What is an RGN Trailer?
William Thomas / January 2021
Many types of trailers are used to move heavy equipment and other oversized loads. One of the most convenient and commonly used is the RGN trailer. If you have spent any time on American highways, you are bound to have seen a few of these. However, you may not have realized it.
To those outside the industry, a flatbed is a big flat trailer. A few can tell you the difference between a flatbed and a low boy. They do look very different from each other. But what is an RGN trailer, and how does it differ from a standard lowboy?
RGN stands for Removable Goose Neck, and the word “removable” is what sets them apart and makes them so useful in heavy equipment shipping.
What is a Removable Gooseneck Trailer?
“RGNs were first introduced in 1958 to answer the need to move ever taller and heavier cargo over America’s quickly growing interstate system.“
You can probably guess that RGNs have an extended tongue, a gooseneck, that is used to connect it to the truck pulling it. Unlike a lowboy, on these trailers, it can be detached to make loading and unloading large cargo much easier. But that is just part of the story.
RGNs were first introduced in 1958 to answer the need to move ever taller and heavier cargo over America’s quickly growing interstate system. New height and axle weight restrictions made designing a new type of trailer necessary, and the RGN was just what was needed.
An RGN has a lowered portion or deck. You will generally see two types: single drops and double drops. Single drops have a standard height deck at the front with a lowered deck behind it. Double drop RGNs have a raised deck fore and aft with the well in the middle.
There is a third type of RGN trailer that you will occasionally encounter. These are smaller, non-DOT regulated trailers that haul “Hot Shot Loads.” You will see these trailers pulled by work trucks or even dually pickup trucks. Because of these trailers’ diminutive size, they are often used to move smaller farm tractors, backhoes, and tractor attachments.
Because they are unregulated, like the rigs used by heavy equipment specialists, it is always advisable to give these a wide berth when you see them on the road.
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Specs and Dimensions of an RGN Trailer Trailer
Removable gooseneck trailers are true engineering marvels, and the wide variety of specifications for RGNs reflect that. A regular lowboy trailer most often has numbers that look like this.
• Double or Tri-axle configuration
• 40,000 to 80,000 lbs load weight limit
• 24-foot to 29.6-foot well length
• Fixed tongue and bed height
Now, compare these to the specifications of RGN trailers:
• From 2 to 22 axles
• Max load limit of 150,000 lbs
• 29-foot or longer well
• Removable tongue to make loading easy
It should also be noted that many RGNs are equipped with hydraulics to make raising and lowering the bed even easier. In most cases, these trailers are lighter than other removable goosenecks, which increases their load capacity.
Types of Equipment Transported on an RGN Trailer
There is no limit to the types of loads and equipment hauled on RGN trailers. However, as a rule, they are reserved for tall and heavy loads. After all, the depth of their well and load capacity are two of their most significant advantages.
• Articulated
• Trucks
• Backhoes
• Boats
• Buses
• Combine Harvesters
• Cranes
• Excavators
• Heavy Machinery
• Large Industrial Components
• Longwall Mining Machinery
• Off-Highway Trucks
• Pavers
• Pipelayers
• Tractors
• Wheel Loaders
As you can see, RGN trailers are highly versatile and easily adapted to various uses. Loading drivable equipment is as simple as parking because they can be lowered to near ground level. This same feature also makes loading items with a forklift much simpler. Because they have such spacious deck areas and offer over an extra foot of cargo height, they are ideal for large loads, especially taller items that might run into clearance issues.
If you are associated with the agricultural industry, mining, manufacturing, or construction and have heavy equipment, you need to get from point A to B with as little fuss as possible a removable gooseneck trailer might be your best option.
William Thomas
Heavy Transport Specialist
Being able to lead a team of such talented logistics agents has been a wonderful experience over the past ten years. If you would like to know anything more about the heavy equipment transport services we offer, don't hesitate to give us a call!