What vehicle to pull livestock trailer?

[JP1]

I nearly bought a 14ft but thought that I could carry more on a 12ft and couldn't overload it so easy, I weigh the cattle now before market and was going to take 7 last time but that would have put it over weight by a fair bit so I didn't
It don't matter if your pulling it with a ten ton tractor it would still be over weight
I use to drive a tipper lorry and they wouldn't let you out the gate if you were over weight

Speaking with a haulier the other day who moved a few loads of water buffalo. They don't take up much space and he cut back his last load to 36. Innocently went over the in-road weigh cells on M6 near Brum and was weighed over at 44,400kg. Very lucky as the trailer would have taken many more

And in that case I would have said it was a bit more fair mitigation to say you were unaware of weights etc

 

[JohnGalway]

not to worry coming to ireland soon...............v.o.s.a 2 this time its personal ........

S'no joke traffic corps have been pulling and weighing for 18 months or so already. I know they've gone into some marts, looked at vehicle trailer combos and given some farmers final warnings.

 

[exmoor dave]

We have an isuzu and a shogun, both can tow 3.5 ton, previously had a landrover 90 and it couldnt tow half the stuff the shogun can tow through wet clay, think its the grunt in the engine and the rear and centre diffs that do it, it goes wherever the landrovers cant in the wet and its really comfy wouldnt go back to landrover now

the farms defender 110 on the 12ft box with 4 cows in has to be frequently pulled out of gateways and up slopes

may be different on farms which are more dry

Admittedly only having a central diff is a minus point on landys. Should have lockable rear at least and front ideally

 

[roscoe erf]

Admittedly only having a central diff is a minus point on landys. Should have lockable rear at least and front ideally

Arb locker bloody good

 

[Keepers]

Admittedly only having a central diff is a minus point on landys. Should have lockable rear at least and front ideally

Yes and thats also the low point of the isuzu!

the isuzu still only has road tyres on but somehow managed to get stuck in a wet field a couple of weeks ago, not impressed so far but may just be the tyres, who knows, I drove past with my shogun pulling a cattle box with 30 ewes in love my truck

 

[Drillman]

Buy whatever you can afford but take note of the towing capacity and vehicle capabilities.

We have a 2010 Ford Ranger (3000kg tow) and a 2003 Disco (3500kg tow) the ranger is much faster and has more hp and torque. It's ok with the trailer with a couple of 5-600 kg beasts in but I would always hook the disco on if we are shifting 4 at that weight. Yes it's a bit steady but we can use low range on the road without windup and it's much more stable with the self levelling rear suspension.

For 6k I would try and find a good disco td5 (not easy I know) then smother the chassis in waxoil before it rusts.

 

[joe soapy]

Just get box reconditioned, cost £450 i think.
Advantage with 14ft is it can take 2 quads or 3 cows and a quod

 

[M-J-G]

I nearly bought a 14ft but thought that I could carry more on a 12ft and couldn't overload it so easy, I weigh the cattle now before market and was going to take 7 last time but that would have put it over weight by a fair bit so I didn't
It don't matter if your pulling it with a ten ton tractor it would still be over weight
I use to drive a tipper lorry and they wouldn't let you out the gate if you were over weight

12 FT is easily overloaded too, you'll put 3000kg of cattle in a 12ft 510 ifor without bother.

 

[Henarar]

12 FT is easily overloaded too, you'll put 3000kg of cattle in a 12ft 510 ifor without bother.

Yea I know but the things you see there are lots that don't or don't care

 

[lady luck]

Thank you all for your replies, lots of very helpful suggestions. I can see a lot of plus' for a LWB Defender, I could chuck all my junk in the back and possibly a wet dog as well without having to have it 'in the car' as I would with a Discovery the price is a big negative though. Will most likely go for another Discovery as I will get more bang for my buck and run it into the ground like I have with my last one!