Case Study | Seedling nursery snake trailers
The Challenge
A local wholesale seedling nursery with a fleet of off-road “snake” trailers required major safety upgrades.
These unique trailers are designed to be towed in land trains of up to six trailers, with a four-wheel steering mechanism that ensures the entire train tracks the same path without cutting corners.
While the original design was innovative, the trailers needed several critical upgrades.
The Solution
1. Brakes:
The original trailers had no brakes, and with their 8” golf-buggy wheels, there was no suitable braking system on the market.
Our team designed a bespoke offset brake system using 10” electric trailer drum brakes, mounted inboard of the wheels.
2. Drawbars:
The original drawbars used 50mm balls with 2-tonne couplings, but with a total train weight of up to 8 tonnes, this system was inadequate.
We developed a new drawbar system featuring 70mm balls and couplings to ensure the necessary strength and safety for this application.
3. Slews:
The original trailers used LM "Holden-type" hubs that were prone to failure.
Our solution involved designing a new heavy-duty agricultural stub assembly, which is four to five times stronger than the original.
4. Load Retention:
The original design featured heavy “gullwing” rails to retain the load, but the gas struts were prone to breaking, causing potential safety risks.
We redesigned this system with a simple cantilever rack retainer and over-centre mechanism, reducing the trailer weight by over 100kg and making the operation safer and more user-friendly.
The Outcome
We designed and built 25 new galvanised trailers with electric brakes, heavy-duty drawbars, stronger slews, and an innovative new load retention system.
The trailers are safer, more durable, and 150kg lighter than the previous design. This upgrade has improved operational efficiency, enhanced safety, and provided a more reliable solution for the nursery’s fleet.
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