Bailey Trailers Rear Steer

[Joseph Parker]

Looking at buying a new 12 tonne silage trailer this winter, more than likely Bailey since dealer backup is pretty good round me and having already got one 14 tonner and the majority of Contractors using them, in my experience they’re pretty good. My question is, while passive rear steering is available on the options list, why is nobody going for it? I’ve seen numerous broughan, Kane and Richard western trailer with rear steer for sale, but not come across one single Bailey? is it just not a good system or are people not wanting to pay the £2450 (options list figure, not had a quote from a dealer) for it? Definitely think it is a good option for round here (North Yorkshire) since we have plenty of tight gateways and tight corner where tyres are scrubbing, would like the ease of manouvreability and decreased tyre wear passive steering offers, having used 3 and 3500 gallon hispec tankers with it on

 

[Joseph Parker]

Also forgot to ask what are people thoughts on air suspension? Does it take the air from the air brakes or is it a separate system? Worth the £2400 bailey ask for it?

 

[Andrew]

We have balers with rear steer and they are very good. However, with trailers you are limited legally on the overall width. Combined with the fact you want a wide chassis help with strength and stability, there is normally very little gap between the chassis and the tyres.
Going to a steering axle would therefor massively restrict the width of tyre you could fit to maintain a decent steering angle.
You have to lock them out on the toad too really as they can get a wiggle on very easily.

As for air suspension, much better than steel, has a lot more float in it when empty so doesn’t shake the trailer to bits, but you need air all the time, takes it from the red brake line. But you couldn’t use it for a day behind a tractor without air.
£2500 seems plenty of money for it too.

 

[james ds]

We have balers with rear steer and they are very good. However, with trailers you are limited legally on the overall width. Combined with the fact you want a wide chassis help with strength and stability, there is normally very little gap between the chassis and the tyres.
Going to a steering axle would therefor massively restrict the width of tyre you could fit to maintain a decent steering angle.
You have to lock them out on the toad too really as they can get a wiggle on very easily.

As for air suspension, much better than steel, has a lot more float in it when empty so doesn’t shake the trailer to bits, but you need air all the time, takes it from the red brake line. But you couldn’t use it for a day behind a tractor without air.
£2500 seems plenty of money for it too.

There's no problem with wide tyres with rear steering, I have the pottinger wagons all with forced rear steering and it's a great job , I have 710 on and the jumbo after 6 seasons still has over 90% tyres, I wouldn't buy passive steering as the tyres wear too quick especially the wide tyres backing in with tyres locked straight is not good , the forced steering workers in reverse and so never scrubs a tyre.

 

[james ds]

Looking at buying a new 12 tonne silage trailer this winter, more than likely Bailey since dealer backup is pretty good round me and having already got one 14 tonner and the majority of Contractors using them, in my experience they’re pretty good. My question is, while passive rear steering is available on the options list, why is nobody going for it? I’ve seen numerous broughan, Kane and Richard western trailer with rear steer for sale, but not come across one single Bailey? is it just not a good system or are people not wanting to pay the £2450 (options list figure, not had a quote from a dealer) for it? Definitely think it is a good option for round here (North Yorkshire) since we have plenty of tight gateways and tight corner where tyres are scrubbing, would like the ease of manouvreability and decreased tyre wear passive steering offers, having used 3 and 3500 gallon hispec tankers with it on

I wouldn't worry about dealer backup with a trailer , they don't give trouble , buy a Braughan if you want the best trailer on the market.

 

[Andrew]

There's no problem with wide tyres with rear steering, I have the pottinger wagons all with forced rear steering and it's a great job , I have 710 on and the jumbo after 6 seasons still has over 90% tyres, I wouldn't buy passive steering as the tyres wear too quick especially the wide tyres backing in with tyres locked straight is not good , the forced steering workers in reverse and so never scrubs a tyre.

I didn’t say there was a problem with wide tyres and rear steering.

If you put 710 R22 on a trailer your chassis can only be 1m wide. If you make them steer it can only be 750mm wide ish. Thats not a problem with a wagon as the body can do some of the strengthening.

I would check with Bailey what width tyres you can put on a steered / non steered axle while remaining inside the legal width.

 

[Spencer]

I wouldn't worry about dealer backup with a trailer , they don't give trouble , buy a Braughan if you want the best trailer on the market.

They just look like a child’s designed them with crayons though don’t you think ?

 

[james ds]

They just look like a child’s designed them with crayons though don’t you think ?

Who the Braughan , take a good look at one a very well finished trailer with plenty of steel where it's needed.