trailer hire - head to head
Bockmann vs Humbaur
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.
| Bockmann | Humbaur | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Germany (Lastrup, Lower Saxony) | Germany (Gersthofen, Bavaria) |
| UK availability | Limited UK presence | Limited UK presence |
| Range covers | Horse trailers, Horse trucks, Cattle transporters, Box, platform, tipper and plant utility trailers | Flatbed, Tandem wheels-in, Box, Vehicle transporters |
| Weight range | Utility range spans 450kg to 3,500kg gross across one to three axles | 750kg to 3.5t in the car-trailer range; the commercial side runs to 55 tonnes |
| Best known for | Uno | HT series |
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 →Choose Humbaur if...
German engineering breadth - around 420 standard models, so if a configuration exists Humbaur probably builds it. Worth seeking out when you need something specific, such as a refrigerated body or an unusual tipper spec, and will accept a longer UK supply chain to get it.
Look at: HT series, HTK series, HA series (e.g. HA 202513)
Full Humbaur 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.
Bockmann vs Humbaur - common questions
Is Bockmann better than Humbaur?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. 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. German engineering breadth - around 420 standard models, so if a configuration exists Humbaur probably builds it. Worth seeking out when you need something specific, such as a refrigerated body or an unusual tipper spec, and will accept a longer UK supply chain to get it.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Bockmann or Humbaur?
Bockmann: Sold through individual equestrian and trailer dealers rather than a national network. Check parts and servicing locally before buying. Humbaur: Over 500 partners in Germany but only scattered UK dealers. No large dedicated UK distributor network.
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.