Abstract: A bogie for a lowboy trailer includes a pair of longitudinally extending main beams, each having a lower front end configured to be coupled to a lower deck, a higher rear portion configured to carry a suspension system, and a sloped intermediate portion connecting the front end to the rear portion. The bogie also includes multiple transversely extending and longitudinally spaced cross-members connected between the main beams. Each of the cross-members is trough-shaped and has a pair of transversely spaced side sections and a midsection between the side sections, the side sections sloping downwardly toward the midsection such that a top surface of the midsection is lower than respective top surfaces of the main beams. Each side section of at least one cross-member intersects with a respective one of the main beams, such that at least a portion of each side section is located directly below the respective main beam.

Abstract: A flatbed, step-deck, double-drop deck, or lowboy trailer assembly comprises a plurality of metal crossmembers extending in a transverse direction of the trailer assembly; a metal deck supported by the plurality of crossmembers, the metal deck having an upper deck surface and a lower deck surface; and a pair of parallel wooden boards extending in a longitudinal direction of the trailer assembly proximate respective laterally opposite sides of the trailer assembly. Each wooden board in the pair of wooden boards is located in a respective recessed portion of the metal deck. The lower deck surface is situated between and separates a lower surface of each wooden board from the plurality of metal cross members. The lower deck surface is welded to the plurality of crossmembers.

Abstract: A side underride guard assembly for a trailer has a plurality of support subassemblies coupled to first and second longitudinal main beams of the trailer. Each support subassembly has at least one cross member having a first end adjacent a first longitudinal side edge of the trailer and an opposite second end adjacent an opposite second longitudinal side edge of the trailer. Each support subassembly also has at least one vertically oriented plate coupled to the at least one cross member. A first longitudinal guard member is coupled to the first end of each of the cross members of the plurality of support subassemblies. A second longitudinal guard member is coupled to the second end of each of the cross members. The first and second longitudinal guard members are located below the first and second longitudinal side edges of the trailer, respectively, to prevent or inhibit side underride.

Abstract: A floor assembly for a trailer includes a pair of longitudinally extending main beams, each having a first height dimension along a first longitudinal portion of the main beam and a second height dimension along a second portion of the main beam. The first height dimension being greater than the second height dimension. Cross members extend in a transverse direction between and connect the main beams. A plurality of floor members extend transversely between the main beams. The floor members including at least some reinforced floor members. The reinforced floor members have upper and lower walls and opposing side walls that define a rectangular cross-section and include a series of truss walls extending angularly between the upper and lower walls. The reinforced floor members are positioned on the upper surfaces of the main beams at least in part at the second height dimension.

Abstract: A system for covering a load on trailer with a tarp includes a post assembly coupled to a first lateral side of the trailer, a supporting assembly supported in a stake pocket on the first lateral side of the trailer and holding the post assembly vertically upright, and a roller assembly supported at an upper end of the post assembly such that the roller assembly extends horizontally and is aligned with the first lateral side of the trailer. The roller assembly supports a tarp such that the tarp can be pulled up along the first lateral side of the trailer, over the roller assembly, over a load on the trailer, and down toward an opposite second lateral side of the trailer.

Abstract: A flatbed, step-deck, double-drop deck, or lowboy trailer assembly comprises a plurality of metal crossmembers extending in a transverse direction of the trailer assembly; a metal deck supported by the plurality of crossmembers, the metal deck having an upper deck surface and a lower deck surface; and a pair of parallel wooden boards extending in a longitudinal direction of the trailer assembly proximate respective laterally opposite sides of the trailer assembly. Each wooden board in the pair of wooden boards is located in a respective recessed portion of the metal deck. The lower deck surface is situated between and separates a lower surface of each wooden board from the plurality of metal cross members. The lower deck surface is welded to the plurality of crossmembers.

