Trailers

Dog trailer finance from 48+ Australian lenders.

A dog trailer roughly doubles what your tipper can carry per trip. We structure the finance so the extra payload more than covers the repayment.

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One broker from your first call through to funding.

See which dog trailer finance options fit your business.

Tell us what you are buying. A Lyft Money broker compares 48+ lenders and explains the rate, balloon, fees and total cost before you decide.

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Access to 21+ dog trailer finance lenders

Lenders on our panel that fund dog trailer finance.

  • Banjo Loans
  • Dynamoney
  • Finance One Commercial
  • ScotPac
  • FlexiCommercial
  • Shift
  • Judo Bank
  • Earlypay
  • Angle Asset Finance
  • Automotive Financial Services
  • Azora
  • Firstmac
  • Liberty
  • Metro Finance
  • Morris Finance
  • Pepper Money
  • Quest Finance
  • Resimac
  • Selfco
  • Maple Commercial Finance
  • Branded Financial Services

At a glance

Dog trailer finance: the numbers that matter.

Typical price
$50,000 – $200,000
Terms
Up to 84 months
Indicative rates
6.9% – 14.5% p.a.
Typical speed
24–48 hours for low-doc up to $150k; longer for full-doc
Usual structure
Chattel mortgage
Useful life
About 20 years

In plain English

What is dog trailer finance?

Dog trailer finance is funding for a trailer with its own front steerable axle group, towed behind a rigid truck, secured against the trailer. Truck and dog combinations are the standard high-payload cartage setup in Australian quarry and civil work, and dog trailers are long-life, readily financed assets.

The truck and dog combination is an Australian cartage staple because it carries close to a semi-trailer payload while remaining manoeuvrable enough for suburban sites and quarry access roads. The dog trailer has its own steerable front axle group, so it tracks well behind the truck and can be uncoupled to leave the rigid working alone when a smaller load is needed.

For an operator already running a rigid tipper, adding a dog trailer is usually the cheapest way to lift revenue per trip. The finance is modest compared with buying a second truck, no extra driver is needed, and the asset lasts twenty years or more. Your broker can look at whether funding the trailer alone or refinancing truck and trailer together produces the better overall position.

How lenders assess dog trailer finance

Dog trailers are financed as standalone trailer assets and can be funded separately from the truck. Lenders look at body material, hoist, chassis, suspension and drawbar condition. Aluminium bodies value well because they carry more payload. Where a truck and dog are bought together, lenders can often write one facility covering both. Established cartage operators are approved on standard terms; new operators typically need trading history or a deposit. Private sales require PPSR clearance and registration transfer.

New or used

Used dog trailers are traded regularly out of cartage fleets; new builds in aluminium are popular where maximising payload is the priority.

Before you buy

  • Check the drawbar, turntable and front axle group closely; the steering assembly takes constant load and is expensive to repair.
  • Compare aluminium against steel on tare weight — the payload difference across thousands of loads is significant money.
  • Confirm the combination complies with mass and dimension limits in every state you cart in before you commit.

Commonly financed

  • Hercules truck and dog trailer
  • Muscat quad dog trailer
  • Roadwest tri-axle dog
  • Howard Porter dog trailer
  • Bruce Rock Engineering dog trailer
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A clear next step

How to finance a dog trailer.

Our AI helps check lender fit across 48+ lenders. Your broker reviews the options and explains what they mean for you.

  1. 01

    Confirm the asset

    Dealer or private sale, new or used, price and age of the asset.

  2. 02

    Structure the loan

    Term, deposit and balloon matched to cash flow and asset life.

  3. 03

    Settle and collect

    Lender pays the supplier directly; you take delivery.

Documents lenders commonly ask for:
  • ID and ABN
  • Invoice or quote for the asset
  • Bank statements or financials depending on amount

The lender makes the final credit decision. Available options depend on your business and the lender’s assessment.

Before you make a decision

Estimate your dog trailer repayments.

Adjust the price, rate, term and balloon to see the repayment and the total cost over the term.

Estimated monthly repayment
$2,256.40
Number of repayments
60
Balloon at end of term
$25,000
Total interest (est.)
$35,384
Total repaid (est.)
$160,384

This calculator is a guide only. It uses simplified assumptions, excludes fees and charges unless stated, and is not an offer or quote. Actual repayments are confirmed by the lender in its loan contract.

