Trailer
Heavy transport truck developed by the Earth Federation to carry mobile suits.
The Trailer was a mega-size twenty-wheeled transport truck developed by the Earth Federation Forces to carry their new RX-series mobile suits and ensure strategic mobility of Federation mobile weapons on Earth during the One Year War.
History
The Trailer was developed as part of the Earth Federation’s Project V mobile suit development programme. As the Federation prepared to deploy their first combat mobile suits, the need for specialised ground transport became apparent. Unlike space-based mobile suit operations, Earth combat required the ability to move mobile suits over long distances whilst preserving their operational readiness and maintaining secrecy.
The Federation’s engineering teams designed the Trailer specifically to transport the RX-78-2 Gundam, RX-77-2 Guncannon, and RX-75-4 Guntank prototypes. The vehicles were crucial for moving these valuable assets between testing facilities and deployment zones whilst maintaining operational security.
Multiple Trailers were stationed at the Federation’s secret research facility at Side 7, where they were used to transport the completed Project V mobile suits for final testing and preparation for transfer to the assault carrier White Base. The Trailers allowed the mobile suits to be moved efficiently within the colony’s industrial areas whilst keeping them concealed from potential enemy surveillance.
On 18 September UC 0079, when Char Aznable’s reconnaissance team attacked Side 7, several Trailers were destroyed during the initial assault. The RX-78-2 Gundam that Amuro Ray first piloted was mounted on one of these Trailers when the colony came under attack. During the ensuing battle, many of the remaining Trailers and their mobile suit cargo were destroyed to prevent them from falling into Zeon hands.
Design
The Trailer represented a significant advancement in heavy transport vehicle design, specifically engineered to meet the unique requirements of mobile suit transportation. Its massive size and twenty-wheel configuration provided the stability and load-bearing capacity necessary to safely transport mobile suits weighing up to 80 tonnes.
The vehicle featured a flatbed-style loading platform designed to accommodate a single standard mobile suit or disassembled mobile suit components. The platform could be covered with a protective canopy to conceal the cargo and provide protection from the elements. This modular approach allowed the Trailer to adapt to different transport requirements depending on the mission.
The driving cabin was positioned on the right side of the vehicle, providing the operator with optimal visibility of both the roadway and the cargo platform. Four sets of ladders were mounted on each side of the platform, allowing maintenance personnel to access the transported mobile suit for inspection and minor repairs during transit.
The Trailer’s twenty-wheel configuration distributed the enormous weight of mobile suit cargo across a larger surface area, reducing ground pressure and allowing the vehicle to operate on a wider variety of terrain types. This was crucial for operations in areas where road infrastructure might be damaged or inadequate for standard heavy transport vehicles.
Power for the massive vehicle came from a special high-output gasoline engine designed to provide the torque necessary to move the combined weight of the trailer and its mobile suit cargo. The engine was optimised for reliability rather than speed, as the Trailer’s primary mission was to safely transport valuable military assets rather than achieve high-speed deployment.
Cargo handling systems
The Trailer’s flatbed platform incorporated several features to secure and protect mobile suit cargo during transport. Tie-down points and restraint systems ensured that mobile suits remained stable during movement, preventing damage from vibration or sudden movements.
The platform’s modular design allowed it to accommodate mobile suits in various configurations. Complete mobile suits could be transported in a standing position with appropriate support structures, whilst disassembled components could be arranged efficiently across the available space.
Loading and unloading operations typically required external lifting equipment, such as cranes or specialised mobile suit handling systems. The Trailer itself was not equipped with integral loading mechanisms, keeping the vehicle’s design simple and reliable whilst reducing potential points of mechanical failure.
Operational considerations
The Trailer’s large size and specialised nature made it unsuitable for general military transport duties. Its design was optimised specifically for mobile suit transport, and its operational profile was limited to scenarios where this capability was required.
The vehicle’s low speed and distinctive appearance made it vulnerable to enemy attack, requiring escort protection during movement through contested areas. The high value of mobile suit cargo also made Trailers priority targets for enemy forces seeking to disrupt Federation mobile suit operations.
Maintenance requirements for the Trailer were significant due to its size and the stresses imposed by heavy cargo loads. Regular inspection of the twenty-wheel system and chassis components was essential to ensure safe operation and prevent mechanical failures that could result in the loss of valuable mobile suit assets.
Known operators
- Earth Federation Forces transport units
- Project V research facility personnel
Behind the scenes
Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer for the Trailer, creating it as part of the realistic military infrastructure depicted in Mobile Suit Gundam.
The Trailer’s design reflected the series’ realistic approach to military logistics, showing the practical considerations involved in deploying large mechanical weapons systems. The vehicle’s appearance in the first episode established the scale and weight of mobile suits whilst demonstrating the infrastructure required to support them.
The Trailer has been released as a 1/144 scale EX Model kit by Bandai, allowing fans to recreate the iconic scene from the first episode of Mobile Suit Gundam where the RX-78-2 Gundam first appears.
Variants
Gundam Trailer Truck
Commercial designation used for model kit releases of the vehicle, emphasising its role in transporting the iconic RX-78-2 Gundam.
Large Trailer
Alternative designation used in some official publications, reflecting the vehicle’s massive size compared to conventional transport trucks.
Appearances
- Mobile Suit Gundam (Episode 1: “Gundam Rising”)
- Mobile Suit Gundam I
See also
External links
- Trailer on the Gundam Wiki
- EX Model Gundam Trailer Truck on the Gunpla Wiki