European "Swap Body" and "Lift Tank" Containers
"Swap body" containers are frequently used for land transport in Europe along with European domestic containers. They are a mix between a highway trailer and a sea container. Swap bodies do not travel overseas; they are only used for regional road/rail transport within Europe. Swap bodies are quasi-containers; they typically have ISO corner castings on the bottom, but they are optional on the top. As a result, some swap bodies can be stacked, and some cannot. The sizes typically follow the same dimensions as European domestic containers: lengths of 7.15m, 7.45m, 7.82m, and 13.6m are used. Most are 2.5m or 2.55m wide to accomodate European pallet widths. Open-sides are common with swap bodies and these containers are typically called "curtain-sides."
"Lift tanks" are similar to swap bodies. They do not have top ISO corner castings.
AEAU 0001018. Curtain-side swap body container. ISO type 5PG4. Owned by AEA Technology, leased to the Malcolm Group. (Photo by Arran Aird)
Ambrogio swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
BAS 7982. 45' swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
BIDU 4909141. Lift tank owned by Bertschi. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
BIDU 4918502. Lift tank owned by Bertschi. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Buchaca swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
CDH 825. 20'+ lift tank owned by CDH. (Photo by Cor Rood)
CNC Transports swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
COTRANS W7145 swap body. (Photo by Franck Despesse)
Dani Trasporti swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Danzas "curtain-side" container, probably 13.60m long. (Photo by Michael McGowen)
DAPMR 1020. DAP Intermdal curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
DHRU 9030170. 30'(?) bulk container (lift tank?) - note there are no top lift points. (Photo by Ben de Vink)
DS 444. Dreier swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
ECOU 4182660. Unusual bulk container without top lift points, probably about 30' long. Owned by Ecologistic. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
Emons 6307. Curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
European Freight Services open-sided container, probably 13.60m long. (Photo by Michael McGowen)
Evola 201. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
FERCAM CM1543. Fercam curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
FERCAM CM1642 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
GCAU 3413850. Lift tank. (Photo by Ben de Vink)
Gonnet 05 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
IMHOF swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
KEC 2562. Appears to be 24-feet long and 2.55m wide. (Photo by Franck Despesse)
Lays swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
LKW Walter W4139 swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
SABU 3264077. Lift tank owned by Star Benelux. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
SABU 3264375. Lift tank owned by Star Benelux. (Photo by Ben de Vink)
Swap body with canvas sides. Lettered for "Le Transport Routier Autrement." (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
TL09 swap body. Decorated with logos for "Les Demenageurs Bretons." (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
TWSU 7700020 lift tank. Type code 2472 - which may be an error since this is clearly longer than 20' (probably 7.15m). 2.5m wide, 2.6m tall. Ex-Hoyer. (Photo by Ben de Vink)
UESU 6100047. Example of European "swap body" containers. They are 7.45m long. These have roller doors on the ends. (Photo by Carsten Seier)
Here are some United Container Systems 7.15m "curtain-side" containers: UXXU______, UXXU 6000346, UXXU 6000515. These are 2.55m wide to carry European pallets. Photos courtesy of Carsten Seier.
More UXXU swap bodies from Europe. These are 7.45m long, 2.55m wide, and between 2.60 and 3.15m tall. Note the roll-up doors. Photos: UXXU 6217835, UXXU 6216799. (Photos by Carsten Seier)
VAEU 5517060. 45' curtain-side swap-body owned by Har Vaessen. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Van Dijk 45' curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
Verscheure curtain-side swap body. (Photo by Coen Fourdraine)
WKU 127 swap body. (Photo by Gerald Fresse)
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