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.