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:
- What is the difference between a curtainside vs. flatbed trailer?
- What is a Conestoga flatbed trailer?
- What are curtainside trailers used for?
- What is a roll top trailer?
Curtainside Trailer
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 curtainside trailer has rear doors like a dry van.
- Typically has a support system for the roof, side and center supports, and a rear door frame.
- They can be retrofitted to any flatbed but requires more modification to the flatbed trailer than a Conestoga kit.
- It&#;s a heavier setup than the Conestoga kit because the system includes a roof, frame system, front bulkhead, and rear door.
- They give the option to side load or rear load the trailer.
Conestoga Kit
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.
Pros:
- More options for loading.
- Kits can be retrofitted onto any flatbed trailer.
Cons:
- The entire system is an accordion like system which presents an increased risk of mechanic problems.
- The frame requires regular maintenance due to all the moving parts.
- You are limited to the interior width of your tarp system.
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.
Available options on a Conestoga Kit:
- Man door for added accessibility
- Grab handles for safety
- Steps
- Front bulkhead clearance lights
- Inside lights to increase visibility
- Translucent roof
- Skylights
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.
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Read more in this series, How to Buy the Best Flatbed Trailer.
Both curtainside and sliding bow (roll-top) trailers are designed to expand your freight options in a single adaptable trailer. Both open up the bed of a standard flatbed to new profit opportunities that extend far beyond the conventional flatbed&#;s potential. And, perhaps best of all, curtainsiders and sliding bow trailers eliminate the time-consuming, hazardous requirement to tarp large loads&#;a perk that also makes it easier to recruit and retain professional drivers in an era of high turnover.
What's The Difference Between a Curtain Side Trailer and Sliding Bows?
A curtainside trailer consists of a solid, fixed bulkhead up front, fixed swinging or roll-up rear doors and a hard-shell roof overhead. Both sides are a retractable, heavy-duty curtains instead of solid walls like a conventional trailer. The curtainside configuration is typically constructed on either a standard flatbed trailer or a step-deck model.
A sliding bow trailer resembles a curtainside, except with a soft roof and movable rear bulkhead mounted on sliding bow supports in a track. When slid forward or to the rear, the entire unit compresses somewhat like a concertina. The soft, flexible sides and soft roof can be moved all the way forward, compressing against the front bulkhead, or all the way to the rear. This flexibility opens the entire bed to rapid loading from both sides or above. Once the load is strapped, the sliding structure is returned to its original position, totally enclosing the load and eliminating the need for tarping.
Shared Strong Points Between a Curtain Side Trailer and Sliding Bows
The advantages shared by both the curtainside and the sliding bow trailer&#;versus an open flatbed or conventional box van&#;are numerous:
- Rapid two-side loading/unloading at facilities without a standard loading dock or where ground access by forklifts is faster.
- Accommodates large flatbed-style freight that can only be side-loaded and is not appropriate for a conventional enclosed van.
- No more time-consuming tarping on flatbed-style loads. Just load from either side, strap down and close the curtains or slide the bow structure closed. No injury potential to drivers and more time moving down the road instead of tarping.
- Provides access to all freight at any time&#;just retract the curtain or slid the bows forward or backward&#;accommodating multiple partial shipments in one trailer. Because back-to-front freight sequencing is eliminated, curtainsides and sliding bows permit addition of haulbacks for additional revenue while still preserving access to pending deliveries anywhere on the trailer.
- Shippers of certain large specialized freight often prohibit any contact with tarps&#;for example, large machinery with milled surfaces, robotics, and aircraft and aerospace components. These shipments make flatbed transport unfeasible and a curtainside or sliding bow is the only option.
Contrasting Characteristics Between a Curtain Side Trailer and Sliding Bows
Curtainside trailers incorporate advantages specific to certain freight requirements. These include a hard shell roof for greater security and protection of freight in the event of a rollover. Translucent roof panels also illuminate the interior of the trailer for safer loading without additional lighting. Dual swing or roll-up doors in the back allow conventional back-in dock loading.
The sliding bow option, conversely, offers an extra dimension of access not provided by a curtainside: The soft retractable roof opens up the entire bed to crane loading from above. For large freight that can&#;t be side-loaded into a curtainside, or loaded through rear doors into a conventional van, only a sliding bow can fully eliminate the need for an open flatbed trailer.
Product Pages:
- RolaBow - Roland Curtains version of the Sliding Bow Trailer
- RolaLoad - Roland Curtains version of a Curtain Side Trailer
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