- Location
- Lochgilphead, Argyll and Bute
- Main postcode district
- PA31
- Nearby (straight line)
- Dunoon (20 miles), Oban (26 miles) and Greenock (27 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
A telescopic-lip dock leveller is a hydraulic pit leveller whose front lip slides forward out of the platform, rather than swinging on a hinge, and can be extended by a controlled amount onto the trailer bed. Telescopic lips commonly extend 500 to 1,000 mm, which lets operators reach over tail lifts, place the lip between pallets and load the last row in a trailer.
Why do sites in Lochgilphead choose this?
A container-handling operation in Lochgilphead can benefit from a telescopic lip, as container floors and chassis heights vary more than standard trailers. Where docks in Lochgilphead have deep bumpers that hold trailers away from the edge, a telescopic lip can bridge a gap a swing lip would struggle to cover.
Manufacturing sites in Lochgilphead that end-load finished goods can place the lip precisely between pallets to reach the rear row.
Your loading bay stays our responsibility from the survey to the handover. In Lochgilphead, the survey and written quote are free, and the quoted price is fixed for the agreed scope. Installation is carried out by specialist engineers working under our management, at times planned with you to protect your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work is available by arrangement. We finish by testing the equipment and handing over its documentation.
Can a telescopic leveller replace a swing-lip unit in the same pit?
Often yes, a telescopic-lip leveller can replace a swing-lip unit in the same pit, provided the pit is square and deep enough and the edge steel is in good condition. Some telescopic units need a little more depth for the lip mechanism, so we measure carefully at survey.
A typical installation:
- The bay is closed and the old leveller isolated, lifted out and removed.
- The pit is cleaned and measured, and any edge steel repairs carried out.
- The new unit is set in, levelled and fixed to the pit steel.
- The power pack, control panel and lip controls are connected and interlocks wired.
- The platform and lip are tested through their full travel.
You will need to provide a clear bay, access for lifting equipment and a suitable power supply, typically three-phase. Installation commonly takes one to two working days per bay once the pit is ready.
Why does a telescopic-lip leveller cost more than a swing-lip unit?
A telescopic-lip dock leveller typically costs £6,800 to £11,800 per leveller, excluding VAT, supply and fit, assuming an existing, sound pit. It costs more than a swing-lip unit because the lip slides in its own guides inside the platform, which means more steel, a longer lip and more involved hydraulics and controls.
Within the range, the price depends on:
- Lip extension: a longer reach needs a longer lip and stronger guides.
- Platform length and width: longer platforms give gentler gradients across mixed trailer heights.
- Capacity: higher ratings for heavy loads or large forklifts.
- Insulation: insulated platforms and pit seals for chilled and frozen docks.
- Controls: automatic return, interlocks and links to restraints and traffic lights.
New pits, pit repairs and groundworks are priced separately after survey, and the written quote is the fixed price. We often quote both lip types side by side, so you can see whether the extra flexibility justifies the cost on each bay.
The same published guide range applies across Scotland; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What do we check at the survey?
- How drivers are prevented from pulling away too early
- Wind exposure at the dock, which affects door and shelter choice
- Bumper position and wear or damage on the dock face
- Working hours, shift patterns and windows for out-of-hours work
- Power supply at each bay, including three-phase availability
- Whether planning, building control or a building warrant may be needed
Options to discuss
500 mm lip extension
A commonly specified reach for precise placement and end loading on standard trailers and refrigerated vehicles that do not have tail lifts.
Automatic return control
A single button that withdraws the lip and lowers the platform to its stored position, reducing the risk of a trailer leaving with the lip still out.
Planning, building control and safety law in Scotland
Doors and dock equipment installed in Scotland may carry the UKCA or the CE mark, and we pass on the documentation for everything fitted in Lochgilphead. Because building warrant and planning questions can affect the programme, we check what applies at survey and raise any approvals early rather than assuming none are needed.
Sites in and around Lochgilphead are covered by arrangement. There is no charge for the survey or the written quote, and any travel, ferry crossings or overnight stays needed for the installation itself are itemised in the quote, so you see the full price before agreeing.
Questions about telescopic-lip dock levellers in Lochgilphead
Is the site survey in Lochgilphead free?
Yes. For new installations, replacements, upgrades, conversions and complete bays, the site survey and written quote are free and come with no obligation. The survey lets us measure the openings, check the dock and structure, and understand how the bay is used, so the quote reflects your site. Repair and servicing visits are different: they are chargeable, with the price agreed before anyone attends.
What details do you need from us to quote for telescopic-lip dock levellers?
To get started, send the site address in Lochgilphead, the number of bays or openings, approximate sizes, and photos of the dock from inside and outside. Tell us what vehicles you load, what goods you handle and any temperature requirements. Drawings help on new builds. We then arrange the free survey and confirm the details before the written quote is issued.
How do you price telescopic-lip dock levellers for a site in Lochgilphead?
Guide budgets for supply and fit are £6,800 to £11,800 per leveller, excluding VAT. The figure moves with size, insulation, the operator, electrics, access, any pit or groundworks and out-of-hours working. Where levellers are involved, the guide assumes an existing, sound pit. After the free survey you receive a fixed written quote, and that is the price for the agreed scope.
Can telescopic and swing-lip levellers be mixed on one dock?
Yes, and many sites do. Fitting telescopic levellers on the bays that receive tail-lift vehicles or need end loading, and swing-lip units on the rest, keeps costs down while covering every vehicle type. Clear bay signage helps drivers reverse onto the right one.
Are telescopic levellers suitable for cold stores?
Yes, telescopic levellers are widely used in cold stores because refrigerated trailers are often loaded right to the rear doors. Insulated platforms and perimeter seals reduce cold loss through the pit, and the leveller is usually interlocked with the door and shelter.
Telescopic-lip dock levellers near Lochgilphead
Distances are measured from Lochgilphead. Nearby towns we cover include Dunoon (20 miles), Oban (26 miles) and Greenock (27 miles), and other towns in the area are covered too.
Other loading bay services in Lochgilphead
Full guide to telescopic-lip dock levellers · Everything we do in Lochgilphead
Phone us to discuss your loading bay in Lochgilphead, or start with the online quote tool if you prefer to send details first.