A side loader trailer is a special trailer that can load, transport, and unload containers on its own. It has a crane or hydraulic arm installed on the side, allowing it to load and unload containers from the side without the need for a forklift or crane. This design enables the side loader trailer to operate in narrow spaces.
Have you encountered the problem that unloading containers becomes a hassle in a confined space? Then it’s time for our protagonist to shine, Container side loader – the semi trailer specially designed for loading and unloading by itself. It’s very practical and has a pivotal role in the logistics.
1. What is the side loader trailer?
A side loader trailer is also known as a container side lifter. A side loader trailer is a special trailer that can load, transport, and unload containers on its own. It features a crane or hydraulic arm installed on one side, enabling it to load and unload containers from the side without the need for a forklift or crane. This design enables the side loader trailer to operate in narrow spaces. (container side loader for sale)
Side loader trailers can be used to load, transport, and unload containers ranging from 10 to 45 feet in length.
40ft side lifter truck for sale
2. Why use the side loader trailer?
- 🚛 Loads and unloads by itself: No need for a forklift or crane. The trailer features built-in arms that facilitate lifting.
- 🕒 Saves time: It takes just a few minutes to load or unload a container.
- 👷 Needs fewer workers: One driver can do the whole job without extra help.
- 🧱 Works in tight spaces: Perfect for small yards, narrow streets, or places where big machines can’t go.
- 📦 Easy maintenance: Side loader trailers are also easy to maintain and do not require any special maintenance regularly.
- 🌍 Good for remote or rural areas: Useful where cranes or loading equipment are not available.
3. Side loader trailer images
40ft side loading container trailer for sale
20ft sidelifter container trailer for sale
4. Side loader trailer specifications
- Brand: PANDA Mech
- Maximum lifting capacity: 37 tons
- Dimension: 12000*2500*4000mm
- Suspension: Mechanical
- Axle: 3
- Tires: 12
- Material: High-strength steel
- Crake: WABCO emergency valve
- Kingpin: 2/3.5 feet
- Landing gear: Jost
- Power source: Power take-off/diesel APU
- Operation method: Wireless remote control and manual operation
5. Application
Common applications:
- 📦 1. Container Transport: Moves 20ft or 40ft containers between ports, warehouses, factories, or customer sites.
- 🏗️ 2. Construction Sites: Delivers containers used for tool storage, office space, or materials.
- 🛳️ 3. Port and Terminal Operations: Helps move containers between ships and trucks quickly.
- 🚜 4. Remote or Rural Deliveries: Useful in places without cranes or forklifts.
- 🏢 5. Mobile Office or Housing: Used to transport modular offices or container homes.
- 🔁 6. Container Swapping or Repositioning: Moves containers from one location to another for storage or refilling.
Side loader trailers can use the side lifter trailer not only for transportation in containers but also for other purposes, which are well illustrated by the following pictures. (such as prefabricated concrete, swap bodies, cable drums, drilling & crane rigs, pipes, and stacking containers)
side loader container truck application
6. Features:
The container side loading crane has two cranes, front and rear, installed on the semi-trailer floor, transmits hydraulic power through the tractor, can slide along the chassis front and rear, remote control wireless operation, and retains manual process, which can realize the self-loading and unloading of container transportation.
With compact structure, reliable operation, simple operation, and high operational efficiency, the use of the location is mainly in the port, car show, yard, and other occasions of container loading and transportation.
20ft sidelifter for sale
7. Types of PANDA container side loader
With the development of the economy, the demand for container side loaders is also increasing. It can help many customers reduce transportation costs, increase profit, better seize the market, and get more market share.
The types of side loader containers include 20ft, 40ft, and 45ft. The cargo consists of 16 tons, 21 tons, 25 tons, 37 tons, etc. Generally, the maximum load of container side loader is 37 tons. If it exceeds 37 tons, some reinforcement and design are needed.
Three axles 20ft side loader for sale
Chassis classification
Lattice Chassis – The initial design is to use a lattice chassis, which is unique. Although it is light in weight, it is also very strong.
I-Beam Chassis – This was introduced to provide customers with an alternative chassis benchmark. Customers can choose according to their own needs, according to the actual use, our business manager will provide you with the most professional advice.
side loader trailer drawing
Terms of power
The front end directly provides power, the other is through the diesel engine to provide energy, equipped with power is PTO or diesel APU.
8. How does the container side loader work?
Container side loader work can be directly controlled by remote control. We have to ensure that the ground is hard and flat. Otherwise, problems are likely to occur. Usually, the PANDA container side lifter is equipped with a wireless remote control, but the Container side loader must fix the receiver on the side loader truck. The receiver needs to be well protected. Although it is robust, it would be better to put it in the electric control cabinet, which will salt the receiver’s life.
How does a side loader trailer load containers?
- We need to dock the side loader trailer next to the container, parallel, close, the distance is about 0.5m best. The container side loader power is provided by the tractor or diesel engine.
- Spread the crane legs and brace them on the ground. Side lifters should note that the environment must be hard and flat to prevent the legs from overturning when the force is applied.
