Hello all,
I’m looking for some help on what is required to convert an American semi-trailer (dual axled) to something that is compatible with British trucks and what would need to be changed to make it road legal?
Unless you have a LST trial permit, you would need to chop 8 feet off it for starters. IIRC American trailers are 53ft long, a UK standard is 45.
Then you would need to add under-run protection, I don’t know about their kingpin placing but that may need changing. Better to get an older UK Box and add in the under-run. It will look the same but be built to the right dimensions.
What are you using for a prime mover? Because if you are using an American style bonneted tractor you will need to take even more length out to make it fit with maximum lengths.
Chop 4 metres off it, chuck the glad hands away and use tubeless rims, fit a proper parking brake, orange indicators and fog lamps, maybe move the axles forward and the king pin backwards, the big question is why?
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It’s one of those how long is a piece of string type questions.ANC routinely couple unaccompanied US spec trailers to Brit units so the basics are obviously compatible.The difference being the more detailed aspects like distance from pin to axle measurements among others assuming it’s for permanent use here.I’d guess that the best place to ask first would be the IVA issuing authorities because it will need that at least to get it MOT’d.But from memory what I do know is that it’s virtually impossible to make something compliant with both DOT and Brit/Euro regs.Realistically it can only be one or the other and being bleedin difficult to go from one to the other.
When I worked at Mildenhall we run both European and US spec trailers pulled by European and US tractor units, the US spec trailers had a dropper to allow a 24v tractor unit pull a trailer with 12v lights, they weren’t very reliable though.
Because they were military kit they still had the red indicator brake light system, but US service personnel had to change them on their own cars.
can’t remember ever having a king pin incompatibility, one of the trailers although only 45ft had the axles on the rear, so was interesting on roundabouts and tight turns.
We were probably over length most of the time as they like to have long 6x4 tractor units and the trailers weren’t close coupled, even though they were 45ft long.
Out of interest why do you want to? If its too go behind an American unit for show purposes I can understand but beyond that why bother? They are crappy fragile things, trailers this side of the pond are far superior
We used to occasionally pick up American trailers from Liverpool docks that were over here for a few months. Thought it was going to he a beaurocratic nightmare, turned out no one was bothered. No king pin issues, IIRC we needed to find put the couplings before we collected.
Long term would probably be different.
albion:
We used to occasionally pick up American trailers from Liverpool docks
Edit ACL not ANC.
While temporary entry allows for a multitude of sins including DOT compliance only I think it would probably draw the line at the full on 53ft overall.But 40-45 ft US spec trailer for temporary entry only no problem.It gets a bit more difficult if you want a Brit MOT on it. 
albion:
We used to occasionally pick up American trailers from Liverpool docks
Edit ACL not ANC.
While temporary entry allows for a multitude of sins including DOT compliance only I think it would probably draw the line at the full on 53ft overall.But 40-45 ft US spec trailer for temporary entry only no problem.It gets a bit more difficult if you want a Brit MOT on it.
If it’s temporary like the ACL and Boeing traillers, just as with anyother unaccompanied temporary import as long as it’s legal in it’s country of origing there is no problem, other than maybe needing a movement order due to length. US trailers have very short pins, i believe 30 or 36 inches so coupling to them isn’t a problem.
If however you want to permanently import one, you’ll need to get an IVA, speak to the IVA department at DVSA Swansea they are surpringly helpful, and then your best course of action will probably be to change your mind. The paperwork will be a nightmare, if actually possible and if it is possible the cost will be exactly £bottomless pit. When your finished you’ll be left with a pile of flimsy American junk.