trailers · Equipment & asset finance
Plant trailer finance
A plant trailer is the cheapest asset in the fleet and the one that stops you paying float bills. We often fund it alongside the machine on a single contract.
What is plant trailer finance?
Plant trailer finance is funding for a trailer built to carry machinery such as excavators, skid steers and rollers, secured against the trailer. Plant trailers are a common first finance for Australian trade businesses because they cost far less than the machine they carry but are essential to moving it.
For an owner-operator with a mini excavator or skid steer, transport is a recurring cost that quickly outweighs the price of a trailer. A single float movement can cost several hundred dollars, so a trailer used twice a week often pays for itself within a couple of years. Tilt-bed designs remove the need for ramps and are safer to load with tracked machines.
Because plant trailers are inexpensive, the practical way to finance one is usually alongside the machine. If you are buying a mini excavator, ask the dealer to include the trailer on the same invoice so it all settles under one contract at the same rate. Bought separately later, a trailer under about $10,000 can be hard to finance because it falls below many lenders’ minimum amounts.
Plant trailer finance at a glance
| Typical price range | $6,000 – $60,000 |
|---|---|
| Finance term | Up to 60 months |
| Useful life | About 15 years |
| New or used | New tandem and tri-axle plant trailers are affordable and widely bought; used trailers are cheap but should be checked carefully for chassis and brake condition. |
| Indicative rates (Chattel mortgage) | 6.9% – 14.5% p.a. · rate history |
| Finance structures | Chattel mortgage (recommended), Trailer finance, Equipment loan |
How lenders assess plant trailer finance
Plant trailers often sit below a lender’s minimum funding amount on their own, so they are commonly bundled onto the same contract as the machine they will carry. Where financed alone, lenders look at build quality, ATM rating, brake type and whether the trailer is registered. Established businesses are usually approved on light documentation. Australian-built trailers from known manufacturers value better than imported no-name units. Private sales need PPSR clearance and, for registered trailers, a transfer of registration.
Before you buy
- Check the ATM rating against your machine plus attachments and fuel — buyers routinely underestimate the real travelling weight.
- Make sure your tow vehicle’s towing capacity and tow ball download rating actually match the loaded trailer.
- Electric brakes are cheaper but hydraulic or air over hydraulic handles heavy loads better; check what your tow vehicle supports.
Commonly financed
Sureweld tilt plant trailer · TAG tandem plant trailer · Workmate tilt trailer · PBL Trailers tri-axle plant trailer · Belco tilt bed trailer
Estimate plant trailer repayments
- Number of repayments
- 60
- Balloon at end of term
- $6,600
- Total interest (est.)
- $9,341
- Total repaid (est.)
- $42,341
This calculator provides an estimate only and does not account for fees, charges or the specific terms a lender may offer. It is not financial advice or an offer of finance.
Key terms
What is plant trailer finance?
Plant trailer finance is a secured loan or lease used to buy a machinery-carrying trailer, with the trailer as security. Terms usually run 36 to 60 months, and the trailer is often funded on the same contract as the machine it will carry.
What is ATM on a trailer?
ATM stands for aggregate trailer mass — the maximum total weight of the trailer plus its load when not coupled to the tow vehicle. Exceeding the ATM is illegal and can void insurance, so it should be checked against your machine’s real operating weight.