How G Plan is extending the life of 18 double-deck trailers

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G Plan is refurbishing 18 ten-year-old trailers to gain five additional working years under a new full-service lease contract – at approximately 50% of the cost of replacement and with lower leasing costs.

For fleet operators, ageing trailers create a critical decision: replace now, continue operating with rising maintenance risk, or refurbish while the assets remain structurally sound.

Part of Sofa Brands International, G Plan reached out to TIP as the 18 double-deck trailers in its leased fleet approached ten years in service. Together, G Plan and TIP assessed which option would best meet G Plan's operational needs while making the most cost-effective use of its existing assets.

When does refurbishment become the right choice?

At around ten years old, G Plan's trailers remained structurally sound and were well suited to refurbishment, with an opportunity to renew their reliability, functionality and appearance.

The review considered the trailers' structural condition, reliability, daily operating needs, fleet image and long-term investment planning. With the underlying assets still fit for purpose, refurbishment offered the strongest overall business case.

"We've worked closely with TIP for the last ten years and have built a strong relationship based on trust and reliability. Their support goes far beyond leasing and maintenance, they are a genuine partner who help us keep our fleet safe, compliant and performing at its best. When it came to refurbishing our trailers, we had complete confidence in their ability to deliver a solution that would extend asset life whilst enhancing the image of our fleet." shares Tom Virtue, Group Transport Manager at Sofa Brands International.

The commercial case was equally clear: G Plan expects refurbishment to cost around 50% less than purchasing new equipment, while delivering the reliability and functionality needed for daily operations.

Inside the refurbishment programme

The 18 double-deck trailers are being refurbished one at a time to limit disruption to G Plan's transport operation. Each trailer is collected, refurbished and returned before the next enters the programme, helping keep the fleet operational.

The refurbishment full overhaul scope includes:

New blue livery and branding
Brake system and running gear overhauls
Tail lift refurbishment
Additional work to restore operational and presentational standards

G Plan refurbished trailer 1

Five more productive years from existing assets

The refurbishment programme is expected to support the fleet for five additional working years within G Plan's existing lease arrangement, enabling the company to maximise the value of its assets.

Alongside the financial benefits, the company expects the programme to deliver several operational advantages, including:

Reliability and availability: overhauls address accumulated wear, including the tail lifts essential to furniture deliveries
Operational continuity: the phased programme limits downtime
Stronger asset economics: five additional working years defer major replacement investment and improve use of existing fleet value
Fleet image: refreshed livery helps maintain a professional and consistent fleet appearance
Sustainability: extending the useful life of existing trailers helps avoid premature replacement and reduces the need for new equipment

A growing role for refurbishment

With pressure to control costs, maximise utilisation and meet sustainability goals, more operators are reassessing traditional replacement cycles. “Refurbishment can be a practical option when assets remain fit for purpose, extending their working life while supporting continued performance and reliability, managing customers’ operational costs and sustainability goals”, shares Tegan Waters, Area Sales Manager for TIP Group UK.

Looking ahead

The first two trailers have now returned to service in G Plan's fleet. The remaining assets will follow progressively, helping maintain operational continuity throughout the programme – and supporting the company’s operations for years to come.