trailer hire - head to head
Bateson vs Bockmann
Both makes turn up on the same shortlists, and the honest answer is that they are built for different buyers rather than one being better than the other. Here is what actually separates them - from a directory that sells neither.
| Bateson | Bockmann | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | England | Germany (Lastrup, Lower Saxony) |
| UK availability | Good UK dealer coverage | Limited UK presence |
| Range covers | Hydraulic tilt and transport trailers, Platform, Plant, Box | Horse trailers, Horse trucks, Cattle transporters, Box, platform, tipper and plant utility trailers |
| Weight range | 550kg unbraked to 3,500kg braked, plus tractor-drawn livestock at 8,000kg and 10,000kg gross | Utility range spans 450kg to 3,500kg gross across one to three axles |
| Best known for | 22-15, 27-16, 35-16 | Uno |
Choose Bateson if...
The hydraulic tilt-bed specialist, and a company that has been making trailers since 1934. Avonride independent rubber suspension, full hot-dip galvanising and long-tail spares support make it the pick for buyers who intend to keep a trailer for decades rather than years.
Look at: 22-15, 27-16, 35-16, PT56, 520, 720, B84
Full Bateson profile →Choose Bockmann if...
Premium German horse transport, particularly the aluminium Portax and Champion. Serious competitors and dealers buy it for build quality and for the multi-horse Traveller, which has few direct equivalents in the UK.
Look at: Uno, Duo and Comfort, Champion and Portax
Full Bockmann profile →Where to hire or buy either
Most UK trailer hire companies carry several makes and advertise none of them, so the practical move is to find the firms covering your area and ask what is on the yard.
Bateson vs Bockmann - common questions
Is Bateson better than Bockmann?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. The hydraulic tilt-bed specialist, and a company that has been making trailers since 1934. Avonride independent rubber suspension, full hot-dip galvanising and long-tail spares support make it the pick for buyers who intend to keep a trailer for decades rather than years. Premium German horse transport, particularly the aluminium Portax and Champion. Serious competitors and dealers buy it for build quality and for the multi-horse Traveller, which has few direct equivalents in the UK.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Bateson or Bockmann?
Bateson: An appointed dealer network, built to order, with a spares department that still supports trailers 20 years old. Bockmann: Sold through individual equestrian and trailer dealers rather than a national network. Check parts and servicing locally before buying.
Can I hire rather than buy?
Yes. Most UK trailer hire companies hire as well as sell, and many carry several makes without listing them. Search by your area and ask what they have on the yard.
Other comparisons
GetBrent is an independent directory and is not a dealer for, nor affiliated with, either manufacturer. Brand and model names are the trademarks of their owners, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.