Tuffmac Cowbox

Welding Rod

I’m thinking of finally trading up from my 20 year plus old Jim Murphy (Tuam) 8 x 4 trailer.
I have notice in over the past few years, that there seems to be more and more Tuffmacs appearing around my area. Lot of lads with biggish use compared to me at least, seem to have them.
Any opinions? I’d be thinking of 8 x 5 this time. Would like bigger but don’t really have the use.
Would there be much saving to be made by buying in NI?

Limestone Cowboy

Welding Rod wrote: »

I’m thinking of finally trading up from my 20 year plus old Jim Murphy (Tuam) 8 x 4 trailer.
I have notice in over the past few years, that there seems to be more and more Tuffmacs appearing around my area. Lot of lads with biggish use compared to me at least, seem to have them.
Any opinions? I’d be thinking of 8 x 5 this time. Would like bigger but don’t really have the use.
Would there be much saving to be made by buying in NI?

There's a fella at the mart in Ennis selling them every Tuesday that won't be beaten on price. A lot of lads around here have dealt with him.

lab man

Limestone Cowboy wrote:

There's a fella at the mart in Ennis selling them every Tuesday that won't be beaten on price. A lot of lads around here have dealt with him.

m&l cowboxes he comes from wexford every 2nd Tue to Ennis mart I.
bought mine off him, a 12x6 ifor. shes like new he took my own one gave me 1k for it , he sells some amount of them

Welding Rod

lab man wrote: »

m&l cowboxes he comes from wexford every 2nd Tue to Ennis mart I.
bought mine off him, a 12x6 ifor. shes like new he took my own one gave me 1k for it , he sells some amount of them

Is that Byrne Trailers, Bunclody? Advertises a good bit on DoneDeal.
Would be handy to do a trade in all in the one transaction .

Say my name

Welding Rod wrote: »

Is that Byrne Trailers, Bunclody? Advertises a good bit on DoneDeal.
Would be handy to do a trade in all in the one transaction .

Seemingly not.
This lad is over New Ross direction.

I've bought from Byrne's before.
Tbh I wouldn't be a million miles away and I never even knew this lad was selling trailers. Must be doing lots of business in Clare. I had to do a Google search to see what was what.

Welding Rod

Say my name wrote: »

Seemingly not.
This lad is over New Ross direction.

I've bought from Byrne's before.
Tbh I wouldn't be a million miles away and I never even knew this lad was selling trailers. Must be doing lots of business in Clare. I had to do a Google search to see what was what.

Can’t find this M&L Trailers Wexford lad at all on google.
Anybody have a phone number for him, or a link to a website etc, ettlc?

Say my name

Welding Rod wrote: »

Can’t find this M&L Trailers Wexford lad at all on google.
Anybody have a phone number for him, or a link to a website etc, ettlc?

I don't have a number but the best you'll get online is this.

https://www.cylex.ie/company/m+%26+l+trailers-12185074.html

Some of the buyers would surely have a number.

Limestone Cowboy

Welding Rod wrote: »

Can’t find this M&L Trailers Wexford lad at all on google.
Anybody have a phone number for him, or a link to a website etc, ettlc?

Here you go.

orm0nd

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

There's a fella at the mart in Ennis selling them every Tuesday that won't be beaten on price. A lot of lads around here have dealt with him.

he's sound out, know some one that bought a s/h box off him, had some issue with it and your man sorted it, think he gave him a newer box straight swop.

Grueller

Welding Rod wrote: »

I’m thinking of finally trading up from my 20 year plus old Jim Murphy (Tuam) 8 x 4 trailer.
I have notice in over the past few years, that there seems to be more and more Tuffmacs appearing around my area. Lot of lads with biggish use compared to me at least, seem to have them.
Any opinions? I’d be thinking of 8 x 5 this time. Would like bigger but don’t really have the use.
Would there be much saving to be made by buying in NI?

