Goldhofer THP/SL

The THP/SL is a family of towed heavy-duty modules from Goldhofer Aktiengesellschaft of Memmingen, Germany: modular trailer units with 2 to 8 axles and a vehicle width of 3,000 mm, which are combined with one another and with Goldhofer goosenecks, drawbars, turntables and decks. The family has three types, the THP/SL, the THP/SL-L and the THP/SL-S. The figures on this page come from Goldhofer’s THP/SL Family brochure (edition 05/2026-EN), its accessories brochure (05/2026-EN), the North American editions of its module and accessories brochures (both 01/2026-EN) and the undated English and German THP/SL product pages, all read on 4 November 2026. No document opened gives a launch date or an earlier generation of the line.

Goldhofer heads the THP/SL “THE ORIGINAL” and calls it “the synonyme for heavy-duty transport”, used “when heavy-duty loads have to be moved when high bending moment is required”. The family brochure speaks of “well over 16,000 axle lines in use worldwide”. The maker itself is described under trailer manufacturers in Europe, and the class of transport under low-loader trailers and abnormal loads.

The three types

THP/SL. Goldhofer lists “Strong frame and coupling concepts” and use “For the most extreme heavy-duty transport on the road and off road”, as an add-on for self-propelled heavy-duty modules, with a split version as an option. The German product page speaks of “Split-Module oder verschiedene Radstände” (split modules or different wheelbases). The brochure’s table gives the THP/SL (1800) in one column with the THP/SL; the 1,800 mm axle spacing is the THP/SL (1800)’s on the drawings.

THP/SL-L. Goldhofer says these modules “unfold their full strength in road transport for particularly heavy loads” and lists “Optimized for on road operation with limited axle loads”, “Maximum possible closed loading area” and “Higher torsional stiffness and working safety”. A split version is an option here too. The brochure shows a THP/SL-L 7 (3+4) with a vessel deck and a THP/SL-L combination in use in South Africa.

THP/SL-S. Goldhofer’s heading is “A LIGHTWEIGHT FOR THE HEAVIEST LOADS”. The brochure says the low dead weight and low-loader variants of this type “enable motorway travel and crossing bridges which are normally only possible with detours with heavier systems”. It is the type with single tyres, in two sizes, each with its own axle load and dead weight, and Goldhofer lists “Widest-possible track in the SL-family” among its features. The North American module brochure covers the THP/SL-L and the THP/SL and does not list the THP/SL-S.

Dimensions and weights

The North American brochure prints the same metric figures beside US units: for the THP/SL, an axle load of 99,000 lbs at 0.6 mph (45 t at 1 km/h), a dead weight of 30,500 lbs (13.85 t) and a width of 9’10” (3,000 mm); for the THP/SL-L, 57,500 lbs at 12 mph (26.1 t at 20 km/h) and 24,400 lbs (11.1 t). The small print on each brochure’s back page says “Technical data in loaded vehicle condition.” No document opened gives a gross weight or a payload for a module, or a dead weight for any axle count other than four.

Axles, suspension and steering

Goldhofer calls the axle a pendular axle with ball bearing race ring. The family brochure’s cut-away names the steering lever for the mechanical steering system, the slewing ring bearing, the hydraulic cylinder, the wheel suspension and the brake cylinder. It says the axle “enables axle loads of up to 45t and a hydraulic axle compensation of 600mm”, and that the slewing ring bearing unit is “bolted directly to the frame”.

The North American brochure says “all Goldhofer heavy duty modules are equipped with hydraulic axle suspension, that allows every single axle to compensate rough ground conditions”, and gives the movements as “longitudinal, lateral movement and lateral swing movement”. It describes a “torsion resistant frame” and a “Center beam in box-section design with integrated compressed air and hydraulic oil tanks”. Of the steering it says “Equipped with hydromechanical steering, the Goldhofer-THP is practically fail safe.” The accessories brochures list a trailer brake valve, described as “Manual brake”, and an air dryer.

Combinations and towing equipment

The family brochure says “All THP modules can be combined with Goldhofer components”, naming goosenecks, turntables, flatbed and excavator decks, and that they also combine with the »ADDRIVE« and with vehicles of type PST/SL and PST/SL-E. It shows single width and the parallel combinations (1+1/2) and (1+1), and says “Loads of several thousand tons? No problem with the heavy-duty modules from the THP/SL family.” Its examples are a 22-axle THP/SL combination carrying a steel tower segment for an offshore wind turbine and a combination it prints as “STHP/SL-S (5+4)” carrying a steel component. The accessories brochures draw a basic, a drawbar and a push configuration; the push coupling is “For maneuvering the bogies” and the push rod “For using a second tractor”.

On the universal gooseneck, “Fifth wheel load, length and swing clearance radius are dependent on each other.” Goldhofer says the combination gooseneck lets any of its heavy-duty modules be used “like a semitrailer”; the terms are set out in the kingpin and the fifth wheel, and other trailer classes in trailer types.

Decks, turntables and power packs

The family brochure and the product pages give special deck lengths “from 3,000-15,000 mm on request”. Controls are an operating panel, a cable remote control and a radio remote control. The North American module brochure also lists a gasoline hydraulic power pack.

For wind-turbine and very heavy loads the brochures name the FTV blade transport device, the RA 2, RA 3 and RA 4 tower adapters and the »FAKTOR« 5 and »FAKTOR« 5.5 high girder bridges. The North American brochure gives the bridges a payload, depending on combination, of 500 t and 350 t respectively, the tower adapters “up to 397,000lbs[180t] payloads”, and the FTV 930 a load moment of 930 mt.

Differences between the documents

• Spacer. The English and German product pages give extendable up to 40,000 mm and extension stages 1-4; the 05/2026 family brochure gives up to 69,000 mm and stages 1-5, and both accessories brochures give 69,000 mm.
• Larger power pack. The product pages and the 01/2026 North American accessories brochure name Kohler; the 05/2026 brochures name Rehlko. All give 17.9 kW / 24.3 PS.
• Blade transport device. The product pages list the FTV 550 and FTV 850; the 05/2026 family brochure lists “FTV (all generations)”; the North American brochure describes the FTV 930.
• Drawbars. The product pages and the family brochure list 2 m, 3 m and 5 m; both accessories brochures add 7,000 mm and 9,000 mm.
• Goosenecks. The product pages and the family brochure list the combination gooseneck at 35 t and the universal gooseneck at 35 t, 45 t and 52 t; both accessories brochures add 26 t.
• Tyre footnote. The family brochure’s table and its THP/SL-S page print 285/70 R 19.5; the footnote under the table prints “[2] Tires 285/70 R 17.5”.

Source notes

The axle count, dead weight and length above belong to the four-axle THP/SL module in Goldhofer’s THP/SL Family brochure (05/2026-EN). The family is built with 2 to 8 axles, the THP/SL-S with 2 to 6, and no document opened gives a dead weight for any other axle count. The brochure gives the axle load of the THP/SL as 45 t at 1 km/h, of the THP/SL-L as 26.1 t at 20 km/h, and of the THP/SL-S as 15.6 t at 20 km/h on 245/70 R 17.5 tyres and 23 t at 10 km/h on 285/70 R 19.5 tyres. Its dead weights for four axles are 13.85 t, 11.1 t, and 9.6 t or 10.2 t respectively. The length is the 6000 mm on the brochure’s side drawing of the four-axle module; the THP/SL (1800), with 1,800 mm in place of 1,500 mm axle spacing, is drawn at 7200 mm. The small print on the brochure’s back page says “Technical data in loaded vehicle condition.” No document opened gives a gross weight or a payload for a module, or a launch year.