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Trailer (vehicle)

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Image:Custom camper.jpg
Image:Boat on Trailer.jpg
Image:Boat Trailer Empty.jpg

A Trailer is an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Outside of North America there is a distinction between a trailer (generally uncovered, used for goods and materials) and a caravan (travel trailer) (generally weather-resistant, used for human habitation). North Americans tend not to make such distinctions.

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[edit] Types of trailers

According to the North American usage of the word trailer, there are five main types of trailer, which are here defined by their axle arrangement and method of combination. Non-North American usage of the term would usually not differentiate trailer types by these criteria.

[edit] Semi-trailer

A semitrailer is a US English term (see the article for etymology) for a trailer supported at its forward end by a fifth-wheel (or gooseneck ball) mounted on a tractor, truck or dolly and at the rear end by its own wheels. Special constructions are [1]: - double deck trailers - step-frame trailers Both help to minimise the number of trips for a given transport volume.

[edit] Full trailer

A full trailer is the US term for a trailer supported by axles front and rear and pulled by the way of a drawbar. In Europe this is also know as A-Frame drawbar trailer.

[edit] Simple trailer

A simple trailer is pulled by a drawbar, but has a single set of axles

[edit] Travel trailer

This is the US term for a trailer meant for housing people while camping, towed by a motorized vehicle. Outside of North American this type of trailer is called a camper or a caravan.

[edit] Utility trailer

A trailer designed for transporting goods and materials. These trailers can also be used to haul tractors, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and golf carts. Some utility trailers have a fixed hitch and some have a hitch that pivots to allow material to be unloaded or dumped from the cargo area. Utility trailers can come in single or tandem axle varieties.

[edit] Bicycle trailer

A motorless wheeled frame with a hitch system designed for transporting cargo by bicycle.


Image:Drawbar trailer coupling.jpg

A trailer hitch is needed to draw a trailer with a car or a traction engine.

[edit] Freight trailers types

Trailers built for hauling cargo come in different shapes depending on their use. Most of the terminology below is in North American usage.

  • Agriculture
    • Corn (double bottom hopper)
    • Grain (hopper / no-hopper, open-tarp top)
    • Livestock (belly or straight)
  • Auto carriers (5-car, 9-car, 6-car enclosed)
  • Beverage
  • Chip/wood product
  • Container chassis, designed to carry standard 20 feet and 40 feet containers
  • Curtainside / tautliner - half-flatbed/half van, vans whose sides are made of fabric and can be easily removed enclosed cargo trailers
  • Doubles / triples - or "pups"
  • Dropdeck – steel and composite
  • Dump - aluminum and steel; rear dump (frame or frameless) and bottom dumb
  • Extendable - flatbed and drop style
  • Flatbed - steel and composite; (can have bulkhead, spread axles)
  • Lowboy - (gooseneck) hydraulic detachable and mechanical detachable; flip-up
  • Platform
  • Pole/logging - a single I-beam frame running the length of the trailer, with two "U" shaped holding arms at each end
  • Sliding axle and hydraulic tail (lift) or dove-tail (heavy loads)
  • Specialized multi-axle (gooseneck; for extremely heavy loads)
  • Tag
  • Tank
    • Tank - asphalt
    • Tank - compressed industrial gas (helium, argon, etc.)
    • Tank - dry bulk (hopper)
    • Tank – petroleum (oil and gasoline; can be chassis tank with pup)
    • Tank – stainless steel (milk; can be sanitary)
  • Transfer
  • Utility
  • Van - (enclosed van, the most common type of trailer-approximately: U.S.-41.7%, essentially a box on wheels)
    • Van - dry freight
    • Van – refrigerated (reefer), insulated vans for the transport of perishable goods
    • Van - single and double drop; moving / furniture van
NOTE: There are many types of vans, vans made of wood, metal and/or fiberglass, smooth or ribbed, generally used for dry goods or equipment transport

[edit] See also

de:Anhänger eo:Remorko fr:Remorque nl:Aanhangwagen ja:牽引自動車 pl:Przyczepa fi:Perävaunu sv:Släpfordon uk:Причіп

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