Cool thingy....

[slowngreen]

Seen this in town. Think its some kind of a tank? The trailer, has 128 tires, each set has a ram, not sure why....

 

[Rolex]

The axles steer when loaded, to make sharp corners. It all folds up on top of itself in 3 layers when it's empty. They moved a massive turbine through here on I-40 several months ago, and I had the pleasure of driving along side of it to take a really good look when it came through empty.

This is the way I saw it, with sections on top, and the trailer narrowed to fit into just over one lane. With the load on it, the axles will spread to stabilize the big load. It took up 2 1/2 lanes and 11 days to make it up to Virginia. When they got to certain overpasses that it couldn't clear, they would get off the exit and go straight across to the entrance to continue.
When they got close to Knoxville, a police escort joined to get them through the populated areas while closing the ramps to other traffic.

Here's another folded unit, empty.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0663asT5xY&feature=related"]YouTube - ‪1.9 Million lb generator move by Mammoet through Johnston, SC‬‏[/ame]

4 road tractors, 2 pullers, 2 pushers.

 

[slowngreen]

Oh ok that makes sense. Impressive for sure.

 

[cwest3355]

looks like an electric transformer

---------- Post added at 9:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 9:54 PM ----------

The axles steer when loaded, to make sharp corners. It all folds up on top of itself in 3 layers when it's empty. They moved a massive turbine through here on I-40 several months ago, and I had the pleasure of driving along side of it to take a really good look when it came through empty.

you must watch discovery channel lol

 

[Rolex]

I certainly do!
Lloyd, I'd agree that it's probably a transformer. It's the tremendous weight of all the copper windings in it that would require a rig like that, not it's size.
Did you happen to notice if there was a 2 or 3 prong plug hanging out the back of it.

After I saw the empty trailer returning, I also did a lot of research on them.
It was a major news event with the overpasses loaded with spectators when it came through loaded.



EDIT:
-------------------------------------------------------
If you look at your bottom picture, there's a seat where the tiller man sits and controls all the hydraulics to the axles for steering.
The generator and all the hydraulic pumps and valves are in that back portion without the wheels.

 

[CptAwesome]

That is quite possibly the coolest thing I have ever seen.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Q_mZNiGQs"]YouTube - argue[/ame]

 

[hamz9561]

I've seen them on TV moving houses and other large items.

 

[pipisugbo]

When I worked at a shipyard, we have a transporter like that. I forget the exact amount of wheels, but it was a lot. I worked in the warehouse, and had a window beside my desk(strange setup, I know...) and sometimes I'd hear this slight rumble, look out and it would be the front 1/4 of a ship moving past at about 2mph. Or a turbocharger half the size of my house.

Those things are pretty damn impressive.

 

[Rolex]

For most of us who are into machines and mechanical things, bigger is absolutely better. The bigger the toys the bigger the boys.