Turntable trailers

What is a turntable trailer?  Quite simply, the front of the trailer is supported by an axle mounted on a turntable. Second or third axles can be mounted towards the rear of the trailer. Whilst not uncommon for heavy goods vehicle applications, the light trailer types have only really been seen in the UK as exhibition trailers.  Popular in Germany (known as drehschemelanhängers) and in the Netherlands (called schamelwagens) for many years it is odd, given their practicality, that they haven't been popular in the UK.

Turntable horsebox trailers have been relatively popular in parts of Europe, especially as they can carry horses carriages and living accommodation, not a combination which is easily balanced on a centre axle trailer.


In general, these trailers are regarded as more stable than conventional centre axle trailers and they do not require such careful positioning of payload needed for correct balance.  There is only a nominal nose weight on the towing hitch, useful when your towing vehicle is already close to its own payload limit.

However, as one owner of such a trailer once told me, they are difficult to reverse.  Which is a could be a significant disadvantage if you need to manoeuvre on a regular basis. Nonetheless all users I have spoken to about these kind of trailers think the they are the bees knees and they can turn quite tightly if need be.

So it came as a shock when last autumn new rules applied across the European Union which suddenly put a stop to their manufacture.  These new rules said that mechanical/inertia overrun brakes may only be used for centre axle trailers (trailers built before 1 November 2014 can still be used, as they have grandfather rights).

Inertia overrun breaks are pretty much the only type of braking used for light trailers in Europe.  The vast majority of manufacturers have stopped making new turntable trailers since then, as the fitting of air brake systems to lightweight tow vehicles and trailers so are too costly and technically prohibitive for most users.

Air brake system fitted to a Toyota Amazon (SUV)

 However, there is some interesting news coming out of the Netherlands.  Two manufacturers are offering electric braking systems which - importantly - are European approved and may therefore be used on trailers in the UK and elsewhere in the EU.


JMR Boopark have adapted an American system from Dexter axles (which have partly merged with German trailer giant AL-KO).  The system will require the fitting of US-built Dexter axles to the trailer.

Link to JMR Booparks' braking system

Meanwhile, Fifthweel Europe, also out of the Netherlands, claim to have developed their own.  Though invented for their fifthwheel mini artic trailers, they can be used for turntable and centre axle trailers.


Link to Fifthwheel Europe's braking system
Link to Wagenbouw Bolle

 For European approval of the electrical braking systems have to be different to US type systems in that braking is independent of any driver control . Moreover, a handbrake must be fitted to search trailers which is not always available on US type electric braking systems.

So hopefully, we will see a resurgence in this very practical and little known design of trailer.

I've posted a few images of horseboxes based on turntable chassis.  With a few exceptions, their maximum weight will be around 3500kg (7700lbs) and I expect the payload of these examples to be from around 2500kg for an empty flatbed trailer, down to about 1500kg for a fully coachbuilt trailer with living quarters (more useful for a single horse or a couple of ponies).


Useful Links:  
RC Horsetrucks (Netherlands)
FK Pferdetransporter (Germany)
Toeran Trailers (Netherlands)