Live bottom trailers versus rear tippers: Which is best for you?

The choice between rear-discharge live-bottom trailers, such as a Trout River trailer and traditional rear-end tippers plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of both the transportation process and those involved.

But what you’re hauling, weight restrictions, the terrain and the product getting transported will undoubtedly assist you in determining the right dump trailer for your business.

End tippers are named after their unloading method and have been the mainstay of bulk material transport for nearly as long as trucks have been around.

Live-bottom trailers are among the newest bulk dump trailers on the market. They get their name from the unique belt floor that allows the material to feed out the back of the trailer more precisely than any other dump-style trailer.

These specialised trailers have transformed the efficiency and safety of handling and transporting various commodities, ranging from agricultural products to construction materials.

One of the most significant safety advantages of rear discharge live bottom trailers is their inherent stability, which minimises the risk of tipping over during the unloading process.

Traditional end tippers are susceptible to tipping if the load shifts unevenly, particularly when working on uneven terrain or under adverse weather conditions. The live-bottom trailer’s design, with a moving floor conveyor system, allows for a steady and controlled discharge of materials. This decreases the likelihood of accidents, ensuring the safety of both operators and bystanders.

Driven by improved safety advantages, Fulton Hogan Southern Region’s fleet of asphalt sub-contractors commenced the introduction of state-of-the-art Trout River manufactured live-bottom trailers over 12 months ago, which, according to Peter Curl, Fulton Hogan’s General Manager Industries – Southern Region, are fast becoming their new industry standard.

“Over a year ago, we started to incentivise our sub-contractors to move to live-bottom vehicles with rebates as we recognised many inherent safety benefits in using them on our sites,” explained Peter.

“Live-bottom trailers have significantly reduced the risk of contacting live overhead power lines or rollover of the trailers whilst discharging,” said Peter.

“The fact they require fewer truck movements to unload also ensures improved safety on the job site as they don’t require drivers to unhook trailers on site. In turn, this benefits the business by allowing for greater productivity and improved logistics,” he added.

“This new live-bottom design has been so successful that we at Fulton Hogan are now encouraging all sub-contractors to move to these trailers in the near future.”

Victorian-based Spudo Haulage specialises in delivering a range of asphalt and quarry products throughout the state for Fulton Hogan and has historically purchased traditional truck-and-dog trailer combinations common with road construction. Recently, they took delivery of two 28-foot tandem live-bottom trailers.

“We heard about Trout River through word of mouth and recommendations from Fulton Hogan, said Spudo Haulage owner Kevin Murphy.

“Pretty much, they (Trout River) had the only live-bottom floor capable of doing what we need them to do. Rod Wells, National Product Manager – Trout River Trailers, ran us through the options on the trailers, and we went with pretty standard units.”

“Because we do a lot of airport work and a lot of night jobs, we had our trailers fitted up with working lights on either side of the tubs. They light up the area for our guys as well as any traffic passing by,” Kevin explained,

“Our trailers also have cameras at the rear so we can see the product being fed into machines, and another camera on top of the body that enables us to see how much material is remaining in the trailer,” he said.

Furthermore, rear-discharge live-bottom trailers offer improved visibility during the unloading process. Operators have a clear line of sight to the discharge area, which allows them to monitor the process closely and make real-time adjustments as needed.

This enhanced visibility reduces the chances of accidentally damaging structures, vehicles, or personnel during unloading. In contrast, traditional end tippers often obstruct the operator’s view, making it challenging to ensure safe unloading, especially in confined spaces.

Additionally, the transportation of dusty or fine-grained materials can pose significant health risks due to the inhalation of harmful airborne particles, such as silica dust. Rear discharge live-bottom trailers are equipped with innovative designs that effectively control dust emissions during the unloading process.

The controlled, gradual discharge of materials reduces the amount of dust released into the environment and minimises exposure for operators and nearby individuals. Traditional end tippers are less effective at controlling dust emissions, potentially exposing operators and bystanders to respiratory health hazards.

The design of rear discharge live bottom trailers enhances operator ergonomics and safety. Operators can remain at a safe distance from the unloading area, operating the trailer’s discharge system from a control panel.

This eliminates the need for manual labour, reducing the risk of physical injuries associated with traditional end tippers, where operators may need to climb on top of the load to facilitate unloading. Enhanced ergonomics lead to fewer workplace injuries and, consequently, a safer working environment.

Rear discharge live bottom trailers offer greater versatility when it comes to unloading materials. Their ability to unload in tight spaces or alongside obstacles makes them a safer option in congested or challenging environments.

In contrast, traditional end tippers require more space for operation, which may not always be available, leading to potential safety hazards in cramped or restricted areas.

In Queensland, Tony Singh of Blue Tippers SEQ took time to explain the benefits and reasoning behind the company’s acquisition of brand-new Trout River units, demonstrating more outstanding outcomes in terms of efficiency and safety.

Situated in the heart of South East Queensland, the asphalt cartage company has grown its capabilities and fleet organically. Predominantly servicing Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Blue Tippers SEQ has contributed to significant infrastructure projects such as the Logan Motorway and the Gold Coast Airport.

“Often when working in the tunnels, we experienced difficulties tipping material out of traditional end tippers,” Tony said. “Sometimes, we’re only able to unload around half of the load due to the limited space in the tunnel.”

This problem prompted Tony to search for a suitable alternative to conventional tipping trailers.

“There weren’t many companies out there at the time making these types of units,” Tony said.

But Tony says his search for a safer alternative led to the discovery of Trout River’s Live Bottom units through local Brisbane dealer Trailer Sales. Roger Miller, Bulk Equipment Sales specialist at Trailer Sales, has been Tony’s primary contact ever since the purchase of the first Trout River unit.

Roger told us that Blue Tippers SEQ Live Bottom trailers include a long list of innovative options. “These specialised units are perfectly suited to the Blue Tippers SEQ’s needs and requirements,” Roger explained. “Trout River’s live bottom unit is one of the few systems of its kind in Australia,” he adds. “These things are built to run seven days a week, 24 hours a day.”

Roger explained that the Trout River Trailers have the flexibility to be tailored and customised individually. “It’s a terrific feature that ensures each trailer delivers the best productivity and suitability to the customer’s application. Customers can also purchase additional attachments such as chip spreaders, side chutes and more. We’re always looking to innovate because we want to make sure the equipment is continually evolving with the needs of our customers,” Roger added.

However, live-bottom trailers do have their limitations. Live bottom trailers require a bit more additional maintenance than traditional end tippers, but not nearly enough to deter use.

“You regularly need to make sure that the flashing is where it needs to be and always make sure your belt and your chains are tensioned correctly,” Brian Horner, MT Mobile Maintenance workshop manager, said.

“These trailers also do not typically lend themselves to excavation and extraction of products, such as tree stumps, demolition materials like concrete with rebar, which could damage the conveyor belt. Nor do they like sticky clay, which often causes problematic unloading,” he added.

To sum up, the safety advantages of rear discharge live bottom trailers over traditional end tippers are evident. Their inherent stability, improved visibility, reduced dust exposure, operator-friendly ergonomics, and versatility in unloading contribute to a safer transportation process for both operators and bystanders.

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