A Look At Different Types of Cattle Livestock Trailers

Livestock management has evolved over the years from cowboys making long journeys moving cattle from grasslands to being processed. Technology and travel systems have improved that allow us to complete these journeys in a fraction of the time and provide much more comfort to both the animals and the livestock transporter. Today we have steel and aluminum livestock trailers (Aluminum trailers are also known as Featherlite trailers) and heavy duty trucks capable of towing cattle, horses, or other types of animals across the country with ease.

With those improvements comes multiple different options for cattle trailers and livestock trailers as a whole. The main difference comes down to the type of hitch that is used to haul the trailer and the truck you need to use said hitch. The two main types of livestock trailers are Gooseneck stock trailers and Bumper Pull stock trailers. You will need to make sure that your heavy duty truck meets all of the requirements needed to pull the individual trailer, depending on weight, size, and hitch style.

Gooseneck Livestock Trailers

You probably already know what a Gooseneck trailer is just from the name because they are one of the most unique looking options. These livestock trailers have a large neck or arm that connects to a ball hitch which is in the bed of your towing truck. They are an ideal choice for transporting large herds of livestock and cattle because of the stability that the gooseneck hitch provides, but also the weight is balanced over the axles rather than the frame.

With the stability that gooseneck livestock trailers provide, comes safety. This style of trailer lowers the amount of sway that can happen while on the road and provides more stability during bad weather conditions while hauling almost any type of livestock. They are known to be used to haul any type of large livestock because they are typically available in many different sizes such as double deck livestock trailers and can come with pen systems and paneling options. There are also options for living quarters.

Bumper Pull Livestock Trailers

The other popular trailer style is the Bumper Pull which connects to a standard ball hitch making it so there is no extra equipment needed. These types of trailers are typically lightweight towing options and can be used as a smaller cattle trailer or horse trailer, but can be used for other livestock such as sheep, goats, and pigs.

Bumper Pull trailers are lightweight so they can be pulled by personal vehicles such as trucks and SUVs that have the standard hitch style attachment. They are also typically used for shorter distance transportation of cattle or livestock.

Livestock Trailers with Living Quarters

For those who are managing livestock who are on the road consistently, there is a livestock trailer solution that can provide some comforts of home while on long trips. Typically these livestock trailers with living quarters would be used by people who travel around the country participating in horse shows or livestock competitions, but could also be a solution for people who participate in the Van Life or nomadic lifestyle.

These trailers are typically Gooseneck trailers because of the extra weight that is needed for both the livestock and your living quarters which is supported by the axles, so with that you will need a heavy duty truck as well.

Living Quarters trailers are designed to have a space for your livestock as well as an area for you that has some nice commodities that typically come as standard features. For example, they can come with:

• Bedroom with a queen size bed
• Storage such as closets, cabinets, and overhead storage
• Living area with a convertible sofa bed
• A kitchen that has a stove, sink, and fridge
• A bathroom with a shower

These types of trailers can help to save costs on hotel rooms while having your own personal space to remain comfortable in.

Another nice feature of livestock trailers is that most internal paneling is typically removable to allow for custom internal designs or to tow personal items, equipment, or vehicles. This feature coupled with the living quarter space makes these trailers a great option that nomadic lifestyle enthusiasts don’t typically think about!

Safety Options for Livestock Trailers

When managing large animals there is always the need for safety. Safety is important for both the animal and the livestock manager. With that in mind, you need to consider certain options when deciding which livestock trailer to purchase.

The options you need to take into consideration are things like the type of loading options, side ramps, internal paneling and center gates, and escape doors/man doors.

The different types of loading options include slant loading and straight loading and are decided by how you set your internal panels. Slant loading is the method of loading your livestock into the trailer so that they are standing in slanted rows one after another from the front of the trailer to the back. Straight loading typically has slots where the animal is loaded with their rear facing the center of the trailer or an area where there is hay. Straight load is usually the safer option because most motion while driving will cause the animal to bounce their rear rather than their face.

Escape doors or man doors are also important to consider because they can provide ease of access to the animals in the center of the stock trailer, but also provide safety escapes if animals start to become unruly. You can also add center gates on the inside to create compartmentalized spaces in order to contain the animal while offering space for storage, feed, or other animals. Center gates and internal paneling usually have slam latches to help with making sure everything is secure.