I am looking at buying a new box trailer, I currently have a Montracon but was wondering are there any other make’s in the UK that are worth looking at?
I am looking for a good build quality and low cost(if there is such a thing) 
SDC in Mansfield
Dennison in Lancashire
Don Bur, Lawrence David and Cartwrights also build trailers in the UK.
Can’t vouch for the quality, but did get a quote from Cartwrights a year ago for a specialist trailer, I was impressed by the can do attitude of the bloke I was talking to, ended up going round the factory looking at how we could use various standard parts to keep the cost down. He did come back with a very good quote and the project is still on the back burner at work.
I picked up a Brand New Montracon Box with a tail lift last Saturday from Doncaster & I wasn’t impressed with the finish !
They had broken the cover for the tail lift electrics & not replaced it (good job it was dry) & when we checked the doors, the tie backs were too short, there are no Bumpers on the back of the trailer to stop someone from destroying the hinges on a loading bay (you know it’s gonna happen !) & also the door handles will smash into the side of the trailer if they swing round in the wind (needs a Buffer to stop this happening)
Also the near side rear axle was riding very low compared to the off side, it wasn’t rubbing, but maybe needs adjusting.(can this be done via the valve ?)
Small things in the total scheme of things, but if you’ve just spent £20,000 on a trailer, surely they could have got those things right !
Cartwrights do them not sure if bo alloy in manchester do trailers I know they do ridges, someome who drives for asda, dowtons, bibby, dhl, tnt might be able to tell you since they order quite a lot from cartwrights, they have also started doing the longer trailers too, www.cartwright-group.co.uk if you want too see images of what they have previously built
In my opinion and experience, the only curtainsider or box worth looking at is an SDC. That said, the Cartwrights I’ve used have been very good too, but can’t say what they’re like these days as the newest one I regularly use is nearly twenty years old.
The rest are nowhere near, even Montracon and they used to be good kit.
Don-Bur are a joke, I wouldn’t have one for a gift.
Lawrence David? Meh, budget Montracons aren’t they?
Yes, I like SDC.
Thanks all, Cartwrights are a no go for me as they knackered up the build of my rigid and drawbar, but I will definitely be looking into the others, what about Schmitz Cargobull? Are they in the UK?
In all my years of driving, ive never had a worse trailer than Don Burr, rear doors flying open whilst driving, bolts that hold the roof up lying on the floor, ride level is a joke, the trailer floors are only just able to be pumped up to a dock levelling bay ( most of the time you have to drop the suspension on the unit to get it right up) the corners of the curtains not fitting under the pelmet, hence water getting inside the trailer, crap floors, so loads move, curtains dont stay taught once you get moving,wrong internal straps are just a few of the everyday problems. Ive seen better trailers in fields used for advertising than these pieces of crap.
Much as we welcome constructive feedback, and actively browse forums like these for improvement ideas, open comments are difficult to act on.
Anyone with comments or ideas are encouraged to contact us at http://www.donbur.co.uk/eng/about/contactus.php and we will be happy to invite you to the site to participate in the ongoing improvement program.
In answer to ryly, there are no ‘bad’ trailer manufacturers in the UK anymore. It must be said though, that some manufacturers are better than others at certain bodywork types and I strongly recommend that you visit each of them to judge for yourself which body types you feel they have more experience in.
Please note that, although Boalloy still exist to provide parts and servicing, we understand that the main manufacturing arm ceased trading some years ago.
If you are considering box vans, please feel free to see some examples of our range at http://www.donbur.co.uk/eng/products/boxvans.php.
Lol, in like Flynn.
Like has been said there probably ain’t much between them to be fair. Sometimes they drop price as a loss leader to gain market share. Just get a quote off all the fore mentioned, you get what you pay for, all those mentioned can do a cheap spec or sort you a heavy spec if asked.
Don-Bur:
there are no ‘bad’ trailer manufacturers in the UK anymore.
I could nearly see Mandy Rice Davies as I read that.
Cartwrights at Altrincham.
As an aside, that’s a good idea from don bur that you can leave your Specific feed back on their site. So often drivers actually using the kit are over looked for feed back.
It’s like them krone euroliner heaps were you can’t tension the curtain at the front it’s just a bit of thin metal you slot in which usually falls off the curtain when you’re trying to put the trailer back together, comical but I bet no ones told them its a rubbish idea!!!
Silver_Surfer:
As an aside, that’s a good idea from don bur that you can leave your Specific feed back on their site. So often drivers actually using the kit are over looked for feed back.It’s like them krone euroliner heaps were you can’t tension the curtain at the front it’s just a bit of thin metal you slot in which usually falls off the curtain when you’re trying to put the trailer back together, comical but I bet no ones told them its a rubbish idea!!!
I think what Don Bur means is arranging a visit to the site to discuss improvements, which is a great offer, because like you say how often are drivers who actually use the trailers consulted.
Who is it that makes the fridge trailers whose rear light brackets keep breaking? Bent bit of 25mm tube held onto the chassis by three or four 8mm bolts that keep coming loose and which you can’t reach properly on the nearside because of things in the way. Same make the spray gear side valence mounting to the rave isn’t up to the job. One of the really big chilled distribution companies had a large batch about three years ago.
ryly1979:
what about Schmitz Cargobull? Are they in the UK?
Yes, factory in Stanley, County Durham, sales point in Warrington.
Having previously worked with SCB & Krone euroliner trailers side by side, I’m definitely an SCB fan.
Didn’t think Schmitz had a factory in the uk anymore. They shut that one up north when the recession hit?
I did visit that factory once, looked good, they’re keen on price too I think.
Silver_Surfer:
Didn’t think Schmitz had a factory in the uk anymore. They shut that one up north when the recession hit?
I’m not sure ss. I did notice that on a straight forward google search for Schmitz Cargobull there is no mention of that factory on the SCB page. It was only by including Durham I found it.
It is/was actually in a little village called Hare Law. I once collected a new P&O Ferrymasters trailer there. Nice ride out on a Saturday morning it was after a pint in Durham the night before. (parked the unit on the station car park).