Sub 10 Ton Drawbar Trailers With Steering Axles

[sae8425]

In Europe, smallish (ie sub 5 ton capacity) drawbar trailers with steering axles of all descriptions are highly popular. And in all likelihood, in the 10 ton capacity category, such trailers are more popular there than any of the types of non-steering axled trailers that dominate the North American sub 10 ton market (BP/GN/FW).

But here in America such sized drawbar trailers with steering axles seem to be virtually non existent.

Yes, they are somewhat more difficult to reverse (at least until you get the hang of it), but this can't be the only reason that are they so uncommon in America, and I would imagine Canada as well? Can it?

With the wheels virtually at the ends of the trailer they posses more inherent stability. And they can be loaded while unhooked from the tow vehicle much easier than most commonly used sub 10 ton trailers in North America as well.

I currently have a 14+4 Towmaster tilting deck trailer here in America, and while it's certainly well built, it's such a chore to balance the load (and the heavier the load gets the more difficult it is to balance). And while it's rated at 12000 lbs, I don't think that I'd like to tow it very far (or fast) at that weight.

Years ago, I had a 5 ton capacity 3 way tipping trailer with a drawbar steering axle in Europe and it was a slick, well behaved, piece of kit. I could put virtually any amount of weight in that trailer with little regard to weight distribution, and it would tow almost as smoothly as it would when empty.

And I wasn't using a truck that weighed upwards of 10,000 lbs and had a 300 hp diesel engine to pull this trailer either. Day and night difference.

This type of trailer also negates the issue of tongue weight, which would seem to be another point in its favor.

But maybe my university tutors were right after all and I didn't pay enough attention in various science classes.

Is there something in all of this regarding vehicle dynamics that I'm not seeing clearly, or would stretching the wheelbase of a trailer and using a steering axle with a drawbar to remove the tongue weight from the towing vehicle be a big step in the right direction regarding my search for a better sub 10 ton capacity trailer?

 

[slowzuki]

1) Steering trailers are called wagons or wagon running gears in north america, and they are very common, on farms. I've got 4 or 5 of them, so does every farmer around here. They are used as hay wagons, grain carts, header carts, log trailers, seed tenders etc etc.
2) You can't go fast as they are unstable at speed by nature.
3) They don't have brakes very ofter here as they are used at low speed behind tractors.
4) The lack of tongue weight and no brakes means you need a bigger tow vehicle.
5) Hard to back up.

Every area has popular brands, here Horst is a big one.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think another reason that they are not popular is we in North America have very good tow vehicles available. The average 1/2 ton pickup can tow 5 tons or 10,000# no problem and have ratings upto 11,300#. Almost every American driveway has one sitting in it. Step up to a 1 ton diesel and you can tow upto 25,000# or 12.5 tons without anything special.

Chris

 

[Renze]

2) You can't go fast as they are unstable at speed by nature.

that only applies to the North American type of steering: with a conventional steering axle, and very basic (read:sloppy) pivot pins. The European type has a fixed front axle mounted on a turntable, like a 360 excavator.

4) The lack of tongue weight and no brakes means you need a bigger tow vehicle.

in the field, there is no weight transfer by the towbar so you need more tow vehicle weight to get traction: but on the road, you can do with half the tow vehicle weight (if properly equipped with brakes)

5) Hard to back up.

A wagon type trailer may be harder to back up, but it follows the track of the tow vehicle much better when cornering.

 

[slowzuki]

Turntable went out here 40 years ago, unstable when turned tight. Manure spreaders all used to be like that, upsetting the spreader was a common but hated occurrence.

On the road you need more weight too, we don't have fail safe air braked wagons here, and our highways generally are higher speed. Also, less inspections of trailer brakes if any in most areas here, so the tow vehicle is the backup braking.

The turn table type might follow the track better, the conventional type does not.

that only applies to the North American type of steering: with a conventional steering axle, and very basic (read:sloppy) pivot pins. The European type has a fixed front axle mounted on a turntable, like a 360 excavator.
in the field, there is no weight transfer by the towbar so you need more tow vehicle weight to get traction: but on the road, you can do with half the tow vehicle weight (if properly equipped with brakes)
A wagon type trailer may be harder to back up, but it follows the track of the tow vehicle much better when cornering.

 

[Egon]

Road train - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Just some information on highway trucks and a configuration that involves more than one trailer.

On icy highways it can get interesting following one of these units as it turns into an osillating snake that covers the entire road.