RGN, Step Deck, or Lowboy: Which Trailer Does Your Machine Need?
Why the trailer choice is really a height-and-weight puzzle
Every US highway hides a ceiling: overpasses, wires, and signs that make roughly 13 feet 6 inches the legal total height on most routes. The puzzle is simple arithmetic: trailer deck height plus machine height must stay under that ceiling, or the load becomes an oversize move with permits, surveys, and escorts. The trailer's job is to hold your machine as low as possible, and the three main designs are simply three different answers to how low can you go, each with its own cost and loading style.
The step deck: the economical choice for smaller machines
A step deck (or drop deck) carries its cargo about 3 feet 6 inches off the road, leaving roughly 10 feet of legal height for the machine. That fits skid steers, mini excavators, forklifts, compact tractors, and smaller wheel loaders comfortably, and because step decks are plentiful, they are usually the cheapest heavy haul ride. Loading needs a ramp, a dock, or a machine that can be lifted, since the deck does not reach the ground. For the compact end of the market, the step deck is the honest default, and our skid steer cost guide covers that end in dollars.
The RGN: the workhorse that kneels
The removable gooseneck is the machine mover's machine mover. Its front detaches, the deck drops to the ground, and anything that drives, rolls, or crawls can board under its own power, which is exactly how excavators, dozers, skidders, and big loaders prefer to travel. Deck height around 18 to 24 inches buys nearly 12 feet of legal machine height, and heavy-duty RGNs scale to serious multi-axle weights. The convenience costs more than a step deck, but for tracked and tall machines there is usually no choice to make: if it cannot be lifted and cannot climb ramps, the trailer must kneel.
The lowboy: for the tallest and heaviest iron
The lowboy rides lowest of all, with its deck in the 18 to 24 inch range and construction aimed at maximum weight, which is why the biggest dozers, large excavators, and crane components travel this way. Many people use lowboy and RGN interchangeably, and the overlap is real since most modern lowboys load RGN-style from the front. The practical distinction is capacity: when the machine is at the top of the weight chart or needs every inch of height clearance, the conversation is a lowboy conversation, and almost always a permitted one too.
How the trailer changes your price
| Trailer | Best for | Machine height limit | Cost level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step deck | Skid steers, forklifts, compact tractors, mini excavators | About 10 ft | $ (most available) |
| RGN | Excavators, dozers, skidders, large loaders, tracked machines | About 11 ft 6 in | $$ (specialized) |
| Lowboy | The heaviest and tallest machines, permitted loads | Maximum possible | $$$ (fewest trailers) |
Scarcity drives price: step decks are everywhere, heavy RGNs and lowboys are not, and a permitted oversize load narrows the pool further. This is why identical distances can quote hundreds of dollars apart for different machines, and why we price each move personally from the real dimensions rather than a mileage chart. For the port-bound version of this decision, see shipping equipment to a port.
Your questions answered
What is the difference between an RGN and a lowboy trailer?
They overlap heavily: both ride low and load heavy machines. The RGN is defined by its detachable front that lets machines drive aboard from the ground, while lowboy describes the lowest, highest-capacity class of deck. Most modern lowboys load RGN-style, so the distinction in practice is weight and height capacity.
What trailer does an excavator need?
Almost always an RGN, because excavators are tall, heavy, and tracked, and the kneeling deck lets them drive straight on. Mini excavators are the exception, riding step decks comfortably.
Can a skid steer go on a regular flatbed or step deck?
Yes, a skid steer is step deck and even flatbed territory, loaded by ramp or forklift. That availability is why compact machines are the cheapest end of heavy haul.
How tall can my machine be and still ship legally?
On a step deck, roughly 10 feet; on an RGN or lowboy, roughly 11 feet 6 inches. Above that, the move needs oversize permits and route planning, which we arrange, but the price and timeline change.
How is a tracked machine loaded onto a trailer?
It drives up the kneeled deck of an RGN under its own power, or is winched up if dead. Tracked machines cannot use normal ramps safely, which is why the RGN exists.
Why do heavy haul quotes differ so much for the same distance?
Because the trailer pool differs. Step deck loads draw from thousands of available trailers, heavy RGN and permitted lowboy loads from a handful, and scarcity is priced in. The machine's exact height, weight, and loading style decide which pool you are in.
Does it matter if my machine runs when choosing a trailer?
Yes. A running machine drives aboard in minutes; a dead one needs winching or a loader at both ends, which can shift the trailer choice and adds handling to the price. Always tell us honestly how it moves.
What is deck height and why should I care?
It is how far the trailer's floor sits off the road, and it decides how tall your machine can legally be. A step deck floor sits about 3.5 feet up, an RGN under 2 feet, and that difference is the whole game for tall machines.
Can two small machines share one trailer?
Often yes: two skid steers or a mini excavator plus attachments commonly share a step deck, splitting the cost. Give us both machines' numbers and we quote the pair together.
What happens if my machine is overweight for a standard trailer?
It moves to a multi-axle RGN or lowboy with state permits for the route, sometimes with escort vehicles. Heavier costs more and plans slower, but it is routine work, not a problem.
Do attachments travel with the machine?
Usually yes: buckets, forks, and blades ride on the same deck, secured separately. List the attachments in your quote request so the weight and length include them.
How do I measure my machine for a transport quote?
Longest point to longest point, widest to widest, ground to highest point, with attachments mounted as they will travel, plus the operating weight from the spec plate or manual. Honest numbers make the quote you receive the price you actually pay.
Tell us the machine and the route, and we quote it personally, usually within hours.
Request a heavy haul quote