Beavertail truck finance
Beavertails move plant without a low loader licence burden, which makes them the practical choice for hire firms shifting diggers between sites.
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Yes. A beavertail truck funds as a commercial vehicle with the sloping bed, ramps and winch forming part of the asset. Used beavertails fund well because plant hire firms and machinery dealers buy them steadily. The practical issue is payload against the machines being carried: operators regularly buy a beavertail that is legal empty but overweight with the excavator they actually move, and a funder who knows the sector will ask what plant is going on the back. Work out the heaviest machine first, then specify the chassis around it.
Who finances this
Plant hire companies, groundworks contractors moving their own machines, machinery dealers delivering to customers, and agricultural contractors shifting equipment between farms. The trigger is usually the cost of hiring in transport every time a machine moves, or a hire fleet reaching the size where self-delivery is quicker and cheaper than booking a haulier. Tree surgeons and fencing contractors buy smaller beavertails to move chippers, stump grinders and mini diggers between jobs.
How lenders see it
Beavertails resell readily into plant hire and construction, so funders treat the asset as reasonably liquid, better than a car transporter, not as broad as a flatbed. The winch and ramp arrangement is checked, since a damaged winch or bent ramps materially affect usability. Plant hire operators generally read well because they own tangible assets and often already hold finance agreements the funder can see performing. Groundworks contractors get the usual construction-sector scrutiny around contract security. Funders will ask what is being carried and whether the vehicle is correctly plated for it, because an overweight configuration is an enforcement risk. Declines tend to be new-start plant firms with no fleet, no contracts and no licence rather than problems with the truck itself.
Buying used
Yes, used beavertails fund well to around ten years, with ramp, bed and winch condition checked more closely than engine mileage.
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Fuel and wages before the invoice clears
Flowzo funds operating costs against 30 to 60 day customer terms, including the financial standing requirement on an operator licence.
Buying a truck or trailer at auction? We can give you an indicative decision before you bid, and we list every UK machinery auctioneer and livestock mart.
Machines we have funded
| DAF CF 290 beavertail | Plant carrier for diggers and dumpers |
|---|---|
| MAN TGM 18.290 beavertail | Eighteen tonne plant body with ramps |
| Iveco Eurocargo 180E beavertail | Value plant carrier for hire fleets |
| Volvo FM 380 beavertail | Heavy beavertail for larger machines |
| Mercedes-Benz Atego 1524 beavertail | Mid-weight plant body for site moves |
| Scania P280 beavertail | Durable plant carrier for daily hire work |
| Isuzu Grafter 7.5t beavertail | Small plant carrier for mini diggers |
| Ford Transit beavertail | Light plant body for tools and machines |
| Ray Smith beavertail body | British plant body with winch and ramps |
| Iveco Daily 7.2t beavertail | Compact plant carrier on a light chassis |
What a beavertail truck actually costs to buy
Prices for a beavertail truck advertised by UK suppliers run from £4,950 to £69,995 (checked 28 October 2026).
Mileage does not track price on these trucks the way it does on cars: a 2016 DAF CF410 with 612,000 km sold for £23,000.00+vat, more than a 2014 DAF CF330 with a third of the mileage (210,166 km) at £22,950, and above a 2010 DAF CF75 360 with 345,967 km at £17,995. Engine power rating and Euro emissions band (410hp/Euro 6 vs 330-360hp/Euro 5) move the price far more than hours on the clock, because Euro 6 compliance buys unrestricted Clean Air Zone access that a higher-mileage Euro 6 truck keeps and a low-mileage Euro 5 truck does not.
