Beavertails are the backbone of plant movement in the UK. Plant hire companies, groundworks contractors, machinery dealers and builders all run them, because a beavertail is the simplest, cheapest way to get a digger or dumper from A to B without a low loader and a tractor unit.
They hold value well, they sell quickly when correctly specified, and the used market is consistently busy. This guide covers what you’ve got, what it’s worth, and the spec items that genuinely move the price.
Beavertail or Cheesewedge — Is There a Difference?
Mostly not, and the terms are used interchangeably in the trade. Beavertail trucks are rigid vehicles with a load deck shaped or equipped to help machinery travel onto the body — also commonly described as cheesewedge trucks, although deck design and loading equipment differ between vehicles.
Beavertail — the general term. A rigid with a flat deck that slopes down at the rear, plus ramps, so machinery can be driven or winched on.
Cheesewedge — usually implies the tapered rear section is built into the body as a fixed wedge, giving a lower loading angle. Often used for the heavier 8×2 and 8×4 plant lorries.
Low-profile / access spec — a newer category, built specifically for MEWPs and access platforms where ground clearance is minimal and the loading angle has to be as shallow as possible.
For selling purposes, use both “beavertail” and “cheesewedge” in your advert. Buyers search both.
The Weight Classes
7.5 tonne — mini diggers, small dumpers, mowers. Driveable on a car licence for pre-1997 licence holders, which broadens the buyer pool considerably. Common chassis: Isuzu N75, DAF LF 150/180, Mercedes Atego 750/816, MAN TGL 7.150.
10–12 tonne — 3–5 tonne machines. MAN TGL 10.180, DAF LF 210, Isuzu Forward.
18 tonne — the volume class. Carries most mid-size plant — 8 to 13 tonne excavators, telehandlers, rollers. Common chassis: DAF LF 260/290, DAF CF 260, Volvo FL 250, Mercedes Atego 1824, Mercedes Arocs 1833, MAN TGM 18.290.
26 tonne 6×2 — the workhorse for heavier plant. DAF CF 290/320/340/370, Volvo FE 320, Scania P280/P320, Mercedes Antos.
32 tonne 8×2 / 8×4 — the heavy end, often with a crane fitted as well. DAF CF 400/450/480, DAF XF 480, Volvo FM 380/460, Scania P410.
Body Builders — Who Made Yours
The body brand matters more than most sellers realise, in the same way the crane brand does on a HIAB.
Sterling — one of the most widely specified beavertail body builders in the UK. Sterling heavy duty cheesewedge plant bodies with winch are commonly listed on Volvo FM and FE chassis, and appear on a large share of UK plant lorries.
Mac’s Truck Sales — build their own bodies and are known for loading angle. Their access spec builds feature flow forge flooring along the full length of the body, achieving a very low loading angle — the flooring even allows access machinery to be loaded without the use of a winch. Specifically sought by MEWP and powered access companies.
AMC — AMC beavertail bodies with chain tray, safety bars and galvanised ramps are commonly specified on DAF CF chassis.
PPS — widely seen on 26t and 32t cheesewedge builds.
Shawtrack — common on the 7.5-tonne end with hydraulic foldable ramps.
MV Commercial — build and supply a large volume of plant bodies.
Boughton — long-established UK body builder.
If you know the body maker, say so. A Sterling or Mac’s body carries more confidence than an unbranded build.
Ramps — The Biggest Single Spec Difference
This is where beavertails vary most, and it directly affects value.
- Tuck-away ramps — slide or fold under the body. Basic and common on lighter trucks.
- Alloy ramps — lighter, better for payload, but can be damaged by tracked machines.
- Galvanised steel ramps — durable, heavier, standard on plant spec.
- Hydraulic flip-toe ramps — the ramps fold hydraulically and the toe flips down to meet the ground, giving a continuous low-angle transition. The most valuable ramp type by a clear margin — faster, safer, and they allow low-ground-clearance machines to load without grounding.
- Full-width ramps — instead of two separate ramps, the whole rear width lowers. Valuable for wide or unusual loads.
- Hydraulic landing legs / jack legs — stabilise the chassis during loading. Adds value on heavier builds.
A beavertail with hydraulic flip-toe ramps and remote operation is worth considerably more than the same truck with manual tuck-aways — often £5,000–£10,000 on a 26 or 32 tonner.
Winches
Almost every plant lorry has one, and buyers check it works.
Common brands: T-Max DC5000, WinchMax, Ramsey, Superwinch, Warn. T-Max DC5000 winches with full close folding ramps are typical of current UK 26t beavertail spec.
Electric vs hydraulic — hydraulic winches are more powerful and preferred on heavier trucks. Remote control operation is expected on newer spec and adds value. Winch capacity ranges from around 5 tonne on 18t trucks to 10 tonne+ on 32t plant lorries.
