Universal Cranes and TRT: A Custom B-Train for Mobile Crane Support
OVERVIEW
Universal Cranes New Zealand worked with TRT to create a custom B-train for a Liebherr LTM1230 5.1 mobile crane.
The result was a purpose-built transport combination that carries counterweight, crane pads, forklift, dunnage, hook blocks and gear in one efficient setup.
SITUATION
Universal Cranes New Zealand, formerly Auckland and Waikato Cranes, provides mobile crane rental services from Auckland and Hamilton.
The business is part of the Smithbridge Group, which operates Universal Cranes in Australia and New Zealand.
Universal Cranes needed a transport solution matched to the way its teams support mobile crane work.
The trailer had to improve efficiency while staying practical for operators on the ground.
CHALLENGE
Universal Cranes needed more than a standard counterweight trailer.
The B-train had to carry a wide mix of crane support equipment in a safe and organised layout.
That included counterweight, crane pads, forklift, dunnage, hook blocks and other gear.
The solution also needed to support payload capacity, transport efficiency and reduced personnel requirements.
SOLUTION
TRT designed and delivered a custom B-train for Universal Cranes in December 2023.
The lead A-unit is a 3-axle counterweight slab unit capable of carrying 22 tonnes of counterweight.
The B-unit is a newly designed 2-axle drop-deck unit.
It carries a 2.8-tonne forklift, custom TRT crane pads, approximately 40 dunnage blocks and hook blocks set into chassis recesses.
TRT also supplied custom TRT 035-DP crane pads earlier in the project, in May 2023.
Jeremy Carden has said the project moved from those crane pads through to the final trailer outcome.
Leo Lemmen has pointed to TRT’s crane industry experience as an important part of the process.
He has also noted that Universal Cranes’ operators responded positively to the new counterweight trailer.
MADE POSSIBLE:
Universal Cranes New Zealand now has a custom B-train matched to its mobile crane support requirements.
The 8-axle combination brings essential crane support equipment into one organised transport solution.
The design supports a smoother workflow for operators.
It also aligns with Universal Cranes’ focus on reducing overheads, lowering transport emissions and improving transport efficiency.
TRT and Universal Cranes continue a long working relationship through this customised trailer project.
The result shows what can happen when a clear operational brief is paired with practical trailer design and crane industry knowledge.