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Step deck trailer equipment for 48 and 53 ft drop decks. Winch straps, sliding winches, ratchet straps, Grade 70 chain and binders, corner protectors, tarps and the step deck accessories drivers use to secure tall freight across two deck levels.
New to open deck hauling? The flatbed starter kit lists the core securement parts, and they work the same way on a step deck.
A step deck (also called a drop deck) trades one flat level for a short upper deck over the fifth wheel and a long lower deck behind it. Typical dimensions:
| Flatbed | Step deck | |
|---|---|---|
| Deck height | About 5 ft | About 5 ft upper, about 3.5 ft lower |
| Deck layout | One level, 48 or 53 ft | Upper deck about 10 to 11 ft, lower deck about 37 to 43 ft |
| Freight height under a 13 ft 6 in limit | About 8.5 ft | About 10 ft on the lower deck |
| Typical freight | Lumber, steel, building materials | Machinery, equipment, tall crates |
Height limits are set by each state, and many western states allow 14 ft or more. Measure the loaded height before you leave the shipper.
What most step deck drivers carry. Ratings are the working load limits of the products on this site.
| Item | Use | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 4″ x 30 ft winch straps | Main tie-down on decks with a winch track | 5,400 lb WLL |
| Sliding winches | Slide along the winch track on either deck | — |
| 4″ ratchet straps | Extra tie-downs where there is no winch | 5,400 lb WLL |
| Grade 70 chain | Machinery and steel | 5/16″ 4,700 lb · 3/8″ 6,600 lb WLL |
| Ratchet and lever binders | Tension the chain | 5/16″–3/8″ 5,400 lb · 3/8″–1/2″ 9,200 lb WLL |
| Corner protectors | Protect straps and freight at every edge | — |
| Combination winch bar | Tighten winches | — |
| Oversize load kit | Banners and flags for permitted loads | Flags at least 18″ square |
Load each article fully on one deck where you can. Freight that bridges the step rests at two heights, and shippers often ask for dunnage to support it. Every article still needs its own tie-down count. Example: a 36,000 lb load of crated parts, 30 ft long, strapped over the top from one side of the trailer to the other, needs at least 18,000 lb of combined WLL and at least four tie-downs. Four 5,400 lb winch straps give 21,600 lb and meet both rules. Straps that run direct from the trailer to the cargo count at half their WLL, so plan more of them. The FMCSA cargo securement guide covers the full rules, and the machinery securement guide covers equipment loads.
Freight that is too tall for a standard flatbed. The lower deck sits about 3.5 ft off the ground instead of about 5 ft, so it carries freight up to about 10 ft tall in states with a 13 ft 6 in height limit, compared with about 8.5 ft on a flatbed. Machinery, equipment and tall crates are common step deck loads.
The securement gear is the same: 4″ winch straps, ratchet straps, Grade 70 chain, binders and corner protectors. What changes is planning. Freight sits on two deck levels, tall freight needs a bigger tarp drop, and sliding winches can be placed on either deck when the trailer has a winch track.
The same two federal rules as any open deck. The working load limits of all tie-downs added together must be at least half the cargo weight (49 CFR 393.106), and each article needs two tie-downs for the first 10 ft plus one for every additional 10 ft or part of it (49 CFR 393.110).
Choose the drop by freight height. Low steel loads usually take 4 ft drop tarps, while tall freight on the lower deck often needs an 8 ft drop lumber tarp. The flatbed tarp sizes guide has the measurements.
Yes, with a state permit when the load is wider than 8 ft 6 in or exceeds the height or weight limits. Permitted loads need oversize load banners and warning flags. See the oversize load permits guide for state rules.
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