Flat Bed Trailer (Chris)

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

What's goin' on...

Chris

This one was based on a trailer I worked on while working for Swift Transportation. Instead of it being a spread axle I made it a tri axle. I stayed after work took notes and measurements for this project. Unfortunitly I don't have those any more. Here's the album.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex...1605346&f=0

[Old Albion]

Scott,

This trailer is very impressive. I like it. Have you any other designs or ideas for scratch building trailers? I am planning to scratch build a low boy with a goose neck, but I don't know what maker I will base it on. I really liked the one Anthony Oteri built this was superb. Its interesting to see the differances between North American Trailers and European ones. The main differance as far as I can see is where the axles are placed. No doubt this will be for load distribution and stability. Here in UK the tractors are typically single axle drive. We have a maximum overall length of semi truck and trailer of just over 54 ft (16.5M) with a maximum length of trailer of just short of 45ft (13.6M). This means that the three axles on the trailer carry most of the weight. This is why they are much further forward than in the US and Canada. The forward axles and single axle drive can cause some problems though with traction. Many a truck gets stuck on a steep gradient because all the weight is on the rear of the trailer (Especially Tank Trailers) even in summer when the weather is fine. If the truck is an older one it might not have the differential lock like the modern ones. This happened to my brother in law once and he had to reverse all the way back down the hill and take a different route. A good job it wasn't very busy at the time.

[SpreadAxle]

Scott,

This trailer is very impressive. I like it. Have you any other designs or ideas for scratch building trailers? I am planning to scratch build a low boy with a goose neck, but I don't know what maker I will base it on. I really liked the one Anthony Oteri built this was superb. Its interesting to see the differances between North American Trailers and European ones. The main differance as far as I can see is where the axles are placed. No doubt this will be for load distribution and stability. Here in UK the tractors are typically single axle drive. We have a maximum overall length of semi truck and trailer of just over 54 ft (16.5M) with a maximum length of trailer of just short of 45ft (13.6M). This means that the three axles on the trailer carry most of the weight. This is why they are much further forward than in the US and Canada. The forward axles and single axle drive can cause some problems though with traction. Many a truck gets stuck on a steep gradient because all the weight is on the rear of the trailer (Especially Tank Trailers) even in summer when the weather is fine. If the truck is an older one it might not have the differential lock like the modern ones. This happened to my brother in law once and he had to reverse all the way back down the hill and take a different route. A good job it wasn't very busy at the time.

Well that explains some things for me a little further Dave. I always thought that it had to do with European roads being narrower and more windy in some places. Then again, it may be why the length laws are so strict. Reading what happened to your poor brother-in-law makes me appreciate my truck a little more. It crawls sometimes at 15 mph going up a very steep hill if heavy, but at least it stilll moves. I have often been curious as to why the single drive axle would be chosen in some of the more mountainous European countries. I hope the drivers are able to get a smooth ride from those shorter trucks.

It seems here in the states, length laws as well as the bridge law are more heavily enforced in the eastern and northeastern states, where this country's oldest, and most populated cities are. The further west you go, you get to see some long trucks.