Trucking in North America vs around the world

That is a fascinating system, but legal axle weights would only allow 17 ton for the pair, and I cannot begin to imagine how difficult it would be to keep that mechanism functional with snow, road debris, salt etc. with all the little lines (hoses) exposed as they are. It would be hard to imagine that they could handle excess weight loading nearly as well either. One could permit for more on a load by load basis, but many states only allow 20,000 per axle maximum without going to special permits.

I should add that I may be misconstruing what a pendel trailer is. My comments before were mostly in regard to platform modular trailers such as Goldhofers. As far as self steering or remote control steering, they are available on our trailers but are cost prohibitive for most applications unless one has a stretch trailer that is very long, or a schnauble (sp?) for hauling wind towers.

 

In regard to weight benefit for pendel, no there is no benefit. A single axle is 20,000 (if the axle and tires are rated for it), tandems are 34,000, and tridems are typically 43,500 depending on the spread between the first and last in a group. It typically takes a 10' spread between adjacent axles to qualify as a single axle.

This chart portrays the typical bridge formula which is widely accepted throughout the states, with the exception that all gross weights in excess of 80,000 will require some sort of permit depending on the state. Some states allow more on state and U.S. highways, but not the interstate.

 

Most all lowboy trailers here are RGNs (removable goose neck). By enlarge the majority are hydraulically operated, but some still use a mechanical detach system in which the trailer neck rolls up a framework on the tractor to get to the fifth wheel, or rather the tractor is backed under the neck and lifts the load as it does so. Here is an old video of a Cozad mechanical detach. (2) Cozad Trailers Gooseneck Training Manual - YouTube

Cozad makes one of the lightest and strongest trailers made, and they do offer a hydraulic neck. They work great on firm dry level ground, but it can be nearly impossible to pick up a load on snow or uneven ground. I have seen a tractor get spit out when almost to the fifth wheel on snow and ice.

I own an old Aspen trailer. It has a hydraulic neck. For going over large humps in a road or elevated railroad crossings I can raise the neck/deck up quite high if needed, and it has various neck height settings. I can also raise the air suspension on the trailer somewhat to gain clearance. Here it is with our 345, which weighs 92K without the counterweight and bucket. This is a 1996 model trailer. The deck height is two feet. The new ones are fancier with more options, but essentially all work the same way. As you can see, even though it is an old trailer, the deck still has some camber left in it despite being near the maximum. I paid $40k for this in 2009, and other than having the hydraulic rams rebuilt and normal maintenance I have done nothing to it. It really needs a paint job though.

My gross weight with this excavator on is about 132,000 lbs. I can run this on most highways in our state under my annual permit.

 

The purpose for the folding rear axle in this photo is to gain enough bridge to get an additional 20,000 lbs. That is why it protrudes so far behind the main part of the trailer. It most be at least 10' from the center of the booster axle to the center of the last trailer axle in order to qualify as a single axle. The benefit has diminishing returns though as the tare weight goes up with the increased weight capacity.

 

More goodies…….

 

Cool video, noticed the KBR sprinter at the end. Kellogg, Brown and Root is most likely the largest contractor for US Department of Defense. They run most of the logistics for the military abroad. They are a division of Halliburton.
Used to hate getting stuck behind HET's (Heavy Equipment Transporters M1070) on the MSR's in Iraq. Top speed for them was 48 MPH. My company ran M915A3's and my wrecker was a HEMTT M984E1, so we could run 67 MPH. If I recall, the Silver 8V92 was cranking around 2300 RPM to maintain that speed. Here are some pictures of pictures of the trucks.
This is with armor, didn't have that first tour.

Wrecker I ran. Slept many of nights under the stars on a medical liter spread across the toolboxes.

Motorpool office entrance improvements. Talk about us, walk without us!

 

Does globe make a good trailer? I’ve never heard of them before……..?

grew up around Rodgers lowbeds. That’s what everyone had.

 

If I could afford and needed a new trailer, this would be it!

 

Awesome photos!

 

I have seen a few around and they look really nice. I haven't heard anything one way or the other. I rented a pretty new Eager Beaver two years ago for a bit. It was nice enough looking, but after using it I don't think it would hold up well and it was more temperamental than my old trailer hook up to.