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William Thomas
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The Difference in Dimensions
Between a Lowboy and RGN Trailer
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Home / The Difference in Dimensions Between a Lowboy and RGN Trailer
The Difference in Dimensions Between a Lowboy and RGN Trailer
William Thomas
- 5 min read
- Oct 2025
- Updated Jan 2026
Specs drive cost and schedule. If you pick the wrong trailer, you pay more in permits, hit detours, or face delays at the gate. Knowing the difference between lowboy and RGN trailer setups keeps your machine under legal height and on the right route.
Lowboy trailers and RGN trailers are two of the most common types used to transport oversize loads. While a lowboy trailer can be an RGN, not all RGN trailers are lowboys.
So what’s the difference? And which one should you use to ship your heavy equipment?
Speaking to a logistics agent at Heavy Haulers is the best way to find out which trailer best suits your shipping needs. We’ve spent years matching gear to loads. Our team reviews weight, footprint, and deck height before we dispatch. You get a straight answer on the best fit and a plan to move it.
However, knowledge is power, and the more you know about the nature of equipment transport, the better off you are when shipping.
Let’s discuss the difference between a lowboy trailer and an RGN trailer, along with the dimensions and when it’s best to use each.
Table Of Contents
What Is a Lowboy Trailer?
What is a Removable Gooseneck (RGN) Trailer?
Lowboy vs. RGN Trailer Dimensions
When to Use a Lowboy vs. RGN
Partner With Heavy Haulers for Trailer Transport
FAQs: Lowboy vs. RGN
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What is a Lowboy Trailer?
A lowboy trailer is a go-to for shipping if a load is over-height.
Also known as a double-drop, low-bed, float, or low-loader trailer, this commercial trailer stays, well, as the name implies, low to the ground. That low center section is why lowboys help tall machinery ride legally under bridges. This can help avoid excess permits and allow for clearance under bridges or power lines, where a standard-height trailer would not.
Typical specs and use cases:
- Limitations: Fixed neck. You’ll need ramps or a crane to load most machines.
- Deck height: 18 to 24 inches loaded.
- Well length: 24 to 29 feet of usable space.
- Width: 102 inches (8.5 feet) legal without permit.
- Weight capacity: 40,000 to 80,000 pounds on 2 to 3 axles. Higher with multi-axle sets.
- Industries: Construction, mining, agriculture, and industrial plants.
- Advantages: Low deck gives you more legal load height. Stable ride. Broad availability across fleets.
Understanding legal dimensions will help you gauge what type of load you can haul using a lowboy trailer. It will also help you avoid fines and unnecessary delays.
Lowboy trailer dimensions matter when your machine sits tall, but you still want a quick, cost-aware move.
What is a Removable Gooseneck (RGN) Trailer?
RGN stands for removable gooseneck. The front detaches so the main deck lowers to the ground. That creates a gentle approach so you can drive equipment on and off without extra gear.
The ramp can be rolled up by any driveable equipment. It’s great for construction equipment such as excavators and wheel loaders, and it’s also useful for mining equipment, farm equipment, and more.
RGN trailers allow for additional axles to carry heavier equipment.
Typical specs and use cases:
- Limitations: Heavier trailer weight can trim net payload and nudge rates higher than simpler gear.
- Main-deck height: Often 18 to 24 inches loaded. With the neck detached, the loading edge can sit just inches off the ground for drive-on loading.
- Well length: About 29 to 53 feet, depending on design. Stretch options extend beyond that for long loads.
- Width: 102 inches legal without permit.
- Weight capacity: Scales well. Multi-axle RGNs can exceed 150,000 pounds.
- Advantages: Fast, safer loading from ground level. Room for taller equipment. Stretch wells for long machines.
If you’re searching for RGN trailer shipping, you’ll find the drive-on benefit is the big reason crews pick these trailers for excavators, dozers, and cranes.
Lowboy vs. RGN Trailer Dimensions
Both trailers run low. The key differences are how you load and how far you can push weight and length.
Shared traits:
- Deck height: Commonly 18 to 24 inches loaded.
- Width: 102 inches legal without a permit.
- Legal height planning: Lower decks help keep total height near typical state limits around 13 feet 6 inches to 14 feet.
Where they differ:
- Loading method: Lowboy has a fixed neck. RGN detaches for ground-level loading.
- Length options: Lowboys commonly run 24 to 29 feet of well. RGNs offer 29 to 53 feet and stretch variants for long loads.
- Weight scaling: Both handle standard heavy equipment. Multi-axle RGNs scale higher for super heavy projects.
- Cost profile: RGNs often carry a higher per-mile rate due to the detachable neck and added tare weight. Faster load times can offset that on busy sites.
When to Use a Lowboy vs. RGN
You’ll want to use a Lowboy when:
- You’re hauling medium-height heavy machinery and need a low deck to keep legal height.
- You want a simpler, cost-efficient trailer.
- You have ramps or a crane available at pickup or delivery.
An RGN is best when:
- The equipment runs tall or sits on the edge of legal height.
- The machine needs to be driven on and off at ground level.
- You want flexibility with stretch decks or multi-axle scaling.
Which Trailer Should I Use To Transport My Oversize Load?
Well, that depends. RGN trailers and lowboy trailers are similar. Lowboy trailers have RGN options. Lowboys trailers are commonly used for various modes of transport because of their versatility.
An equipment transport doesn’t have to be over height to use a lowboy. It could be overweight. It could be over width. And because lowboy trailers can have RGN features, you can drive equipment right on.
The best way to determine whether you need an RGN or lowboy trailer is to speak with one of our expert transport agents. We’ll find the best shipping solutions for your equipment hauling needs.
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Partner With Heavy Haulers for Trailer Transport
We plan the move start to finish. That includes trailer selection, permits, pilot cars, and route checks. Our network covers nationwide operations across all 50 states. If your job shifts, we shift with it.
Working a tall or wide machine? Review our oversize load transport solutions. Need a standard tractor and trailer move instead? Our trailer transport specialists can quote it fast. You can also start your quote online or call us at 877-557-6941.
We’ve been moving equipment for more than 16 years with 30,000-plus carriers ready to roll. You’ll work with a single agent who keeps your job moving and your crew informed.
FAQs: Lowboy vs. RGN
How do I know for sure which trailer fits my machine?Start with three checks:
- Total loaded height
- Axle weights
- Footprint against well length
If the machine is tall and self-propelled, an RGN’s drive-on setup often wins. If you have loading gear and want to save on rate, a lowboy can make sense.
What’s the real-world cost difference between a Lowboy and an RGN?
Rates swing with weight, dimensions, lane demand, and permits. As a rule, RGNs price higher per mile due to the detachable neck and higher trailer weight. Lowboys often quote lower, especially for simpler loads.
Can you handle permitting and routing for either trailer type?
Yes. We secure state permits, escorts, and run route checks for bridges and clearances. You get one plan that covers pickup through delivery.
Do you have both trailer types available nationwide, and how fast can you get one to my site?
Yes. We dispatch lowboy and RGN capacity across the country. Timing depends on lane, permits, and escorts.
If my load sits near legal height or weight, how do you choose the best fit?
We look for the lowest feasible deck, stretch options for length, and added axles for weight distribution. Then we map a route that avoids low structures and restricted bridges. If needed, we suggest small prep steps on your end to clean up inches or pounds.
Ready to Move?
Send the specs and the jobsite window. We’ll match the trailer, lock the permits, and keep your crew on schedule. Book trailer transport now, or call 877-557-6941 and talk to a real agent who knows the gear.
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