Henty 2017: Tracking trailer takes home local accolade

Built in South Australia, Kelly Engineering’s new tracking trailer features a unique steering mechanism that allows it to track perfectly behind the towing vehicle, allowing it to transport almost anything at all with precision, from header fronts to chemical shuttles; and from liquid fertilisers to bales of hay.

Released into the market just last month, the Kelly Tracking Trailer has caught the eyes of a group of machinery experts at the 2017 Henty Machinery Field Days, who decided to name the innovative machine the Greater Hume Shire Award recipient.

The award recognises the best new Australian designed and built agricultural machine and was presented on the last day of the field days (September 21) by Greater Hume Shire mayor, Heather Wilton, and Henty Machinery Field Days director, Nigel Scheetz, to Kelly Engineering sales manager, Cavin Osborn.

The winner was decided upon by a panel of independent judges consisting of primary producers.

The Kelly Tracking Trailer has steering front and rear wheels that allow it to follow nicely behind the truck or tractor, giving it better manoeuverability in tighter spaces.

Judge Mark Bowyer says he has never seen anything like the trailer on the market and is impressed with the wide range of opportunities it presents.

“I haven’t seen anything like it anywhere whereby the steering mechanism runs up through the middle of the machine to steer the front and back axles,” he says.

“Long comb trailers behind headers tend to cut in on corners and it can be a bit of a problem. The steering mechanism allows the rear of the machine to follow quite well."

He adds the design of the trailer allows it to transport any other form of header front; from the bigger draper style to the smaller canola pick-up fronts.

The 5m long trailer has a 2m wheelbase with adjustable brackets to suit header combs of any shape and size, and can be removed if required to fit other equipment or load.

“The price of the machine given its build quality was quite reasonable," Bowyer says.

Kelly Engineering sales manager, Cavin Osborn, says the trailer had evolved from a header comb trailer to a universal machine.

“Header combs are getting bigger and harder to manoeuvre around so we wanted to design a trailer to make it easier,” he says.

“We thought if the attachments were adjustable or removable, we could put enviro drums or hay bales on the trailer as well.”

“The trailer has an extendable hitch and there is a linkage from the front wheels to the back wheels to ensure it tracks right behind the tow vehicle,” Osborn says.

“They are fitted with highly load rated heavy duty implement tyres.”

He adds interest in the trailer had been strong at the Henty Machinery Field Days.

“To win an award like this puts us in the limelight, and we are very excited about what it means, and what it can do for us."