Car transporter trailers: fixed bed, tilt bed and covered

What this page says about a trailer comes from the pages of the two makers named, as they stood on 10 October 2026. Each statement is that maker's description of its own product, not a test of it. The pages are listed at the foot. This is general information. The rules on what you may tow are outside this guide, so check official guidance before you buy.

Three layouts

The two makers read for this guide sell trailers for carrying a car in three layouts: a fixed bed with ramps, a bed that tilts, and a covered body. Indespension sells the first two as "two distinctive ranges", which it calls "our tilt deck trailers and two fixed bed trailers" (Indespension: Car and Vehicle Transporters). Woodford lists open and covered car trailers separately (Woodford: Car Trailers and Professional Vehicle Transportation).

Where these sit among the other kinds of trailer is covered in types of trailer.

Fixed bed with ramps

The car is driven up ramps onto a flat deck. Woodford says its flatbed trailers are "ideal for Cars, Diggers, Tractors, Movers and Plant Equipment", and that they (Woodford: Flatbed Trailer):

• "are available in twin and triple axle options and come with 2.5m ramps installed as standard"
• "come as standard with a spare wheel, hitch lock and supporting drop down legs"

Woodford also lists a manual hydraulic tilt and winches as optional extras, and builds a double deck flatbed "designed to transport two vehicles at once".

A used trailer may have lost what it left the factory with. Ask the seller whether the ramps, the spare wheel and the hitch lock are still with it.

Tilt bed

The deck tips for loading, and both makers sell that for low cars. Indespension names "a Ferrari with low ground clearance" among the loads its transporter range is meant for.

• Indespension says the "quick-action tilt function" on its tilting flatbed "streamlines loading and unloading", and that the trailer has a reinforced headboard and multiple lashing points (Indespension: Tilting Flatbed).
• Woodford fits its covered RL5000 with "a high quality hydraulic tilt hand pump", which it says gives "an ideal approach angle for loading low vehicles" (Woodford: RL5000).

At a viewing, ask to see the bed tilted and brought back.

Covered

A covered transporter encloses the car. Woodford describes the RL5000 as "suitable for race events, track days and general haulage", and as a transporter for "sports cars, classic cars and most standard sized vehicles". Its specification lists:

• a steel ramp and tailgate
• two front access doors
• two main side wing doors
• internal LED lights

Woodford says the doors and hatches are there for "allowing you to tie your vehicle down with ease". On a used one, open every door and hatch and switch the lights on.

What to say in an advert, and what to ask

These are the details the makers' pages use to tell one transporter from another, so they are the ones a buyer will look for:

• the layout: fixed bed, tilt bed or covered
• the number of axles
• the ramps, and whether they are included
• how the bed tilts, if it does
• a winch, if one is fitted
• the spare wheel and the hitch lock
• on a covered trailer, the doors and the lights