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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
Related articles
- Shipping Cattle at the Farm (thepioneerwoman.com)
