# What is this weird trailer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882 "2011-05-31T19:50:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/1 "2011-05-31T19:50:56Z")
What is [this thing?](http://www.jumpoverthere.com/wp-content/images/2011/01/photoshop/24.jpg) Is it real, or a photoshop job? What possible purpose could this device - apparently a very long trailer, with a very superfluous-looking gooseneck hitch, painted construction yellow - serve? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/2 "2011-05-31T19:52:49Z")
It’s for hauling very heavy equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/3 "2011-05-31T19:59:08Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > a very superfluous-looking gooseneck hitch The 5th wheel is way up on top of the tractor, so it needs to be high. The curve is so that it can rotate about the 5th wheel and not hit the towing vehicle. It’s also massively built, because the trailer is designed to haul massive pieces of equipment, such as those oversized dump trucks or earth movers. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/4 "2011-05-31T21:15:59Z")
Here is a model of a [CAT 784C lowboy hauler](https://www.towhaulstore.com/images/stories/shovel%20trailer%20truck%20222%20copy.jpg). Good for hauling 225 tons. The rig in the image you linked looks even larger. Perhaps something based off the CAT 790 series??? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/5 "2011-05-31T21:29:20Z")
For a moment I figured you were talking about one of these (links safe for work): [http://www.qi2.com/id71.html](http://www.qi2.com/id71.html) Or this one, which works on the same principle but is made to look like a normal trailer so people don’t wonder WTF is that thing on the road. [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/management/rwd/index.cfm](http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/management/rwd/index.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/6 "2011-05-31T21:49:36Z")
Since we’re on the subject, here’s a [fairly large rig](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xL9R8SJmtOI/Td2a1m_ErHI/AAAAAAAAh-s/p7hzela-Smk/s1600/Big-Dump.jpg) I saw at the Kennecott Copper Mine last week. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/7 "2011-05-31T22:25:07Z")
Thanks. Further, could someone identify the designation of the towing vehicle there in the original pic? Is it designed to be fitted with a dump bed, or some other bed, or is it solely designed for towing? ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/8 "2011-06-01T00:51:30Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Thanks. Further, could someone identify the designation of the towing vehicle there in the original pic? Is it designed to be fitted with a dump bed, or some other bed, or is it solely designed for towing? Designation of towing vehicle: It’s what is commonly referred to as a BIGASS Tow Truck. Not to be confused with the [BIGASS Dump Truck](http://prometheus.med.utah.edu/~bwjones/2005/05/kennecott-copper-mine/) seen about halfway down the page in this link. Seriously though, I’d be willing to bet that it’s a modified version of the dump truck made by caterpillar. There’s not too many outfits in this world capable of turning out machinery that large. ETA: Just in case it’s not clear, this is me being facetious. I’ve got half facts here; I know it’s a big caterpillar, but not the specific model name. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/9 "2011-06-01T03:17:35Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The curve is so that it can rotate about the 5th wheel and not hit the towing vehicle. Would it also be of use to ensure that the weight falls above the axle, rather than somewhere behind the tow truck, so that whatever weight goes on the back, nothing will make the tractor pull a wheelie? ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/10 "2011-06-01T04:07:04Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Since we’re on the subject, here’s a [fairly large rig](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xL9R8SJmtOI/Td2a1m_ErHI/AAAAAAAAh-s/p7hzela-Smk/s1600/Big-Dump.jpg) I saw at the Kennecott Copper Mine last week. Driving across South Dakota on the interstate, I saw a rig like that in length but it was carrying a missle or two. I was following behind it and saw a deer run out in front of it. The brake lights flashed for a second but no deer ran away- instead a deer schmeer was left in the road out the back end of the trailer. I kid you not that the entire deer was no taller than a centimeter and it was 30 feet long. Truly amazing sight. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/11 "2011-06-01T04:39:07Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > Driving across South Dakota on the interstate, I saw a rig like that in length but it was carrying a missle or two. I was following behind it and saw a deer run out in front of it. The brake lights flashed for a second but no deer ran away- instead a deer schmeer was left in the road out the back end of the trailer. I kid you not that the entire deer was no taller than a centimeter and it was 30 feet long. Truly amazing sight. I am sorry I can not find a good picture of this as a static image but talking about missiles (and airplanes) It is always interesting when you pass a steercar, as I do every few years commuting to work. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWIUbmWdISY](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWIUbmWdISY) I would hate to deal with a panic stop with that setup. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/12 "2011-06-01T04:55:20Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Thanks. Further, could someone identify the designation of the towing vehicle there in the original pic? Is it designed to be fitted with a dump bed, or some other bed, or is it solely designed for towing? Over the road trailers like that are usually called lowboys or low-haul trailers - it looks like these beasts go by the [same name](http://www.towhaul.com/lowboy/large-lowboys.html). [Elsewhere](http://www.towhaul.com/product.html) on the same website, they show the tractors equipped with water tank trailers, bucket trailers, and towing equipment that can be hooked directly to other machines. The first thing your pic reminded me of was a [scraper pan](http://www.strasburgtoys.com/images/55134.jpeg), but my mining experience is limited - I’ve mostly done commercial/industrial excavation work. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/13 "2011-06-02T04:51:21Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Thanks. Further, could someone identify the designation of the towing vehicle there in the original pic? Is it designed to be fitted with a dump bed, or some other bed, or is it solely designed for towing? The Mine I retired from had a couple of those huge lowboys. The last one was a 170 Ton WABCO Haulpac dump truck converted into a tow vehicle. The unit was huge! These would most likely never be seen on a byway, they are off road units. > [@](#): > > Since we’re on the subject, here’s a fairly large rig I saw at the Kennecott Copper Mine last week That is a highway unit. All the 240 Ton truck boxes we get here are hauled from Gillette Wyoming just like that. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-trailer/583882/14 "2011-06-02T14:06:01Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Thanks. Further, could someone identify the designation of the towing vehicle there in the original pic? Is it designed to be fitted with a dump bed, or some other bed, or is it solely designed for towing? Looks like a tug designed solely to move large things like that trailer around the yard or into a pit mine. Similar to an airport tug or a dock tug, but much larger.