The trailer lift is the lift you can collect yourself. It sits on a trailer that you hitch to your car, drive to the site and set up on outriggers. For homeowners and small businesses this is often the cheapest and simplest option.
The big advantage is that you avoid the transport cost. A self-propelled lift has to be delivered by lorry, and the transport often costs as much as the hire itself. A trailer lift you collect yourself with the car you already have.
The other advantage is reach relative to price: many trailer lifts reach 12–25 metres of working height, as high as a far more expensive self-propelled boom lift.
The downside is that it cannot drive itself. If you need to work in several places on the property, you have to hitch up and move the whole trailer each time. For façade work in one spot that is no problem; if you need to go all the way round the building, it gets cumbersome.
This is the most important thing to check before you collect. Many trailer lifts have a gross weight that means an ordinary class B driving licence is not enough — you may need BE or B96, depending on the weight of the trailer and your car.
The car must also have a sufficient permitted towing weight and the right tow ball. Call the hire company with your car's registration number and they will check whether the combination is legal. It takes two minutes and saves you a wasted trip.
Trailer lifts are set up on outriggers that must stand on firm, level ground. On grass or gravel, spreader plates are used — ask whether the hire company supplies them. Most modern models level themselves automatically and refuse to lift if they are not standing safely.
Allow 10–20 minutes for setting up and the same again for packing down. It takes longer the first time, so ask for a walkthrough when you collect.
A trailer lift is among the most affordable lifts to hire, precisely because there is no transport cost. The daily price is often lower than for a comparable self-propelled lift, and weekend hire (Friday to Monday at a day rate) is common with many hire companies. Ask specifically about a weekend price — it is rarely advertised.
It depends on the weight. Many models require BE or B96 in addition to class B. Give the hire company your car's registration number and they will check whether the combination is legal for you.
Typical models give 12–25 metres of working height. That is as high as many self-propelled boom lifts, at a lower price.
Yes, with spreader plates under the outriggers. The ground must be firm enough that the outriggers do not sink. Ask whether the hire company includes plates with the hire.
Most hire companies offer weekend hire from Friday afternoon to Monday morning, often for the price of one or two days. It is rarely advertised — ask directly.
We list 46 rental companies offering trailer lift across 13 counties. Choose your county and send a request.
The list is based on what the rental companies state on their own websites, so it is not complete — many have equipment they have not listed.