| Machine | Asking price | Seen at |
|---|---|---|
| Iveco Eurocargo 180-250, 2015, beavertail body | £4,950 VAT not stated | trucklocator.co.uk |
| Iveco Eurocargo 75E16, 2015, 4x2, beaver tail plant body with ramps | £5,500 VAT not stated | commercialmotor.com |
| Scania R440, 2012, 6x2, 440hp, Euro 5, beavertail | £14,250 VAT not stated | trucklocator.co.uk |
| DAF CF75 360, 2010, 8x4, 345,967 km, Euro 5, beavertail plant truck | £17,995 VAT not stated | commercialmotor.com |
| Isuzu N75.150, 2019, 7.5 ton GVW, 130,000 km, heavy duty beavertail with hydraulic ramps and winch | £18,500 VAT not stated | commercialmotor.com |
| DAF LF180, 2017, 12-tonne, recovery/plant beavertail body, Euro 6, one owner | £19,250 VAT not stated | trucklocator.co.uk |
| DAF CF370 (CF85), 2014, 6x2, 452,967 km, Euro 6, 370bhp, beavertail | £19,950 VAT not stated | trucklocator.co.uk |
| DAF CF330, 2014, 6x2, manual gearbox, 210,166 km, beavertail | £22,950 VAT not stated | commercialmotor.com |
| DAF CF410, 2016, 6x2, 612,000 km, Euro 6, PSV to May 2027, Omagh NI | £23,000.00 +VAT | trucklocator.co.uk |
| Scania R490, 2015, rigid 4-axle beavertail, one owner, full Scania R&M history | £37,500 VAT not stated | trucklocator.co.uk |
| DAF CF410, 2019, 8x2, 243,199 km, 31ft PPS cheese wedge beavertail body, rear lift and steer | £42,950 VAT not stated | commercialmotor.com |
| Volvo FM420, 2018, sleeper cab, 442,132 km, 29ft Sterling flip-toe beavertail, remote winch | £49,950 VAT not stated | commercialmotor.com |
| MAN TGS 26.330, 2023, Euro 6, plant beavertail recovery body, rear lift axle, 8,000lb winch | £69,995 VAT not stated | trucklocator.co.uk |
Prices checked 28 October 2026 on commercialmotor.com, trucklocator.co.uk. These are asking prices observed on dealer and marketplace listings, shown as examples. They are not a quote or an offer of finance, and they move with the market. Check the current advert before budgeting.
How finance works on a beavertail truck
The prices above are what a seller is asking. What a funder will actually do with the purchase is a separate question, and it is the one that decides whether the deal happens.
| Question | Typical answer |
|---|---|
| Term available | 12 to 72 months. Most agreements sit between 24 and 60 months; anything shorter or longer needs a funder check before you rely on it. |
| Age of the asset | There is no single cut-off. It depends on the asset class, and condition, hours and resale value are underwritten rather than the year alone. Tell us the age and we will say before you commit. |
| Buying from a private seller | Often possible, but case by case. It needs a funder who will write it, an inspection and proof of ownership, so say whether the seller is a dealer or a private seller when you enquire. |
| Deposit | Frequently nil where the credit profile is standard. Where it is not, typically 10–20%, nearer 20% if a default is recent. |
| VAT on the purchase | Both approaches exist, depending on the funder. The agreement is commonly written on the ex-VAT price with the VAT paid upfront and reclaimed, though some funders will include the VAT in the agreement. |
General guidance from our own funder panel as at 31 October 2026, not a quote and not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status and to the funder's own criteria.
What weight beavertail do I need for a 13 tonne excavator?
More than most people assume once you add the body, ramps, winch and fuel. A machine near the top of a chassis rating will usually put you overweight. Work from the heaviest machine you actually move, add the body weight, and specify the chassis from that figure. Funders do query mismatched specs.
Is a beavertail or a low loader better for plant?
Beavertails are cheaper to buy and run and need no separate trailer, which suits machines up to mid-size. Low loaders carry far more and handle tracked machines and wide loads, but bring artic operation and often abnormal load requirements. Most hire firms start with a beavertail and add a low loader when machine sizes outgrow it.
Can I finance a beavertail with a winch fitted?
Yes, a winch is standard on these vehicles and funded as part of the body. Funders will look at its condition and service record on a used purchase, because recovering a non-running machine is the main reason the winch exists. A seized or damaged winch reduces the valuation noticeably.
Do I need an operator licence for a beavertail?
Over 3.5 tonnes used for business purposes, generally yes. Plant hire firms sometimes assume moving their own machines is exempt, and that assumption catches people out at roadside checks. Funders ask about licensing because an unlicensed vehicle cannot legally do the job. Confirm your position with your transport manager before ordering.
Can plant hire firms fund trucks and machines together?
Often yes. Funders who write plant hire regularly will look at machines and transport on the same facility or on linked agreements, which keeps administration simpler as the fleet grows. It also gives the funder a clearer picture of the business. Tell us what else is on order and we will structure it as one conversation.
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