If you’ve been on any highway in Australia, you have likely seen many specialised trailers pulled by freight transportation companies. Low loader trailers, also known as double drop, low-bed, or lowboy trailers, are efficient and versatile transport machines designed to carry bulldozers, cranes, and other heavy construction equipment.

How Low Loader Trailers Function

The very first low bed trailer was introduced in the 1920s. Back then, it could only be loaded from the rear and its gooseneck was attached to the truck from the front of the trailer. The detachable gooseneck followed in the 1950s, making it much easier to load the deck. Modern low loader trailers have hydraulic systems that further streamline the loading process.

Low loaders are semi-trailers with two drop decks. The first drop is behind the gooseneck of the trailer, and the second drop is right before the wheels. These two drops make oversized transport more convenient, and they are what separate low loader trailers from other standard trailers.

The low-lying deck ensures that the centre of gravity is low, while the equipment being hauled remains as stable as possible. There is also the option of increasing the width of the cargo plane. This way, the trailer remains completely stable on the road regardless of what cargo it carries.

Low loader trailers come in two variations: short and extended, with customisable chassis adjusted depending on use. The trailer sits very low to the ground, making it easy to accommodate tall equipment that surpasses the legal height requirement for flatbed trailers.

Two-axel low loader trailers can carry equipment up to 5 metres high and 20,000 kilograms. If the number of axels is expanded, the weight limit can be increased to nearly 40,000 kilograms. Low loaders have hydraulic suspension and an optimal loading platform that makes loading, transport, and unloading heavy machinery incredibly easy.

Both trailer types are also equipped with high-quality equipment such as outriggers and flip ramps to make the transfer process as easy as possible.

What Low Loader Trailers Can Carry

Low loaders are the best choice for heavy machinery or equipment. Its unique setup can accommodate large and uneven loads up to 5 metres wide and 100 tonnes. The trailers can also be extended by as many axels as needed to accommodate your machine lengthwise. For companies that handle different types of cargo, low loader trailers are the most practical and cost-effective solution because they can transport any type of goods, machinery, and equipment.

Low loader trailers are often tasked to carry the following:

• Construction equipment for roadwork and excavation
• Forwarder, harvester, and skidders for forestry
• Tractors, wagons, harvesters, hybrid towers, and other agricultural equipment
• Generators and turbine blades for wind power plants
• Boats, cranes, and other large vessels
• Specially fabricated plant machinery
• Heavy machinery for drilling and transporting minerals for mining
• Semi-trucks and earthmovers
• Road-rail vehicles, locomotives, rail motor coach, and other railway parts.

These are only a few examples of what low loader trailers can carry. If you have heavy equipment that you need to transport in Australia, contact a local transport company to find out about all your options.

Conclusion

Low loader trailers are a popular choice for transportation companies across Australia because of their large load capacities. If you need to transport heavy machinery, low loaders can get the job done. A reputable transport company will provide the perfect transport solution for your specific needs.

If you plan to hire a truck or a loader in Perth, KEE Group is here for you. Our haulage solutions cover the whole of Australia. We endeavour to meet all deadlines and budgets with our reliable service. We can handle anything between 1T and 250T across our fleet of low loaders. Contact us about your transport needs!

When managing a project that requires the use of mining machinery and equipment, considering all factors and costs will ultimately affect your bottom line. If buying new equipment is out of the question, then finding mining equipment for hire would be your only option. Even then, you’re still left with the decision between going for dry hire or wet hire, two very distinct options with their own advantages.

Let’s explore some of those pros and cons.

Why Dry Hire?

If you’re feeling confident with your project management and you want to prioritise cost over convenience, then dry hire is practically the best option for you. Dry hire is when you hire only the equipment needed for the project and operate the plant machinery yourself. In whatever way you want to use the equipment is entirely up to you. The good news is that dry hiring can dramatically reduce the overall cost of hiring equipment. Some of the other benefits of dry hiring include:

• The flexibility of finding your own operator: If you already have a skilled operator on your existing team, then you don’t have to worry about hiring one. If you don’t have an operator, you can always find someone who is skilled and would fit your budget.
• You have more control over the work: Obviously, you have greater control over an operator under your employment compared to a contractor.
• Better accountability: if you’re working with an employee, they’re already familiar with your expectations and processes, and they know how your team works on any given project. There’s greater accountability for what is done on-site in case anything goes wrong.

Of course, you can’t just hire equipment and then assign some random person on your team to operate it. Equipment rental companies will have their own mandatory requirements on how their equipment is handled. Your chosen operator needs to be experienced in handling the equipment and, in some cases, they need to be licensed to use it.

If your appointed operator fails on both requirements, you may need to shell out more money for equipment orientation and training before they can use the equipment. This can be costly both in terms of time and money.

Why Wet Hire?

If you need speed and convenience, a wet hire would be ideal for your project. Wet hire is very much a “complete package” as the equipment you hire already comes with a trained operator to use it. The catch is that you also need to pay for the operator’s labour as they work on your project under your supervision.

