Flatbeds & Step Decks
Flatbed and step-deck trailer financing
Standard flatbeds, step decks and drop decks, Conestoga and curtain-side trailers, extendables and double drops — aluminum, steel or combination — new or used, from a dealer or a private seller. Financed alone or as one deal with the tractor. Every credit profile considered.
- Flatbeds, step decks & double drops
- Conestoga & curtain-side
- Finance the trailer alone or with the tractor
- New or used, dealer or private seller
Updated September 15, 2026
Can I finance a flatbed trailer without the tractor?
Yes — Avanti Equipment Finance finances flatbed trailers on their own or together with a tractor: 48- and 53-foot flatbeds, step decks and drop decks, double drops, extendables, and Conestoga and curtain-side trailers, new or used, from a dealer or a private seller. Every credit profile is considered on amounts from $20K to $500K+ with terms up to 72 months; most flatbed tickets fit app-only programs with no tax returns, and most applicants get a decision in as little as 24 hours. Dry vans and reefers are not a program Avanti leads with.
10+
Years of experience
24-hr
Approval decisions
49
States served
72-mo
Terms available
Why finance with Avanti
A flatbed hauls the freight a van can't: lumber, steel, pipe, machinery, building materials, the loads that pay a premium because not everyone can move them. For an owner-operator it's the trailer that opens a second lane of work; for a small fleet it's the one that keeps the trucks earning when the van freight softens. We finance flatbed trailers of every configuration, new or used, from a dealer or a private seller: 48- and 53-foot flatbeds, step decks and drop decks, double drops and extendables for the tall and long loads, and Conestoga and curtain-side trailers for the freight that has to stay dry without a tarp. A trailer bought with its tractor is financed as one deal; a trailer bought on its own is financed on its own. Used flatbeds are financed every day, with the term set by the trailer's age, condition and the amount financed. Strong credit and time in business can mean $0 down; challenged credit usually means a down payment and a newer trailer, and you'll know the number before you put a deposit on anything. Decisions come back in as little as 24 hours, and we coordinate direct payment to the seller.
At a glance
- Amounts
- $20K – $500K+
- Terms
- Up to 72 months
- Credit
- A-paper to challenged
- Equipment
- New & used
Which flatbed trailers we finance
Any open-deck trailer built for general and specialized freight, financed as one unit with its securement and cover systems:
- 48- and 53-foot flatbeds in aluminum, steel and combination construction
- Step decks (drop decks) with beavertails and ramps for equipment and tall freight
- Double-drop and RGN-style lowboys for the tall loads — see the lowboy page for the heavy end
- Extendable flatbeds and stretch step decks for pipe, beams and poles
- Conestoga rolling-tarp and curtain-side trailers for freight that ships dry without tarping
- Spread-axle and sliding-axle configurations, lift axles, and the winches, chains, straps and coil packages that come with the trailer
- New from a dealer, and used from a dealer or a private seller
Trailer alone, or with the tractor
A flatbed and a tractor bought together are financed as one deal — one application, one closing, one payment — and a trailer bought on its own is financed on its own. A used flatbed is one of the lower-ticket ways to add a lane of work, and a newer owner-operator adding a flatbed to an existing tractor is a common file here; plan on a down payment as a startup.
A Conestoga is the exception on price: the rolling-tarp system adds real cost, holds its value well, and is financed with the trailer as part of the unit.
Used-flatbed checklist
A flatbed's value is in its main beams and its deck. Before you agree on a price, check or have an inspector check:
- Main beams and cross-members for cracks, previous weld repairs and sag; sight down the deck from the rear
- Deck — wood boards for rot and soft spots, aluminum for cracks at the rub rail; a rotten deck is a real expense on a 53-foot trailer
- Kingpin and upper coupler plate wear, landing gear operation
- Suspension, axles, brakes and ABS; tires matched and dated; a current DOT annual inspection
- Lights, wiring and the rub-rail and stake pockets that securement depends on
- Winches, chains, straps, coil racks and tarps included in the price
- On a Conestoga or curtain-side, the tarp fabric, bows, rollers and locking system
What to send us about the trailer
A listing or a dealer quote lets us review the actual trailer instead of a price alone. Have these ready:
- Make, model, year, VIN and asking price
- Type (flatbed, step deck, Conestoga, extendable), length, material and axle configuration
- Whether a tractor is part of the same purchase
- Dealer or private seller's name and contact information
- The down payment you have available and your business start date
Documents depend on your application
You can start with a short application and the trailer details. We will let you know what supporting documents your profile requires. If bank statements are requested, provide:
- Last 3 months of business bank statements — all pages, PDF downloads from online banking (no photos or partial pages)
How it works
1
Pick your equipment
Choose the truck or machine you need — from a dealer or a private seller, new or used.
