Welcome back to our series on How to Buy the Best Flatbed Trailer. Today we&#;re reviewing the differences between a Curtainside and a Conestoga Flatbed Trailer. Both are great options to keep your cargo protected from harsh elements, and both are an easier, safer way of tarping your load than climbing on top and manually tarping it.
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Both curtainside and conestoga trailers are classified as flatbeds. So what is the difference between the two?
We&#;ll get into some of the similarities and differences here. Some of the questions we&#;ll ask are:
A curtainside trailer, or curtain van, is a dry van and a flatbed trailer combined into one trailer. It loads like a flatbed but protects like a van with a ceiling, front wall, and rear doors. The sides are open to allow access for loading, and the rear swing doors allow it to be dock loaded, similar to a dry van.
Curtains hang from the roof on each side of the trailer, slide open, and close to provide an enclosed trailer. On the curtainside trailer, the frame does not move, and therefore top loading is not possible.
Curtainside trailers are a great option for loads that require more protection or when it&#;s more efficient to load from the side. It&#;s also a good option if you have multiple stops to make.
A Conestoga trailer, or roll-top trailer, uses a sliding tarp system where the entire system (tarp roof included) slides from the rear to front or front to rear. This accordion-like system maximizes your loading options allowing for rear loading, front loading, side loading, or even top-loading if needed.
The tarp system includes a rollup tarp door, rear support, and a stationary bulkhead in the front. You can retrofit a Conestoga Trailer Kit onto any flatbed trailer.
Keep in mind that with Conestoga Kits, there are many moving parts and should be on a regular maintenance schedule to keep it in good working order.
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The Conestoga Kit is a great system if it&#;s well maintained and operates properly. You&#;ll defiantly want to have it on a regular maintenance program.
Ultimately both the Curtainside and Conestoga trailers are safer options than manually tarping flatbed loads. Tarping loads is more labor-intensive and adds increased risk while climbing on and off of loads.
Utility Keystone works hard at finding the best solution to meet the demands of your hauling requirements.
nick:
jobseeker:
A curtain sider (tautliner) is what it is, a flat bed with a headboard, doors, roof and curtain sides!
That Conestoga trainer in my opinion is not curtainsider.The point being JS its a Flatbed with easy sheet so the load still needs SECURING which is what SOME cant Grasp
Not necessarily, I ran a load of potato crisps from Devon to Essex on Friday, that didn&#;t need securing and if I did strap it down it would just have damaged the boxes. Even in the most serious accident it wouldn&#;t go through the curtains.
For decades a curtainsided load was considered as safe as a roped and sheeted load, the only thing that changed was &#;elf n safety&#; and the fact that some stuffed shirt Hooray-Henry in Westminster who wouldn&#;t know one end of a truck from the other has decided that it isn&#;t doesn&#;t mean it isn&#;t.
I secure loads that need securing and I don&#;t secure loads that don&#;t need securing. Simples!
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