trailer hire - head to head
Bockmann vs Ifor Williams
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 | Ifor Williams | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Germany (Lastrup, Lower Saxony) | Wales (Corwen, Denbighshire) |
| UK availability | Limited UK presence | Widely available - large UK network |
| Range covers | Horse trailers, Horse trucks, Cattle transporters, Box, platform, tipper and plant utility trailers | General duty, Flatbed, Livestock, Horsebox |
| Weight range | Utility range spans 450kg to 3,500kg gross across one to three axles | About 500kg unbraked through to 3,500kg braked |
| Best known for | Uno | GD range (GD84, GD85, GD105, GD106) |
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 Ifor Williams if...
The UK default, and the benchmark every other make gets measured against. Farmers, contractors and hire fleets buy Ifor Williams for galvanised durability, strong resale and the fact that any dealer can get parts on a shelf the same week. Rarely the cheapest option and rarely the wrong one.
Look at: GD range (GD84, GD85, GD105, GD106), LM range (LM125, LM126, LM147, LM166), GH and GX ranges
Full Ifor Williams 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 Ifor Williams - common questions
Is Bockmann better than Ifor Williams?
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. The UK default, and the benchmark every other make gets measured against. Farmers, contractors and hire fleets buy Ifor Williams for galvanised durability, strong resale and the fact that any dealer can get parts on a shelf the same week. Rarely the cheapest option and rarely the wrong one.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Bockmann or Ifor Williams?
Bockmann: Sold through individual equestrian and trailer dealers rather than a national network. Check parts and servicing locally before buying. Ifor Williams: The widest network in Britain - over 50 UK main dealers, plus the factory showroom at Corwen. Parts are available almost anywhere.
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.