2
Apply in minutes
A short application and the equipment details. We review your credit to pre-qualify, usually in just a few minutes.
3
Get a decision
Decisions come back in as little as 24 hours, with terms matched to your credit and time in business.
4
Get funded
Sign, and we coordinate funding — usually within a few days — so your equipment can get to work.
Flatbed & step-deck trailer financing at a glance
The program, stated plainly: what qualifies, what it takes, and what to expect.
| Equipment financed | New, used and higher-mileage flatbeds, step decks, double drops, extendables, Conestoga and curtain-side trailers. The term is set by the unit's age and the amount, not a blanket cutoff. |
|---|---|
| Where you can buy | Dealers, auctions and private sellers. A private-party purchase gets the same terms as a dealer deal — the title, any lien payoff and direct payment to the seller are handled for you. |
| Credit profiles | Every profile — A-paper to challenged credit, thin credit, past (discharged) bankruptcy, and startups under two years in business. |
| Amounts and terms | $20,000 to $500,000+ with terms up to 72 months. |
| Down payment | Strong credit and time in business can mean $0 down. Challenged credit (under 600) typically pairs with 30–40% down and 2017-or-newer equipment. Owned, titled equipment can be pledged to lower the cash at closing, and you'll know the number before you put a deposit on anything. |
| Paperwork | App-only programs with no tax returns on many deals under $300,000. Over $300,000, plan on a financial package — two years of tax returns, a balance sheet, a P&L and bank statements. Bank statements are asked for on smaller deals only when the credit profile calls for them. |
| Decision and funding | Decisions in as little as 24 hours from a short online application. Avanti coordinates funding through its lending partners, paid directly to the seller — usually within a few days — for businesses in 49 states, fully remote. |
Frequently asked questions
What flatbed trailers can I finance?
48- and 53-foot flatbeds, step decks and drop decks, double drops, extendables, and Conestoga and curtain-side trailers, in aluminum, steel or combination construction — new or used, from a dealer or a private seller.
Can I finance a flatbed and the tractor together?
Yes. A trailer and tractor bought at the same time are financed as one deal — one application, one closing, one payment. A trailer bought on its own is financed on its own.
Do you finance used flatbeds?
Yes. Used flatbeds are financed every day, with the term set by the trailer's age, condition and the amount financed. Sound main beams, a solid deck and a current DOT inspection strengthen the file.
Do you finance Conestoga trailers?
Yes. The rolling-tarp system is part of the trailer's value and is financed with it, new or used.
How much down payment do I need for a flatbed?
Strong credit and a few years in business can mean $0 down. Challenged credit or a newer business typically means a down payment, often 20 to 40 percent, and owned equipment can be pledged to lower it. You'll know the exact number before you commit.
Is there a minimum amount for flatbed financing?
Financing generally starts around $20,000. A lower-priced used flatbed can be financed together with the tractor or other equipment bought at the same time.
Do you finance dry vans or reefers?
Open-deck and specialized trailers are the focus here — flatbeds, step decks, lowboys, dump trailers and equipment trailers. Refrigerated and dry-van freight trailers are not a program we lead with.
Related financing
- Trailer financingDry vans, flatbeds, lowboys and specialty trailers.
- Construction equipment financingExcavators, dozers, loaders and skid steers, new or used.
- Excavator financingMini to large excavators, attachments included — hours and condition set the term, not a cutoff.
- Bulldozer financingEvery size class of crawler and wheel dozer, blade and grade control included — undercarriage sets the term.