923:
977:
953:
884:
965:
837:
810:
852:
791:
218:
draw gear, or a ballast tractor may be purpose-built. Ballast is placed above the driving axle, or spread out over multiple driving axles to maximize traction on each and evenly distribute its load. Conversion from a regular tractor to a ballast tractor may require some modifications like chassis alteration, extra axle, larger tires, ballast box, and a heavy-duty gearbox so that it can handle the extra weight. The heavy-duty tractors which are usually converted into ballast tractors have 6x4, 8x6 axle configuration, hub reduction, better suspension and a powerful engine ranging from 300 to 1000hp.
938:
162:
993:
908:
1015:
697:
868:
822:
240:. An advantage of using ballast tractors is the ability to push-steer a trailer around a corner. A girder trailer, for example, is double-articulated, so the front tractor can pull the load around a corner while the rear tractor pushes it through, thereby making the load more manoeuvrable than a simple towing configuration. Use of a following tractor also can increase control and brake force descending an incline.
315:
26:
254:
109:
922:
406:
Only a handful of manufacturers produce dedicated ballast tractors. Most high-volume manufacturers offer heavy-duty chassis versions of certain tractor units, which enable a ballast box to be fitted. In Europe, manufacturers tend to send some of their products to another company (owned by the parent)
217:
is required to both support the extra ballast weight and pulling forces transmitted by the drawbar. A reinforced chassis also allows multiple tractors to be coupled together to maximize power and traction. Heavy-duty versions of commercial tractor units may be fitted with a ballast box and suitable
356:
due to extreme heat. Some units have factory fitted ballast box with appropriate weight to meet with the regional guidelines, these tractors units do not have fifth wheel and drive out from the factory with a ballast box. Heavy haul operators convert heavy-duty tractors to ballast tractors with an
397:
developed heavy-duty drawbar couplings with a 50 mm loop, drawbars and drawbar eyes which were built with higher quality and standards this increase the safety significantly. These couplings can be mounted on both ends of the tractor for push or pull applications. Some manufacturers also provide
724:
Most heavy haulage and heavy lift engineering firms employ heavy duty tractor-unit models that can accommodate a ballast box. Countries where modernization is taking place, such as regions of the Middle East and South Africa and Asia, operate larger number of ballast tractors due to the greater
360:
New age power boosters which are external engine an accessory of hydraulic modular trailer can also be mounted on the tractor chassis to act as a ballast, saving a lot of space on the trailer itself for the loads and most important avoid application of extra tractors.
83:
Only a handful of manufacturers produce dedicated ballast tractors. Extra-heavy-duty chassis versions of mass-production tractor units are fitted with drawbar hitches and a separate ballast box as an alternative. These units are classified as N3 Category of
976:
347:
to increase the weight of the tractor. The problem with ballast tractors was the weight of ballast itself weighted over 10, 20 or even 40 tons in some scenarios. Other designs also included sleeping cabins in the ballast for the drivers and the
790:
964:
883:
229:(GVW) permits, requiring special permission to use public roads. Some nations have categorized these tractors in a different category than conventional tractors because of higher GVW permits and HMT configuration.
809:
851:
331:
The ballast box is a metal box installed on the rear chassis of the tractor instead of the fifth wheel coupling. Earlier heavy haulers unmounted the fifth wheel and used merely a piece or two of heavy
339:
or concrete blocks which weighted enough to avoid wheel spin, later builders and heavy haulers developed metal boxes of different designs to match the tractor layout. These boxes were filled with
80:, but 8×6 and 8×8 are also available. Typical ballast tractor loads include oil rig modules, bridge sections, buildings, ship sections, and industrial machinery such as generators and turbines.
385:
mounted on the front end or rear end of the tractor, sometimes both, it connects the HMT to the ballast tractor. Earlier coupling consisted of in house made metal hitch which had loops to lock
937:
1139:
952:
88:. Ballast tractors can be traced back to the 1940s when heavy haulers from the UK started employing purpose-built Scammell Showtracs, a short wheelbase 4×2 ballast tractor.
202:
High inertia is encountered when starting to move a heavy load. To overcome this, ballast tractors tend to have high-powered, low geared engines that provide substantial
836:
776:
1318:"Thimbleby & Shorland - commercial vehicles spares and accessories memorabilia, models, literature pictures and prints auction Saturday 25th March 2006"
992:
1215:
821:
352:
for longer journeys and harsh weather conditions, This made the height of the tractors increase significantly, these units are still used today in the
1324:
867:
1267:
180:” describing heavy material added to a vessel to improve stability. For a ballast tractor, ballast is added over the driving wheels to maximize
907:
1293:
1241:
1376:
928:
913:
898:
366:
92:
1164:
301:
148:
275:
126:
353:
279:
130:
199:. Since the load is separate from a ballast tractor, it provides no ballast: the drawbar only transmits a horizontal force.
