 |  | | Drake branded box. |  |  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Opening generator covers on the gooseneck. |  | | Opening flap reveals the steering controls. |  | | Hooked up to a Kenworth C509. |  | | Loaded with a heavy Vermeer Leveller. |  | | Impressive truck and trailer. |  | | The complete trailer model. |  | | Deck extended for width. |
|  Comment on this model.
This review is of a Drake 7x8 Steerable trailer with a 2x8 dolly, and it is in the colours of the Australian company NHH (National Heavy Haulage).
The trailer was released with an Accessory Set in the same livery, allowing a 12x8 trailer to be configured.
Packaging
The model comes in a presentation quality Drake-branded box. Inside, the model is contained within high quality foam rubber.
There were no missing parts or defects on the review model.
A reprinted brochure is included and it has information and photos of the real Steerable trailer.
A double sided card describes the main features of the dolly and trailer model, and it includes the extension set also. Assembly is straightforward with just the black plastic securing bolts for the deck top side proving challenging to fit.
Detail
The dolly has lines running to the wheels and for the trailer connection. The structure is authentically represented with some small graphics which add detail. A plastic auxiliary fuel tank attaches to the gooseneck and four spare wheels also clip on. Each of these has a chain and separate locking bolt.
The Steerable trailer is almost all metal with a strong structure and smooth deck.
The gooseneck includes a bridging section. It is very detailed, with more spare wheels, and it has really nice Drake nameplates. There is a generator with opening covers on top, and opening covers provide highly detailed steering and gooseneck controls. The detailing of the steering controls is excellent with tiny legible graphics.
At the rear the ramps are very detailed with small graphics and chains, and an Australian number plate.
Features
The dolly has removable spare wheel sets and the locking bars can also be detached to release each wheel. The kingpin can be set in one of two positions and it has an oscillating skid plate. There are two support legs and each can be lowered and locked by using a removable pin.
Both sets of wheels can be slid out to widen the dolly and the axles float and twist.
The kingpin on the gooseneck of the Steerable trailer can be set in two positions by removing steel pins. The gooseneck angle is adjustable and the ram has a good stiffness which holds any pose.
Each of the wheel sets has working suspension with a significant range of movement, and they also have significant sideways oscillation. They are steerable, with axle lines 1-5 and 8 being linked. The linkage works, but it is delicate so care needs to be used to set the steering angle.
The ramps can be lowered, or chained in the up position.
The deck can be widened by pulling the sides apart.
Quality
This is a very high quality Drake model. The metal content is high with plastic used appropriately.
There are a number of tiny graphics which add detail, and the paint is high quality.
Price
The price reflects the high quality of the presentation and the model.
Overall
It has taken a considerable time for the Drake Steerable Trailer to finally be released after first being seen as a prototype. The final model is excellent with some top quality detailing, particularly on the gooseneck. Adding the optional Accessory Set enables a huge trailer to be displayed.
Footnotes
This trailer first appeared as a prototype at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2013.
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|  | | Beautiful packaging. |  | | Excellent details on the 2x8 dolly. |  | | Detailed chassis. |  | | Opening cover on the gooseneck. |  | | High detail on the ramps. | |
|  | | The trailer headed with a Kenworth C509. |  | | Loading on the ramps. |  | | Loaded with a big Hitachi Excavator. |
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