Ackerman Trucks and Trailers: Towed Loads That Track Properly
Ackerman steering is the geometry that stops a towed load from misbehaving. Rather than pivoting a whole axle on a plate, an Ackerman unit steers from a central pivot transmitted by adjustable track rods, with the wheels remaining located underneath the corners of the deck at all times. Because the wheelbase never narrows during a turn, there is no possibility of tipping whilst turning — which is exactly the failure mode that makes a plain turntable truck unsuitable behind a tug at speed.
We stock two GPC Industries ranges: two-wheel Ackerman trucks at 1000 kg, and four-wheel steering Ackerman trailers at 3000 kg.
Two-Wheel Ackerman Trucks — 1000 kg
Manufactured from fully welded tubular steel and angle section with an exterior grade plywood platform.
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Platform sizes: 1500 x 800 mm (TP603) and 2000 x 1000 mm (TP604).
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With sides and ends: TP623 and TP624, sides and ends 300 mm deep.
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Wheels: pneumatic (suffix C) or cushion (suffix M).
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Options on request: friction parking brake and wire mesh superstructures.
Four-Wheel Steering Ackerman Trailers — 3000 kg
The heavy end of the range, for genuine tug-and-trailer work.
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HA573N — 3000 kg, steel deck, rubber tyred.
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HA583N — 3000 kg, plywood deck, rubber tyred.
Published specification for both:
- CE marked and plated.
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Towing eye diameter 50 mm — check this against the pin or hook on your tug before ordering, as it is the single most common compatibility problem.
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Removable drawbar, usable at either end of the trailer — useful where a trailer has to be reversed out of a bay it was towed into.
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Heavy duty steering turrets fitted with thrust bearing and phosphor bronze bushes.
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Ball bearing turntable transmitting thrust and traction forces over a large surface.
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Wheels: 450 mm wire, rubber tyred, on 30 mm roller bearings.
Specifying a Tug-and-Trailer Setup
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Match the tug to the total rolled load, not the trailer rating. A tug's capacity is a figure for the load it can roll, and it is affected by gradient, floor surface and the number of trailers in the train. See electric tugs and our guide to load ratings, UDL and SWL.
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Check the coupling. Towing eye diameter, height and pin type all have to line up.
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Plan the route before the turning circle. Ackerman geometry gives tight turns without destabilising the load, but door widths, ramps and pedestrian crossings still set the practical limits.
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Treat the setup as work equipment. Powered towing units and their trailers fall under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), which means suitable selection, maintenance and trained operators. This is a summary of the duties, not legal advice — your own risk assessment governs.
Related Ranges and Guides
For pushed or pulled trucks without a tug, see turntable trucks and hand-drawn trucks. For shelved rounds see distribution trucks; for palletised loads, pallet trucks and powered pallet trucks. The full range sits under trucks and trolleys, and our manual handling equipment guide covers when towing is the right answer at all.
See also our guide to electric tugs and powered trolleys, which covers rating a tug against the total rolled load of a trailer train.
Ackerman truck and trailer FAQs
What is Ackerman steering?
Steering from a central pivot, transmitted by adjustable track rods, with the wheels staying under the corners of the deck at all times. Because the wheelbase does not narrow in a turn, there is no possibility of tipping whilst turning.
What ranges do you supply?
Two GPC Industries ranges: two-wheel Ackerman trucks rated at 1000 kg and four-wheel steering Ackerman trailers rated at 3000 kg.
What platform sizes are the two-wheel trucks?
1500 x 800 mm (TP603) and 2000 x 1000 mm (TP604). Versions with 300 mm deep sides and ends are TP623 and TP624.
Pneumatic or cushion wheels?
Both are offered on the two-wheel trucks: pneumatic (suffix C) or cushion (suffix M).
Which trailers are 3000 kg?
The four-wheel steering trailers HA573N (steel deck) and HA583N (plywood deck), both rubber tyred.
What is the towing eye size?
50 mm diameter. Check it against the pin or hook on your tug before ordering.
Can the drawbar be used at either end?
Yes, the drawbar is removable and can be used at either end of the trailer.
Is a handbrake or mesh superstructure available?
A friction parking brake and wire mesh superstructures are available on request on the two-wheel trucks. Please call for details.
How do I match a tug to a trailer?
Match the tug to the total rolled load, not the trailer rating, and allow for gradient, floor surface and the number of trailers. See our electric tugs and load ratings guides.