I bought one last spring. I am happy with it. It is no harder towed than my old ifor. I wanted to buy an ifor again but the tuffmac was coming in €1350 cheaper.
Pros
Very strongly built
Has a fully welded aluminium floor
Reasonably priced

Cons
Not as well finished as an ifor, splotches of stray weld here and there
That stupid bar across the middle of the calf door
Galvanised steel slurry tank and as far as I can figure I can't take the top off it to wash it properly to prevent it rusting
Tail lights are not LED on a new trailer in this day and age.
Trade in will be less than my old ifor but it can be up to €1350 less before I am losing.

Overall as I said, happy out with it.

Timmaay

What are the gvw of tuffmac trailers like? I got an old ifor williams 10x5ft trailer here with a 2700kg gvw, I don't have a jeep anymore, my current car can only tow 1800kg. There are a reasonable few small jeeps/big cars with towing gvw of say 2200kg, so if I was to get a trailer with that gvw I'd consider changing cars. I only really pull calves in the trailer any distance so I don't really need the 2700+ kg trailers.

Welding Rod

Grueller wrote: »

I bought one last spring. I am happy with it. It is no harder towed than my old ifor. I wanted to buy an ifor again but the tuffmac was coming in €1350 cheaper.
Pros
Very strongly built
Has a fully welded aluminium floor
Reasonably priced

Cons
Not as well finished as an ifor, splotches of stray weld here and there
That stupid bar across the middle of the calf door
Galvanised steel slurry tank and as far as I can figure I can't take the top off it to wash it properly to prevent it rusting
Tail lights are not LED on a new trailer in this day and age.
Trade in will be less than my old ifor but it can be up to €1350 less before I am losing.

Overall as I said, happy out with it.

Hmmm. Even my 20 year old trailer has retrofitted LED lights. Fellas say new IW trailers not up to old workmanship either.

Grueller

Welding Rod wrote: »

Hmmm. Even my 20 year old trailer has retrofitted LED lights. Fellas say new IW trailers not up to old workmanship either.

Ya, the first trouble they give they will be taken off and LED units fitted

Aravo

At least with the independent operators like Jim Murphy, you can get things done to your own spec. Most of the bigger operators don't do that.

Albert Johnson

Welding Rod wrote: »

Hmmm. Even my 20 year old trailer has retrofitted LED lights. Fellas say new IW trailers not up to old workmanship either.

Ivor Williams trailers came from mainly a sheep background in Wales and I've always been of the opinion that there a super sheep trailer but not really suited to heavy cattle. For example the decks in the IW are very quick and simple to operate compared to other makes and there a nice light trailer to tow but the strength isn't in them for heavy work.

I was talking to a rep from Nugent trailers at the ploughing and his argument was that Nugent build trailers mainly for cattle as opposed to sheep. There sheep deck system is good but heavier and more awkward than the likes of the IW, this is to prevent damage to them when hauling heavy cattle. I'm not promoting Nugent over IW only outlining the difference in design between manufacturer's and intended use.

Working in a mart I get to see nearly every trailer manufacturer's offerings on a weekly basis and how they stand up to use and abuse over time. The men feeding store/heavy cows are often the hardest on trailers and if a particular brand can withstand there use for a few years it's usually good enough for anyone. I'd know a good few lads at that job that run Tuffmac's and although they trade them regularly enough they seem to do the job without any great issue. Conversely I can't think of anyone I know using an IW at the cow job and the few new Crooks and Murphy trailers I've seen in recent years haven't inspired my confidence in them.

Who2

If you can wait for it to be made and want a trailer for life don’t go past porter. They are without question the strongest trailer going and the 12 by 6 is 20kg lighter than the same size nugent. They’ll be worth near enough what you pay for them new in years too.

hopeso

Welding Rod wrote: »

I’m thinking of finally trading up from my 20 year plus old Jim Murphy (Tuam) 8 x 4 trailer.
I have notice in over the past few years, that there seems to be more and more Tuffmacs appearing around my area. Lot of lads with biggish use compared to me at least, seem to have them.
Any opinions? I’d be thinking of 8 x 5 this time. Would like bigger but don’t really have the use.
Would there be much saving to be made by buying in NI?

