Self
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steering low-loading trailer
• A system of hydraulic rams mounted on the fifth-wheel coupling fitted on a standard three-axle tractive unit permits the twin rear axles of the semi-trailer to follow the track of the drawing vehicle in a low-loader design developed in the Netherlands by Nooteboom, Europalaan 58, Hoofdkantoor, Utrecht.
This swan-necked low-loader has a 5.5 metres long well and is equipped with outriggers to carry wide loads.
The design of the rear bogie is unusual in that the release of turn-buckles permits the half axles of the leading and trailing axles to be turned through an angle of more than 45 degrees. This allows the inner of the twin tyres fitted to each half axle to be removed for repair in the event of it being punctured while the vehicle is on the road. The design of the rear bogie also allows manual manoeuvring of the semi-trailer in very confined spaces.
In this particular instance the load capacity is 60 tonnes but greater payloads can be carried on stronger trailers built to a similar design principle.