redoing the lowboy or selling it and getting a car hauler?

[jsstrans]

i have a 45ft hefty lowboy that i was going to use for ltl freight, but i soon realized that it takes a while to get paid, so i found myself in a hole moneywise, what do yall think about cutting the neck and turning it to carhauler?

[Tony]

There's also the option of sticking with freight and using a factoring company :)
Most factoring companies will keep 5% of your gross on a load in exchange for paying you within a day or two.
They also shoulder the responsiblity of collecting, which most offer non-recourse factoring which means you aren't responsible if the shipper/broker doesn't pay them.
Once you use a factor, you have quite a few hoops to leap through to get a particular shipper oout of tha factoring agreement or to completely quit using them.
Once a factor is used with a specific shipper/broker, you always have to factor those loads until you satisfy the factoring agreement to get their release.

I like you're idea though and have seen it done. cut the neck down to a step-deck and possibly still add flips to the back. It could outperform a wedge if it were light enough. Consider the wind resistance at highway speeds... You've got less up in the air catching wind.

But if you are already in a hole, consider jsut adding some slide-outs or flips and haul cars for a while anyway. Make sure you can get 3 on it more often and save some money before cutting that neck and having downtime.

Also, consider adding an Infinity 'Add-A-Deck' add-on for that little extra room. Depending on where you go for the neck cutdown, the addon deck could be cheaper and safer. There is always and inherent risk in modifying a trailer design in that way... especially the 2nd most stressed part of the trailer.

Also, don't be fooled by the 'quick pay' in car hauling. There are still plenty of brokers and shippers that go 30-45 day pay. But consider that there is only 1-2 factors out there that will take cars BOL's. And some brokers won't honor them anyway, McNutt won't since they offer quickpay via comcheck for a similar fee as a factor.

[sheamus]

I talked to Hefty about converting mine before I sold it. $1200 cut down, converted to step w. 9' deck, lights paint, ready to roll. Still have to consider you are modifying the trl., but the orginal mfgr. should be as good a place as any since they do build 'em new as steps.