Crane ballast transport
Essential for heavy lifting tasks
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Essential for
heavy lifting tasks
Heavy lifting tasks involve more than just placing the crane. The transport of components such as crane ballast, mast parts, and lifting blocks often requires specialised trailers, as the crane, due to height and axle load restrictions, cannot carry everything on its own. Crane ballast, in particular, places high demands on transport. In this article, we explore the available options.
The importance of ballast trailers
Crane ballast is one of the heaviest and most essential components that need to be transported. Although it often has a relatively small footprint, a piece of ballast can weigh up to 15 tonnes, which places significant stress on the chassis of the trailer. This is why ballast trailers are specially designed to safely carry these heavy loads. They are always equipped with a high beam, ensuring an extremely rigid structure, both on multi-axle flat trailers and pendular axle semi low loaders.
To keep the ballast within the maximum 100-tonne exemption limit, the weight of the trailer itself is crucial. The lower the tare weight of the trailer, the more ballast it can carry. The maximum allowable axle loads – 12 tonnes for pendle axle trailers and 10 tonnes for conventional axles – are also important considerations.
The Broshuis pendle axle semi low loader
The 6-axle Broshuis pendle axle semi low loader weighs just 18 tonnes and can carry up to 72 tonnes of ballast with a 6x4 truck, offering advantages in load capacity and manoeuvrability. In comparison to the 6-axle high flat trailer (16 tonnes, 62 tonnes of ballast), the pendle axle offers more capacity with only a slightly higher tare weight.
The pendle axle semi low loader also offers several practical benefits. Thanks to the low step, no fall protection is required, which enhances safety and makes loading and unloading easier. Additionally, a pendle axle semi low loader can carry more than a high flat trailer. This includes heavy components such as crane crawlers, crane bodies, and steel structures. The pendle axle semi low loader also has more suspension stroke, which prevents overloading of the truck or axle set, particularly on rough terrain or when driving on inclines. Another advantage is that the turning circle of a pendle axle is much smaller than that of a high flat trailer with turntable steering, which ensures better manoeuvrability in tight spaces.
Cost considerations
The choice between a pendle axle semi low loader and a high flat trailer depends on the specific requirements of the client, such as load capacity, versatility, and costs. Although the pendle axle offers many advantages, the purchase and operating costs of a high flat trailer are often lower. Crane transport is crucial for heavy lifting tasks, and selecting the right ballast trailer is essential for both the efficiency and safety of the transport. By carefully weighing these factors, our clients can find the most optimal and cost-effective solution that suits the needs of the job.
Our advisors will be happy to assist you in choosing the right ballast trailer for your transport needs. Contact us for personalised advice!