Renco OPL 30-20

At a length of 13,950 mm and a width of 2,550 mm, the OPL 30-20 sits close to the EU limit for road vehicle width. An unladen weight of 5,780 kg leaves a payload of around 22,220 kg, a typical ratio for heavy trailers. The 8,760 mm wheelbase spreads the load across a multi-axle chassis and gives cornering stability under full load. The 2001 build year places the trailer in a generation before today's lightweight construction concepts.

Trailers of this size require a category CE licence, or the matching combination of towing vehicle and trailer under the European driving licence categories. The compressed-air brake system must match that of the towing vehicle, and the coupling height and the connectors for brakes, lights and ABS follow standardised plugs. With such a long wheelbase, any unevenness in the load distribution affects handling more strongly than on short trailers.

When buying a trailer this old and this heavy second-hand, the frame is worth checking closely: cracks at the axle mounts and corrosion on the cross-members are the most common faults after two decades of use. The brake system belongs on a test bench, and the tyres should be checked for even wear across the full axle width. Spare parts for axles and brake components are usually available from independent commercial-vehicle parts dealers for this type of trailer, while body parts specific to the manufacturer can be harder to find.