- Location
- Heysham, Lancashire
- Main postcode district
- LA3
- Nearby (straight line)
- Morecambe (2 miles), Lancaster (4 miles) and Fleetwood (9 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.
Is this right for your site in Heysham?
Manufacturing sites in Heysham that end-load finished goods can place the lip precisely between pallets to reach the rear row. Before recommending a lip extension for a dock in Heysham, we record the trailers that actually arrive, including tail lifts and rear overhangs.
Replacing worn swing-lip levellers at a site in Heysham is a good moment to ask whether the current trailer mix now calls for telescopic lips.
We keep the process simple for sites in Heysham. A free survey tells us what the dock needs; a fixed written quote tells you what it will cost and what is included. We then organise the installation, with specialist engineers under our management and a programme agreed around your shifts. Night and weekend work is available by arrangement. Before we leave, the new equipment is tested, demonstrated and handed over with its documentation.
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.
How far should a telescopic lip extend?
A telescopic lip should extend far enough to reach clear bed space on every trailer you load, including over tail lifts, while still leaving a secure overlap on the bed. Telescopic lips commonly extend 500 to 1,000 mm.
- Around 500 mm: suits fleets without tail lifts that need precise placement and end loading.
- Up to around 1,000 mm: reaches over folded tail lifts and across the larger gap left where deep bumpers hold trailers back from the dock edge.
- Platform length: should match the lip, as a long reach on a short platform can leave steep gradients.
- Lip width: full-width lips suit most work, while narrower or tapered lips help with smaller vehicles.
We record the rear details of the trailers you receive, including tail lift depth and bumper projection, then recommend the shortest extension that covers them all. A longer lip than you need adds cost and weight without benefit.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What does the free survey cover?
- Temperature requirements for chilled, frozen or ambient goods
- Drainage on recessed or sloping dock approaches
- Yard gradient and the slope of the approach to the dock
- Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes
- Headroom above the opening and which track type will suit it
- Wind exposure at the dock, which affects door and shelter choice
Options to discuss
Insulated cold store version
An insulated platform with perimeter seals for chilled and frozen docks, often paired with an inflatable shelter and an insulated dock door.
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.
What do the rules in England mean for the work?
Powered doors and dock equipment installed in England may carry the UKCA or the CE mark, and doors are covered by the product standard BS EN 13241. We hand over the relevant documentation for each item fitted in Heysham. Planning and Building Regulations questions are never assumed either way: we check what applies at survey, so you know before work is booked.
Questions about telescopic-lip dock levellers in Heysham
What warranty comes with new loading bay equipment?
New equipment comes with the manufacturer's warranty, which varies by product. Our workmanship terms are set out in writing in the quote for your Heysham site, so you can see what is covered before you commit. Check the warranty terms for any servicing conditions, and we can quote for planned maintenance once the installation is complete.
Is VAT included in your guide prices for telescopic-lip dock levellers?
No. Our customers are businesses, so guide prices exclude VAT, which is added at the standard rate. The same guide range applies in Lancashire as everywhere else: for telescopic-lip dock levellers, it is £6,800 to £11,800 per leveller, excluding VAT. It covers supply and fit for a typical installation. Your fixed written quote after the free survey shows the net price, the VAT and exactly what is included.
Can you work outside our normal operating hours in Heysham?
Yes, by arrangement. Evening, night and weekend working can be planned so the installation causes as little disruption as possible to your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work can affect the price, so mention it at the survey and we will include it in the written quote. The agreed times are confirmed in the programme before the job starts.
Can a telescopic lip bridge a larger gap to the trailer?
Yes, that is one of its strengths. Where deep bumpers hold the trailer further from the dock edge, a telescopic lip can extend to bridge a gap that a fixed swing lip may not cover. We check bumper projection at survey so the lip length suits the dock.
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.
Telescopic-lip dock levellers near Heysham
Close neighbours of Heysham with their own pages here: Morecambe (2 miles), Lancaster (4 miles) and Fleetwood (9 miles). Choose one to see coverage details for that town.
Other loading bay services in Heysham
Full guide to telescopic-lip dock levellers · Everything we do in Heysham
Whether it is a new bay or a fault on an existing one, call us or request a quote for your site in Heysham.