Flatdeck Dropside 3 m

At 2 800 kg gross vehicle mass and a published 2 000 kg payload, the flatdeck dropside trailer is the heaviest unit in our utility and cargo range by a wide margin. It runs twin 2 000 kg axles under a 3 620 mm floor that is 1 925 mm wide inside, with dropsides on three sides and a tare of 800 kg. This is the trailer people move to when a one ton deck has stopped being enough.

Why the flatdeck dropside trailer is a different class of machine

Everything else in this part of the range works to a 1 000 kg payload. This one doubles it. The axles are rated at 2 000 kg each, the floor is described as strengthened for loads, and the three dropsides fold away so that a pallet can be lifted straight on from the side by forklift rather than dragged over a fixed wall. The vertical dropside supports are removable, which means a long item such as pipe or timber can overhang the side once the load is properly secured.

Published specification

Published features

• Dropsides on three sides with heavy-duty hinges and toggle catches on all side supports.
• Dropside vertical supports are removable for open access along the deck.
• Tandem axles rated at 2 000 kg each, with the braking published as run-in and booster. That is the manufacturer wording and we quote it as it stands rather than translating it into a claim about the braking type; ask us to confirm the arrangement in writing if it is decisive for you.
• Heavy-duty Alko coupler with handbrake, multi-function LED lights, numberplate holder and light, and an 8 inch adjustable jockey wheel.
• Spare wheel bracket front mounted on the A-frame. The bracket is published, the spare wheel itself is not, so treat the wheel as an item to confirm at order.
• The specification table gives 195 x 14 inch wheels while the feature list describes five stud 14 inch wheels. The stud count is the only point where the two published sources differ.

Payload, GVM and licensing

A 2 800 kg gross figure puts this trailer in serious territory. It is braked, as it must be above 750 kg, but the buyer now has to look hard at the tow vehicle: many double cabs top out at 3 500 kg braked towing, and a loaded dropside plus its own 800 kg tare eats that allowance quickly. Combination mass, braking and licensing requirements are set out in the National Road Traffic Act. Check your vehicle plate and your own licence position before you commit to a unit of this size.

One point on the name

The trailer is sold as a 3 m dropside, but the published body length is 3 620 mm and overall length is 5 220 mm. We list the published measurements above because a 600 mm difference decides whether the unit fits your gate, your shed or your parking bay. Measure to 5 220 mm.

How it sits against its siblings

The 3 m tandem flatdeck is a similar length but a completely different rating: 1 580 kg gross against 2 800 kg, and 1 000 kg of payload against 2 000 kg. If you are moving sand, brick, baled feed or a small machine, the dropside is the honest choice. If you are moving general farm and site freight, the lighter tandem tows more easily. Both are in our double-axle cargo trailers category.

What the extra money buys, and how to order

Our budget range does not reach this rating, so the comparison here is with lighter trailers rather than cheaper versions of the same thing. The money buys twin 2 000 kg axles, a boosted braking arrangement, a strengthened floor and three dropsides with proper hinges. Delivery is free on orders over R20 000 and the terms are on our delivery page, or you can collect from our Hartswater yard in the Northern Cape. The builder warranty applies and we administer it on your behalf, as set out on our warranty page. For a written price, use our quote request form.