Inside TRT’s groundbreaking mini quad trailer

TRT has introduced a new mini quad trailer that blends advanced steering, rugged design, and smart engineering to meet the evolving demands of Australia’s heavy haulage sector.

When Chris Robinson of Robinson Earthmoving purchased his first TRT trailer back in 2013, he was certain it would be the only one. “I’m not a haulage operator, I’m an earthmover,” he said at the time. Fast forward more than a decade, and things have changed. Chris now runs a dedicated heavy haulage company, Robinson Heavy Haulage, and is the proud owner of a brand-new, first-of-its-kind mini quad trailer from TRT – a trailer that may very well redefine how heavy loads are moved on Australian roads.

“It’s not just another trailer,” said Jeremy Carden, who looks after trailer sales for TRT across Australia and New Zealand. “This is something that’s built from the ground up to solve very real problems operators face every day.”

The back story

Robinson’s needs had evolved. Chris’s earthmoving business had expanded into major infrastructure projects, most notably the Coffs City Highway Bypass in northern New South Wales. With more diverse and intensive transport demands, he needed a trailer that was versatile, tough, and capable of navigating complex job sites.

“Chris had tried a few other options in the market,” said Jeremy. “He even purchased a trailer from a competitor using a European mechanical steering system. But it just wasn’t what he was looking for. It lacked the essence of what he valued in his earlier TRT builds.”

After realising the limitations, Chris returned to TRT, looking for something more specific: a trailer compact enough to manoeuvre through tight job sites, but strong and flexible enough to haul everything from rollers and containers to boom sections and diggers. The result was TRT’s new 4×4 mini quad.

TRT’s has built a new mini quad trailer with advanced steering and a durable design for Australia's heavy haulage needs.

What makes it different?

“The big difference is in the steering,” Jeremy explains. “Most trailers use friction-based castoring axles, they help a little going forward, but must be locked before the trailer can be reversed otherwise, they fight the truck. With our mechanical linkage system, the trailer steers forward and backward –and it does so with far greater angles.”

This system starts with a specially designed skid plate that fits into the truck’s fifth wheel, paired with a large wedge plate that locks the trailer to the truck snugly into place.

A double bull race mechanism detects steering angles and transfers the motion through a linkage system running from the top deck to the quad axle set. This design allows steering at up to 26 degrees at axle four – well above the standard 12-degree limit for castoring axles – and provides improved handling in both forward and reverse.

This engineering also enables TRT to retain its signature long beavertail while incorporating 3.3-metre single-fold ramps, delivering a superior loading angle compared to heavier bifold ramp systems.

“Chris uses high-spec Michelin XTE2 tyres and he’s expecting about 60 to 70,000 kilometres out of them,” Jeremy notes. “On a heavily used quad, even 20,000 kilometres is considered good. So that’s a massive improvement.”

Designed as a ‘mini quad’, the trailer has a forward distance of less than 9.5 metres, making it road-friendly for multi-piece loads. It comes with a 51-tonne aggregate trailer mass (ATM) and a Group Axle Mass Rating of 36 tonnes, making it suitable for 30-35 tonne single-piece loads and divisible payloads up to 27 tonnes.

TRT held an event in Brisbane during Truck Week 2025 to showcase the new mini quad and other trailer and crane solutions.

Key features include:

•  High-tensile top deck access ramps stored under the deck, accessible via dropdown hatches.

•  Auto-tensioning ramp system using maxi pots and air toggles for reliable safety, with or without air pressure.

•  Heavy-duty 12 millimetre conveyor belt rubber left unrestrained over the final three metres for better track wear resistance.

•  A series of load restraint features including 10-tonne swivel restraints, crow’s feet chain provisions for 8mm and 10mm chains, and recessed tie-downs for brooms, dunnage, and other tools.

•  Alloy water tank, removable headboard with LED work lights, five toolboxes including a flush-mounted index box, electronic lift/lower legs, and chrome-polished alloy rims with Michelin tyres.

The double-acting hydraulic suspension offers up to 185mm of stroke – well above the industry norm of 130mm –allowing operators to isolate and lock off individual axles for better control and easier tyre changes.

National support

TRT isn’t just building trailers; it’s supporting them too.

“From Perth to the Pilbara, Sydney to Adelaide, we’ve got dedicated service agents who know our equipment inside out,” Jeremy said.

Much of that comes from TRT’s long-standing work in the crane sector, with service networks built to support brands like TRT TIDD Crane, Kobelco, Grove, and Manitowoc.

“No other trailer builder in this space has this kind of national coverage for after-sales support. That’s a big part of what gives TRT its edge,” Jeremy said.

To give the industry a closer look, TRT hosted a special event at its Brisbane facility on the eve of the Brisbane Truck Show, as part of Truck Week 2025, showcasing the new mini quad alongside a range of other trailer and crane solutions.

“You can talk all day about mechanical steering, but when you show someone how it moves – when they actually see the trailer navigate tight turns in reverse with ease – that’s when the penny drops,” said Jeremy. “Seeing is believing.”

The trailer’s mechanical linkage system allows it to steer both forward and backward with greater angles.

TRT solutions are often born from time spent with customers on-site, understanding challenges, and developing smarter solutions that work in the real world. TRT is proud to hold several patents, including a world-first Electronic Steering System (ESS). It’s this blend of modern tech and proven trailer mechanics that gives its customers superior manoeuvrability, safety, and efficiency on the most complex jobs.

“The ESS system is 100 per cent TRT. It’s something we’re incredibly proud of,” Jeremy said. “Chris is already looking at a big low loader or even a platform trailer using that system. So, this is just the beginning.”

As Australia’s heavy haulage needs continue to evolve, innovations like TRT’s mini quad trailer aren’t just welcome – they’re essential.