For the past 50 years, Drake Trailers have built the toughest and most reliable heavy-duty trailers available. As market-leaders with focus on quality, innovation and reliability, each of these Australian manufactured trailers are designed to tackle even the harshest of conditions.
Drake Trailers was founded by Colin A. Drake in 1958 and has remained family owned and operated ever since. Although the company’s humble beginnings started in a small Brisbane workshop, the founder’s dream has always been to build Australia’s most innovative trailers.
History of Innovation
In 1960, Drake Trailers introduced its revolutionary 100 tonne capacity ‘Swingwing’ widening low loader. This design has continued to evolve and is now available in capacities ranging from 65 to 120 tonne.
The 1970s were an exciting era for Drake Trailers as they began to build mine site trailers.
By 1980, Drake introduced steerable platform trailers with hydraulic widening and mechanical steering. Today, this range has expanded to include both semi and fully modular steerable platforms. These are available in various line configurations featuring remote controlled hydraulic widening, goose necks, header draw bars, suspension and steering. This model is now available for onsite, off highway use.
Over the last decade, Drake has also produced a new generation mine site trailers capable of carrying loads up to 550 tonnes, with new models in development to exceed this payload range. Additionally, the Drake Trailers’ range now extends to self tracking low loaders; jinkers; vessel carriers, specialty trailers, telescopic steerable trailers, and dollies.
Today, Drake Trailers operates in a modern, 8650 square meter manufacturing and finishing facility. Recent upgrades to the site include new engineering and production offices, complete with 3D design capabilities, new painting and finishing booths, updated robot welding systems and redesigned work areas. The passionate team of staff has also grown to include over 170 dedicated employees.
Mine Site Transporters
Our most commonly used Mine Site Transporter is the 120t – 200t rated mine site transporter. This model is a preferred utility to Australian mining industry leaders including BHP, Rio Tinto, Peabody and BMA. These onsite smaller capacity trailers are designed to carry dozers, drills and other onsite equipment with capacities up to 200tonnes. They come in three rows of eight, four rows of eight, and five rows of eight configurations depending on capacity requirements. The trailers are designed to couple to various prime movers including, Cat dump truck or equivalent, Haulmax, Power Trans, Loadpro, Kenworth C540 and Big Foot Mack just to name a few. With a focus on safety they feature access ladders, walkways, hand rail systems, radio controlled hydraulic equalizing suspension and loading ramps, and auto greasing systems for ease of maintenance.
For mine site requirements of 200t – 550t Drake have a larger capacity transporter range. These models are generally only coupled to mine site dump trucks due to the demand for higher king pin loading.
The suspension comprises trunnion axles mounted to dual single point beams and will provide for extreme axle movement giving full load sharing on each axle, and greater strength and reliability than a sprung suspension. The axles are bolted in for ease of removal and maintenance. Suspension bushes are long life bronze and the tyres are three star rating Bridgestone’s, 14.00R x 24,
Most designs are fitted with hydraulically operated heavy duty ramps mounted to a beaver tail, offering various loading angles to suit the customer’s equipment. There are several other customizable options including radio remote control, various greasing systems, power pack options, deluge systems, access ladders and hand rails to name a few.
With every mine site trailer that we build we provide onsite training and commissioning as well as spare parts manuals, schematics, and load/speed charts. Drake also have an experienced team of qualified engineers to help with any load planning, turning circle radius diagrams, swept path analysis and other engineering services.
Through the introduction of new designs as well as the constant evolution of its trailer range over the past 50 years, Drake Trailers has demonstrated commitment to provide the best possible solutions to all of its customers’ heavy-duty transport needs. Designed to stand up to the most challenging of tasks, Drake Trailers ensures that outstanding workmanship and quality are maintained in every trailer it builds.
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