Guide to Agricultural Trailer

BASIC FACTS

• All agricultural vehicles, including trailers must comply with legislation such as Construction and Use Regulations whenever they are driven on the road. 

• The legal speed limit for any tractor with an unsprung rear axle is 40km/h (approx. 25 mph) even if fitted with a gearbox capable of higher speeds.

• The maximum weight allowed for a loaded tractor and trailer on the road is 31 tons. Additionally, the maximum laden weight for a conventional unbalanced trailer in this combination is 18.29 tons, regardless of what the manufacturer's plates may indicate.

• The braking systems for your trailer must be appropriate for the weight and speed of travel

What do you need the trailer to do? You should consider:

• frequency of use;

• appropriate size;

• amount of road work;

• compatibility with tractors and other towing equipment

Brake comparison

The image on the right displays a standard agricultural foundation brake alongside a standard commercial foundation brake. The difference in surface area between the agricultural brake on the right and the commercial brake on the left is quite apparent.

Trailer brakes 

Proper trailer brakes are crucial for safe travel at your intended speed. Using inappropriate trailer brakes can lead to premature failure of your tractor's brakes due to excessive strain. The table below offers recommended specifications for each type of brake system.

Tyres and wheels

• Must be the correct speed rating and condition for the application they are being put to.

• Your dealer should be able to supply you with advice on the correct tyre specification and pressures.

• Steering rear axles will reduce tyre wear and improve turning ability, especially on tri-axle trailers.

• Sprung/suspended tailer axles will give a smoother ride.

• Wheel nut security indicators can easily show any wheel nuts that are beginning to loosen.

Hitch

• Check your tractor’s manual to find the maximum vertical load capacity of the pickup hitch.

• The standard pickup hitch hook design can result in wear to both the hook of the tractor and towing eye of the trailer which can result in trailer disconnection if not maintained and replaced.

• Switching to ball and spoon hitches can reduce the play and wear between hitch and eye and eliminate the shunting effect you can get with standard hook designs.

• Swivelling rather than fixed trailer towing eyes can help avoid tractor turnover in the event of an accident.

Lighting

• Make yourself as visible as possible to other road users.

• Using secondary rear lights higher on the rear of the trailer can better warn following traffic of your manoeuvres.

• Use secondary flashing beacons (especially on high trailers) so that a warning beacon is visible from all angles. Load security

• Ensure the trailer has sufficient hooking for straps to secure the load.

• If you need to sheet loads regularly, make sure the sheeting system is robust and easy to use, ideally without you having to stand on the trailer to sheet the load.

• Good inspection ladders make checking loads safer and easier. Other considerations

• Trailer ABS requires a permanent electrical feed to work correctly from a dedicated ABS socket on the tractor.

• Hydraulic tailgates will speed up your operation and improve safety by reducing the number of times you need to leave the cab.

• Reversing cameras can aid visibility in the yard, particularly for large trailers and are inexpensive to install.

• Your dealer should be able to give you good advice on all of these topics to ensure you get the correct equipment for your needs and are shown how to maintain it. If they can’t – shop around!

All agricultural trailers must display a registration plate. The registration plate on a trailer does not need to match the plate on the towing vehicle. However, if the trailer's plate is different from that of the towing vehicle, it must be a plate from another agricultural machine owned by the keeper of the towing vehicle. For hired trailers, the registration plate must correspond to the owner of the towing vehicle. 

This information has been prepared by Mingsin, which represents farmers and growers in China, as well as agricultural dealers in the world.

Conclusion

Mingsin is a reputable supplier in China's agricultural trailer industry, specializing in producing and supplying micro-tiller trailers, hand tractor trailers, and tractor trailers. We invite domestic and international trailer dealers, importers, and end users to reach out to us to discuss agricultural trailer opportunities. Our high-quality products, along with our comprehensive and attentive service capabilities, are sure to meet your diverse needs.