Silage trailer - stability?

[Wreckit Ralf]

Looking at possibly changing our silage trailer for a bigger model - seen a few tidy used ones for sale, all 14 ton, 18 foot long, but they all seem to be on the bigger flotation tyres (560/60/22.5) which seems to push the height up a fair bit which makes me quite sceptical of them on some steep slopes. So what make of trailer has the best stability on steep ground with the big tyres? Some of the trailers we've seen so far are - Smyth, Herron, Richard Western, Bailey, Redrock and Kane.

 

[DrDunc]

Looking at possibly changing our silage trailer for a bigger model - seen a few tidy used ones for sale, all 14 ton, 18 foot long, but they all seem to be on the bigger flotation tyres (560/60/22.5) which seems to push the height up a fair bit which makes me quite sceptical of them on some steep slopes. So what make of trailer has the best stability on steep ground with the big tyres? Some of the trailers we've seen so far are - Smyth, Herron, Richard Western, Bailey, Redrock and Kane.

The most stable are the ones on rocker axles

The most unstable are the ones on leaf springs pushed together inward to make room for 560/45 flotation tyres

Bailey and Richard Western are quite alarming on slopes with super singles, never mind flotations

 

[bez]

Newer Richard Westerns are pretty stable, Bailey are the complete opposite. We have some Redrock’s on rocker axles and 560/45r22.5 and they are amazing, never had one over yet.

 

[Orionn4444]

Looking at possibly changing our silage trailer for a bigger model - seen a few tidy used ones for sale, all 14 ton, 18 foot long, but they all seem to be on the bigger flotation tyres (560/60/22.5) which seems to push the height up a fair bit which makes me quite sceptical of them on some steep slopes. So what make of trailer has the best stability on steep ground with the big tyres? Some of the trailers we've seen so far are - Smyth, Herron, Richard Western, Bailey, Redrock and Kane.

How steep are we talking? I've a 16ft Broughan on 560/60 tyres which is incredibly stable, the worst trailer I've ever pulled was a 14tonne restock on super singles...it was scary even on the road! As soon as it was put onto 45 profile floatations it went from being one of the most unstable to being the most stable.

Very little difference between 45 and 60 profile tyres on stability, but the 60 profiles pull better and have a lot more flotation

On the suspension side of things it depends on the design of the suspension. 12t bailey trailer is very unstable despite being the same spec as my broughan, best kind of suspension is air but has its cost. I prefer springs over rocking axles, smoother and comfier on the road with stability.

Tyre pressures make a massive difference to it aswell.

In terms of stability on big tyres I'd list them from best to worst and unknown

1 broughan
2 heron
3 redrock
4 smyth
5 Richard western
6 kane
7 bailey

 

[Pebd99]

Seems strange was working a 16ton Bailey last year at silage and thought it was very stable. Looking at the specs of trailers the bailey has the highest rated springs. Rocker axles will be the best for stability but Christ they can be a jarring pull.

 

[njneer]

The most stable are the ones on rocker axles

The most unstable are the ones on leaf springs pushed together inward to make room for 560/45 flotation tyres

Bailey and Richard Western are quite alarming on slopes with super singles, never mind flotations

As above .
We had 10 Ton Marshall’s on bogeys ( Rocker Axles) and would go anywhere , within reason, bought a 12 Ton Marshall on leaf springs and it was on its side on the first day just going through an uneven gateway . Then twice more before the end of the season on nothing more than slightly uneven ground .
Absolutely hopeless thing so soft on the springs it would lean over for fun and you dare not tip it without a spirit level.
Sold the sides off it and left it as a grain trailer in the end . .

 

[Colliedog]

I met this guy at a barbecue a couple of years ago. Sounds a good solution to anyone suffering from unstable trailers on hilly ground.

Home

 

[Chae1]

I met this guy at a barbecue a couple of years ago. Sounds a good solution to anyone suffering from unstable trailers on hilly ground.

Home

Be great as long as everything working. If it decided to go opposite way or pipe burst could go wrong.

My dad used to harvest peas with trailed viners. They had a similar auto levelling system. This often got confused and they tipped.

He pulled viner with a county, so was quite some time ago!

 

[Ian01]

Bailey are by far the most stable we use here, out of bailey, western, larrington and stewart. Stewart worst by far.

 

[Masseymad]

Have two 12t baileys here have them specced with bigger springs and they seem very stable having 60 profile tyres on them

 

[vantage]

There was an article in FW a couple of weeks ago of a guy who’d designed a trailer with independent suspension and plastic sides to reduce weight. I thought it showed a lot of promise, he was looking for a manufacturer.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

ive used a red rock on rocking beams before with higher beet sides i was really impressed with it fully loaded on the road considering it had no springs it rode very well.

 

[bez]

ive used a red rock on rocking beams before with higher beet sides i was really impressed with it fully loaded on the road considering it had no springs it rode very well.

We’ve one on rockers and one on springs, really not much between them. Both of them steady as a rock.

 

[ollie989898]

Going solely on watching the legend drawing a bit of silage on youtube I would say Kane must be the most stable silage trailer ever made...

 

[johnboy87]

having used a few different ones I have found the following

14t Marston on 45 profile floats is atrocious, thinks about falling over as soon as you hitch it up

12t western on 60 profile floats good as long as they have got axle stops fitted, without not as good

12 bailey on 60 profile floats was like a jelly even empty

14t Stewart on 45 profile floats seemed very stable

16t restock on 60 profile floats very stable

16t Stewart on 60 profile floats solid as a rock, never had a concern with it

all trailers on sprung axles and drawbar