Designing the right trailer to meet your needs starts with a conversation. Whether you are looking to increase profitability and load space, or save time and money, a roll-off pup trailer could be the cost-effective alternative you have been looking for.
By Lexie Reed
Roll-off pup trailers have become an increasingly popular tool in the refuse industry. The signing of The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982 required states to allow longer, twin trailers. Thus, the need for pup trailers became more commonplace and by the late 1980s were considered the âgold standardâ in the refuse industry. As companies kept growing and looking for ways to increase profitability, pup trailers became a favorable option. Adding a pup trailer to an existing roll-off, or hook lift, truck allows companies to haul twice as much for a fraction of the price of adding an additional truck.
Pup trailers (sometimes referred to as âfullâ trailers, depending on the region) are trailers that are controlled by a pintle hitch as opposed to the standard 5th wheel hitch. In this application, the pup trailer is attached to the back of a roll-off, hook-lift, or truck with a pintle hook/pintle hitch to increase hauling capacity. On a roll-off pup trailer, the weight load is self-contained to the trailer, meaning it does not transfer to the truck. This is beneficial in many stateâs bridge weight laws. The most common configuration is a wagon style roll-off pup trailer. This means that the front axle(s) of the trailer is steerable.
Maximizing Efficiency
Roll-off pup trailers allow companies to double their payload without doubling labor or equipment costs, making them more competitive in the industry and amongst consumers. These heavy-duty, lightweight, trailers allow for increased hauling capacity and fewer trips resulting in increased profitability and productivity all around. Trucks with cable or hook-lift systems can easily transfer containers on and off the rear of the trailer in just minutes, saving the operator valuable time.
Roll-off pup trailers can provide a flexible option for companies with various trailer sizes and configuration options available. Choosing which option will best suit your needs is crucial to ensure safety, reduce wasted load space, and make certain that the trailer will be used to its maximum potential.
What to Consider
A standard roll-off pup trailer often consists of two axles, roughly 24′ of load space, and approximately 40K GVWR. Smaller and larger designs options are also common, depending on hauling needs. These can be two to four axles and range anywhere from 14′ to 49′ of load space and 24K to 80K GVWR. A tandem axle configuration has many advantages, the biggest of which is that it provides a higher GVWR. This allows for better load distribution, more control resulting in sway reduction, reduced tire wear, and increased overall safety.
Factors to consider when customizing your trailer should include required load space, load capacity, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), towing capacity of the truck that will pull the trailer, and if you require single or double box capacity. Further specifics you may want to consider would be the region and terrain which you will be hauling in, travel distance, and frequency of use.
A challenge that can present itself with steerable pup trailers is reversing. The extra pivot point can prove challenging even to the most seasoned trailer operators. Thankfully, there is an option available to address this challenge; an axle lock, sometimes called a pin lock, is a device that stops the front axle(s) from steering. The pin lock can be toggled on and off by a switch in the cab. This is especially beneficial when the truck is backing upâit allows the trailer to maneuver more easily.
Safely Handling Your Load
Supplying the means to safely secure your load is a top priority in the trailer customization process. Choosing a trailer with the correct load capacity is the first, and most important, step in the safety process. Proper load capacity will help to further ensure the safety of the operator and load, reduce damage to the trailer and load, and result in fewer overall accidents. For heavier loads, a steel structure trailer with tandem axles would likely be the best fit for your needs.
Further safety features include trailers that are equipped with four heavy-duty hooks that attach manually to containers, side-mounted turn buckle speed wheels, two front and two rear winches with straps/chains for additional tie down security, rubberized fenders over all tires, anti-sail, anti-spray mud flaps, and backup lights that illuminate when turntable backup lock is activated. The turn buckle speed wheel is a unique feature that allows for swift load securement, saving valuable time and further increasing productivity.
Optional features include built-in rollers, toolbox, grease bank, tarper system, and air-ride suspension. Built-in-rollers aid in easier loading and unloading of containers, allowing the container to roll instead of slide. A toolbox can be added to easily stow straps and chains right on the trailer itself. A grease bank can be installed on the turntable and makes for easier access to grease the bearing, essentially extending the longevity of the turntable bearing. The tarper system would allow for automated versus manual covering of loose debris. An air-ride suspension offers a smoother ride and better road handling than the standard spring-ride suspension. While optional features do not change the functionality of the trailer, they can make certain aspects of hauling easier for the operator.
Discuss Your Needs
Whether you are looking to increase profitability and load space, or save time and money, a roll-off pup trailer could be the cost-effective alternative you have been looking for. Designing the right trailer to meet your needs starts with a conversation. The manufacturer will ask you to define your needs for the trailer. Together, you will review what you are looking for, what you plan to haul, size, features, budget, etc., and the end result will be a custom designed trailer built specifically to meet your hauling needs. | WA
Lexie Reed is the Content Producer for Great Lakes Mfg., a company specializing in fabricating custom trailers for the logging, refuse, and material handling industries. For more information, call (920) 842-2012, e-mail at [email protected], or visit .