Are you not considering another Aerlite? They seem decent enough...

hopeso

Albert Johnson wrote: »

Ivor Williams trailers came from mainly a sheep background in Wales and I've always been of the opinion that there a super sheep trailer but not really suited to heavy cattle. For example the decks in the IW are very quick and simple to operate compared to other makes and there a nice light trailer to tow but the strength isn't in them for heavy work.

I was talking to a rep from Nugent trailers at the ploughing and his argument was that Nugent build trailers mainly for cattle as opposed to sheep. There sheep deck system is good but heavier and more awkward than the likes of the IW, this is to prevent damage to them when hauling heavy cattle. I'm not promoting Nugent over IW only outlining the difference in design between manufacturer's and intended use.

Working in a mart I get to see nearly every trailer manufacturer's offerings on a weekly basis and how they stand up to use and abuse over time. The men feeding store/heavy cows are often the hardest on trailers and if a particular brand can withstand there use for a few years it's usually good enough for anyone. I'd know a good few lads at that job that run Tuffmac's and although they trade them regularly enough they seem to do the job without any great issue. Conversely I can't think of anyone I know using an IW at the cow job and the few new Crooks and Murphy trailers I've seen in recent years haven't inspired my confidence in them.

It probably depends on what area you are in, and what dealers are around as much as any. Around here, Ifor Williams would be the most popular trailer with the type of lads you mention. Nugent would probably be the next popular. While there are Tuffmacs around, they wouldn't be common at all.

Albert Johnson

hopeso wrote: »

It probably depends on what area you are in, and what dealers are around as much as any. Around here, Ifor Williams would be the most popular trailer with the type of lads you mention. Nugent would probably be the next popular. While there are Tuffmacs around, they wouldn't be common at all.

I agree about the dealers influencing the brands in different area's. Nugent would be very popular as there's a few dealer's offering finance deals while a good few lads would go North for Tuffmac's and an occasional Ivor Williams. As Who2 said above I don't think Porter will be beaten for build quality and strength, everything about them is built to last. It's the secondary fittings such as loading gates, dividing gates ect that let many of the other makes down imo, there not strong enough for handling heavy cattle.

lab man

Welding Rod wrote:

Is that Byrne Trailers, Bunclody? Advertises a good bit on DoneDeal. Would be handy to do a trade in all in the one transaction .

I honestly dont know but he sells some
amount here in Clare plus hes easy to deal with

lab man

Welding Rod wrote:

Can’t find this M&L Trailers Wexford lad at all on google. Anybody have a phone number for him, or a link to a website etc, ettlc?

I'll get a number for him tmrw I'll PM u it where u based if I'm in Ennis I'll take a foto an send u it of the one HD has that day

Green farmer

Albert Johnson wrote: »

Conversely I can't think of anyone I know using an IW at the cow job and the few new Crooks and Murphy trailers I've seen in recent years haven't inspired my confidence in them.

Just trying to follow your comment re crooks trailers. How would you rate them ? I’ve never seen one in the flesh, but was considering one last time I changed. Only thing that put me off was the distance they were away from me and the fact I hadn’t seen them in the flesh ? Have to agree with you on the porter trailers. Have never heard a bad word said about them.

leoch

Use said the porter was 20kgs lighter than the nugent does anyone know the weight of a new same size iw ??

Green farmer

leoch wrote: »

Use said the porter was 20kgs lighter than the nugent does anyone know the weight of a new same size iw ??

From memory, most are in and around the same weight. The ifor 8x5 is 725kg

patsy_mccabe

I saw a very unusual make of trailer when I was in Ennis Mart last. It looked a bit like an Ifor Williams. I was something like Jumbo or something.

Albert Johnson

Green farmer wrote: »

Just trying to follow your comment re crooks trailers. How would you rate them ? I’ve never seen one in the flesh, but was considering one last time I changed. Only thing that put me off was the distance they were away from me and the fact I hadn’t seen them in the flesh ? Have to agree with you on the porter trailers. Have never heard a bad word said about them.

