3.0 m 1 Ton Flatdeck

Load a pallet of cement, a compact generator or a bundle of fencing standards onto a 1 ton flatdeck trailer and the deck takes it without argument. TRAILERS SA carries this 3.0 m deck in the two builds the manufacturer publishes: an open version with a 410 mm side, and a railed version that stands 790 mm of square rail above the sidewall. Both are braked, both ride on a single 1 800 kg axle, and both carry a published payload of 1 000 kg.

Where the 1 ton flatdeck trailer earns its keep

The 3 000 mm body and 1 520 mm inside width give you a deck that swallows sheet material, drums, spray tanks and small plant without dangerous overhang. Ground clearance is published at 245 mm, which is enough for a graded farm track or a rutted site entrance. The tailgate folds down to make loading easier, so a wheeled item can be walked on rather than lifted over a wall. Overall length is 4 400 mm and overall width 2 010 mm, which keeps the unit tracking neatly behind a double cab.

Published specification

The two published builds

• With brakes: 410 mm sides, 1 200 mm overall height, 480 kg tare and 1 480 kg GVM. The lighter of the two and the easier one to load across the side.
• With rails and brakes: 790 mm of square section rail above the sidewall, 1 280 mm side height and 1 780 mm overall, 580 kg tare and 1 580 kg GVM. Chosen where the load is loose or stacked.
• Body and floor are published as 1.6 mm corrosion resistant electro galvanised sheet steel, with the floor pressed in a U shape for stiffness.
• Running gear is the same on both: one 1 830 mm axle rated at 1 800 kg, a 12 blade leaf pack and 195 x 14 inch six stud wheels.

Because the rails add 100 kg of tare, the railed build reaches the same published 1 000 kg payload at a higher gross figure rather than a lower one. That matters when you are matching the trailer to a tow vehicle rating.

Payload, GVM and licensing

Published gross vehicle mass is 1 480 kg on the open deck and 1 580 kg on the railed deck, against tare figures of 480 kg and 580 kg. Any trailer with a gross vehicle mass above 750 kg must be braked, which is why both builds leave the factory with run-in brakes fitted. Towing limits, licensing and the way a combination must be marked are set out in the National Road Traffic Act, and we ask every buyer to check the towing plate on their own vehicle before committing.

Braking, axle and suspension

Run-in brakes are published on both builds. The axle is rated at 1 800 kg, comfortably above both gross figures, so the running gear is not working at its ceiling on a full load. Suspension is a 12 blade leaf pack, which is a stiff setup by design: it holds a heavy load steady on corrugation rather than delivering a soft ride when the deck is empty.

How it sits against the rest of the range

If you need more deck, the 3.5 m flatdeck with rails adds 500 mm of body and a wider 1 700 mm inside width at the same 480 kg tare. If the load is heavy rather than long, a tandem answers better on stability. The full set of braked single axle decks sits in our braked utility trailers category.

What the extra money buys

We also carry a budget flatdeck range covering similar work at roughly half this money, and for light or occasional use it does the job well. What the higher price buys here is published, checkable numbers: a stated tare and GVM, a factory braked axle rated well above the gross figure, a 12 blade leaf pack rather than a light spring, and galvanised sheet steel in body and floor. On a deck that works five days a week those are the details that decide whether it is still square in year five.

Delivery, warranty and ordering

We deliver countrywide and delivery is free on orders over R20 000; the detail is on our delivery page. You are welcome to collect from our yard in Hartswater in the Northern Cape instead. Every unit carries the builder warranty, which we administer on your behalf, and the terms are set out on our warranty page. To have a build quoted against a specific tow vehicle, send the details through our quote request form.