Which livestock trailer to buy?

[Devonian]

Thinking of changing our 12foot ifor williams livestock box as it's getting pretty tired. Any suggestions on what I should go for as a replacement? Mainly moving cattle, but handy to have decks as keeping a few sheep again now!! ?
Don't think a 14 foot tri axle would be worth the extra expense, as I understand that they all have gross weight of 3.5t regardless, which is easily achieveable in a 12 foot.
Also wheels on sides or underneath, which is better?
A bigger tractor drawn trailer would be great, but don't think we can stretch the budget that far, so probably have to stick to ball hitch type behind truck.

 

[CollCrofter]

I went for the iFor Williams 14 foot tri-axle and don't regret. Valid point about the weight but the extra room for lambs is great, especially when dropping the trailer on the ferry for UA to pick up at the other side. It definitely saves me money in the long term as UA have two of these big tractor livestock trailers they send to the islands with a charge of course. I wouldn't have a trailer with the wheels underneath, I have towed plenty for folk and for me they're just to unstable when compared to the wheels on the outside. The tri-axle follows you like a dream as well.

Personally, I don't think you would regret getting a 14 footer.. I got mine from the Stirling Trailer Centre and got the galvanised mudguards as a wee extra that they say they do in-house and it really smartens the trailer up a lot

 

[LAMBCHOPS]

You will carry less cargo weight in a 14 ft than a 12 ft legally.our towing vehicle allows us to put 52 forty five kilo lambs in 12 footer but only 47 in 14 ft.If you want more room tho latter box will give you that but if you put full box load on you will not be legal

 

[Fendt516profi]

Must get a Houghton

 

[M-J-G]

I you can afford a tractor drawn I'd definately get one.
I got a 24ft Johnston in 2013 as well as having a 12ft Ifor. The Big trailer was 7k.
Heven't regretted buying it once.

I since then changed the 12ft to a new Ifor, but I'll never have an Ifor again.

 

[CollCrofter]

Yeah you're all definitely right about the weight. I'm looking at it from a totally different scenario being where I am

 

[CollCrofter]

I you can afford a tractor drawn I'd definately get one.
I got a 24ft Johnston in 2013 as well as having a 12ft Ifor. The Big trailer was 7k.
Heven't regretted buying it once.

I since then changed the 12ft to a new Ifor, but I'll never have an Ifor again.

What did you find wrong with the Ifor?

 

[HarryB97]

14 foot twin axle Nugent here with sheep decks, sump & LED lights. Much better built than a modern Ifor and slightly cheaper but you no it’s on the back. You need a heavy vehicle on the front and a confident driver As you do get pushed around. I would buy a car stock box and then a tractor one when you can afford one, it’s very handy having one of each size and they don’t loose money like most pieces of kit do.

 

[hally]

I have an 8foot ifor bike trailer, 3 years old. So far mudguards ripped out if side with vibration, floor almost worn through and wheels as rusty as hell. That’s the last ifor product here

 

[jendan]

You will carry less cargo weight in a 14 ft than a 12 ft legally.our towing vehicle allows us to put 52 forty five kilo lambs in 12 footer but only 47 in 14 ft.If you want more room tho latter box will give you that but if you put full box load on you will not be legal

How do you get 52 lambs that size in a 12 footer?

 

[twizzel]

We've got a 12ft version of the Nugent pictured above, build quality great but as said you do feel it behind you a bit more, cattle load easily into it (I think the fold down flaps at the front help). We only bought ours last autumn and didn't want an ifor, pleased with the Nugent

 

[neilo]

I sell most of my rams on farm, so have a number of trailers coming up the farm drive, which I can hear before I see them. Each make has a distinctive sound as it comes over the first cattle grid and up the tarmac drive.
A Nugent came the other day and it sounded solid and heavy (which they certainly look). When an Ifor comes up the drive, even new ones, it has a distinctive rattle, likely where all the pop rivets are already coming loose (which they invariably do). When a Gamic comes up the drive they are a job to hear, as they glide effortlessly along, however old they are.

