Buy a used Ifor Williams GD85 (or similar) - what to look for?

[jayw]

I'm in the market to buy a caged mesh trailer for mostly hedge clippings and logs. The GD85 seems ideal given it's size and weight in relation to my vehicle is there anything similar I should be keeping an eye out for? 

 

Most of the newer used ones I'm finding are around £3k and some have checker board floor, most have Phenolic resin. Is there much of a difference between these in terms of longevity? 

 

Also, anything else I should be looking at when going to view them? 

[htb]

Checker plate generally more robust floor, Phenolic ply if its genuine Ifor is good easier to slide stuff on and clean out. Checker plate a pain to clean out well.

[Bob The Dog]

Worth considering other makes of trailer too, unless you’re a die hard IW fan. I have a GD105 caged and it’s great, but it rattles like crazy when unladen, as IW’s seem to. I also have a Nugent flatbed and it’s quiet as a mouse. Build quality is very good too. Definitely worth considering if you can find one at the right price. 

[monkeybusiness]

Unless you are carrying serious weight and therefore want as low a floor height as possible I’d personally avoid a tub-style trailer (wheels to the sides) as flatbed (wheels below the bed) trailers offer more versatility for loading etc. 
Forklift loading and shovelling loose material straight off the trailer are two massively limiting factors of trailers like the GD range. 

[jayw]

44 minutes ago, monkeybusiness said:

Unless you are carrying serious weight and therefore want as low a floor height as possible I’d personally avoid a tub-style trailer (wheels to the sides) as flatbed (wheels below the bed) trailers offer more versatility for loading etc. 
Forklift loading and shovelling loose material straight off the trailer are two massively limiting factors of trailers like the GD range. 

One of my main requirements is to shift branches and loose logs. I understand your point but I'd need a flat bed with removable sides. 

[monkeybusiness]

2 hours ago, jayw said:

One of my main requirements is to shift branches and loose logs. I understand your point but I'd need a flat bed with removable sides. 

Exactly - I wasn’t suggesting no sides, just a flat-bed construction.

[maybelateron]

In recent years when I have purchased new trailers (IW and Bateson) I pay the extra for ally plate on top of the phenolic plywood. If you intend to keep the trailer for years. and it will have heavy timber chucked in, this eventually damages the plywood so that water can get into it. That said it will still last years. 

 

I bought a second hand Meredith and Eyre 16ft triaxle. Good build quality. This just has the phenolic plywood florr, but as it is it really good nick I have some cheap OSB boards that I can put over the floor if it is at risk of damage from loading rough stuff.

[spuddog0507]

TBH i would just pay a bit extra and buy a tipping trailer, i have had several trailers over the years and the one i have now a 10ft IW tipper saves so much time and effort, there is days when i think i could do with a bigger trailer but do manage very well with what i have, if you buy a tipper now you wont look back and be thinking i should of got a tipper, there will be times when its lashing it down and your all ready cold n wet and you think jesus i have to unload this now,  tipper you just push a button and 2 mins you done,,

[woody paul]

Just buy a 8x5 tipper it will be narrower then the gd8x5, the one i have has been a great trailer moved tons of wood and chip, mini loader when digger is on 12x6 ifor. was going to replace the tipper with a 10x5 but have had a second thought and will probably find a GX84 plant to move digger easier.

[swinny]

I personally wouldn't buy a gd ifor new... not good value and poor trailers! I ran a gd105 years ago cage sides. Bought new. Was OK for a small machine but with weight on from logs etc it used to Bob and weave behind truck.... awful thing on crappy single leaf springs.

 

I run 3.5t plant trailers for a long time now. 

 

I actually stumbled across a small lt85 last year and bought it aswell. Caged sides, only 2000kg trailer though. Light and easy to move about, easy to wiggle along side truck and chipper to throw logs in etc. Mint little trailer.

 

If you don't need to move machines everyday I'd go for the dropside range