State the winch brand, capacity, and whether it’s remote — buyers ask every time.
Other Spec That Moves the Price
Rear lift and steer — on 6×2 and 8×2 chassis, a steering rear axle makes a long plant lorry far more manoeuvrable on site. Worth real money.
9-tonne front axles — commonly specified with super singles on plant beavertails, and they matter for payload on heavy machines.
Bed length — usually quoted in feet. 22ft on a 7.5t, 29–32ft on a 26t or 32t. Longer bed means bigger machines, and it’s one of the first things buyers filter on.
Drawbar spec — piped and plated for a trailer. Opens up plant hire buyers who move two machines at once.
Chain trays, lashing rings, posts and sockets — practical fittings that suggest a properly built plant body.
Fall arrest / safety bars — increasingly required for site access and expensive to retrofit.
Toolboxes — stainless or alloy toolboxes are standard on good builds.
Galvanised mudguards and ramps — resist corrosion far better than painted steel.
DVS compliance — as with crane lorries, a London DVS-compliant truck with cameras fitted is worth more than one that needs the retrofit.
Twist lock sockets — allow the body to double as a container carrier. Adds versatility and buyer pool.
What Is My Beavertail Worth in 2026?
| Configuration | Year | Approx. Value (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Isuzu N75 / Atego 7.5t, 20ft body, hydraulic ramps | 2018–2022 | £22,000–£38,000 |
| MAN TGL 10.180 12t, 22ft, winch, tuck-away ramps | 2015–2018 | £16,000–£26,000 |
| DAF LF 260 / CF 260 18t, 29–32ft, winch | 2017–2020 | £26,000–£42,000 |
| Volvo FL 250 18t, Mac’s body, hydraulic flip toe | 2021–2023 | £45,000–£68,000 |
| Mercedes Arocs 1833 18t, Sterling, 10t remote winch | 2022–2024 | £55,000–£80,000 |
| DAF CF 330/340 26t 6×2, cheesewedge, winch | 2016–2019 | £28,000–£48,000 |
| DAF CF 340/370 26t, new body, flip toe ramps | 2019–2022 | £48,000–£72,000 |
| Volvo FE 320 26t, Sterling, rear lift & steer | 2017–2020 | £32,000–£52,000 |
| DAF CF 450 32t 8×2, cheesewedge, hydraulic ramps | 2019–2022 | £58,000–£88,000 |
| Scania P410 8×2, 31ft6 Sterling cheesewedge | 2018–2021 | £55,000–£85,000 |
| 8×2 cheesewedge with crane fitted | 2018–2021 | £65,000–£115,000 |
Indicative. Ramp type, winch spec, body builder, bed length and DVS status all move these figures.
Beavertail vs Low Loader — Who’s Buying
A beavertail is a rigid — one vehicle, no tractor unit needed, driveable by anyone with the right licence category. That makes it the default choice for plant hire companies moving machines up to about 20 tonnes, groundworks contractors with their own kit, and machinery dealers doing deliveries.
Above roughly 20–25 tonnes of payload you’re into low loader territory, which needs a tractor unit and a Category C+E driver.
The practical upshot: 18t and 26t beavertails have the biggest buyer pools in the UK, because they sit exactly where most plant movement happens. They sell fastest and hold value best. The 7.5t end is also strong because of the licence position and the volume of mini diggers in the country.
Sell Your Beavertail with Truck Trading
We buy beavertails and plant lorries across the UK — 7.5 tonne to 32 tonne, all body builders, with or without crane.
- Free quote within 24 hours — we value the body and ramps properly, not just the chassis
- Same-day payment — bank transfer on collection day
- Free UK-wide collection — we come to you
- No fees or commission — the quote is what you receive
- All conditions — worn ramps, failed winch, high mileage, damaged bodies, non-running
Get your free beavertail quote →
📞 0161 432 1477 | 07540 694069
📍 Stockport, Greater Manchester — collecting UK-wide
What Paperwork Do You Need?
- V5C logbook
- Current MOT / annual test certificate
- Service history — chassis and body
- Winch and ramp service records if held
- LOLER certificate — if a crane is fitted
- Finance settlement letter — if on HP or conditional sale
Related Guides
- Sell My Crane Lorry or HIAB UK
- Sell My Low Loader Trailer UK
- Sell My Tipper Grab or Grab Wagon UK
- Is Your Truck Worth More Than You Think? 2026 Valuation Guide
Truck Trading — the safe way to sell your truck. Free valuations, same-day payment, free UK-wide collection.
📞 0161 432 1477 | trucktrading.co.uk | Stockport, Greater Manchester
