Author	[Modern View]
UP Oliver 08-26-2012 11:59:14 68.70.134.91 Report to Moderator	I guess a Livestock Trailer is not an implement, but this is about the best place I figured I could ask my question. I"m in the market for a Livestock Trailer; I prefer to go with the 5th wheel/gooseneck hookup to my truck. Anybody have any comments on what brand of trailer they really like or what brand to avoid? Thanks. [Reply]   [No Email]
Mn Dave 09-03-2012 05:55:13 98.132.240.103 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   I checked around alot before I bought my steel trailer. I ended up with a Delta and like the features. I got mine from Shuchards in Watertown, SD. They have fellow in Watertown who puts down an aggregate/epoxy mixture on the floor to eliminate slippage when hauling cattle and it is the cat's meow. http://www.westsidegmc.com/new_trailers.aspx?make=DELTA&model=STOCK&year=&body=&color=&price1=&price2=&psize=10&sort=1&b_searchnew=Search+Now [Reply]  [No Email]
ihman73 09-02-2012 12:31:20 67.43.125.34 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   We have a steel Boss gooseneck and like it fine for what little hauling we do. The big advantage on it is the rear gate has an automatic latch like a car door, love that feature when loading you don't have to fumble around with a lever or any other nonsense to lock the gate. [Reply]  [No Email]
BrianIA 09-01-2012 23:27:09 66.43.242.142 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   Wilson.. [Reply]  [No Email]
Texasmark1 08-28-2012 05:44:25 67.142.175.22 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   Couple of comments, nothing about which brand. Get the wider one. I don't have the dimensions handy, but stock trailers come in two widths and the wide one is the one to have....wide enough for a full grown animal to turn around. On the flooring, ensure that it is solid. When you have a 1000# animal on a smooth road you have at least 250# per hoof pressure on the floor. When you hit a bump, who knows how high it goes. Additionally, I use staples and completely cover the flooring with cattle panels. WHEN, not IF the floor gets covered with poop, the panels help the animals to keep their footing. Mark [Reply]  [No Email]
4020deereboy 08-29-2012 02:11:13 205.185.95.11 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to Texasmark1, 08-28-2012 05:44:25   That's a good idea about the cattle panels when I worked for a huge feedlot they had some old cattle traiins that the floor had worn down slick and they has welded chain link fence to the floors . I might try that on mine probably can't shovel em out very good after that but I think it would be worth the trade off [Reply]  [No Email]
Texasmark1 08-31-2012 06:50:45 67.142.175.25 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to 4020deereboy, 08-29-2012 02:11:13   Depends what you use and how you lay them. Use a plastic scoop flat on them. Lay them so that the raised portion of the bars is front to rear if that is the direction you scoop. Any over layment needs to be from rear to front, if you scoop rear to front. This works, Mark [Reply]  [No Email]
chevytaHOE5674 08-27-2012 19:23:37 74.221.53.174 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   I'm from Ontonagon so I'm very familiar with the Keweenaw peninsula, in fact my other half work at Portage in Hancock. His trailer is never overloaded just has many miles of rough roads, bumpy pastures, etc. Over time the aluminum just got stressed to the point that is is cracking. When he showed me what happened I did some searching online and turns out that it isn't all that uncommon with aluminum trailers that are older and have some miles on them. For me I'll stick with steel as it is much easier to fix should it ever need repair. [Reply]  [No Email]
JRSutton 08-27-2012 12:48:27 75.130.109.233 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   do you already have the mount in your truck? one thing I can tell you is you need to be real careful about the clearance between the pillar of the cab and the corner of the trailer (if it comes over the truck). Sounds obvious, but I've seen two different people do the same exact thing - get a new trailer - take a sharp corner and - crunch. [Reply]  [No Email]
UP Oliver 08-27-2012 13:47:01 68.70.134.91 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to JRSutton, 08-27-2012 12:48:27   I do have the mount, got it in two years ago when I bought a Big Tex trailer with a gooseneck. Thanks for the information. I'll be extra careful when the time comes. [Reply]  [No Email]
jon f mn 08-27-2012 06:02:42 166.249.196.253 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   When you buy a trailer remember that the rated weight of the trailer is what the axles plus the coupler will haul, so you have to subtract what the trailer weighs to get what the payload is. So if the trailer is rated at 14,000# but weighs 3,000# you have a capacity of 12,000#. Also, they will haul their rated weight, but if you do it a lot you will be taxing it and will likely have a lot of trouble with tires, brakes, and such. If you buy a trailer that is a little over rated for what you want to haul you will be more trouble free. Also, just a maintenance tip, if you let it sit for a long time you should hook to it and move it every month or so. The biggest cause of bearing and brake failure is because they sat and got rusty. All it takes to prevent that is to move it a few feet and apply the brakes to keep the rust off them and so the bearings get a new coating of grease. [Reply]  [No Email]
jon f mn 08-27-2012 08:52:32 166.249.194.200 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to jon f mn, 08-27-2012 06:02:42   oops, 11.000# [Reply]  [No Email]
