What is a sidelifter trailer?

A sidelifter is a self-loading semi-trailer equipped with twin hydraulic cranes mounted along its sides. It can independently pick up and set down ISO shipping containers — both 20ft and 40ft — without requiring any external crane, reach stacker, or terminal infrastructure.

What container sizes does the STU sidelifter handle?

The STU sidelifter is engineered to handle both 20ft (TEU) and 40ft (FEU) ISO standard containers.

What is the lifting capacity per crane?

Each hydraulic crane on the STU sidelifter provides 37 tonnes of lifting capacity.

Do I need external equipment to load or unload containers?

No. The sidelifter is fully self-contained. The twin hydraulic cranes handle the entire pick-and-place cycle independently.

How many operators are needed to handle a container?

The sidelifter is designed for single-operator use. The driver controls the full container handling cycle from the cab or via a remote handset.

How does the trailer stabilise during crane operation?

Hydraulic outriggers extend from the trailer frame before crane operation begins. These create a wide, stable footprint that prevents tipping.

Can the sidelifter operate on unprepared ground?

Yes — with appropriate outrigger pads or bearing plates, the sidelifter can operate on compacted gravel, earth, or other unprepared surfaces.

What markets and applications is the sidelifter suited for?

Intermodal logistics operators, container depot management, remote site construction delivery, agricultural storage container placement, industrial equipment containerisation, and any location without crane infrastructure.

Sidelifter Container Trailer

Name: Sidelifter Container Trailer
Brand: STU TRAILERS®
SKU: sidelifter

Self-Loading Side Loader Trailer for 20ft, 30ft and 40ft ISO Containers

STU Sidelifter Container Trailers are produced for container transport operations that need loading and unloading independence. With twin hydraulic side-lifting cranes, hydraulic stabilizer legs and ISO container interface, the trailer can pick up, transfer and place 20ft, 30ft and 40ft containers without relying on a terminal crane, reach stacker or forklift at every delivery point. Fixed and extendable chassis configurations can be selected according to container length, route and operating market.

Highlights

Self-Loading Container Handling

Load and unload ISO containers directly from the ground, another trailer or a container chassis without external crane infrastructure.

20ft, 30ft and 40ft ISO Container Flexibility

Designed for container logistics operators handling 20ft, 30ft and 40ft containers across ports, depots, industrial zones and remote delivery points, with fixed or extendable chassis options by specification.

Twin Hydraulic Side-Lifting Cranes

Two hydraulic cranes work together to lift, transfer and position containers with controlled side-loading movement.

Independent Container Delivery

Reduce waiting time and dependency on terminal equipment by taking container handling capability directly to the job site.

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Self-Loading Capability

self loading20ft / 30ft / 40ftGround placementContainer transfer

Move Containers Without External Crane Dependency

A sidelifter container trailer gives the operator the ability to load, unload and transfer containers without relying on a fixed crane, reach stacker or forklift at every location. This makes the trailer useful for ports, container depots, industrial sites, construction projects, agriculture, remote storage yards and customer deliveries where container handling equipment is not always available.

42t Per Crane

High Lifting Capacity

Each crane delivers 42 tonnes — exceeding the maximum gross weight of fully loaded ISO containers.

Containers

20ft / 30ft / 40ft ISO

Handles both TEU and FEU standard containers with ISO 668 twistlock engagement.

Independence

No External Equipment

Single-operator design removes the need for port or terminal crane infrastructure.

Stability and Safety During Lifting

Stabilizer legsOutriggersSafe liftingGround pressure

Stable Lifting Footprint for Side Loader Operations

Hydraulic stabilizer legs are deployed before lifting to create a wider support footprint. This helps support safe container handling during ground placement, trailer transfer and loading cycles. Ground condition, outrigger pads, container weight and operating angle must always be considered before lifting.

Outriggers

Hydraulic Stabilisation

Wide footprint prevents tipping during container lifting and lowering operations.

Chassis

ST52 Reinforced Frame

Specially reinforced crane mounting points and outrigger attachment zones.

Control

Single-Operator Design

Full cycle control from cab or remote handset — no ground crew required.

TWIN HYDRAULIC CRANE SYSTEM

Hydraulic cranesControlled liftingContainer side loader

Twin Hydraulic Crane System

The side loader system uses twin hydraulic cranes mounted on the trailer structure to lift and position ISO containers from the side. Crane capacity, control system and hydraulic layout should be selected according to the target container weight, operating market, duty cycle and customer loading routine.

Cranes

Twin Crane Layout

Front and rear lifting units work together for balanced side-loading movement.

Control

Controlled Container Positioning

Hydraulic movement helps the operator place containers accurately in restricted areas.

Operation

Duty-Cycle Focus

Hydraulic and structural configuration can be matched to frequent container handling operations.

20FT, 30FT AND 40FT ISO CONTAINER FLEXIBILITY

20ft30ft40ftExtendable chassisTwistlocksISO containers

Built Around Standard and Project Container Logistics

The trailer is positioned for ISO container transport and handling, including 20ft, 30ft and 40ft containers. Fixed chassis layouts can be selected for regular container work, while extendable sidelifter chassis options support operations that handle different container lengths on the same trailer. Configuration details such as chassis length, twistlock layout, lifting equipment and axle specification should be confirmed according to container size, weight, local regulations and transport routes.

Producer-Built Configuration

ProducerTurkiyeExportConfigurable

Configured by a Semi-Trailer Producer from Turkiye

STU produces trailer solutions from Turkiye and can configure the sidelifter trailer around the target market, container size, axle and suspension preference, hydraulic system, chassis structure, safety equipment, finish and customer branding. The correct configuration starts with container weight, route, loading frequency and local road rules.

Market

Market-Specific Build

Axles, brakes, suspension and lighting can be aligned with regional requirements.

Components

Component Selection

Hydraulic, axle and safety components can be selected according to service network needs.

Finish

Export-Ready Finish

RAL colour, warning markings and branding can be prepared for customer fleets.

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Twin hydraulic crane system for container side lifting

Hydraulic stabilizer legs for safe lifting footprint

ISO twistlock interface for 20ft, 30ft and 40ft containers

Remote and operator control options for loading cycles

Fixed or extendable chassis with reinforced crane mounting zones

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Gallery

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Trusted by operators all over Europe.

Ready to Order Your Sidelifter?

Transparent pricing. No hidden costs. Complete container handling independence.

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Type

Self-Loading Container Trailer

Container Sizes

20ft (TEU) and 40ft (FEU) ISO

Lifting Capacity

37 tonnes per crane

Crane Type

Twin hydraulic, synchronised

Chassis Steel

ST52 / S355J2+N reinforced

Stabilisation

Hydraulic outriggers

Operation

Single-operator (cab or remote)

Container Interface

ISO 668 twistlock engagement