What kind of trailer hauls heavy equipment?

Heavy equipment like bulldozers, excavators, scrapers and loaders play a vital role in various construction projects. However, transporting such heavy machinery from one site to another can be quite a challenge Car Transport. That’s where specialized heavy equipment trailers come in. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the different types of trailers used to haul heavy equipment and their unique features.

Lowboy Trailers

Flatbed Design

Lowboy trailers, also known as step deck trailers, are one of the most common types used for transporting heavy machinery. As the name suggests, they have a very low profile flatbed design which makes loading and unloading of equipment easier Car Transport.

Folding Ramps

Lowboys are equipped with broad folding ramps at both ends for rolling equipment on and off. The ramps have thick steel construction to withstand heavy weight loads.

Modular Deck System

The flatbed surface consists of modular steel deck plates bolted together. This allows crews to quickly configure the deck size as needed. Extra plates can be easily added or removed based on the size and weight of the load being transported.

Air Brakes & Suspension

For safety on the roads, lowboys come fitted with air brakes and a heavy duty independent suspension system. The suspension helps absorb shocks from uneven terrain when loading or unloading. It also ensures a smooth ride even when fully loaded.

Configurable Axle Arrangement

Depending on hauling requirements, lowboys can be specified with tandem, triple or quad axle configurations. The number of axles determines the maximum load capacity. More axles provide higher stability at higher speeds.

In summary, thanks to their versatile modular design and durable construction, lowboys are a top choice for transporting a wide variety of heavy equipment including bulldozers, graders, backhoes, cranes and more. Their low profile is well suited for oversize and overweight cargo hauling.

Skeleton Trailers

Open Steel Frame Design

Unlike enclosed trailers, skeleton trailers have an open steel frame structure without any sides. This makes them much lighter in weight compared to other trailer types of equivalent loading capacity.

Configurable Deck & Ramps

Similar to lowboys, skeleton trailers come with modular steel decks and folding ramps at both ends. Crews can quickly resize the cargo area as needed.

Ideal for Long Distance Hauls

The lightweight open frame construction helps reduce fuel consumption significantly, making skeleton trailers particularly suitable for long distance over-the-road hauling between job sites.

Better Visibility & Ventilation

The lack of enclosed sides offers excellent visibility of the load from all angles during transport and transit. It also allows for better natural ventilation around heavy equipment.

Slightly Lower Cost

Due to their simplified open frame design requiring fewer materials, skeleton trailers generally have a lower initial purchase price compared to enclosed trailers.

In conclusion, while not as weather resistant as enclosed trailers, skeleton trailers are a popular hauling solution for long haul transports thanks to their lightweight efficiency and good ventilated load visibility.

Enclosed Trailers

Fully Enclosed Cargo Area

As the name suggests, enclosed trailers have a weather sealed fully enclosed cargo compartment with rigid walls and a roof. This offers protection from elements like rain, snow, dust and debris.

Insulated Panels Available

For temperature sensitive loads, enclosed trailers can be specified with additional insulation in walls and roof. This helps maintain a stable temperature inside during transport.

Seal Weather Resistance

Door seals, weather stripping and reinforced joints ensure a fully weather tight seal. This protects expensive heavy equipment from corrosion and damage due to moisture ingress.

Interior Lighting & Access

Most enclosed trailers come pre-wired with interior LED lights for load visibility. Access doors or large rear ramps allow easy loading/unloading of cargo.

Suitable for Off-road Jobsites

Being fully sealed enclosures, enclosed trailers can haul equipment directly to muddy, dusty off-road construction sites without worrying about interior contamination.

Additional Security & Durability

The enclosed structure provides better security during transit stops compared to open trailers. It also protects the load from theft or vandalism. Durable construction stands up to rugged jobsite conditions.

In summary, enclosed trailers offer the best all-weather protection for transporting sensitive heavy equipment over long distances or to remote outdoor job locations. The tradeoff is higher cost and weight versus open trailers.