There are practically two benefits to this, but it could be more than enough to convince you to go for wet hire on your project. Those benefits are:

• No training necessary: If you don’t have an operator confident with the machinery on your worksite, then a more skilled operator may be needed. It eliminates the need to train and orient your team members on using the equipment.
• Lesser risk of any accidents: From an insurance perspective, a wet hire can be an advantage as they have already mastered the use of the equipment. Those operators already have an enormous amount of experience working on various projects, and they’re less likely to make mistakes while on the job.

Making the Call

Ultimately, the decision on whether you go for wet hire or dry hire for your mining project rests with you. Both are viable options and work well depending on the type of project you’re working on. Instead of choosing one over the other, it may be best to weigh your options by looking at your budget, the timeline of the project, and the type of work needed to be done.

Need some quality equipment delivered to your job site? Look no further than KEE Group. We have rollers, excavators, dump trucks, water trucks, low loaders, and dozers for hire whenever you need them. Not only can we supply mining equipment for hire, but we can also deliver, fuel, service, and operate it depending on your needs.

Nearly all construction sites need stable ground, with the soil compressed and free from underground air pockets. To make this work, builders need compaction rollers. Today’s rollers are leagues away from the horse or steam-powered kinds of the past. Whether you have a pad foot, smooth drum, or multi-tyred roller, here are a few things you should know about its maintenance. 

What Can Each Type of Roller Do? 

Smooth drum rollers are for crushing, compacting, and finishing material. It is best for static rolling or when the site cannot have ground vibration. Smooth drums also produce consistent surfaces with compacting. 

Meanwhile, a sheep’s foot or pad foot roller is best for kneading, crushing, and drying materials with high water content. Use it on granular and cohesive soils, which are prone to air voids and water retention. 

Finally, multi-tyred rollers are best for creating a dense base structure. These rollers generate vertical pressure and horizontal force, helping smooth over the stress fractures from other rollers. 

What to Check During Machine Maintenance 

Before the day’s work, do a quick walk around the roller. Doing this allows you to check for leaks, loose wiring, or anything that could be amiss. Ensure that the electrical components are working well.  

Go over the warning beacons, backup alarms, headlights, the centre joint, and the parking brake as well. It helps to have a checklist for this purpose. Here are more things to note. 

1. The Roller Drum 

Check for dings or grime on the surface—damaged or dirty drums cause imperfections on the mat and surface. Since the drum is the most used part of the roller, you have to check its oil levels regularly; neglecting this can cause the bearings to get worn down quickly. 

2. The Engine’s Fluid Levels 

Check the engine oil, lubricant, and other fluids to ensure the engine performs optimally. Compaction rollers, whether smooth, pad foot, or multi-tyred, have maintenance decals on the machine that indicate the level of fluids and lubricants it has. 

3. The Water System 

Ensure that your roller is functioning well by maintaining the water system. The tank should have clean water for lubricating the drum; otherwise, the asphalt will stick to it and clog the system. Check the water filter as well to ensure that the water has no particles. 

Ensure that the nozzles spray evenly and keep the compactor consistent. A nozzle can clog or crack, and a tank could have algae or calcium buildup, so regularly cleaning these is a must. 

4. The Drum Scrapers 

A drum scraper is responsible for holding water to the drum and ensuring it’s adequately lubricated. If you don’t ensure proper lubrication on your drum scraper, you will lose water between the drum and the scraper. Consequently, the asphalt will start clinging to the edges. 

Before starting work, make sure the drum scrapers are appropriately adjusted. Retract the scraper, so it does not touch the drum if you’re using the roller for an extended period, or keep the water on them. 

5. The Air Filters and Hydraulic System 

Keep the engine from overheating and generating too much exhaust by ensuring that the filter moves air the way it should. When it gets too dirty, replace it instead of trying to clean it.

Also, regularly check the hydraulic oil levels inside the engine. As much as possible, you must change it after 1,000 to 2,000 work hours. If the oil is dark or full of grime, it needs changing right away. 

6. The Shock Mounts 

Replace torn or failing shock mounts. These rubber parts isolate the drum’s vibration from the operator and direct its energy from the drum to the mat. Regular use causes cracks or tears to this rubber, so ensure that you monitor the mounts on your machine. 

What to Do at the End of the Day 

Reduce the likelihood of condensation in your tank by fueling up the roller at the end of the day. Also, give the cab glass a wipe-over to keep it ready for the next workday. Finally, always keep the roller locked and secured when not in use. Doing this prevents theft and vandalism. 

Conclusion 

Compaction rollers are vital to mid-sized and large construction projects. These machines have plenty of components that need regular care and maintenance. Small businesses that don’t have the time or resources to devote to upkeep can turn to roller hire companies for their needs. 

Trust KEE Hire to pave the way for your project’s success. We are your roller hire partner in Perth, Albany, and Port Hedland, striving to maintain top-notch service to our clients. Learn more about the KEE difference today—contact us for enquiries!