Abstract: A side underride guard assembly for a trailer has a plurality of support subassemblies coupled to first and second longitudinal main beams of the trailer. Each support subassembly has at least one cross member having a first end adjacent a first longitudinal side edge of the trailer and an opposite second end adjacent an opposite second longitudinal side edge of the trailer. Each support subassembly also has at least one vertically oriented plate coupled to the at least one cross member. A first longitudinal guard member is coupled to the first end of each of the cross members of the plurality of support subassemblies. A second longitudinal guard member is coupled to the second end of each of the cross members. The first and second longitudinal guard members are located below the first and second longitudinal side edges of the trailer, respectively, to prevent or inhibit side underride.

Abstract: A bogie for a lowboy trailer includes a pair of longitudinally extending main beams, each having a lower front end configured to be coupled to a lower deck, a higher rear portion configured to carry a suspension system, and a sloped intermediate portion connecting the front end to the rear portion. The bogie also includes multiple transversely extending and longitudinally spaced cross-members connected between the main beams. Each of the cross-members is trough-shaped and has a pair of transversely spaced side sections and a midsection between the side sections, the side sections sloping downwardly toward the midsection such that a top surface of the midsection is lower than respective top surfaces of the main beams. Each side section of at least one cross-member intersects with a respective one of the main beams, such that at least a portion of each side section is located directly below the respective main beam.

Abstract: A system for covering a load on trailer with a tarp includes a post assembly coupled to a first lateral side of the trailer, a supporting assembly supported in a stake pocket on the first lateral side of the trailer and holding the post assembly vertically upright, and a roller assembly supported at an upper end of the post assembly such that the roller assembly extends horizontally and is aligned with the first lateral side of the trailer. The roller assembly supports a tarp such that the tarp can be pulled up along the first lateral side of the trailer, over the roller assembly, over a load on the trailer, and down toward an opposite second lateral side of the trailer.

Abstract: A bogie for a lowboy trailer includes a rear suspension support assembly configured to carry a suspension system of the lowboy trailer thereunder and a front transition assembly coupled to a front end of the rear suspension support assembly and configured to couple the rear suspension support assembly to a lower deck of the lowboy trailer. At least a portion of the rear suspension support assembly has a closed cross section when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the rear suspension support assembly. At least a portion of the front transition assembly has a closed cross section when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the front transition assembly.

Abstract: A kit for illuminating chain slots on a trailer includes a plurality of brackets, each having a first arm and a second arm. The second arm is oriented at an angle to the first arm and has a mounting area. A tool is provided for positioning a bracket adjacent a respective chain slot on the trailer and for holding the bracket in place adjacent the chain slot until the bracket is attached to the trailer. The tool has a portion configured to engage with the mounting area of the bracket. Lights are also provided, each light configured to be attached to a respective mounting area of the bracket after the bracket has been attached to the trailer and the portion of the tool has been disengaged from the mounting area. An electrical conductor is configured to connect the plurality of lights to an electrical wiring harness of the trailer.

Abstract: A bogie for a lowboy trailer includes a rear suspension support assembly configured to carry a suspension system of the lowboy trailer thereunder and a front transition assembly coupled to a front end of the rear suspension support assembly and configured to couple the rear suspension support assembly to a lower deck of the lowboy trailer. At least a portion of the rear suspension support assembly has a closed cross section when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the rear suspension support assembly. At least a portion of the front transition assembly has a closed cross section when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the front transition assembly.

Abstract: A floor assembly for a trailer includes stringers that extend in a transverse direction of the assembly and are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the assembly. The stringers are made of a thermally insulative first material. A bottom flange is coupled to a lower portion of a respective stringer. A top flange made of a second material is coupled to an upper portion of a respective stringer. Floor panels are also provided. Each floor panel extends in the longitudinal direction, is supported by the top flange, is coupled to another floor panel along respective edges thereof, and has at least one rib that extends in the longitudinal direction and depends substantially perpendicularly from a bottom surface thereof. Each floor panel is made of the second material and each at least one rib is welded to a top surface of the top flange.

