Good solutions are generally also applicable for lightweight vehicles produced in high-strength steel. However, high-strength steel enables new solutions, but may also require design changes in order to leverage its higher strength. 

A typical trailer chassis consists of two longitudinal main beams manufactured from either standardized hot-rolled profiles or welded I-beams, along with a variety of cross-member profiles. Cross-members can be made from open profiles, tubes or box-section profiles, depending on trailer type. Floor members and different support profiles can also be attached to the chassis. The king-pin region of the trailer usually consists of a king-pin plate and some reinforcement profiles. 

The potential for upgrading a trailer chassis is generally limited not only by its static load-carrying capacity, but even more so by fatigue and stability issues. Therefore, while finding a solution with matching load-carrying capacity to the existing design serves as a good starting point, it is essential to address these other technical considerations in order to have a vehicle with matching or improved performance. It is important to note that poor design or production quality can rapidly reduce the vehicle life span.

The dimensioning load case for a trailer chassis manufactured from mild steel is generally its load-carrying capacity with regard to permanent deformations, as shown in the illustration below. In a light-weight trailer chassis, where thicknesses have been reduced and working stress levels increased, the load-carrying capacity and service life are limited by fatigue, elastic deflections and stability.