Skel Trailers

A Skel trailer is specifically designed for carrying shipping containers. These trailers are characterised by their skeletal frame, which provides the necessary support and locking mechanisms to securely transport standard-sized containers. Skel trailers are versatile in their application, enabling easy loading, unloading, and transportation of containers over short and long distances.

If you’re looking for a trailer that is for a very specific use or requires certain customisation options for your logistics, custom-built trailers can be built and tailored to your needs.

Skel trailers are commonly used in the transport and logistics industries. They are essential in intermodal transport, facilitating the efficient transfer of goods between ships, rail, and road transport networks.

Choosing Midland’s Australian-made Skel Trailers ensures you receive a product manufactured with high-quality Australian steel, known for its durability and strength. Our trailers are built to withstand the demanding Australian conditions, providing reliability and longevity in your fleet.

A Skeletal Trailer is the same as a Skel Trailer. There’s no difference between the two. ‘Skel’ is the shortened version of ‘Skeletal’.

Midland ensures the high quality of its Skel Trailers through stringent manufacturing processes, using premium Australian steel and adhering to the highest industry standards. Our exclusive 3 Stage finishing process (link) protects the Trailers against the corrosive environment of shipping ports, resulting in reliable and high-performing trailers for our clients.

Midland provides extensive customisation for Skel Trailers, including various configurations of container pins, hitch types, and suspension systems, allowing for a trailer that meets specific transport requirements. Please note that customisation options will vary depending on the type of trailer you’re after.

The main difference between a Container Skel Trailer and Retractable Skel Trailer is that a Container Skel is a fixed length, designed to carry containers of a specific length, whereas a Retractable Skel can be adjusted to dock load a 20 foot container. Although our Container Skels are fixed in-length, we can build them to fit whichever length you require.

Acquiring an in-stock Skel Trailer from Midland means immediate access to our high-quality trailers, bypassing the build time associated with custom orders. This option is ideal for businesses needing to expand their transport capabilities quickly.

To order a Skel Trailer through Midland, you just need to request a quote from us. Provide us with any details on the type of thing that you’re looking for and we’ll be in-touch to discuss your requirements with you in more detail.

Most skel trailers are configured to carry 20ft and 40ft ISO containers. Many Midland skeletal trailers also accommodate 45ft containers, which are increasingly common in Australian domestic freight. Retractable skel trailers extend to suit multiple container lengths, eliminating the need for separate trailers for different container sizes.

A skeletal trailer has a bare chassis frame — no deck — designed exclusively for ISO containers that lock onto twist locks and pedestals. A flat top trailer has a solid deck and carries non-containerised loads like machinery, steel, and building materials. Skel trailers are lighter and faster to load and unload in container logistics, but cannot carry non-containerised freight.

Tare weight varies by configuration. A standard tandem-axle skel trailer typically weighs around 6–7 tonnes tare. A tri-axle skel trailer runs approximately 8–10 tonnes tare. Lower tare weight is one of the key advantages of skeletal construction over flat top or curtainsider trailers — it directly increases your legal payload capacity.