184:. The additional weight increases the friction between the tyres and the road surface, allowing the tractor to overcome the
566:
195:
With a semi-trailer, ballast is added in the form of the weight of the attached trailer pressing down upon the tractor's
607:
440:
226:
264:
1034:
283:
268:
161:
119:
1068:
536:
233:
61:
1089:
617:
17:
630:– 35 heavy haulage tractors were built by the company between 1952 and 1959, of which 11 are known to survive.
701:
713:
169:
1424:
648:
561:
206:, especially at low speeds. Additionally, ballast tractors are often fitted with heavy-duty hub reduction
842:
761:
583:
519:
475:
1317:
221:
A purpose built ballast tractor tends to be the heaviest class of on-road trucks. In some cases, its
1351:
729:
685:
680:
319:
85:
1189:
524:
799:
Ballast
Tractor pulling Goldhofer hydraulic modular trailer with FTV 300 blade lifter carrying a
717:
578:
1377:"DAF N 3300 NT 3326 DKX «Sarens» ballast tractor with crane, cab Magirus Deutz — Каталог К.В.Х."
998:
983:
943:
890:
636:– Many early examples, now used and seen as showman's vehicles, originally served with the army.
497:
970:
ALE Trojan ballast tractor pushing hydraulic modular trailer with girder bridge configuration.
858:
643:
469:
57:
53:
1020:
796:
696:
492:
73:
65:
1339:
This very smart tri axle ballast tractor was one of six supplied new to
Pickfords in 1958.
1419:
1044:
1014:
931:
Nicolas
Tractomas ballast tractors pulling a hydraulic modular trailer with girder bridge.
874:
627:
612:
457:
181:
177:
725:
frequency of heavy loads (such as power station components) and infrastructure projects.
815:
Ballast
Tractor Pushing Goldhofer hydraulic modular trailer with Faktor 5 girder bridge.
445:
332:
168:
ballast tractor hooked via drawbar to 92,000 kg (203,000 lb) transformer on
1413:
1294:"Scania R 580 6×4 truck receives on-road Puller certification from ARAI – Motorindia"
1165:"Tractors Modified for Dual Purpose | 16th April 1948 | The Commercial Motor Archive"
1114:
756:
709:
664:
506:
237:
188:
and friction of moving a heavy trailed load. Without it, there would be unproductive
314:
72:
are used to minimize the height of a load's center of mass. Typical drivetrains are
1058:
1029:
894:
771:
728:
Apart from being used by fairgrounds as a direct replacement for the steam-powered
622:
69:
49:
45:
25:
1140:"Extra heavy-duty trucks featuring Allison transmissions expand Megatranz fleet"
1063:
675:
639:
386:
253:
222:
196:
108:
29:
732:, specialist moving and haulage companies use ballast tractors. These include:
1010:
548:
480:
428:
232:
Typical ballast tractor configurations employ an independent drawbar trailer,
946:
ballast tractor pushing hydraulic modular trailer with bolster configuration.
667:
tank transports were popular post World War II with heavy hauliers in the UK.
390:
1039:
766:
746:
660:
394:
382:
189:
827:
800:
670:
633:
340:
373:. Almost all HMT manufacturers have their own variant of power booster.
369:
Group) have proved this configuration in 2019 on a difficult terrain in
95:(SPMT) are being employed in traditional ballast tractor/trailer roles.
741:
362:
214:
185:
133: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
986:
ballast tractor with drawbar connected to a hydraulic modular trailer.
751:
736:
705:
595:
370:
336:
203:
165:
1090:"Roll up, roll up... | 7th June 2012 | The Commercial Motor Archive"
501:
77:
33:
1053:
695:
344:
313:
160:
24:
1401:
416:
349:
207:
830:
Contractor ballast tractor pulling specialist trailer at a fair
712:
pushing) with 100,000 kg (220,000 lb) transformer on
210:, a combination resulting in exceptionally low maximum speeds.
357:
aftermarket ballast box built by a builder or by themselves.
247:
102:
1216:"Mammoet uses new road solution to navigate dangerous route"
176:
The ballast tractor's name derives from the nautical term “
398:
tractors with drawbar coupling fitted from the factory.
