All models have a hot dipped galvanised chassis and are panelled with 2mm toughened alloy sides and a plastic coated galvanised steel roof. The floor is 18mm Phenol coated panels covered with aluminium tread-plate and a folded tread-plate ramp door.

The 47LT is fitted with full width independent suspension axles and auto-reversing brakes. Standard equipment includes A side door, front jockey wheel, locking hitch, ramp side gates, ramp lifting springs and a spare wheel.

The 47LT is available with simple lift out decks with a rear ramp section. A cross division gate is available as an option. Maximum permitted pen lengths are 12' for cattle, 10' for sheep and pigs and 8' for calves.

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Like everything in this world, there is no certain type of cattle trailer that is suited to a variety of uses. You need to have a long and hard look at what is available before you make your purchase.There are a variety of different hitching mechanisms and tow vehicles. You may need to consider the construction. what materials is it made of and of course what size do you require?

What material should my cattle trailer be made of?

These days all modern trailers are made from aluminium due to their lightweight design. Older trailers would normally be constructed from steel and wooden frame. The aluminium trailers being lighter have advantages like, better fuel consumption, less corrosive and that in turn giving lesser maintenance costs.

What size and Hitching Mechanism

Specifically there are three main contenders for cattle trailers and each one utilises a different hitching mechanism. The smallest is known as the bumper pull. These trailers are light and will generally use the ball type of hitch that you will find on your average pickup truck.the load which they can carry is fairly light and should not be used if you are travelling long distances.
After the bumper pull the next size is known as the gooseneck trailer. It derives its name from the shape of the hook up attaching to the vehicle destined to tow it. A similar ball and coupling is used as the hitching mechanism in this size. The third and largest cattle trailer is called a semi-trailer. This type would be used for going long distances with a larger payload. A tractor unit is required to tow this trailer and is attached using a large coupling shaped like a horseshoe onto the tractor unit

What should to look for on design and safety

The two main design details to look for are the actual body construction and the supporting crossmembers. In the interests of safety, the exterior lights should be bright enough to be seen. Internal cabling must be protected from the cattle and from the outside winds and rain. Most cattle trailer floors are usually skid resistant for obvious reasons.

Anything else for my cattle trailer?

If you are a regular visitor to trade fairs then you should also think about a show trailer. The internal and external of these cattle trailers are a bit more decorative,have air conditioning and a few other comfort details for the cattle. Show trailers are generally bumper pull or gooseneck types

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When thinking about a trailer to haul your cattle in, you may have only considered gooseneck trailers as a suitable choice. However, if you move your cattle around the ranch or farm, you may find that adding a bumper pull cattle trailer to your fleet may be a better choice. Sure, when hauling large numbers of cattle off site, a bumper pull may not be the way to go. But a bumper pull cattle trailer does have it's advantages.

The bumper pull trailer is also known as a tag along or drag trailer. The name bumper pull is a bit misleading, however. The trailer doesn't actually connect to the vehicle by its bumper. It connects to a ball hitch that is connected to the vehicle's frame. Imagine hooking up a loaded trailer up to a bumper - it'd quickly be yanked off.

Bumper Pull Cattle Trailer Advantages

One of the biggest advantages with a bumper pull cattle trailer is that they are much smaller than than goosenecks. This translates into a lower price for not only the trailer purchase, buy in fuel costs as well. Another added benefit is that you may not have to buy a pickup truck. Of course it will depend on the specific trailer you purchase, but you may be able to pull it with an SUV, motor home or even a CUV. Another big plus is that the combined weight of a bumper pull cattle trailer and chosen vehicle is generally under 10,001 pounds. This means you won't be required to have a commercial drivers license to operate the tandem. But to be safe, check with you particular state to make sure they don't have a lower limit.

Another benefit of this type of trailer is that it's much easier for a first time trailer operator. Its more common hitch system is a whole lot easier to get used to in terms of both connecting it and driving with it. Of course most first time trailer operators may not have a pickup truck to pull it with, so they very well may be limited to a bumper pull cattle trailer instead of the larger gooseneck trailers. New bumper pull trailer operators will also enjoy the fact that this type of trailer has a more normal turning radius. This means the trailer follows the vehicle as it makes turns.

Bumper Pull Cattle Trailer Disadvantages

One of the biggest drawbacks for a bumper pull trailer is that it's pretty darn small. There's no room for a dressing room or for living quarters if you are on a long trip or at a show. On top of this, it's pretty clear that you are limited in the number of cattle you can haul with a bumper pull. Hauling them around the ranch or farm is one thing, but if you've got to move several over a distance, this trailer won't cut it due to its size.

Another issue with this type of trailer is the weight limitations. You'll not be able to carry huge loads. If you do and your vehicle - SUV or pick up truck isn't rated for the larger load, you will likely run into problems while on the road. Issues such as swaying and lack of stability can easily lead to an accident.

This type of trailer is the one that is more apt to be involved in crashes. This is due to a couple of factors. First, most that are driving these smaller trailers are novices. Second, many who are used to driving smaller utility trailers forget that they are driving much heavier loads when they are transporting cattle and that it take much longer to brake.

