Grain trailers

[Nhtvt170]

We are currently running a fleet of Warwick 14t grain trailers, and one 14t West, dating back to the mid nineties. They are now becoming to look quite tatty, with one being tipped on its side, and others being backed in to things. The trailers are running old 30k running gear, super single tyres and most seasons we have trouble with the lights.

My question is, do we overhaul each trailer at a rate of one per season retro fitting flotations, and led lights, or do we buy new, if so what brand?

 

[Matt77]

After quite a few years of looking at second hand 14t trailers as I want an upgrade, but can’t justify it ahead of other things just yet, I’d say you might be surprised at the value you have in your trailers and you could well be better off trading in for the spec you want rather than splashing out on retro fit kit. I like the Marshall trailers at the Doe show, short bodied so better for small grain stores like mine.

 

[mo!]

Trade for new, used trailers are daft money.

 

[james ds]

Braughan or Smith best out there.

 

[solo]

I was in similar situation with 1980’s 10t trailers and sold them privately and bought bailey 15t with sheets. Biggest benefit is the brakes are far superior to poverty spec ag build to a price trailers. 15t bailey are 16t trailer axles and bigger brakes with same length as 14t trailer just 3” taller. 16 t trailer is 2’ longer which was just a step too far in my buildings and yard.

 

[Horn&corn]

Not sure how many in your fleet but if there’s 3 then:
Sell 2
Refurbish 1
Buy 1 top spec
Hire one for the harvest rush

 

[MrNoo]

I was in the same boat, 2nd hand prices were/are mad at the time, so bought 2 new Smyth 14t trailers from Michael Burdge, they have been brilliant, air brakes, led's, high spec com axles, flotations the works, very well built indeed with first class paint that stays where it's put. I looked at a Bailey at a show and the workmanship was no better but the price was silly. I could have bought 3 Smyth trailers for the price of 2 Bailey's.

 

[ajd132]

Trade for new second hand trailers hold their value. You will easily spend similar doing up old trailers.

 

[Nhtvt170]

Thanks very much folks, these were the responses I was hoping for! How do people get on with Stewart trailers? They seemed pretty smart when we looked around them at lamma

 

[wuddy]

Thanks very much folks, these were the responses I was hoping for! How do people get on with Stewart trailers? They seemed pretty smart when we looked around them at lamma

Fantastic trailers! Will put my tin hat on but it’s twice the trailer of our larrington they are pricey but the quality speaks for itself, three years old now used at least 10 months of the year on the road hardly a blemish on paint work (did spec stone chip paint up front). All corners/sharp edges painted by hand before spraying and ours is a Hardox body so lighter and stronger. The trailer was also custom built to our requirements ie wider axels to straddle swath of straw and match our tramlines for ctf ( 88” centres). They made the body wider to match axels so it’s slightly shorter than a normal 18 ton trailer handy for tipping in lower sheds where we store seed and bulk fertiliser.