Trailers are available in all shapes and sizes, even custom-made to fit a specific piece of equipment. Roads & Bridges has gathered a sample of recent introductions of trailers to illustrate what's new. We hope you will find a trailer here to suit your application.
Sliding on air
The Intraax AAZ family of platform sliders brings sliding-platform trailer operators the weight and maintenance advantages of an integrated air-ride suspension system. Offered by Hendrickson International, Woodridge, Ill., in ride heights from 6.5 to 17 in., the AAZ tandem and single-axle systems feature a combination of a smooth-sliding "Z" profile box and the road-proven Intraax integrated suspension system. The slider box fits neatly up between the trailer I-beams with lock-pins engaging through holes in the web of the beams. The platform sliders fit I-beam centers of 37, 38, 43 and 44 in., and the tandem can accommodate 49-, 60- and 72-in. axle spreads. With a wide variety of available combinations of singles and tandems, the AAZ family provides flexibility in trailer design tailored to serve a wide range of hauling requirements.
Two ways to dump
Crysteel Manufacturing Inc., Lake Crystal, Minn., has introduced the Deuce two-way dump body. The Deuce doubles work truck efficiency by combining rear dumping and side dumping in one body. The design allows operators to dump to the rear for typical applications as well as to the side for those hard-to-reach places. The Deuce is available in 9- and 11-ft lengths and up to 11-ton capacities with a five-year warranty.
Order up!
When Ellen Fiore bought a Komatsu WA 500 loader that measured 12 ft 8 in. in height, she knew she would have problems hauling it to demolition sites with overhead clearance of only 13 ft 6 in. Fiore is the owner and president of Bedrock Stone Inc., Kearny, N.J., a recycler of concrete and rubble. Bedrock offers on-site crushing and screening of demolition material.
Because of her previous positive experience with a lowboy trailer made by Rogers Brothers Corp., Fiore turned to her local Rogers distributor for advice. The distributor recommended a Rogers Specialized Trailer designed specifically to meet Bedrock's needs. The distributor took Bedrock's people to Rogers' Albion, Pa., factory to oversee the design and manufacture of a 60-ton, drop-side trailer featuring wheel pockets, Rogers' newest innovation for reducing transport height.
Bedrock Stone has been using the Rogers Specialized trailer for about a year and report they can transport their Komatsu loader anywhere without pulling pins or disassembly.
Also from Rogers, the redesigned TT20 tilt-deck trailer is available in 20-ton capacity, features a 25-ft 6-in. full-tilt, unitized deck with an 80-in. drawbar and is balanced to tilt easily under the weight of one man. Standard equipment are a 35,000-lb-capacity, two-speed landing gear; dual hydraulic load-dampening cylinders; and a heavy-duty, multileaf spring suspension. A folding, tapered rear ramp allows quick, easy loading.
Hydraulic trailer
With only a 6° ramp angle, the Escalate ET 12000 trailer from Bil-Jax Inc., Archbold, Ohio, can be loaded by one person while the trailer is connected to its 25/16-in. hitch and tow vehicle. The Escalate ET 12000 is a 12,000-lb-capacity hydraulic drop-deck trailer. It has dual axles with 17.5-in. tires and a leaf-spring suspension that increases the bed width to 75 in. while producing a softer ride and easier trailer control during transportation.
Welded, heavy-gauge, powder-coated steel is used to create a rugged frame rated at 16,500 lb total gross vehicle weight. Overall bed size is 75 in. wide x 168 in. long, and the overall trailer width is 102 in. Other standard benefits include electric brakes, cargo tie-downs and a battery. The ET 12000 is the sixth and largest model in the Escalate hydraulic trailer line. Bil-Jax also offers models with 1,500-, 2,000-, 4,000-, 5,000- and 7,000-lb capacities.
Wider load
The design of all of Witzco's 2004 trailers features a wider center frame for improved stability and added axle loads. The engineering redesign will standardize all 2004 models of trailers from Witzco Challenger Trailers, Sarasota, Fla., with 40-in. frame centers. Axle load capacities are increased up to 13% by the widened frame design.
Witzco has built other new standard features into its 2004 model lineup, such as air safety locks, H-9700 suspensions, uni-mount wheels, one-piece cast outriggers and 2-in. oak decking.
How low can you go?
Triple-L (Lower, Load and Lift) trailers from JLG Industries Inc., Hagerstown, Md., incorporate a Power Deck hydraulic system that allows the operator to lower the deck of the trailer to ground level. The entire deck of the trailer can be lowered and raised hydraulically in less than 15 seconds. More than 20 different models with capacities ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 lb are available.
Removable gooseneck
The Mechanical Removable Gooseneck trailer from Kalyn Siebert, Gatesville, Texas, has a new positive latch system and exterior tie downs. It is shot blasted for metal preparation prior to painting with a new high-volume, low-pressure paint application system. Standard paint now includes an epoxy primer and polyurethane topcoat with a three-year limited warranty. The trailer does not require the use of winches or hydraulics to remove the neck. Lower deck length is up to 29 in. with a loaded deck height of 18 in.