All in all, the bumper pull cattle trailer is a great option for you if you are looking to haul a few cattle around the ranch or farm. However, if you are going to be hauling larger numbers around - either on farm or for a distance, you'll want to consider looking into a gooseneck trailer.

When choosing a cattle trailer, you've got a number of things to consider. One of the first considerations will be the type of trailer you want to consider. Gooseneck trailer or bumper pull? For many, this choice will be an obvious one and will be dependant on how large of a heard you have. However, if you've only got a few head of cattle, you may want to start out with a smaller bumper pull model.

Advantages Of A Gooseneck Trailer

A gooseneck trailer gets its name from the hitch style. The trailer's appearance is such that the hitch area resembles a goose's neck. With this type of trailer, the neck / hitch sits in a truck bed and is connected via a ball and coupling mating. This style of trailer offers a number of benefits.

First, this style of trailer is much more stable. You won't run into the swaying issues that are common with smaller, bumper pull style trailers. Second, most goosenecks come with some type of living quarters which can be a huge plus if you tend to take longer trips, or if you are at shows for an extended period of time. Another benefit of this type of trailer is that it's extremely easy to hook up to. Where it connects directly into the bed of a truck, you can easily see the coupling from the window of your pick up. Of course with the connection inside of your truck bed, there is no worry about it coming unhitched as you travel along on your trip down the road.

Potential Dis-Advantages Of A Gooseneck Trailer

As with any type of cattle trailer purchase, there are a few disadvantages. A gooseneck is much more expensive than the smaller bumper pull trailers for obvious reasons. Although many cattle ranchers have pickups available to them, the smaller farmer may not. This trailer can't be towed without a pick up or other type of truck that can handle the hitch requirements. Without question, the cost of a hitch setup for a gooseneck is more expensive than a bumper pull model. Another negative to going with this style of trailer is that unless you use a truck dedicated to hauling it, you'll have to move the contents (such as a camper) out of the bed of your truck in order to haul it.

Locating The Cattle Trailer That's Right For You

Locating a gooseneck trailer that's right for your operation can be an easy process. There are many dealers that operate online, so your initial research can be done right from the comfort of your office. All the top manufacturers will have all the specs and other information you need to get started.

If you make the determination that cost is going to be an issue, most local dealer maintain significant numbers of used trailers as well. In addition, you'll find several of them at online auction and classified sites as well.

When most think of a cattle trailer, they think of the long silver trailers they may have seen travelling down the interstate. While this may have been the case in times gone by, the cattle trailer has come a long way over the years. You can now get them in a host of configurations, colors and sizes. While most are make with an all aluminum frame and skin, there are others out there that are made from wood, or even steel.

Cattle Trailer Industry Standard - The Aluminum Trailer

However, aluminum trailers make the most sense in most operations because they allow for a much higher payload capacity as well as increased fuel economy over steel or wooden units. Not to mention the lower maintenance costs involved as they have a much higher resistance to rust and corrosion.

When looking for a cattle trailer, you need to know that there is a size and configuration that's just right for your situation. There are units that will mount on the back of your truck should you only be hauling one or two cattle. In the past, you'd have to pull the full trailer, even if you only had one or two head of cattle in it.

If you are looking for a larger unit and one that you can tow, you can opt for a bumper pull model that will hold up to two full size cattle. Then of course there is the goose neck style of trailer that has become the industry standard. If that's not big enough, you can step up to the semi truck model that is available in 53' models.

Features To Look For In A Cattle Trailer

When shopping for an aluminum trailer to haul your cattle, you are going to want to be sure the unit you buy has a number of features to ensure it is a work horse for you for years to come.

Uni Body Design

This makes the trailer much stronger and more durable over the long term.

Aluminum Floor

Having a skid resistant extruded aluminum floor will make life a whole lot easier as well a safer.

Options

Make sure you can get your trailer configured the way you want it and not just the way the manufacturer wants it. Door options, window options, configuration options need to be up to you.

Appearance

Check to see if you have a choice in how your trailer will look. Having the right side panels on your trailer can really make it stand out - if that's important to you.

L.E.D. Wraparound Lights

This is critical for safety purposes while on the road. An added benefit is that the wrap around light scheme will really make your trailer stand out.

Tapered Gooseneck

If you opt for this style of trailer, be sure to get one that is tapered as it'll create better aerodynamics when you are on the road.

Heavy-Duty Crossmembers

Be sure that the crossmembers aren't run every 18+". Ideally, you are looking for 4-inch crossmembers that run every 12" to support your heavy cattle loads.

Wiring Harness

Be sure that all the trailer wiring is packaged up in a protective sleeve of some sort. You need a waterproof seal, in addition to protection against normal wear and tear. With all the wiring tied up in a protective sleeve, connecting them should be a snap. Without the protective sleeve, or harness, the wiring will simply hang loose and be unprotected.

While you could certainly buy a cattle trailer made of other materials than aluminum, it's clear for a number of reasons that aluminum is the most cost effective and the safest way to go.