Track Trailer fights for military contract

Almost 20 years after developing its first range of military-spec trailers, Melbourne’s Track Trailer is lining up for another crack at a lucrative supply deal to Australia's armed forces.

The award-winning off-road camper trailer manufacturer originally developed its renowned MC2 asymmetric link suspension back in the mid-1990s, after being invited to tender for the supply of trailers to the Australian military.

The hard-core suspension has gone on to underpin a range of highly-regarded Track Trailer models including the Tvan, Topaz and new

Mate trailer, as well as its latest battle-ready weapon, the Thales Hawkei PMV-L.

The tough, go-anywhere trailer was developed in conjunction with Thales Australia, which produces the Bushmaster armoured vehicle and recently developed the next-generation Hawkei Australian Light Protected Vehicle at its Bendigo, Victory factory.

Resplendent in ‘desert sands’ warpaint and sporting a monster wheels/tyre package (each over 1.1m in diameter and weighing 140kg), PMV-L prototypes are currently undergoing rigorous testing by both Thales and the Australian government.

According to Track Trailer, the “trailer can be airlifted by helicopter, lashed down in the back of an aircraft carrier or inside a Hercules and boasts four tonne ATM on Track’s own single axle MC2 Suspension”.
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Safety is taken care of by air brakes with ABS (anti-lock system) developed by Track Trailer.

The Australian Defence Force is seeking to replace its aging fleet of Land Rovers with up to 1300 specialised light armoured vehicles under Project Land 121 Phase 4 - Projected Mobility Vehicle (Light) or PMV-L. A final decision on the tender is expected in 2015.