Crooks aren't that popular locally either although I'd know of 4 new trailers bought off them in the last 3 years. I wouldn't rate these trailers that highly after seeing how they coped with general use and abuse. As regards the newer crooks trailers I've seen 3 of them are 14 footers and owned by men who deal in and feed cows while the last one is a 12 footer that belongs to a weanling dealer/agent and probably has an easier life than the other ones.

The trailers hauling heavy cows on a regular basis are now more round than square in profile as the sides and floor members have bowed out of shape with the weight. Granted there operators wouldn't be the most sympathetic towards gear but it still shouldn't happen a new trailer. The loading/dividing gates are warped, broken and now ill fitting as the frame of the trailer has twisted.

One man told me the axles are now out of line on his and are eating tires as a result and the ramp bowed down under the weight within the first month. Another owner said he was very disappointed with this trailer compared to his older trade in and ordered a 14 foot Hamilton with 6 months of buying the Crooks. He's still waiting on the Hamilton 12 months later although he should have a trailer for life when it's eventually ready. The trailer belonging to the weanling dealer is in good enough shape but only gets light use as he has a lorry for the heavier work.

Having said that I've a neighbor with a 28 year old 12 foot Crooks that has done lots of work and is still in near perfect condition. He bought it new and it's his only trailer so gets lots of use on a fragmented holding running 50+ sucklers so perhaps the older ones were better. I definitely wouldn't buy a new Crooks based on recent experience if you're intending on abusing it, there in the same category as IW in my mind. By this I mean a nice light trailer to tow but lacking in substance for hard work, a sheep only trailer in other words.

Green farmer

Fair enough. It just goes to show the importance of seeing a trailer in the flesh before buying. I’m a sheep only man and use a 2.0 saloon car for towing. I went and hitched up several different trailers before buying. Ended up with a 8x5 ifor. She towed the best and Just suits my needs. Having said that, as you’ve pointed out, it ain’t one hat fits all. The other thing that surprised me at the time, was most trailers use the same running gear, but some use indespension rubbers. I’d advise people to take any trailer for a test drive. I found the rubbers very hardy and sent feedback through the car on rough roads. Had I not tested it, I could have bought one on indespension. But everyones different and some may prefer the rubbers .

Muckit

So is your trailer on springs?

hopeso

leoch wrote: »

Use said the porter was 20kgs lighter than the nugent does anyone know the weight of a new same size iw ??

https://www.iwt.co.uk/products/livestock/ta510/?tab=spec#tab

Green farmer

Muckit wrote: »

So is your trailer on springs?

Yes, my ifor is on springs.

Albert Johnson

Green farmer wrote: »

Fair enough. It just goes to show the importance of seeing a trailer in the flesh before buying. I’m a sheep only man and use a 2.0 saloon car for towing. I went and hitched up several different trailers before buying. Ended up with a 8x5 ifor. She towed the best and Just suits my needs. Having said that, as you’ve pointed out, it ain’t one hat fits all. The other thing that surprised me at the time, was most trailers use the same running gear, but some use indespension rubbers. I’d advise people to take any trailer for a test drive. I found the rubbers very hardy and sent feedback through the car on rough roads. Had I not tested it, I could have bought one on indespension. But everyones different and some may prefer the rubbers .

As above no one trailer fits all and the definition of perfection depends on your use and expectation. IW and other manufacturers sell there product consistently so they must be doing something right after all. If your solely a sheep man than an IW is a good choice imo as it's light weight, easily towed, has a user and sheep friendly deck system and has a good resale value if and when required. I don't see any reason why it shouldn't give years of service in such a scenario and should be a very good fit for your setup.

