As energy costs rise and regulatory demands increase, mining operations face growing pressure to improve productivity, reduce costs, and operate more efficiently. A common strategy is to deploy larger equipment capable of moving more material with fewer machines. However, this approach introduces a critical challenge: relocating large mining equipment quickly and safely while maintaining production.
Downtime is expensive, and the larger the machine, the greater the impact of lost production. TowHaul addresses this challenge by providing mobility solutions designed to recover disabled ultra-class haul trucks and transport large mining equipment safely and efficiently.
At the center of these solutions is the versatile TowHaul Gooseneck. Designed to perform multiple critical functions, the Gooseneck allows mine operators to both transport large equipment on a Lowboy trailer and recover disabled haul trucks using the same prime mover. This unique capability has transformed how mines manage equipment mobility, reducing the need for dedicated recovery equipment while maximizing asset utilization.
As equipment mobility becomes increasingly important in reducing cost per tonne, the combination of the TowHaul Gooseneck and Lowboy has become a valuable tool for mining operations worldwide. Beyond simply moving equipment from one location to another, the system helps mines respond quickly to unplanned breakdowns, maintain production flow, and reduce costly delays.
Faster moves, lower costs
Transporting equipment on a Lowboy trailer can be up to five times faster than tramming. This can deliver significant time and cost savings while improving productivity and reducing undercarriage maintenance expenses. Many mine sites span more than 40 kilometres, making self-powered equipment moves both costly and inefficient in terms of labour and fuel consumption.
While Lowboy trailers have long been used in other industries, they are now becoming essential equipment on modern mine sites. Operations often justify the investment through the frequent movement of drills, dozers, and other tracked equipment, with many achieving a return on investment within 12 to 18 months. Once integrated into daily operations, the benefits frequently extend beyond initial expectations, leading many mines to add additional TowHaul units to increase operational flexibility and redundancy.
As mining equipment continues to grow in size, the trailers required to transport it must evolve as well. TowHaul responded by developing a front-loading, low-profile Lowboy featuring a modular design and a single haul-truck-style axle configuration at the rear.
The modular design allows the trailer to be assembled using pinned connections rather than extensive welding. This simplifies installation, with many units assembled in less than a week. It also streamlines shipping logistics, making transportation to remote mining operations significantly easier.
The front-loading configuration provides a stable loading platform for tracked equipment, while the Lowboy’s low-profile ramps help minimize breakover issues across a wide range of machines during loading and unloading. TowHaul offers several Lowboy models with capacities ranging from 150 to 450 short tons, ensuring an appropriate mobility solution for a broad range of mining applications.
However, the front-loading trailer design also enabled the development of TowHaul‘s most significant innovation: the multipurpose Gooseneck.
Recover. Relocate.
The Gooseneck can be mounted to a variety of rigid-frame haul truck models, referred to as prime movers. When connected to the Lowboy, it enables the transport of large tracked and wheeled equipment throughout the mine site. After disconnecting from the Lowboy, the Gooseneck can hydraulically reposition on the prime mover chassis and quickly convert into a recovery hitch for disabled haul trucks.
This dual-purpose functionality gives mining operations a level of flexibility unmatched by traditional transport systems. A single machine can support planned equipment relocations during one shift and recover a disabled haul truck during the next. By combining equipment transport and haul truck recovery into one solution, mines can reduce fleet requirements, improve equipment utilization, and maximize the value of their investment.
When a haul truck becomes disabled, production can be impacted immediately. The TowHaul Gooseneck enables rapid recovery of disabled trucks and transport to a maintenance facility, where repairs can be performed safely and efficiently. Moving repairs away from active haul roads and production areas helps minimize traffic disruptions, improve safety, and reduce the operational impact of unplanned equipment failures.
The ability to both recover disabled haul trucks and transport large mining equipment with the same prime mover is a key reason why more than 330 TowHaul units are operating in over 30 countries worldwide. For many mines, the Gooseneck is no longer viewed simply as a Lowboy attachment but as a critical fleet asset that contributes directly to productivity, equipment availability, and operational efficiency.
The TowHaul Advantage
TowHaul’s competitive advantage lies in the versatility and simplicity of its solutions. Equipment capable of performing multiple functions helps reduce downtime, improve asset utilization, and increase operational efficiency. While the company continues to innovate and enhance its products, its commitment to simplicity, reliability, and practical performance remains unchanged.
Today, TowHaul equipment operates throughout Southern Africa, including Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and other major mining regions.
To further support customers across the region, TowHaul has partnered with Meano Engineering, based in Kathu, South Africa. Through this partnership, mining operations have access to local expertise and support services to help keep their TowHaul equipment operating reliably and efficiently.
For more information about TowHaul mobility solutions or support for existing equipment, visit www.towhaul.com/firstmining
