1/18 Semi Trailers

I would love to have the room to collect 1/18 scale trucks.

none of my CDL qualified drivers stand over 3"...... they are simply too short to reach the pedals in a 1/18 cab 🤔 

These trailers look excellent and would make an impressive display. I don't have anything like that, although I do have one of Highway 61 1/16 Ford stake-bed trucks.

@bob-jackman These do chew up lots of display space quickly, but they make excellent "companion" pieces to existing 1/18 collections.

@john-barry That's a great looking fleet!  I'd love to see a few of those in 1/18 some day.

@mikedetorrice These look OK to me. Seems like K&K (Road Kings) combined styling from European & American trailers to create these hybrids; but I'm no expert. Perhaps someone knows for sure?

I think this attempt was a swing and a miss, the trailers are entirely too short. Also I see plastic for the landing gear, the storage boxes and it looks like the rear bumper is also likely plastic. Sadly this may be the demise of the MNTrailers as Road Kings seems to be pricing this very cheap. These are going to be production line items with plastic parts. The MNTrailers are hand built and you can see and feel the effort and workmanship that Mike and his father put into their trailers. 

Another miss on the RK trailers is the latch to open the rear doors, look like they took the latch from automotive product, maybe that is how latches are in Europe but it is a huge miss for American trailer. 

MNTrailer uses a lock bar and pole style rear door latch/lock. 

RK Trailer on top and MNTrailers on bottom. 

I mentioned this is a post below but these photos might show it better about the plastic rims on the RK trailers vs the metal rims on the MNTrailers. Scale wise RK really missed the boat as well, the Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am would be almost as long as the RK trailer. The MNTrailers the Trans Am fits the scale far better. 

You are getting a lot more for your money with the MNTrailers than the Road Kings trailers. Compare the rear door latch systems and the RK trailer for Smokey and the Bandit does not have the Reefer unit on it. 

Road Kings Trailers two photos

MNTrailers four photos

Just for a little more perspective of the size differences here is a shot of my MNTrailers each with a 1/18 scale car with them. The RK trailers just come off toyish, yes I made up that word. Also if you look at the trailer rims I think the RK trailers have plastic rims instead of metal rims like on the MNTrailers. 

RK trailer, look at the rims and the center hub, all chromed and looks one piece. 

@john3976 I agree on all fronts. As I noted, Road Kings tried a bit of trickery, incorporating both European & American styling to create a hybrid in an attempt to apparently satisfy (with one stroke ) markets on several continents. These RK trailers are simply not on par with the quality/detail of their semi line. But I suspect (as noted) longer, more accurate trailers will follow. 

Your MNTrailers are far superior. As with most everything else in life.... you pay for what you get.

PS
These RK trailers are almost short enough to create a tandem set up. 😫 😫 😪   On the other hand, I could always "splice"  two trailers together to create any length from 40ft to 53ft.  Heck, if my vertical lines are straight enough, I could probably finish the project with little to no paint! 😏 😏 

@chris I agree you could make a tandem set up, they also seem designed as a in town delivery type trailer, I would like to see the underside of them but they don't seem to have any photos of the underside posted. I almost wonder if these are all plastic or a resin body. 

Here are a couple more build photos I was sent from MNTrailers on the NASCAR Style Trailer they are building for me. These are of the interior. 

@john3976 I suspect those RK trailers utilize as much plastic as possible. If I can locate an underside pic, I'll post it. Your NASCAR tailer looks incredible, those guys do nice work...stairs, shelves, ramps, etc...   

Q: How do you fit a car in there?

@chris Some of the enclosed race trailers the roof panel comes off and you can set the cars on the ramps in the trailer. They also have an option which I picked to do a loading ramp that moves up and down like a real trailer. I am not sure if the roof will be removable on the NASCAR Style Trailer or not, but MNTrailers says it will hold three 1/18 scale cars. I won't have any cars inside the trailer as you would not see them but I will take a couple of photos with a car inside so you can see it loaded in the trailer when I get the trailer.

@john3976 That's fantastic!

Yes, please continue to post in-progress pics and of course, "staging"  pics once you receive that work of art.  I assume you'll have driver figures, pit crews, tools, etc... Man-O-man, that is going to be one hell of a display.

I must have over 200 1/18 figures; years ago, I purchased (for practically zero money ) marked-down NASCAR driver figures. Despite being Christmas ornaments, they were in perfect 1/18 scale. I'm not really knowledgeable about NASCAR, but I'm glad I bought them. They look great next to my small "history of NASCAR display."  (Here's just a few pics) 

Your set-up, however, will be a "Tour-de-Force!"