A bulk potato trailer for research plots

A bulk trailer was designed and evaluated which facilitates the handling of potatoes from field plots to storage. To meet the requirements of harvesting field plots, the trailer was designed to accommodate both manual and mechanical harvesting. Design techniques, such as incorporating framing members into the shape of the bulk body, were utilized in order to develop a low profile trailer. This was also made possible by the use of cantilevered tandem axles. The resulting trailer had a loading height at either 1270 or 1575 mm with a maximum capacity of 6 tonnes. Tests which were conducted to measure the mechanical injury caused to the potatoes indicated that the average damage index was 166.2 which included both the harvesting and transportation.