

Wilcox, now part of Total Vehicle Solutions Group, showed a pair of non-tipping trailers at Tip-Ex.
“Putting them side-by-side like this is a great opportunity for customers to see the differences,” explained Wilcox sales manager Jamie Boyce, referring to the moving-floor and belt trailer on its stand.
The former featured the latest Keith Walking Floor V-Floor technology, which has closer gaps between the planks, resulting in less maintenance. The belt trailer is relatively new to Wilcox, and is only the fifth example it has built.
“Both trailers have their advantages,” explained Boyce. “The belt trailer is better suited to aggregates, and the Walking Floor to asphalt. They are roughly the same price, but the belt has a weight-saving of about 800kg.”
He said it’s common for operators to compare these trailers with tipping trailers when trying to make an economic case for them, but believes they make more financial sense when compared with 8-wheel rigids.
“If you put a new Scania 8-wheeler on the road you are looking at £140,000 to £150,000. Whereas you can buy a tractor unit for £100,000, and a trailer for £80,000. You haven’t got that much more additional capital expense to carry an extra 7 or 8 tonnes of load. If you are moving this extra payload, for every three loads you are taking an 8-wheeler off the road. And, if we go through times like we have just had [Covid-19], instead of parking up your trucks, you drop your trailer and pull a curtaisider or fridge trailer instead.”