225:
can be greater than their axle configuration's legal
1268:"Volvo Trucks India launches next-generation trucks"
318:
407:to be converted into a special heavy-duty version.
1402:Extremely large collection of heavy haulage photos
1001:ballast tractor pulling hydraulic modular trailer.
720:5-axle trailer en route to a wind farm substation
389:with a pin. Later fifth wheel manufacturers like
1049:steam-powered fore-runner of the ballast tractor
777:Defence Research and Development Organisation
56:to pull or push heavy or exceptionally large
8:
1312:
1310:
282:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
857:Scammell ballast tractor. Note the front
302:Learn how and when to remove this message
149:Learn how and when to remove this message
52:combination. It is designed to utilize a
1081:
786:
472:8×8 and 10×10 ultra-heavy-duty tractors
1330:from the original on 26 September 2007
7:
280:adding citations to reliable sources
131:adding citations to reliable sources
93:self-propelled modular transporters
1242:"Heavy metal in special transport"
916:Nicolas Tractomas ballast tractor.
14:
958:ALE Faun custom ballast tractor.
91:Increasingly, remote-controlled,
1352:"Heavy Haulage Move in Thornton"
1013:
991:
975:
963:
951:
936:
921:
906:
897:ballast tractor pulling load on
882:
866:
861:coupling for pushing heavy loads
850:
835:
820:
808:
789:
252:
107:
118:needs additional citations for
556:Russia (formerly Soviet Union)
381:Drawbar coupling is a special
1:
1323:. 25 March 2006. p. 16.
365:and Scheuerle (Member of the
1246:www.transportengineer.org.uk
1190:"The importance of ballast!"
700:Three ballast tractors from
60:loads which are loaded in a
1169:archive.commercialmotor.com
1094:archive.commercialmotor.com
1441:
901:hydraulic modular trailer.
873:Three of the 11 surviving
15:
1069:Hydraulic modular trailer
234:hydraulic modular trailer
62:hydraulic modular trailer
44:is a specially weighted
18:Ballast (disambiguation)
702:JB Rawcliffe & Sons
721:
323:
173:
37:
1220:Project Cargo Journal
762:Lampson International
699:
317:
164:
28:
276:improve this section
227:Gross Vehicle Weight
127:improve this article
16:For other uses, see
686:Oshkosh Corporation
86:large goods vehicle
1272:www.prnewswire.com
1196:. 2 September 2021
1119:Carters Steam Fair
1115:"No. 3 | Vehicles"
722:
537:Astra-SIVI (Iveco)
520:Volvo Trucks India
324:
174:
38:
1194:Heritage Machines
1144:ATI_InternetBlank
875:Rotinoff Atlantic
644:Thornycroft Antar
613:Atkinson Vehicles
470:Nicolas Tractomas
312:
311:
304:
159:
158:
151:
64:. When feasible,
1432:
1406:
1389:
1388:
1386:
1384:
1373:
1367:
1366:
1364:
1362:
1348:
1342:
1341:
1336:
1335:
1329:
1322:
1314:
1305:
1304:
1302:
1300:
1290:
1284:
1283:
1281:
1279:
1263:
1257:
1256:
1254:
1252:
1238:
1232:
1231:
1229:
1227:
1222:. 9 October 2019
1212:
1206:
1205:
1203:
1201:
1186:
1180:
1179:
1177:
1175:
1161:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1150:
1136:
1130:
1129:
1127:
1125:
1111:
1105:
1104:
1102:
1100:
1086:
1023:
1021:Transport portal
1018:
1017:
995:
979:
967:
955:
940:
925:
910:
886:
877:ballast tractors
870:
854:
839:
824:
812:
797:Mercedes-Benz SK
793:
730:showman's engine
708:pulling and one
493:Tadano Faun GmbH
377:Drawbar coupling
307:
300:
296:
293:
287:
256:
248:
154:
147:
143:
140:
134:
111:
103:
1440:
1439:
1435:
1434:
1433:
1431:
1430:
1429:
1410:
1409:
1404:
1398:
1393:
1392:
1382:
1380:
1375:
1374:
1370:
1360:
1358:
1350:
1349:
1345:
1333:
1331:
1327:
1320:
1316:
1315:
1308:
1298:
1296:
1292:
1291:
1287:
1277:
1275:
1274:(Press release)
1266:Trucks, Volvo.