M Nut 08-27-2012 05:34:54 50.124.218.85 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   My 1st S&S brand lasted 20 years with regular cleaning after each use and always washing the outside if pulled on salty MN winter roads. (Replaced the floor once and put on one new set of tires.) Sold it for $1,000 and bought another brand new one for $3950 (both were 16ft bumper pulls) last year. When you figure it out, that's only about $150 per year to have a good usable trailer at my disposal any time I want/need one. The dealer I bought mine from had 20ft goosenecks new in the $6500 range. Place called Ferguson trailer sales in Dover, MN. (South of Rochester, MN) [Reply]  [No Email]
UP Oliver 08-26-2012 20:08:44 68.70.134.91 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   I really appreciate all the replies. I live way up north in Michigan where it snows a lot. I would try to avoid using the trailer in the snow since our roads get a lot of salt, and because of a few other obvious reasons. I have a one ton Ford I would use to haul, and can't believe I would ever need to haul more than half a dozen cows at once. Right now, we want to buy new and I just can't believe I'm looking at $14,000 for a new 16' gooseneck trailer. Just saw a steel one for a little more than $7200. So right now I don't know if we can afford an extra 7 grand for aluminum. Thanks again to everyone for the replies. [Reply]  [No Email]
chevytaHOE5674 08-27-2012 06:40:07 74.221.53.174 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 20:08:44   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Where abouts are you at in da UP? I use mine in the winter then just wait for a warmish day and hose it down with warm water. [Reply]  [No Email]
UP Oliver 08-27-2012 13:44:54 68.70.134.91 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to chevytaHOE5674, 08-27-2012 06:40:07   I live in the Copper Country, the peninsula that extends out into Lake Superior. You must have a connection to this area; using the handy phrase "da." I wanted to ask you, why did your friends aluminum trailer fatigue? Was it overloaded. Thanks [Reply]  [No Email]
chevytaHOE5674 08-26-2012 19:09:46 74.221.53.174 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   I have an old Keifer Built steel GN trailer. Its a late 80's model and have replaced the floor once and other than that it has been trouble free. I wash it after use and keep the underside power washed. My buddy has a featherlight aluminum GN rig and I've hauled it a few times, and you do notice the slightly less weight. The big problem he has had is over the years the frame has fatigued and it has been welded numerous times. Also the salt and manure have oxidized and corroded the aluminum to the point it is getting almost impossible to weld. He also washes it after use.... [Reply]  [No Email]
showcrop 08-26-2012 17:13:33 76.179.97.70 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   Judging by the tow vehicles Keiferbilt must be about the most expensive. [Reply]  [No Email]
tommy_harrell 08-26-2012 17:13:08 67.142.168.142 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   Depends on where you are hauling, what you are hauling, how many you are hauling and what you are hauling with. Aluminum trailers are nice and light and they won't rust. They are more difficult to repair for most people, higher initial cost and higher resale. The weight/ fuel savings won't matter if your bouncing around on bad gravel roads. Steel and wood are cheaper, easier to repair but don't pull as easy out on the interstate. My advise is buy a trailer with the heaviest axle that is practical, because changing tires is easy, but a bent spindle or bad bearings can leave you stranded. We haul with a '00 steel Gooseneck 24' and 12k axles (oil bath hubs) brakes and bearings are the only things we haven't damaged. Tommy [Reply]  [No Email]
JDseller 08-26-2012 15:10:01 208.126.196.144 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   I have an 1996 Eby Ruff Neck aluminum trailer. It was the heavier of the two they sold then. I think they sell four models now. I wash it out every time I use i. I also have it acid washed once each spring. It looks just about like new and has been trouble free. Replaced the tires once. That is all I have done to it. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ktheo1 08-26-2012 13:49:09 75.249.17.97 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   Get aluminum.Got a new WW in 1997 For $5000,kept it clean and inside when not in use .It brought $6700 on my closing out sale in 2010. [Reply]  [No Email]
495man 08-26-2012 12:47:36 24.137.107.69 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   Steel is cheaper AND heavier + wood floor to maintain. The weight is a consideration if you have max weight to consider and you are hauling more lb = more fuel used. Aluminum is more $$$ and lighter. If I was hauling a lot I'd have aluminum. I don't haul a lot, and when I do it's short trips. Steel was my choice due to price. I didn't set out for any brand, but have a Valley. Regardless, keep them clean and don't park on grass, keep inside if you can as well. [Reply]  [No Email]
donjr 08-26-2012 12:42:21 71.248.83.169 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   My experiance is exactly the opposite. I've had three steel trailers, and one aluminum. A good aluminum, if kept clean, will outlast steel and not rot out half as quick. There are less ground problems with the lights and brakes, and no floor boards to rot out. There isn't a large surface to rust out and have to paint or touch up constantly, and the fuel savings because of the weight difference is noticable. My current one is 12 years old, and looks like new. No way I'll go back to steel... [Reply]  [No Email]
rrlund 08-26-2012 12:16:59 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   I've got no complaints with my WW. [Reply]  [No Email]
Tony S. 08-26-2012 12:09:09 74.37.16.45 Report to Moderator	Re: Livestock Trailers in reply to UP Oliver, 08-26-2012 11:59:14   Stay away from aluminum. I"ve been repairing those things for years. Once they start to break up they"re about worthless. [Reply]  [No Email]