Chassis or wheeled container terminals are common inland intermodal terminals; however, research efforts related to this kind of terminals are very scarce. In this work we want to expand the current literature basis relating chassis terminals and propose a mathematical model that aids the design process of the terminal. We develop cycle time models for gantry cranes and tractor units which allow computing the expected equipment cycle time in a single command cycle. Next, we integrate the cycle time models into an optimization framework that seeks to minimize the investment and operation costs of the terminal. The results show that container dwell time has a substantial impact on total cost, especially for a large terminal. We also found that optimal configuration uses only a small number of gantry cranes due to high investment costs.