Rollin’ Low

Rogers “lowboy” trailers are built for big, roll-on loads, like bulldozers, graders, mobile cranes, or any combination of the above. They’re engineered to be wheeled to a job site, where they shed their “gooseneck” - the angular beam that hitches to the tractor at one and, and the trailer at the other - all the better to allow easy off-and-on handling of the machines they carry.

Of course, that’s simplifying things a lot, and seeing one of these at work is impressive. Seeing one in high-detail small scale is impressive, too. We’ve got the chance to do just that, twice: Sword’s sent along two killer sets of tractor/trailer combos; one’s a Mack Granite with a Rogers Lowboy in tow, and the other is a Kenworth T800W pulling an identical Rogers trailer of its own.

The first thing that hit me about these was their overall size on display. When hooked up, the combination of either of the four-axle tractors and quadruple-axled trailers reaches a length of close to twenty inches. And not a fraction of that is sloppy, imprecise, or anything less than perfectly painted and put together. On the Kenworth, the black finish is lightly applied enough to leave the fine details like rivets and cast-in body detail visible, while providing a high gloss finish. Same on the Mack, and both of these day cabbers feature opening doors, tilt-up hoods, and poseable front wheels. Foil badging of just the right depth is on the doors and hoods, along with a wee bulldog on the Granite’s nose. Photoetch is on the mix, too; on the KW, as a realistic grille, and on the Mack, it’s used for the steps leading to the headache rack, and the walkway out back.

Engine and chassis detail on both is startling - and built onto a working suspension. Coiled, colored steel springs make up the air and electric hookups; details like the chains on the rack and the amber bar light atop the Kenworth,  and the Granite’s full complement of warning labels, lights, and chassis plumbing make the trucks a marvel in hand.

With four separately sprung axles of its own, the trailer isn’t exactly lying down on the job. That is, of course, unless you want it to; if so, pull the gooseneck off its mounts and fold the ramps forward. Rolling on chromed metal dually wheels, the Rogers’ diecast rails have swing-out arms to hold the included “planks”; use these if you want to park a piece of equipment back here. You might want to have a good look around, first: even the gooseneck is wired and plumbed.

These are incredibly involved - and involving - collectibles. Out of the box, you can expect to spend some time setting either of these models up. Plastic fenders, rubber mud guards, side mirrors and roof-mounted horns go on, and cables and wires get plugged in. And here’s my only complaint: Sword seems to take for granted that collectors know exactly where everything goes. Unfortunately, not all of us do; an instruction manual of sorts, even a glossary, might make things easier - even for a newbie.

Overall, these are outrageously entertaining, and impressively complex.

Sword Mack Granite 4-axle day cab with Rogers lowboy trailer, red/black, item SW2101 / Kenworth T800W 4-axle day cab (also with Rogers, as above), black/black, item SW3102KK, , $209.95 each

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