From Lyft Money clients

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Ways to finance a dog trailer

Key terms

What is dog trailer finance?

Dog trailer finance is a secured loan or lease used to buy a dog trailer, with the trailer as security. Terms commonly run 48 to 84 months and the trailer can be financed independently of the truck that tows it.

What is the difference between a dog trailer and a pig trailer?

A dog trailer has a steerable front axle group and a rear axle group, so it carries its load fully on its own axles and tracks the truck closely. A pig trailer has a single axle group near the centre and puts some load through the drawbar.

Straight answers

Dog trailer finance FAQs.

Have a question?

Talk to us: 1800 005 938

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Can I finance a dog trailer to match my tipper?

Yes. A dog trailer can be financed with the tipper on one contract or on its own, and lenders like truck-and-dog combinations because civil and quarry demand is steady. Match the dog’s builder and body to the truck where you can; combinations from the same builder resell better.

What terms are available on a dog trailer?

Up to seven years on a new dog trailer and around five on used, with balloons of 20 to 30 per cent common on new units. Because a dog trailer outlasts the truck, running a slightly longer term on the trailer than the truck often gives the best combined repayment.

Can I finance a used dog trailer?

Yes. Used dog trailers are financed with a PPSR clearance, current registration or roadworthy and an inspection for private and auction purchases. Lenders are relaxed about age and focus on brand and condition. Pre-approval before an auction lets you bid with confidence.

Are three, four and five-axle dogs financed the same way?

Yes. Lenders finance all configurations; the larger dogs cost more and earn more under performance-based standards and higher mass limits. Lenders look at the builder, axle group, suspension, hoist and body condition. PBS-approved combinations are well-regarded security.

Do I need a deposit for equipment finance?

Often no deposit is required, particularly for established businesses buying standard assets from a dealer. A deposit is more likely where the business is new, the asset is older or specialised, the credit profile is weaker, or the amount is large relative to turnover. Deposits typically range from around 10% to 30% in those cases. Putting money in reduces the amount financed and can improve the terms offered, but it is not always necessary.

What fees are normally charged on equipment finance?

The common ones are an establishment or documentation fee charged at settlement, a monthly account-keeping fee, and a PPSR registration fee for recording the lender's interest in the asset. A brokerage fee may also apply, which we disclose to you in writing before anything is submitted. Some agreements include an early termination or break cost. Fees vary by lender and are typically a modest part of total cost compared with the interest, but they should still be compared.

How large a balloon can I set?

Lenders publish maximum residual or balloon percentages that fall as the term lengthens, because the asset is worth less at the end of a longer term. For a vehicle, a common pattern is up to roughly 50% on a two-year term, reducing to around 20% to 30% on a five-year term. The ATO also sets minimum residual values for finance leases. A larger balloon lowers monthly repayments but increases total interest and leaves a lump sum to deal with at the end.

Is hire purchase still used in Australia?

It is far less common than it once was. Under hire purchase the financier owns the asset and you hire it, with ownership transferring automatically after the final instalment. Since the GST changes that made chattel mortgage more attractive for businesses accounting on a cash basis, most equipment lending is written as a chattel mortgage or lease instead. Some lenders still offer commercial hire purchase, and your accountant can advise whether it suits your circumstances.

What is PPSR registration and why does the lender do it?

The Personal Property Securities Register is the national register of security interests in personal property, including vehicles and equipment. When a lender finances an asset, it registers its interest so the security is publicly recorded and its priority is protected if the asset is sold or the business fails. It also means a buyer searching the register will see the finance. The registration is released once the contract is paid out, and a small registration fee is usually passed on to you.

How does a balloon payment work on a chattel mortgage?

A balloon is a lump sum left to pay at the end of a chattel mortgage, which lowers the regular repayments during the term. For example, a 30 per cent balloon on a $100,000 vehicle leaves $30,000 to pay at the end, so the monthly amount is calculated on $70,000 plus interest on the full balance. Balloons are commonly set between 0 and 40 per cent depending on the asset and term, and at the end you can pay it out, refinance it or sell the asset to clear it. A balloon reduces monthly cost but increases total interest, so your broker shows both figures side by side.

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