{"id":3238,"date":"2019-11-18T02:16:31","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T15:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/?p=3238"},"modified":"2026-03-09T14:02:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T03:02:40","slug":"what-is-a-skeletal-trailer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/what-is-a-skeletal-trailer\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a skeletal or semiskel trailer?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Skeletal trailers, also called semiskel trailers, are lightweight semitrailers usually designed for transporting containers. They can be specified in a large number of size configurations, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>20-foot container<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>30-foot container<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>40-foot container<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>45-foot container<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ISO intermodal container<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>They will usually have between four and twelve container twist locks so that a driver can load a range of different configurations (e.g. 2x 20-foot or 1x 40-foot).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"595\" height=\"446\" src=\"\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/twin-container-locks-595x446.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/twin-container-locks-595x446.jpg 595w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/twin-container-locks-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/twin-container-locks-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Container locks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The semitrailers can be specified with two, three and four axles using single or dual wheels and either disc or drum brakes. A self-track rear axle will be fitted on a quad trailer (four axles) to reduce tyre wear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"595\" height=\"446\" src=\"\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-trailer-3-595x446.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-trailer-3-595x446.jpg 595w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-trailer-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-trailer-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-trailer-3.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tri-axle semiskel from Semi Skel Hire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>B-train skeletal trailers are available, too, such as this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"595\" height=\"397\" src=\"\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-b-train-trailer-595x397.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-b-train-trailer-595x397.jpg 595w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-b-train-trailer-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-b-train-trailer-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/skeletal-b-train-trailer.jpg 1050w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Skeletal pull trailers are also available with axle sets at the front and rear and a dolly for steering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For specialist applications, they can have a sliding bogie to help with weight distribution, can have hydraulic suspension with ride height adjustment and can even be in tipper configuration or be extendible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"595\" height=\"332\" src=\"\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/extendible-skeletal-trailer-595x332.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/extendible-skeletal-trailer-595x332.jpg 595w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/extendible-skeletal-trailer-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/extendible-skeletal-trailer-768x428.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This extendible trailer has flip-up ISO twist locks so that the trailer can carry longer containers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Skeletal trailers can be used for timber haulage with the appropriate timber bunks (side restraints), off-road suspension and floor protection for hydraulics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"595\" height=\"446\" src=\"\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/logs-on-trailer-595x446.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/logs-on-trailer-595x446.jpg 595w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/logs-on-trailer-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/logs-on-trailer-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/logs-on-trailer.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Chiller units can be added to the frame and skeletal trailers can be configured as side loaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trailers are versatile as they can weigh as little as 4000kg using medium-tensile or lightweight high-tensile steel, meaning more load can be carried on fewer axles and tyres, subject to static rollover thresholds not being exceeded, and less fuel is wasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can <a href=\"\/\/www.trgroupau.com\/vehicle-rentals\/skels\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"\/\/www.trgroupau.com\/vehicle-rentals\/skels\/\">hire a skeletal trailer<\/a> or purchase one if you are absolutely sure of the specification you need.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Skeletal trailers, also called semiskel trailers, are lightweight semitrailers usually designed for transporting containers. They can be specified in a large number of size configurations, such as: They will usually have between four and twelve container twist locks so that<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/what-is-a-skeletal-trailer\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3290,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[233],"class_list":["post-3238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","tag-trailer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3238"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5991,"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3238\/revisions\/5991"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.driverknowledgetests.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}