Trail King is an American trailer manufacturer serving construction, agriculture, commercial transportation, waste and recycling, and specialized hauling operations. Its equipment ranges from commercial platform trailers and material-hauling trailers to lowboys and specialized heavy-haul systems.
Operating as Trail King Industries, Inc., the company designs and manufactures equipment for different cargo types, loading methods, and transportation requirements. This page brings together its history, equipment categories, company information, and links to Trail King product profiles published on Truck Equipment Atlas.
History and Background
Trail King’s business origins date to 1974, when Gordon and Shirley Thomsen founded Western Ag Sales. The company initially distributed agricultural equipment and represented other manufacturers.
In 1978, Western Ag Sales acquired Plains Industries in Mitchell, South Dakota. The acquisition brought the Trail King trailer line into the business. Trailer development expanded to include hydraulic tails and detachable goosenecks, and manufacturing became the company’s primary focus.
Western Ag Sales changed its name to Trail King Industries in 1983. Subsequent growth included additional manufacturing capacity and acquisitions that broadened its material-hauling equipment range.
Trail King acquired Red River Manufacturing in West Fargo, North Dakota, in 2000, adding live-bottom and bottom-dump trailer expertise. Its 2015 acquisition of Dakota Trailer Manufacturing in Yankton, South Dakota, expanded its agricultural grain hopper trailer offerings.
What Trail King Manufactures
Trail King manufactures trailers and related hauling equipment for commercial freight, construction equipment, bulk materials, and specialized loads. Its equipment categories include:
- Lowboy and detachable-gooseneck trailers: Platforms for heavy machinery and construction equipment transportation.
- Hydraulic-tail and equipment-loading trailers: Configurations supporting rear loading of compatible machinery.
- Commercial platform trailers: Flatbed and step-deck equipment for open-deck freight.
- Material-hauling trailers: Equipment including live-bottom, dump, and hopper configurations for bulk commodities.
- Tagalong trailers: Equipment trailers designed for compatible towing vehicles and working applications.
- Specialized transport systems: Multi-axle, dual-lane, expanding-frame, and wind turbine blade-hauling equipment.
- Heavy-haul support equipment: Jeeps, boosters, and steerable dollies used in compatible transport configurations.
Trail King Products on Truck Equipment Atlas
Explore the Trail King product profiles below for equipment characteristics, applications, configurations, and ownership considerations. Additional profiles will be linked here as they are published.
These profiles may cover multiple trailer configurations and model years. Current availability, capacity ratings, and equipment options should be confirmed for the specific trailer.
Lowboy and Removable-Gooseneck Trailers
- Trail King TK Series Lowboy Trailer — Explore low-deck trailer configurations for heavy machinery, construction equipment, and specialized freight.
- Trail King Hydraulic RGN — Explore hydraulic removable-gooseneck equipment for front loading and heavy equipment transportation.
Hydraulic Tail Trailers
- Trail King Hydraulic Tail Trailer — Explore a trailer platform with a hydraulically operated rear loading section for compatible equipment transportation.
Technology and Product Development
Trail King’s product development addresses the relationship between cargo, trailer structure, loading access, and axle arrangement. Hydraulic detachable goosenecks and hydraulic tails provide different loading approaches, while specialized platforms accommodate loads that require unusual dimensions or weight distribution.
Its specialized equipment range includes steering systems, expanding frames, multi-axle arrangements, and transport systems for wind energy components. These configurations require equipment selection based on the intended load and operating requirements.
Features and capacities vary across the product range. The individual equipment profiles provide an introduction, while manufacturer specifications identify the ratings and operating procedures for a particular trailer.
Company and Location Information
- Brand: Trail King.
- Company: Trail King Industries, Inc.
- Business origins: 1974, as Western Ag Sales.
- Trail King Industries name adopted: 1983.
- Country of origin: United States.
- Headquarters: Mitchell, South Dakota.
- Manufacturing locations: Mitchell and Yankton, South Dakota, and West Fargo, North Dakota.
- Official website: Trail King Industries.
Trail King provides dealer, representative, parts, customer service, and trailer refurbishment resources. Consult the official manufacturer website for current locations and support information.
Related Brands and Equipment
The following profiles cover equipment from other manufacturers serving similar heavy equipment and specialized hauling applications. These links provide comparison resources and do not indicate common ownership with Trail King.
- Fontaine Magnitude Lowboy Trailer
- Fontaine Magnitude RGN
- Talbert Lowboy Trailer
- Talbert RGN Series
- Rogers Brothers Detachable Lowboy
- XL Specialized RGN
- Kalyn Siebert Specialized Trailer
Related Equipment Guides
Explore the existing trailer guide section and equipment categories for additional information about trailer selection and specialized transportation.