Views: 12 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-07-17 Origin: Site
When you’re tasked with hauling oversized freight, choosing the right trailer can make or break the efficiency of your transport operation. Both lowboy trailers and removable gooseneck trailers (RGN) are built for heavy-duty cargo, particularly when moving tall, heavy equipment. However, understanding the distinct features of each can help you decide the best option for your load.
Lowboy trailers are renowned for their low clearance, making them a great option for transporting tall or heavy machinery. These trailers often come with a drop-deck design that allows large freight to be hauled without requiring special height permits.
No Need for Height Permits: Their low profile means they can transport tall equipment without needing additional permits.
Scalable Weight Capacity: Adding more axles increases the trailer’s weight capacity, allowing you to haul heavier loads.
Popular in Construction: Commonly used for heavy construction equipment, bulldozers, and other industrial machinery.
Lowboys are perfect for shorter loads and are commonly available in tri-axle configurations supporting up to 55,000 pounds with a 25-foot well length.
An RGN trailer (removable gooseneck trailer) is a specialized lowboy designed for easier loading and unloading. Its most notable feature is the removable gooseneck—allowing the trailer to be lowered to the ground to form a ramp. This makes it ideal for self-loading machinery, such as bulldozers, where no additional equipment is needed for loading.
Self-Loading Ramp: The trailer can be lowered to ground level, enabling self-powered equipment to be driven directly onto the trailer.
Heavy Duty Capacity: RGN trailers are often used for ultra-heavy loads, with configurations supporting up to 150,000 pounds with more than 20 axles.
Versatile Loading: The trailer’s ramp system makes it easy to load and unload equipment without requiring cranes or other lifting equipment.
RGNs are ideal for hauling heavy construction machinery or agricultural equipment, and their 29-foot well length provides ample space for large cargo.
Hauling Capacity: Lowboys typically support up to 80,000 pounds (with additional axles), while RGNs can carry up to 150,000 pounds.
Ramp Features: The unique hydraulic-powered ramp system of an RGN trailer makes it perfect for self-loading equipment, unlike a lowboy, which often requires external equipment for loading.
Price and Configuration: Lowboys are often more budget-friendly and are available in simpler configurations, while RGNs, with their hydraulic systems and specialized features, come at a higher price.
Lowboy trailers are a great choice for:
Heavy but not extremely tall loads, like construction machinery or bulldozers.
Cost-effective solutions when ramps or self-loading capabilities aren’t required.
RGN trailers are best suited for:
Self-loading machinery such as excavators, cranes, and agricultural equipment.
High-capacity, large-scale hauling, particularly for ultra-heavy loads that require multiple axles and a robust frame.
Oil and Gas Industry: Hauling large drilling equipment, generators, and mining machinery.
Construction and Paving: For transporting heavy machinery or road construction equipment.
Agriculture: Moving large harvesters or tractors.
Towing: Transporting motor coaches and other large vehicles.
It’s crucial to be aware of state and federal regulations when hauling oversized loads. Certain loads may require special permits or escort vehicles. However, RGN trailers often allow for permit-free hauling due to their unique loading capability. Always check state-specific regulations regarding axle limits and weight restrictions to ensure compliance.
If you require trailer axles, towing parts, or other semi-trailer components to complete your setup, Wondee offers a full range of reliable parts designed to keep your fleet running smoothly:
