trailer works slick.

treemover said:

It seems like rigids have more deck space. I am in kansas, 34 k on rears, can I scale a 56k machine with 2 axles or do I need 3?

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Unless you’re going to end up 24k empty you’ll need a permit to haul 56k. You’d need one for size anyway. Might as well get a KS annual. If your machine weights 56k that’s all you’ll be able to carry on a permit. Can’t permit an overweight created by multiple machines as they see it as divisible load. I agree a 3 axle with a hydraulic dovetail would be ideal.

That being said...with a 200 class or bigger hoe I’d rather side load than crawl up a dovetail if I was in tight quarters.

hvy 1ton said:

There are hard to find used, but 45' triaxle hydraulic dovetail trailer works slick.

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They are nice but $$$. Trailer is pricey, wet kit on truck, and the extra weight adds up. I don't even think you'd get 56k on one legally with tandem truck and tridem trailer. I've loaded on one once, I still prefer my tilt deck with ramps and beavertail, it's a quicker and safer load.

Junkyard said:

Unless you’re going to end up 24k empty you’ll need a permit to haul 56k. You’d need one for size anyway. Might as well get a KS annual. If your machine weights 56k that’s all you’ll be able to carry on a permit. Can’t permit an overweight created by multiple machines as they see it as divisible load. I agree a 3 axle with a hydraulic dovetail would be ideal.

That being said...with a 200 class or bigger hoe I’d rather side load than crawl up a dovetail if I was in tight quarters.

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Side loading doesn't work in residential areas here. Most of the time unloading on side road and walking down the alley, or spanning the ramps/beavertail over the sidewalk if going in the front. The thing I like about the beavertail/ramp setup is a much better angle to load then a RGN with that really short steep beavertail that can be sketchy if mud or ice is involved. I can walk my 200 up with iced up tracks on a icy deck and not even flinch because the angle is so shallow and there is virtually no break over point.

This is the kind of trailer i'd buy. Same as what I have, just mine is a tag tilt deck. 9'6" wide so good for a wider hoe, only 42' long so lots of deck space but will get into tight areas.

suladas said:

They are nice but $$$. Trailer is pricey, wet kit on truck, and the extra weight adds up. I don't even think you'd get 56k on one legally with tandem truck and tridem trailer. I've loaded on one once, I still prefer my tilt deck with ramps and beavertail, it's a quicker and safer load.

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56k payload on six axles in KS is no sweat.

If you are not planning going up in machine size anytime soon I vote tri acle dove tail

I move my 314 on a tandem dove tail its fast you can reach across a sidewalks and other things you dont want track across and handy for any other equipment you want to move

Junkyard said:

56k payload on six axles in KS is no sweat.

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You could here with a traditional trailer, but not with a wet kit and a hydraulic dovetail. I had my 210 hauled on one, and with 1 extra bucket it was just legal and it only weights 51000 with extra bucket and it was only 9' wide. IMO for a 10'6" machine being hauled all the time, you want 9'6" deck.

We haul a PC200-10 Komatsu on a tandem fixed with ramps. It’s like a paved style trailer so the angle isn’t bad but I still don’t like the break over when loading. As said can be sketchy if wet or muddy. We basically won’t load in those conditions. That’s where an RGN shines but we work in the woods mostly and they’re not good for getting into steep or hilly areas because of the very low ground clearance. A traveling axle trailer is the best scenario imho but expensive

Do you really need a 250 size machine to dig basements? IMO If you can work it out to haul on 2 axles you are better off. Don't forget that 3 axle trailer itself is quite a bit heavier as well.

I had a 50 ton tri-axle belly dragger with flip ramps for years. I absolutely hated that trailer as there were two break over points on every load or unload. The day I slid the excavator off sideways, 15 minutes after getting the belly stuck in the highway while loaded, I still had to load out in the same spot with better results on the second try. After that, I learned to loathe that trailer with a contempt I've never had for anything else. At over 36" to the ground, the sideways drop was an unforgettable smack down and it was hard on the hoe.

I then moved to a 50 ton Dynaweld NGB RGN that I ran for many years. The belly would lift up over 60" to clear RR tracks and other high obstacles. The hookup was fast and easy every time. If I was to ever slide off sideways, it was only 12" to ground. I never had any problems getting into areas that were any worse than what the shorter belly dragger got into.

Just my opinion and experiences but no one would ever convince me of anything less than an RGN if I was to ever purchase another lowboy. I dislike loading onto high trailers. These days, I just call someone to move my bigger stuff and that is almost always an RGN. It was not cost effective for my business model to keep the big semi on the road so I sold both pieces.

You just need to figure out what works best for your location and what any safety is worth.

I feel the same way and if we keep our rig I’ll get an rgn. Every time we load our excavator on our rigid I feel like we got away with something. Ours isn’t 3’ of the ground but it’s pretty high. I’ve never measured it. We have 8.25x15 wheels/tires on it. I bet it’s at least 30” I’m going to measure it next time I can lol

It's not the height of the deck, it's the loading angle. I would rather load a hoe on a 10' high deck with a 10 degree angle then 2' high deck with a 45 degree angle.

I don't think i've ever seen a company moving a 200 hoe on a RGN that owns the equipment and truck. Anyone who runs a RGN it's either bigger stuff, or a trucking company hired to move it. It's just a odd pairing.

I use to load my 225 Deere on a 8'6" wide stepdeck, beavertail was about 4' ramps and 4', was probably about 45 degree angle. THAT was sketchy and nearly went off the side once when it was icy.

Even slight angles have break over lol. Ours is minimal with long ramps but at the Break over u just don’t have any control really. Like I said before we don’t load when it’s wet and I couldn’t even imagine loading an icy one. I’m older now 64 and I’m skeered hehe. Been loading and unloading equipment and driving trucks most of my life. In my teens ida drove up anything wide open and never thought about it. Funny how u learn what will hurt hehe

southernman13 said:

I feel the same way and if we keep our rig I’ll get an rgn. Every time we load our excavator on our rigid I feel like we got away with something. Ours isn’t 3’ of the ground but it’s pretty high. I’ve never measured it. We have 8.25x15 wheels/tires on it. I bet it’s at least 30” I’m going to measure it next time I can lol

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I use a rgn but do not have to be in residential areas, and I have the truck and trailer for other equipment.

If using a tilt bed or other deck, what about adding steel guides, so it forces the hoe centered and can’t slip sideways?