BLOG

2019.11.29 update

Towing Truck -Tractor Head-

Do you see this type of the truck running in your town?

This type is called “Tractor Head” and it can carry lots of cargo by towing the trailer chassis, although it cannot transport the cargo with only tractor head. Not all tractor heads and trailers are compatible, and some tractor heads cannot tow specific kind of trailers.
Here is the specification of Tractor Head.

What is Tractor Head?
Tractor Head is one of truck types designed to tow a trailer. Usually it is called “Tractor Head”, but some countries call it “Prime Mover”, and in Japan, we call it also “Trailer Head” because we hear “tractor” and connect it with the tractor for agriculture.

Kind of Tractor Head
There is two types of Tractor Head; Semi and Full Tractor Head.

・Semi-Tractor Head

Semi-trailer towing tractor head can only be installed on the rear wheels and cannot stand by supporting the front of the trailer with the front auxiliary foot.

・Full Tractor Head
The full tractor is equipped with front and rear wheels and is a tractor head for towing a trailer that does not have a self-propelled function, but it can stand on its own. It may be easy for you to imagine that a freight car which does not have a self-propelled function is pulled by the train to run.

Maximum Loading Capacity & Fifth Wheel Loading
Tractors are designed to carry large loads for many times, so the maximum loading capacity is very important. Strong force is applied to the coupler and the kingpin which connects the tractor and the trailer, because trailers themselves do not mount engines so cannot be self-propelled.

Usually the part of the coupler and the kingpin is called “Fifth Wheel” even though there is no fifth wheel in actual. That name came from the name of carriage connection part ”Fifth wheel coupling”. With that parts alone, it is amazing to be able to pull 10 tons of luggage. So, if you buy a tractor head, you should check how much is the maximum towing weight of the tractor.