The RGN is the go-to trailer for tall, heavy equipment that rolls on under its own power. The gooseneck detaches and the deck drops to the ground, turning the trailer into a ramp — so an excavator or dozer drives straight on, no crane needed.
Quick answer: An RGN (removable gooseneck) trailer has a detachable front neck that lowers the deck to the ground so self-propelled equipment can drive on and off. Its low drop-center deck carries tall, heavy machines legally, and extra axles can be added for heavier loads.
On an RGN, the front "gooseneck" hydraulically detaches and lays the front of the deck on the ground, creating a built-in ramp. Rolling stock climbs on, the neck reconnects, and the load rides on a low drop-center deck — typically around 18–24 inches off the ground — that keeps tall machines under legal height.
A standard 3-axle RGN handles roughly 40,000–50,000 lb, and by adding jeeps and boosters we push that well past 150,000 lb for heavier machines. It's the most versatile heavy-equipment trailer on the road — which is why it's the workhorse of construction and industrial moves.
| Deck / well height | ~18–24 in |
|---|---|
| Usable deck length | ~29 ft well |
| Legal payload | 40,000–50,000 lb base — 150,000 lb+ with axles |
| Max cargo height (legal) | ~11'6" |
| Loading method | Drive-on — gooseneck detaches into a ramp |
| Axles (base) | 3 |
Track machines that drive on and off under their own power
Self-propelled equipment too tall for a step-deck
Rolling stock loaded without a crane
Anything that needs a low deck and a drive-on ramp
Deck height is what decides most loads. The lower the deck, the taller the machine you can carry and still clear 13'6" without a height permit — which is why the heavy stuff rides in a well.
| Trailer | Deck height | Legal payload | Max cargo height | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatbed | ~5 ft (60 in) | 48,000–52,000 lb | ~8'6" | Load is under legal height and width and can be loaded from any side. |
| Step-Deck | ~3.5 ft (42 in) lower deck | ~48,000 lb | ~10' | Freight is too tall for a flatbed but still under ~10'. |
| Conestoga | ~5 ft (60 in); ~3.5 ft drop-deck | ~44,000 lb | ~8' interior (~10' drop-deck) | Load needs weather protection but still has to be crane- or side-loaded. |
| Double-Drop | ~18–24 in in the well | ~45,000 lb | ~11'6" | Freight is tall enough to need a well, and may need extra length. |
| Lowboy | ~18–24 in | 40,000 lb base — 100,000 lb+ with axles | ~11'6"–12' | Height clearance is the binding constraint and the load is crane-loaded. |
| RGN you are here | ~18–24 in | 40,000–50,000 lb base — 150,000 lb+ with axles | ~11'6" | Equipment drives on and off under its own power. |
| Multi-Axle / Superload | Follows the base RGN / lowboy deck | 200,000 lb+ | Route-engineered | Weight exceeds what any single trailer can carry legally. |
Ranges cover standard builds — exact capacity depends on the trailer, the axle spacing, and the bridge formula on your route. Send dimensions and weight and we'll tell you which one your load actually needs.
Before trailer choice matters, the load has to be measured against the federal legal envelope. Stay inside it and the load moves as ordinary freight. Break any one of these and it becomes an oversize or overweight move that needs a permit, and often a routed corridor and escorts:
Height is where trailer choice earns its money. Cargo height is measured from the pavement, not the deck — so a 12-foot machine on a 5-foot flatbed stands 17 feet tall and is illegal everywhere, while the same machine in a 2-foot well stands 14 feet and clears most routes. That single difference is why heavy equipment rides on a lowboy or RGN instead of a flatbed.
Weight works the same way, but the ceiling is the federal bridge formula, not just the 80,000 lb gross — it governs how much weight may sit on a given axle group over a given distance. That's why heavier loads get more axles rather than a bigger trailer: spreading the weight across jeeps and boosters keeps each axle group legal. Some western states allow 14' height without a permit, and every state writes its own overweight rules, so we check the actual route before quoting rather than assuming the federal baseline.
An RGN — removable gooseneck — is a heavy-haul trailer whose front neck detaches so the deck lowers to the ground as a ramp. Equipment drives on, the neck reattaches, and the low deck keeps tall, heavy machines legal.
Both carry tall, heavy equipment on a low deck. The RGN's neck detaches so machines drive on and off; a classic lowboy is usually crane-loaded and built for maximum height clearance. We pick whichever fits your machine and site.
A base 3-axle RGN handles about 40,000–50,000 lb. Add jeeps and boosters and we haul well over 150,000 lb — see multi-axle & superload transport.
Yes — we handle oversize/overweight permitting, route surveys, and pilot cars or escorts wherever the states along your route require them.
Related field guide: How to Ship an Excavator →
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