From the trailers I have either used or seen close up/spoken to owners, I would only consider a Nugent or a Gamic currently. And a 14' with wheels outside every time. They tow so much better, don't have a tendency to flip over when a beast coughs inside, and you don't have to fill it if weight is going to be an issue. Certainly if you are occasionally going to use it on a tractor, the extra space is well worthwhile.

 

[upnortheast]

We have a 14ft Ifor. like it. Only point I would make is it is best with 2 internal gates. Tows great when full, but if you only have 2 cows in you need to be able to hold them near the middle. If they both decide to stand at the back it gets interesting

 

[M-J-G]

What did you find wrong with the Ifor?

Their attitude!

The dividing gate mount started to rust after a few months, and when the dealer contacted them they sent him an email (which he forwarded to me) with a list of excuses with the final option being pretty much to ignore any more complains.

We have always had Ifors in the form of cattle trailers, flat trailers and my wife's horse trailer.
But I'll never buy ifor again.

I recently bought a Nugent flat trailer which I like and we will likely be changing the cattle trailer next year, and I will price several makes but IWT won't be one of them.

 

[M-J-G]

14 foot twin axle Nugent here with sheep decks, sump & LED lights. Much better built than a modern Ifor and slightly cheaper but you no it’s on the back. You need a heavy vehicle on the front and a confident driver As you do get pushed around. I would buy a car stock box and then a tractor one when you can afford one, it’s very handy having one of each size and they don’t loose money like most pieces of kit do.

I'd say our next stock trailer will be a Nugent.

 

[goodevans]

Nugent 14 ft here pulls very easily and seems still in good order after 2 years.One problem we do have is the little lever in the ramp that works the system how it releases to load top deck ,it is fine at home but at market where there is normally a raised step it catches and then the ramp is very hard to use,I think they may have altered this now

 

[digger64]

I went for the iFor Williams 14 foot tri-axle and don't regret. Valid point about the weight but the extra room for lambs is great, especially when dropping the trailer on the ferry for UA to pick up at the other side. It definitely saves me money in the long term as UA have two of these big tractor livestock trailers they send to the islands with a charge of course. I wouldn't have a trailer with the wheels underneath, I have towed plenty for folk and for me they're just to unstable when compared to the wheels on the outside. The tri-axle follows you like a dream as well.

Personally, I don't think you would regret getting a 14 footer.. I got mine from the Stirling Trailer Centre and got the galvanised mudguards as a wee extra that they say they do in-house and it really smartens the trailer up a lot

How do you get on with the sheepdeck and particulary the ramp /door mechanism ?
I have a 15 year old one here if they haven't changed it -I would never buy IW with that deck system if they still have it it's dangerous to man and sheep !

 

[Fendt516profi]

How do you get on with the sheepdeck and particulary the ramp /door mechanism ?
I have a 15 year old one here if they haven't changed it -I would never buy IW with that deck system if they still have it it's dangerous to man and sheep !

And its so bad you've still got it 15years later

 

[Forever Fendt]

Their attitude!

The dividing gate mount started to rust after a few months, and when the dealer contacted them they sent him an email (which he forwarded to me) with a list of excuses with the final option being pretty much to ignore any more complains.

We have always had Ifors in the form of cattle trailers, flat trailers and my wife's horse trailer.
But I'll never buy ifor again.

I recently bought a Nugent flat trailer which I like and we will likely be changing the cattle trailer next year, and I will price several makes but IWT won't be one of them.

Well that's a coincidence I looked at the brackets on my divider gates today and wondered how Come they were rusty sounds like a common problem

 

[HarryB97]

I'd say our next stock trailer will be a Nugent.

It's a great trailer, I didn't price any others up but it's the only one I wanted. I regularly haul cattle with it and it stands up to the abuse they give it very well. Everyone locally is Ifor Williams but since I have got my Nugent a few neighbours have also changed brands.