Abstract: A kit for illuminating chain slots on a trailer includes a plurality of brackets, each having a first arm and a second arm. The second arm is oriented at an angle to the first arm and has a mounting area. A tool is provided for positioning a bracket adjacent a respective chain slot on the trailer and for holding the bracket in place adjacent the chain slot until the bracket is attached to the trailer. The tool has a portion configured to engage with the mounting area of the bracket. Lights are also provided, each light configured to be attached to a respective mounting area of the bracket after the bracket has been attached to the trailer and the portion of the tool has been disengaged from the mounting area. An electrical conductor is configured to connect the plurality of lights to an electrical wiring harness of the trailer.

Abstract: A floor assembly for a trailer includes stringers that extend in a transverse direction of the assembly and are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the assembly. The stringers are made of a thermally insulative material. A bottom flange is coupled to a lower portion of a respective stringer. A top flange made of a non-thermally insulative material is coupled to an upper portion of a respective stringer. Floor panels are also provided. Each floor panel extends in the longitudinal direction, is supported by the top flange, is coupled to another floor panel along respective edges thereof, and has at least one rib that extends in the longitudinal direction and depends substantially perpendicularly from a bottom surface thereof. Each floor panel is made of the second non-thermally insulative material and each at least one rib is welded to a top surface of the top flange.

Abstract: A floor assembly includes a plurality of transverse stringers spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the floor assembly. The assembly also includes a plurality of transverse bottom flanges, each transverse bottom flange being coupled to a lower portion of a respective transverse stringer and to a neighboring transverse bottom flange along respective transversely extending side edges thereof. A top flange comprising a supporting sheet is coupled to an upper portion of each transverse stringer. A plurality of longitudinal panels are supported by the supporting sheet and coupled to one another along respective longitudinally extending edges thereof to form a floor surface, each longitudinal panel in the plurality of longitudinal panels having at least one longitudinally extending rib depending substantially perpendicularly from a bottom surface thereof. The at least one rib is coupled to a top surface of the supporting sheet.

Abstract: A tail trailer includes a main deck mounted on a main frame, a main tail pivotally connected to a rearward end of the main deck and a flip tail pivotally secured to a rearward end of the main tail. The flip tail is movable between a folded position beneath the main tail and an unfolded position extending outwardly from the rearward end of the main tail. A lifting and holding assembly is provided between the main frame and the main tail for pivotally moving and maintaining a desired position of the main tail and the flip tail relative to the main deck. A combined locking and supporting arrangement beneath the main tail provides ground engaging support for the main tail, and also provides locking engagement for holding the flip tail in the folded position.

Abstract: A floor assembly includes a plurality of transverse stringers spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the floor assembly. The assembly also includes a plurality of transverse bottom flanges, each transverse bottom flange being coupled to a lower portion of a respective transverse stringer and to a neighboring transverse bottom flange along respective transversely extending side edges thereof. A top flange comprising a supporting sheet is coupled to an upper portion of each transverse stringer. A plurality of longitudinal panels are supported by the supporting sheet and coupled to one another along respective longitudinally extending edges thereof to form a floor surface, each longitudinal panel in the plurality of longitudinal panels having at least one longitudinally extending rib depending substantially perpendicularly from a bottom surface thereof. The at least one rib is coupled to a top surface of the supporting sheet.

Abstract: A spreader bar includes a frame having a leading end and a trailing end. A pivot member is pivotally mounted to the trailing end of the frame and adapted to be removably connected to a spreader bogie. Spread links adapted to be removably connected to a trailer are pivotally and removably attached to the leading end of the frame. The length of the spreader bar may be changed by substituting spread links having different lengths.

Abstract: A tail trailer includes a main deck mounted on a main frame, a main tail pivotally connected to a rearward end of the main deck and a flip tail pivotally secured to a rearward end of the main tail. The flip tail is movable between a folded position beneath the main tail and an unfolded position extending outwardly from the rearward end of the main tail. A lifting and holding, assembly is provided between the main frame and the main tail for pivotally moving and maintaining a desired position of the main tail and the flip tail relative to the main deck. A combined locking and supporting arrangement beneath the main tail provides ground engaging support for the main tail, and also provides locking engagement for holding the flip tail in the folded position.