How Are Funfair Rides Transported?
We've all had amazing times in funfair rides at carnivals, festivals and parties. Have you ever stopped to wonder how these huge pieces of machinery and equipment are moved from city to city? Well, we certainly have! We've transport funfair rides all the time, so if you've ever considered how we move them around, read on to find out more!
The equipment used to make carnival dreams come true are big. Really big. And bulky. Super bulky. They're designed to be huge so we can get as many people on the rides at one time (which reduces queue times so you can go on lots of rides rather than waiting for your turn). Sadly this means moving these rides takes a lot of work.
The best way to move all the equipment, and the rides themselves, is to use specialised hauling trailers.
The hauling trailers are dry and secure to make sure there is no damage to the precious cargo and to make sure everyone can experience their favourite rides. The trailers themselves are normally closed top. This means there’s a make-shift roof over the rides. This protects against natural weathering, accidental damage or even thunderstorms and inclement weather. Using hauling trailers also means bulky equipment can be safely and smoothly transported by attaching to other vehicles.
The fairground amusements and rides themselves are designed with special integration in mind so they can be easily hooked onto vehicles to be moved, rather than being packed up and placed on a track. This is all done to maintain the equipment’s longevity and to make sure we don’t need to spend time repairing your favourite ride.
Scania and Volvo trucks and vehicles are usually used as these are the most sturdy and appropriate for the job. Travelling to a fun fair or carnival site means travelling along rough terrain, sometimes through mud or hazardous makeshift roads.
How exactly are the rides broken down? Specific vehicles and trailers are great for moving huge pieces of equipment but it’s unlikely you’ll see one travelling with a 50 feet high Ferris Wheel. Well, of course, before the crack team transports the rides, they first have to complete the thankless task of dismantling the rides. It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it!
Fortunately most carnival rides like Ferris Wheels break down into smaller modules. The rides themselves are designed to be dismantled into much smaller units. These more manageable units can be placed on trailers and driven to their next destination. The Ferris Wheel itself has a particularly interesting process to go through. The spokes of the wheel are removed one by one, in a long but systematic process. This is done to make sure the wheel is dismantled properly and safely.
Hopefully that’s been a bit of an eye opener for you! So the next time you’re sitting at the top of a Ferris Wheel, consider the effort involved to get the wheel to you. Makes the whole thing seem a bit more impressive we reckon!
