A lowboy is a semi-trailer truck with a deck that has two drops in height, the first after the goose-neck and the second after the wheels. These trucks are used to transport a wide variety of heavy equipment, machinery and other items both short and long distances, including large factory machinery, shipping containers and earth-moving equipment.
There many benefits to using a transport company that operates a fleet of lowboys, especially if they’re a well-established company that provides excellent customer service and can advise you on your transportation requirements.
The Benefits of Low Loaders
Lowboys, also known as low loaders, are used by a wide range of businesses with heavy equipment and machinery that needs transporting. Here are some of the items of equipment that can be transported by heavy transportation companies.
- Earthmoving equipment
- Factory machinery
- Elevated work platforms (EWP)
- Site dongas and accommodation
- Shipping containers
As you can see from the examples above, there are many things that can be transported on the back of a lowboy, including machinery that’s far too heavy to be transported by any other means. However, being able to transport a wide range of heavy items isn’t the only benefit to using these amazing machines, as they offer a wide range of benefits that include:
- Safe and secure transportation
- Easy loading and unloading
- Room for more than one item
If you’re looking for a heavy equipment transportation solution, you’re looking for a lowboy!
Two Versions – Which is Better for Your Needs?
There are two versions of the lowboy, the hydraulic version and the mechanical version. The hydraulic version uses a hydraulic system to raise equipment on to the back of the truck whereas the mechanical version uses a winch to hoist the equipment on the back.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both, depending on the equipment that is to be transported, so be sure to ask about this when hiring a lowboy to transport heavy equipment. Some of the advantages and disadvantages include:
- Mechanical lowboys have a simpler design but are often more difficult to operate
- Hydraulic lowboys can raise greater weights but they’re much a heavier system
Hiring the right lowboy has its advantages, so be sure to make a point of asking the company’s representative for advice. A good service provider will happily advise you on the benefits of each system and help you select the right low loader variety for your requirements.
In conclusion, lowboys are an excellent means of transporting a wide variety of heavy equipment, machinery and so much more, plus there are many benefits associated with their use, including safe transportation, easy loading and unloading, and the massive weights that they can cater for.
However, it’s essential to understand that there are pros and cons to each type of system, so you need to ask the transportation company about mechanical and hydraulic models (if they offer both) if you’re to successfully decide which would be the best choice for your specific transportation requirements.