1265:
1264:
1260:
1250:
1248:
1240:
1239:
1235:
1225:
1223:
1214:
1213:
1209:
1199:
1197:
1188:
1187:
1183:
1173:
1171:
1163:
1162:
1158:
1148:
1146:
1138:
1137:
1133:
1123:
1121:
1113:
1112:
1108:
1098:
1096:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1045:Road locomotive
1019:
1012:
1009:
1002:
996:
987:
980:
971:
968:
959:
956:
947:
941:
932:
926:
917:
911:
902:
887:
878:
871:
862:
855:
846:
845:ballast tractor
840:
831:
825:
816:
813:
804:
794:
785:
694:
628:Rotinoff Motors
404:
379:
329:
308:
297:
291:
288:
273:
257:
246:
178:sailing ballast
155:
144:
138:
135:
124:
112:
101:
42:ballast tractor
21:
12:
11:
5:
1438:
1436:
1428:
1427:
1422:
1412:
1411:
1408:
1407:
1397:
1396:External links
1394:
1391:
1390:
1368:
1343:
1306:
1285:
1258:
1233:
1207:
1181:
1156:
1131:
1106:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1042:
1037:
1032:
1026:
1025:
1024:
1008:
1005:
1004:
1003:
997:
990:
988:
981:
974:
972:
969:
962:
960:
957:
950:
948:
942:
935:
933:
927:
920:
918:
912:
905:
903:
888:
881:
879:
872:
865:
863:
856:
849:
847:
841:
834:
832:
826:
819:
817:
814:
807:
805:
795:
788:
784:
781:
780:
779:
774:
769:
764:
759:
754:
749:
744:
739:
693:
690:
689:
688:
683:
678:
673:
668:
657:
656:
652:
651:
646:
637:
631:
625:
620:
615:
610:
604:
603:
599:
598:
592:
591:
587:
586:
581:
575:
574:
570:
569:
564:
558:
557:
553:
552:
545:
544:
540:
539:
533:
532:
528:
527:
522:
516:
515:
511:
510:
504:
495:
489:
488:
484:
483:
478:
473:
466:
465:
461:
460:
454:
453:
452:Czech Republic
449:
448:
443:
437:
436:
432:
431:
425:
424:
420:
419:
413:
412:
403:
400:
391:Jost Rockinger
378:
375:
328:
325:
310:
309:
260:
258:
251:
245:
242:
157:
156:
115:
113:
106:
100:
97:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1437:
1426:
1425:Heavy haulage
1423:
1421:
1418:
1417:
1415:
1403:
1400:
1399:
1395:
1378:
1372:
1369:
1357:
1353:
1347:
1344:
1340:
1326:
1319:
1313:
1311:
1307:
1295:
1289:
1286:
1273:
1269:
1262:
1259:
1247:
1243:
1237:
1234:
1221:
1217:
1211:
1208:
1195:
1191:
1185:
1182:
1170:
1166:
1160:
1157:
1145:
1141:
1135:
1132:
1120:
1116:
1110:
1107:
1095:
1091:
1085:
1082:
1075:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1027:
1022:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1000:
994:
989:
985:
978:
973:
966:
961:
954:
949:
945:
939:
934:
930:
924:
919:
915:
909:
904:
900:
896:
892:
885:
880:
876:
869:
864:
860:
853:
848:
844:
838:
833:
829:
823:
818:
811:
806:
802:
798:
792:
787:
782:
778:
775:
773:
770:
768:
765:
763:
760:
758:
755:
753:
750:
748:
745:
743:
740:
738:
735:
734:
733:
731:
726:
719:
715:
711:
707:
703:
698:
691:
687:
684:
682:
679:
677:
674:
672:
669:
666:
665:Diamond T M20
662:
659:
658:
654:
653:
650:
647:
645:
641:
638:
635:
632:
629:
626:
624:
621:
619:
616:
614:
611:
609:
606:
605:
601:
600:
597:
594:
593:
589:
588:
585:
582:
580:
577:
576:
572:
571:
568:
565:
563:
560:
559:
555:
554:
550:
547:
546:
542:
541:
538:
535:
534:
530:
529:
526:
523:
521:
518:
517:
513:
512:
508:
507:Mercedes-Benz
505:
503:
499:
496:
494:
491:
490:
486:
485:
482:
479:
477:
474:
471:
468:
467:
463:
462:
459:
456:
455:
451:
450:
447:
444:
442:
439:
438:
434:
433:
430:
427:
426:
422:
421:
418:
415:
414:
410:
409:
408:
402:Manufacturers
401:
399:
396:
392:
