Sheep livestock trailer

Green farmer

Hi guys,

Just wondering what trailers people in the same position as myself are using as I've to buy one.I've a flock of 100 ewes and need to bring about 150 lambs to mart each year, along with the usual other one off jobs that arise. I was thinking something up to 10 x 5 max.I've no cattle. Hoping to get something that will glide behind a car or jeep no bother. I have the proper trailer licence. Re sat my test last year, so no bothers on that front.

Conmaicne Mara

Murphy Aerlite trailers in Tuam are good, definitely get one with a built in deck if you like the look of them. Neighbour also bought one without deck, made up his own but while we run them up the ramp, they're lifting ewes & lambs.

AntrimGlens

Have one of these - serious handy for sheep and tows easily too. Holds 20 lambs easily so ideal size if you aren't selling all at once also means that it doesn't get used for cattle which keeps it in better nick - bought it used after one season from a neighbour for £2100

jomoloney

AntrimGlens wrote: »

Have one of these - serious handy for sheep and tows easily too. Holds 20 lambs easily so ideal size if you aren't selling all at once also means that it doesn't get used for cattle which keeps it in better nick - bought it used after one season from a neighbour for £2100

op said up to 10 foot max, that's a 12 foot box


I would go for a nice IFor Williams 8X5 with decks, very easily towed and will carry 34 factory lambs or 28 heavy butchers.

the big disadvantage IMO with the Murphy ( unless they changed it in later years) is that the side door is in 1 piece, 2 decks 1 door ???

Conmaicne Mara

jomoloney wrote: »

the big disadvantage IMO with the Murphy ( unless they changed it in later years) is that the side door is in 1 piece, 2 decks 1 door ???

Never had a problem with it, often taken and put in lambs through it on both decks. It wouldn't stop me getting one.

jomoloney

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Never had a problem with it, often taken and put in lambs through it on both decks. It wouldn't stop me getting one.

it stopped me

Conmaicne Mara

jomoloney wrote: »

it stopped me

In the... uhm 5, 6+ years we've had it never had an escape or injury from it.

Green farmer

Thanks guys,

To be honest, out of all the makes out there, those two brands are the ones that have caught my eye. I suppose to expand, I have the use of a jeep, but it's a bit of an alcoholic and down the road I'd like to keep the option of using my own car that uses about half the diesal and is rated to tow up to 1.8 tonne, between the trailer and load.
That's why I'm thinking a 8x5 or 10x5.
Are the 10 x 5's a bit heavy for a car ? or are more stable then a 8 x5 ? , being that bit longer,
How do fellows find them, living with them on a daily basis ?

Thanks for all yer feedback !!!

Conmaicne Mara

The one thing I'll say against the murphy trailer, and it's not a flaw I suppose given it's a type of misuse , if you've only a car towing it, you can get into a situation facing downhill where you maybe can't reverse due to how the brake works on the hitch. Now that's fine if you've room ahead of you, if you don't or if grip is an issue you can find yourself in a bit of a situation

quadboy

A tractor is the only job to pull a trailer, thats why i get my neighbour to do it for me, not even a cattle trailer by me or a decent tractor

jomoloney

Green farmer wrote: »

Thanks guys,

To be honest, out of all the makes out there, those two brands are the ones that have caught my eye. I suppose to expand, I have the use of a jeep, but it's a bit of an alcoholic and down the road I'd like to keep the option of using my own car that uses about half the diesal and is rated to tow up to 1.8 tonne, between the trailer and load.
That's why I'm thinking a 8x5 or 10x5.
Are the 10 x 5's a bit heavy for a car ? or are more stable then a 8 x5 ? , being that bit longer,
How do fellows find them, living with them on a daily basis ?

Thanks for all yer feedback !!!

will you be using it for cattle as well ?

I always thought the 10 X 5 was a bit of an odd ball !! too big for a car and too small for a jeep, but your final choice should depend on your requirements

we have an 8 X 5 and and a 12 X 5 ' 9 " both with decks

my neighbour's jeep was off the road recently and he borrowed our 8 x5

he couldn't get over how easy it followed his audi A4 with a double deck of lambs

quadboy

A sheep farmer with an audi, ah go way

jomoloney

quadboy wrote: »

A sheep farmer with an audi, ah go way

we're not all breeding hornies on a mountain

quadboy

Yeah i keep my good land and grass for the cattle, hate sheep

Green farmer

You'd be surprised, it's cheaper to run a diesal Audi type car, then a 1.0 litre petrol Nissan micra. A friend of mine has a 10 year old a4, 200 k on the clock, the thing will go forever.

quadboy

Im going back to toyota anyway after the focus, had a carina a few years ago great car, weve always had toyota till the focus but we have an avensis too

Green farmer

Jo,

Of your two trailers, which one do you find you use the most for your sheep ? The 8 ft or 12 ft

sea12

quadboy wrote: »

A sheep farmer with an audi, ah go way

I'm a sheep farmer and I have an Audi A4. Don't think the hitch looks particularly good on it but serious power.