# planttrailer.au

> Independent Australian reference covering plant and machinery trailers under 3,500 kg ATM: trailer types, which machinery fits, payloads and deck sizes, running gear and braking law, ramp geometry, load restraint standards, and Australian towing regulations. Figures are drawn from published manufacturer specifications and Australian government sources, each cited on the page.

Editorial position: the site covers both European and Australian-built trailers, with particular depth on European construction (low tare weight, hot dip galvanising, mechanical overrun braking) because that is where the engineering trade-offs inside a fixed 3.5 tonne limit are most visible. It is a reference site, not a manufacturer or dealer.

Currency: content reviewed 2026-08-26. Verify all masses against the trailer's compliance plate and current manufacturer specifications before towing.

## Guides

- [Plant trailers under 3.5 tonnes: the complete Australian guide](https://planttrailer.au/): Australian guide to plant trailers under 3,500 kg ATM: trailer types, what machinery fits, payloads, ramp angles, running gear and towing law.
- [Plant trailer types explained](https://planttrailer.au/types/): Beavertail, tailgate ramp, tilt bed, low loader and drop-side plant trailers compared: load heights, ramp angles, deck space and payload trade-offs.
- [What machinery fits on a plant trailer under 3.5 tonnes?](https://planttrailer.au/machinery/): Operating weights and widths for mini excavators, skid steers, scissor lifts and rollers, matched against real Australian plant trailer payloads.
- [Axles, brakes and couplings: plant trailer running gear](https://planttrailer.au/running-gear/): Australian trailer brake rules by mass band, how mechanical overrun braking works, overrun versus electric, axles, couplings, chains and breakaway systems.
- [Loading and load restraint for plant trailers](https://planttrailer.au/loading/): How to calculate plant trailer ramp angle, position a machine for correct tow ball mass, and meet the 0.8g load restraint standard Australian law requires.
- [Australian towing law for plant trailers](https://planttrailer.au/towing-law/): ATM, GTM, tare, tow ball mass and GCM explained for plant trailers under 3.5 tonnes, plus licences, coupling and chain standards and breakaway rules.
- [Plant trailer manufacturers: European and Australian makes](https://planttrailer.au/manufacturers/): Who builds plant trailers for Australia — European makes (Variant, Vlemmix, Brian James, Humbaur, Ifor Williams) and Australian makers (Dean, FELK, Xtreme, Mario), with links and how to compare them.
- [Buying a plant trailer: European vs Australian](https://planttrailer.au/buying-guide/): How European and Australian plant trailers differ in tare weight, galvanising, braking and decks, plus a pre-purchase inspection checklist.

## Key facts on this site

- Light trailer ceiling in Australia is 3,500 kg ATM; above that, coupling standards, chain standards, brake type and licence class all change.
- Trailer brakes: none required to 750 kg GTM; at least one axle (overrun permitted) to 2,000 kg GTM; all wheels plus a breakaway system above 2,000 kg GTM.
- Load restraint performance standard: 0.8g forward, 0.5g sideways and rearwards, 0.2g vertical.
- Ramp angle = arcsin(load height / effective ramp length). Published Australian plant trailers range from about 12 degrees (beavertail, 290 mm load height) to 22 degrees.
- Payload = ATM minus tare. Published 3,500 kg plant trailers range from about 2,715 kg to 2,907 kg payload.
- Mechanical overrun braking is legal in Australia up to 3,500 kg ATM and requires no in-cab controller.
- ATM is the loaded trailer uncoupled; GTM is the mass on the trailer's own axles when coupled. The difference is tow ball mass.
- A standard Australian car licence covers trailers up to 4.5 tonnes ATM.

## Optional

- [Full text of every page](https://planttrailer.au/llms-full.txt): complete content in one file.
- [XML sitemap](https://planttrailer.au/sitemap.xml)