388:
384:
376:
374:
372:
368:
364:
358:
355:
351:
346:
342:
338:
334:
326:
321:
320:Mercedes-Benz
316:
306:
303:
295:
285:
281:
277:
271:
270:
266:
261:This section
259:
255:
250:
249:
243:
241:
239:
238:dolly trailer
235:
230:
228:
224:
219:
216:
211:
209:
205:
200:
198:
193:
191:
187:
183:
179:
172:modular axles
171:
167:
163:
153:
150:
142:
132:
128:
122:
121:
116:This section
114:
110:
105:
104:
98:
96:
94:
89:
87:
81:
79:
75:
71:
70:semi-trailers
67:
63:
59:
55:
51:
47:
43:
35:
31:
27:
23:
19:
1381:. Retrieved
1379:(in Russian)
1371:
1359:. Retrieved
1355:
1346:
1338:
1332:. Retrieved
1297:. Retrieved
1288:
1276:. Retrieved
1271:
1261:
1249:. Retrieved
1245:
1236:
1224:. Retrieved
1219:
1210:
1198:. Retrieved
1193:
1184:
1172:. Retrieved
1168:
1159:
1147:. Retrieved
1143:
1134:
1122:. Retrieved
1118:
1109:
1097:. Retrieved
1093:
1084:
1059:Tractor unit
1048:
1030:Heavy hauler
772:Omega Morgan
727:
723:
623:Foden Trucks
525:Scania India
405:
387:drawbar eyes
380:
359:
330:
298:
289:
274:Please help
262:
231:
220:
212:
201:
194:
175:
145:
136:
125:Please help
120:verification
117:
90:
82:
50:heavy hauler
46:tractor unit
41:
39:
32:WHDX 70-170
22:
1405:(in German)
1064:Sisu K-50SS
1035:Prime mover
718:Greiner bed
640:Thornycroft
590:Switzerland
579:TBO Trabosa
543:Netherlands
327:Ballast box
322:Actros cabs
223:kerb weight
197:fifth wheel
99:Description
1414:Categories
1334:2007-09-14
1076:References
716:modular-5
663:- Ex-army
292:March 2022
139:March 2022
1040:Ringfeder
767:CLP Group
747:Pickfords
692:Operators
661:Diamond T
642:-such as
395:Ringfeder
383:tow hitch
354:gulf area
263:does not
244:Equipment
213:A strong
190:wheelspin
1383:24 March
1361:24 March
1356:Railpage
1325:Archived
1299:24 March
1278:24 March
1251:25 March
1226:25 March
1200:25 March
1149:24 March
1007:See also
843:Atkinson
828:Scammell
801:Windmill
710:Mercedes
671:Kenworth
649:Unipower
634:Scammell
341:concrete
182:traction
1174:14 June
1124:14 June
1099:14 June
859:drawbar
783:Gallery
742:Mammoet
714:Nicolas
551:(GINAF)
509:(Titan)
487:Germany
481:Willème
446:Pacific
423:Belgium
411:Belarus
363:Mammoet
284:removed
269:sources
215:chassis
186:inertia
170:Nicolas
68:-style
58:trailer
54:drawbar
36:tractor
1420:Trucks
893:and a
803:blade.
752:Sarens
737:Alstom
464:France
435:Canada
371:Norway
337:stones
204:torque
66:lowboy
1328:(PDF)
1321:(PDF)
1054:Toter
895:Volvo
704:(two
681:White
573:Spain
531:Italy
514:India
458:Tatra
441:Hayes
417:Volat
345:steel
333:rocks
236:, or
208:axles
48:of a
30:Hayes
1385:2022
1363:2022
1301:2022
1280:2022
1253:2022
1228:2022
1202:2022
1176:2023
1151:2022
1126:2023
1101:2023
982:ALE
676:Mack
567:NAMI
393:and
350:crew
267:any
265:cite
76:and
999:MAN
984:MAN
944:MAN
929:TII
914:TII
899:TII
891:MAN
889:An
757:ALE
706:MAN
655:USA
618:ERF
608:AEC
596:NAW
584:TMU
562:MAZ
549:DAF
502:ÖAF
498:MAN
476:PRP
429:MOL
367:TII
343:or
278:by
166:MAN
129:by
78:6×6
74:6×4
34:6×6
1416::
1354:.
1337:.
1309:^
1270:.
1244:.
1218:.
1192:.
1167:.
1142:.
1117:.
1092:.
1047:–
602:UK
500:/
335:,
192:.
40:A
1387:.
1365:.
1303:.
1282:.
1255:.
1230:.
1204:.
1178:.
1153:.
1128:.
1103:.
305:)
299:(
294:)
290:(
286:.
272:.
152:)
146:(
141:)
137:(
123:.
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
