Easily moving trailers

By Colin Windell 

Moving commercial vehicle trailers in tight spaces could get easier thanks to an electric drive system from Dutch manufacturer.

Making parking your trailer easier

Al-Ko Vehicle Technology is moving its knowledge gained in the caravan sector to provide a solution for commercial trailers.

The Dutch company has launched its Mammut manoeuvring drive, initially as an OEM solution, that will be available in both mono and tandem axle versions with a permissible total weight of up to 3,0 tonnes.

This means even the heavyweights among the light trailers can be moved easily by one person in the smallest of spaces with the joystick of the remote control.
 
With the aid of the Al-Ko Mammut manoeuvring system, the trailer uncoupled from the towing vehicle can be positioned particularly precisely on site. The one-handed remote control is purely intuitive, so full focus can be on the trailer.

Soft start and stop function (the trailer is braked immediately when the joystick is released) ensures smooth starting and braking and is accurate to the centimetre, over stick and stone or on a steep slope – without effort, without the use of force and without outside help.

Thanks to individual adaptation, almost any trailer – whether single-axle or tandem-axle – up to 3,0 tonnes can be equipped with the manoeuvring system. The manoeuvring drive is therefore ideally suited for use in high-quality special trailers such as certain construction site trailers or sales trailers.

The system is designed for everyday use. Even at high temperatures and loads, manoeuvring is possible as the control electronics are integrated into the aluminium drives. Thus, they are protected against damage and moisture.

The powerful drive can handle obstacles of up to four centimetres or slopes of up to 28% for single-axle vehicles and up to 15% for two-axle vehicles. The optimal contact pressure is guaranteed by an electrically controlled adjustment of the friction rollers.

It is even possible to turn the trailer on the spot (360-degree rotation). The remote control with integrated ‘control panel’ provides information on the respective system status – display of the roller position, overload, voltage and temperature. A safety system with activation via magnetic switch on the overrun device ensures that the drive is not activated unintentionally.
 
Depending on the version, the Al-Ko Mammut manoeuvring drive weighs between 32 and 84 kilograms. Gel or AGM batteries with coordinated charging technology and a capacity of at least 80 Ah are recommended for operation.