New Fontaine Drop Deck Trailers For Sale

New Fontaine drop deck trailers, also called step deck trailers, are built for freight that is too tall for a standard flatbed but still needs open-deck loading. The lower deck height gives you more legal loading room for machinery, building materials, palletized freight, ag equipment, and other taller loads without immediately moving into specialized heavy haul territory. For many fleets, a drop deck is the practical middle ground between a flatbed and a lowboy, especially when load height, dock flexibility, and securement access all matter.

Fontaine is well known for straightforward, work-focused trailer design, and that shows up in both all-steel and combo drop deck configurations. Steel models are often chosen for rugged duty cycles and repeated loading from forklifts, concentrated freight, and demanding jobsite use. Combo designs pair steel main structure with aluminum components to reduce tare weight while maintaining strength where it counts. Buyers comparing Fontaine Velocity and Fontaine Infinity models will usually be weighing durability, empty weight, and application-specific features like container capability, rear axle slide, or twist-lock systems for intermodal work.

Key specs on new Fontaine drop deck trailers commonly include 48-foot or 53-foot overall lengths, 102-inch width, air ride suspension, and tandem or widespread axle setups. Hendrickson suspension components, Jost landing gear, and integrated tool boxes are common spec points to review. Construction details matter on this category. Buyers should pay attention to main beam design, crossmember spacing, flange material, knee brace construction, deck height, loaded ride height, and overall trailer weight. On a working step deck, these details affect payload, durability, securement options, and long-term maintenance costs as much as the published GVWR does.

The right Fontaine drop deck depends on the freight mix. A 48-foot steel step deck is a strong fit for general open-deck freight and daily jobsite use where toughness matters more than shaving every pound. A 53-foot combo drop deck with air ride and sliding rear axle makes more sense for fleets balancing payload, bridge compliance, and specialized freight such as containerized loads or longer, lighter commodities. Buyers should also confirm deck length split, upper deck dimensions, winch track layout, tie-down points, and any state-specific axle spread requirements before choosing a spec. In this class, the best trailer is the one that matches load profile, securement practice, and operating region without adding unnecessary tare weight or complexity.