Heavy Haul Trailers

Extraordinarily High Load Capacity

As the name suggests, heavy haul trailers are designed to transport the heaviest loads including massive mining trucks, excavators, drilling rigs and industrial equipment weighing several hundred tons.

Multiple Extra Axles

To handle such heavy payloads safely, heavy haul trailers use multiple axle configurations with 6, 8 or even 10 or more axles per trailer unit. This widely distributes the concentrated weight.

Low Ground Clearance

The trailers have an extremely low 4 to 8 inch ground clearance to lower the center of gravity. This enhances stability at high speeds.

Specialized Features

Features may include hydraulic self-steering tag axles, wide load sign packages, special lighting, increased brake sizes and modular multi-section decks for road approvals.

Escort Vehicle Required

Due to being overweight and oversized, heavy haul loads usually require a pilot escort vehicle with warning signs and lights for safe road transit.

Permit Approvals Needed

Transport permits specifying road restrictions and escort plans must be approved by state authorities before moving such abnormal loads on public roads.

In summary, heavy haul trailers represent the pinnacle of heavy transport technology able to handle payload weights several thousand times higher than regular trailers, albeit at the cost of special approvals, preparations and escorted travel Car Transport.

Gooseneck Trailers

Neck-Extended Design

Unlike conventional trailers which hook directly to a tow vehicle’s hitch ball, gooseneck trailers have a extended “neck” section which hooks over the truck bed for a lower center of gravity.

Enhanced Hauling Stability

By shifting more of the trailer weight directly over the tow vehicle’s rear axle, goosenecks provide much better stability during transport than regular trailers, especially when fully loaded.

Better Hauling Heavy Loads

The lower connecting point makes gooseneck trailers well suited for hauling very heavy equipment, machinery and agricultural loads which require a lower center of weight.

Configurable Deck Options

Like other trailers, goosenecks come with modular flatbeds and specialized decks for various equipment. Auxiliary features include hydraulic brakes and axles.

Slightly High Learning Curve

Backing up a gooseneck can take more practice versus a standard bumper pull trailer due to its pivoting neck design requiring steering input from the tow vehicle.

In summary, thanks to their inherently stable weight distribution characteristics, gooseneck trailers represent an excellent choice for transporting heavy payloads up to legal road limits in a controlled predictable manner Car Transport.

Tilt Deck Trailers

Hydraulic Tilting Cargo Deck

Unlike trailers with fixed ramps, tilt deck trailers have a hydraulic powered tilting deck section that can be tilted to 60-90 degrees angles for easy loading and unloading.

Eliminates Use of Ramps

By tilting the entire deck surface, there is no need for ramps which saves space and speeds up transport operations compared to conventional trailers.

Suited for Awkward Shaped Loads

The tilting action makes loading and unloading equipment with protrusions, odd balancing points or non-standard configurations much simpler.

Additional Controls Inside

A control station inside the trailer allows workers to operate the tilting function from within for safer cargo handling versus using external ramps.

Deck Locks for Transit

The deck automatically locks horizontally for safe road travel once loaded. Additional features include heavy fenders, lighting and modular deck sections.

In conclusion, tilt deck trailers significantly boost efficiency for loading and unloading all types of heavy machinery and equipment, especially those with non-standard dimensions. The tilting innovation streamlines transport operations.

Car Transport – Parting Words

Construction companies and heavy equipment operators have different trailer options for hauling machinery depending on factors like load weight and dimensions, hauling distance, site accessibility and weather conditions.

While lowboys remain the most versatile multi-purpose choice, specialized trailers like skeleton, enclosed, gooseneck, heavy haul and tilt-deck trailers offer advantages in particular applications requiring extra strength, stability, protection or operational benefits.

The right trailer-equipment fitment ensures equipment reaches jobsites safely and on-time, ready to work. With attention to loading balance, weight distribution and regulatory safety guidelines, various trailer configurations make transporting heavy machinery over roads a controlled and productive process.