Which trailer for an excavator?
From the 13 ton class to 26 tons, 4 TrailMax Heavy Tilts carry an excavator without a lowboy and without a wet kit on the truck.
The short answer
The TD-40-T and TD-42-T carry the 13 to 15 ton class on tandem 25,000 lb axles. The TRD-54-T adds a third axle and a 31 ft deck for 16 to 20 ton machines. The FWTRD-70-T couples to a fifth wheel and carries up to 67,800 lbs, which covers the 20 to 26 ton class that would otherwise need a detachable lowboy.
Every one of them is a tilt deck. The machine tracks on from the ground, the cushion cylinder lowers the deck, and nothing on the truck has to run a pump.
Why crews pick a tilt over a lowboy
No ramps to flip, no gooseneck to detach, no wet kit to maintain, and a shorter overall length on tight roads. The TRD-54-T has hauled for wildland fire, logging, and excavation crews for over 30 years. The FWTRD-70-T stays under 44 ft overall even with its sloped neck.
Which TrailMax carries your excavator
Operating weight here is the machine with a standard bucket and standard tracks. Wide tracks, a long arm, a thumb, and a coupler all add weight.
| Machine | Operating weight | Examples | TrailMax to order | Load on the trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 to 14 ton class | 28,000 to 32,000 lbs | Deere 130 P-Tier (30,600) | TD-40-T (5+24) 29 ft deck, 5 ft stationary + 24 ft tilt, rated 37,980 lbs | 74 to 84% |
| 15 ton class | 32,000 to 35,000 lbs | Deere 135 P-Tier (34,000) | TD-42-T (5+24) 29 ft deck, 5 ft stationary + 24 ft tilt, rated 41,350 lbs | 77 to 85% |
| 16 to 20 ton class | 35,000 to 46,000 lbs | Deere 160 P-Tier (39,500), Deere 200 G-Tier (45,200) | TRD-54-T 31 ft full tilt deck, rated 54,420 lbs | 64 to 85% |
| 20 to 26 ton class | 46,000 to 57,500 lbs | Deere 210 P-Tier (51,900), Deere 245 P-Tier (56,900), and the Cat 320 and Komatsu PC210 class | FWTRD-70-T 25 ft tilt deck plus a 5 ft stationary deck and a 9 ft upper deck, rated 67,800 lbs | 68 to 85% |
Picks keep the machine under 85% of the trailer's distributed capacity on the shortest deck that fits its length, with TrailMax's guidance to average 75 to 80% of rated capacity in mind. Operating weights are manufacturer figures rounded to the nearest 100 lbs, and they change with attachments, tracks, and options. Weigh your machine or read its spec plate before you order.
Over 57,500 lbs, talk to TrailMax sales. The FWTRD-70-T is rated to 67,800 lbs, but a 27 to 30 ton machine runs it close to the line, and the answer depends on the exact machine and how it loads.
3 things to check before you order
Transport length
A 13 ton excavator is about 26 ft long in transport, and a 20 ton machine runs close to 31 ft, which is the whole TRD-54-T deck. Measure from the blade or the back of the counterweight to the end of the folded boom, and order the 5+24 deck on the TD-40-T and TD-42-T when the machine passes 24 ft.
Deck strength
The TRD-54-T and FWTRD-70-T are decked in oak on the outer areas with 2 inch rough sawn fir in the center, over 25,000 lb axles with 5 inch round tubes and half inch walls. Steel tracks sit on the oak.
Your truck
All 4 Heavy Tilts run s-cam full air brakes with ABS, so the truck needs trailer air lines. The TD-40-T, TD-42-T, and TRD-54-T hitch to a pintle on an adjustable drawbar eye. The FWTRD-70-T needs a fifth wheel.
Excavator trailer questions
What size trailer do I need for an excavator?
Match the machine's operating weight to distributed capacity with room to spare, then check the deck length against its transport length. The TrailMax TD-40-T covers the 13 to 14 ton class, the TD-42-T the 15 ton class, the TRD-54-T 16 to 20 tons, and the FWTRD-70-T 20 to 26 tons.
Can a 20 ton excavator go on a tilt trailer?
Yes. The TRD-54-T carries 54,420 lbs on a 31 ft deck, and the FWTRD-70-T carries 67,800 lbs. Both are tilt decks, so the excavator tracks on from the ground without ramps or a detachable neck.
Do I need a lowboy for an excavator?
Not for machines up to the 26 ton class. A lowboy wins on deck height for tall machines and on capacity above 70,000 lbs. Below that, a tilt deck loads faster, needs no wet kit, and tows at a shorter overall length.
Does the FWTRD-70-T need a wet kit?
No. It runs full gravity tilt with a cushion cylinder, so the truck needs a fifth wheel and air for the trailer brakes, and nothing else.
Where can I buy a TrailMax excavator trailer?
Through an authorized TrailMax dealer. Use the dealer finder, or request a quote and TrailMax sales will set you up with the dealer nearest you.
Ready to price a trailer for your excavator? Tell TrailMax sales the machine and the deck layout you want.