Design and construction of trailers from 150 kg to 180,000 kg capacity and from 2 metres to 18 metres in length.

The smaller, lighter end of this vast spectrum encompasses many diverse tyes of trailer including box, dinghy, flat bed, jet ski, etc.

The larger, heavier end of this spectrum provides a greater design challenge and a much greater need for customisation. A few examples are shown below.

HGV semi trailer

This HGV semi trailer ("articulated trailer") was designed and built specifically for 'Drambuie'. It is big, 18.35 metres in length, and light (8,000 kg gross weight). Bespoke design was essential; modification of a standard semi trailer being discounted because the suspension characteristics, typically designed for weights in excess of 30,000 kg gross weight, would have shaken the boat apart.

Road going (slow speed) abnormal indivisible load

This bespoke road going (slow speed) abnormal indivisible load trailer has a 15,000 kg gross weight and is designed to be towed over short distances by a large agricultural tractor. It is equippped with hydraulic brakes and a steered rear axle to allow maximum manoeuvrability in confined spaces.

180,00 kg gross weight marine yard slipway trolley

This specialist trolley is designed in a modular format for two reasons.

1. It was built off-site and transported in sections; and

2. The modules can be coupled together to allow maximum flexibility depending on the size/weight of the boat(s) being slipped. Each module, or any combination up to the complete 'train', is hauled on rails by wire by a winch located at the top of the slip. The complete 'train' has a 180,000 kg gross capacity.

MoD (Navy)

Regrettably, the Official Secrets Act precludes TTAS from disclosing any details of the interesting design and construction work undertaken on behalf of the MoD (Navy).

RNLI

The RNLI have a land based inshore lifeboat on the Isle of Arran (Scotland). The RNLI wanted to be able to tow the lifeboat, by road, to a point nearest to the casualty and launch regardless of weather/wave conditions and ground terrain. Subsequent to the 'shout' the lifeboat would be recovered and returned to its base.

The brief was to design and construct a solution. The solution proposed, accepted and implemented was:

1. A piggy back trailer fitted with a hydraulic tilt bed. The front of the trailer is raised, thereby lowering the rear, to facilitate easy loading/offloading of the lifeboat trolley; and

2. A lifeboat trolley fitted with low ground pressure/flotation tyres for traversing both soft sand and hard shingle beaches and a castor action nose wheel to aid manoeuvrability.

The trolley is designed to be immersed in the sea with the lifeboat driven forwards out of the trolley directly into the face of any oncoming waves. Subsequent to the rescue, the lifeboat would be manoeuvred, stern first, onto the immersed trolley. the trolley is then recovered, returned to the piggy back road trailer and towed back to base.

All trolley wheel hubs are fitted with greasable phosphor bronze bushes that run on stainless steel axles i.e. water resistant with minimal maintenance.

Back to "Who is TTAS?"