- After propping on the ground, you can use the chain to connect to the container. The chain will be fixed in the dead corner of the container using a selected device.
- Then start lifting. When lifting, pay attention to the driver to stay away, and use the Side loader trailer can control the remote control.
📦 How I Unload a Container with a Side Loader Trailer
- First, I will park the trailer next to the spot where I want to put the container. I make sure the ground is flat and safe.
- Then, I will own the stabilizer legs. This keeps the trailer steady during the unloading.
- Next, I will unlock the container from the trailer. I release the twist locks that hold it in place.
- After that, I will attach the chains or hooks to the top corners of the container, using the remote control to move the lifting arms.
- Then, I will lift the container slowly, just a little above the trailer.
- Next, I will move the container outward and down. I place it carefully on the ground.
- Finally, I will unhook the chains and lift the arms back to their rest position. The container is now unloaded!
9. Structure
Side loader trailer welding structure using high-strength steel, try to ensure the high strength of the case and reduce its self-weight, which needs to make a good design. Each side loader truck container has a 2-stage telescopic boom operated by a double-acting telescopic cylinder integrated into the boom gear.
Crane module – The crane module is an important part of the container side loader work. It uses hydraulic power. Through the crane, the container/goods can be transported from the ground, another vehicle, dock, warehouse, etc. to the designated location. The crane is on the top of the container side lifter truck trailer chassis and moves on the chassis track through hydraulic motors and hydraulic cylinders so that goods or containers of different widths can be loaded.
Drive power unit – The power unit is generally powered by a separate diesel engine, but some are also powered by a truck tractor, also known as a PTO.
Stabilizing legs – The stabilizing legs are hydraulic, their main function is to support the ground through the stabilizing legs so that the vehicle body remains stable when the container side loader is working, and there will be no rollover, especially in some uneven inside In some places, the role of the stabilizing leg is very important, and the extension of the outrigger can provide additional support when lifting in some narrow positions.
side loader stabilizing legs
Tractor – Usually used to pull the container side loader, but sometimes it is also used as a power unit, and it also provides compressed air for the trailer’s brakes. Only after the tractor and the side loader truck are connected, the side loader trailer can work safely, because the tractor ensures the normal operation of the brake after supplying compressed air, and also plays a very important role in the stability of the container side lifter.
Chain – There will be a special linking device at the bottom of the container to link the chain to the container, and then start loading or unloading.
side loader trailer chain
Chassis – The role of the chassis is very huge. It carries the weight of the crane and the cargo/container, so the requirements for the strength of the chassis are very strict, and only high-strength steel can do the job.
Remote control – When the side lifter trailer is working, there is a certain danger. When we are in control, we use the remote control, which can effectively avoid the occurrence of danger. It is more convenient to view the cargo/container from multiple angles through button and joystick operation, using a wire or radio signal connection.
What is the difference between using a side lifter and the traditional loading method?
The use of a container side trailer saves workforce and time. The traditional way of unloading containers first needs to flatbed semi trailer or container chassis docked at the designated location, and then use a forklift or crane loading, the overall time-consuming and labor-intensive, high cost. There is a certain This is time consuming, costly, and dangerous.
Crane and side loader trailer manufacturers
Using a container side lifter requires only one person to operate it, and basically, it can be loaded within 2-5 minutes and is much safer.
Buy or lease
Compared with container chassis, flatbed semi trailer, container side lifter price is higher, so we need to consider it seriously.
If we need to use it for a long time, more than 2 years, it may be more cost-effective to buy it, if it is shorter than 2 years, it will be more appropriate to rent it.
How much does a container side loader cost?
20Ft side loader trailer price: $26,500-$65,900
40FT container side lifter price: $30500-65,900;
45Ft container side loader price: $38,500-68,900.
How Much Does a Container Chassis Trailer Cost?
How to choose a container side loader manufacturer?
- Size: Match the chassis length to the size of the containers you’ll be transporting. Some chassis are extendable for various sizes.
- Material: Look for high-quality steel construction for durability and longevity.
- Terrain and Environment: Think about the conditions where the chassis will be used. For rugged terrains, a more robust chassis may be needed.
- Regulatory Compliance: Verify that the chassis meets all local, state, and federal regulations, including safety standards.
- Budget: While it’s tempting to go for the cheapest option, remember that quality and safety should never be compromised.
- Brand: Brand is a very important choice, a good brand tends to be more durable and last longer, such as Panda Mech.
- Place of Origin: As we all know, China has a lot of inexpensive goods, likewise, container side lifter is no exception.
After reading this article, I believe you have for what is container side loader trailer already have more understanding of it, whether it is the size, structure, use, we have been in the article in detail, container side loader is the world’s logistics and transportation industry in an important part. No matter what problems you encounter with the container side loader, we will assist you in solving them, even if you did not buy from us.
FAQ
If there is no container side loader, how should we transport containers?
We can use container chassis trailers, gooseneck container chassis, or tilt container chassis trailers to transport containers. (Related: What is container chassis trailer?)
How many tons can be loaded in a container?
A container can be loaded with a max of 37 tons, for safety reasons we usually load less than that.
