Container Trailers: A Complete Guide to Moving 10ft & 20ft Shipping Containers
Container trailers provide a flexible way to move 10ft and 20ft shipping containers without relying on traditional HGV and crane transport. In this guide, we explain how container trailers work, how containers are loaded and secured, towing and weight considerations, and how to choose the right trailer for your requirements.
What is a container trailer?
A container trailer provides a practical and cost-effective way to transport 10ft and 20ft shipping containers using a suitable towing vehicle, reducing the need for traditional HGV and crane transport.
Compared with a large lorry, a container trailer can offer greater flexibility and easier access, particularly when delivering containers to farms, construction sites, storage facilities and locations with restricted access.
The shipping container is securely attached to the trailer using integrated twist locks, creating a strong and secure connection for road transport.
For even greater flexibility, our hand-operated container lifting jacks allow the container to be raised from the ground so the trailer can be positioned underneath. At the destination, the process can be reversed, allowing the container to be unloaded without requiring a crane.
This makes a container trailer an ideal solution for businesses and individuals who regularly need to move shipping containers while reducing their reliance on specialist container transport.
What Size Shipping Containers Can a Container Trailer Carry?
Our container trailers are designed to transport 10ft and 20ft ISO shipping containers.
ISO shipping containers are built to internationally standardised dimensions and specifications, meaning their corner castings allow them to be securely attached to compatible container trailers using twist locks.
We offer dedicated 10ft and 20ft container trailers. Our 20ft trailers can also be fitted with additional 10ft container mounting points, giving you the flexibility to transport either a 10ft or 20ft container using the same trailer.
This is particularly useful for businesses that work with different container sizes and want the flexibility of one trailer for both 10ft and 20ft containers.
Please note: the additional mounts allow either a 10ft or a 20ft container to be transported — not both at the same time.
How Do You Load and Unload a Shipping Container?
Lifting jacks available to purchase separately
Our container lifting jacks are available to purchase separately and are supplied as a set of four. They provide a practical solution for loading and unloading both 10ft and 20ft shipping containers without the need for a crane.
With a lifting capacity of up to 4.5 tonnes, the jack system can be used with empty containers as well as suitably loaded containers within the system's rated capacity. An empty 20ft shipping container typically weighs around 2.2 tonnes / 10ft container around 1.3t, although the exact weight will vary depending on the container specification.
The four jacks attach securely to the side apertures of the container's corner castings and are operated by hand. The container can then be raised high enough for the trailer to be positioned underneath or removed.
This creates a flexible, self-contained transport system, allowing you to load, transport and unload shipping containers without specialist lifting equipment at each location.
Video showing a 20ft container being lifted onto the trailer
Can You Transport a Loaded Shipping Container?
Yes. A shipping container can be transported while loaded, provided the combined weight of the container and its contents does not exceed the trailer’s maximum payload capacity.
You must also ensure that the total trailer weight is within the towing capacity and legal limits of the towing vehicle.
To calculate how much weight you can carry inside the container, use:
Trailer Payload − Empty Container Weight = Maximum Weight of Contents
Example:
Trailer payload: 2320 kg
Empty container weight: 1,300 kg
Maximum contents weight: 1020 kg
Always check the actual empty weight of your container, as container weights can vary.
Why Choose a Yeti Container Trailer?
Yeti container trailers provide a flexible and cost-effective solution for transporting 10ft and 20ft shipping containers across the UK and Ireland.
Built on a hot-dip galvanised chassis with quality Knott axles and integrated twist locks, our trailers are designed for durability and reliable road use.
Choose from 10ft and 20ft configurations, with optional lifting jacks and additional 10ft mounting points available for greater flexibility.
All trailers are supplied road legal and ready to tow, with a Certificate of Conformity (COC), a 5-year chassis warranty and 1-year warranty on moving parts.