However if your mainly a cattle man that operates at the limits of what's possible consistently and isn't very sympathetic towards your gear then I couldn't say the same for an IW trailer. When the going gets tough it's pointless looking beyond Hamilton, Porter, Hudson, Nugent and similar. I've no connection to any brand but I've seen time and again what stands up to abuse in a trailer and it's the same few brands that stay serviceable all the time. I challenge anyone to study a Porter for example and argue that the same level of engineering and raw steel goes into an IW.

hopeso

Has anyone any experience of Falcon trailers? They look alright in the photos anyway...... https://www.facebook.com/FalconTrailersLtd/

Green farmer

Albert Johnson wrote: »

As above no one trailer fits all and the definition of perfection depends on your use and expectation. IW and other manufacturers sell there product consistently so they must be doing something right after all. If your solely a sheep man than an IW is a good choice imo as it's light weight, easily towed, has a user and sheep friendly deck system and has a good resale value if and when required. I don't see any reason why it shouldn't give years of service in such a scenario and should be a very good fit for your setup.

However if your mainly a cattle man that operates at the limits of what's possible consistently and isn't very sympathetic towards your gear then I couldn't say the same for an IW trailer. When the going gets tough it's pointless looking beyond Hamilton, Porter, Hudson, Nugent and similar. I've no connection to any brand but I've seen time and again what stands up to abuse in a trailer and it's the same few brands that stay serviceable all the time. I challenge anyone to study a Porter for example and argue that the same level of engineering and raw steel goes into an IW.

Used to have a nugent tipper here at one stage., that we towed with a landcruiser. Super strong trailer, but very hard to hitch up and take off. Used to eat jockey wheels, kept blowing tyres and ate clutches in the Jeep. It weighted 1.3 tonnes empty and was hard towed. So it’s really down to what lads needs and preferences. The more weight you’ve behind you, unless the trailer is well balanced, means tough towing. Trying to get the balance right is everything is sometimes easier said then done.

patsy_mccabe

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

I saw a very unusual make of trailer when I was in Ennis Mart last. It looked a bit like an Ifor Williams. I was something like Jumbo or something.

hopeso wrote: »

Has anyone any experience of Falcon trailers? They look alright in the photos anyway...... https://www.facebook.com/FalconTrailersLtd/

....That's the one I saw, a big 3 axle cattle trailer. Didn't get close enough to see what build quality was like.

Albert Johnson

Green farmer wrote: »

Used to have a nugent tipper here at one stage., that we towed with a landcruiser. Super strong trailer, but very hard to hitch up and take off. Used to eat jockey wheels, kept blowing tyres and ate clutches in the Jeep. It weighted 1.3 tonnes empty and was hard towed. So it’s really down to what lads needs and preferences. The more weight you’ve behind you, unless the trailer is well balanced, means tough towing. Trying to get the balance right is everything is sometimes easier said then done.

At 1.3 tonne empty it was a dog of a trailer for a tipper at least in my eyes. Yes I agree that there comes a point of diminishing returns as regards strength and subsequently weight. A man locally built a barge to bring cattle on and off the islands in Lough Arrow, he went for total overkill as regards strength and durability. It looked a super job but was unbalanced and dead weight in the water, it would have required a Thames tug boat to manoeuvre it and subsequently ended up beached on dry land after it's failed maiden voyage.

As with building a boat balance is key and the same is true for a trailer. I've often considered that if I stick with a 12 foot trailer next time around that I'll order it as a tri axle as opposed to my current double axle, this should make for a steadier more well balanced trailer imo.

Albert Johnson

hopeso wrote: »

Has anyone any experience of Falcon trailers? They look alright in the photos anyway...... https://www.facebook.com/FalconTrailersLtd/

From the point of visuals they seem to be a copy of the last Hudson's although if the similarities continue as regards build quality I don't know. I've yet to see a falcon trailer in the flesh but they do look respectable from the photos provided. Indespension are another recent player to enter the livestock trailer market. I've only seen one so far and they seem to be well constructed but only time will tell.

Green farmer

Falcons bought all the designs and equipment from hudson, when they left the market. At the time the Hudson website referred any new enquiries to falcon. Could even been the past employees of Hudson, who decided to carry on the business, but open to correction.

Limestone Cowboy

Has anyone priced a falcon?

lab man

PM sent, welding rod

oxjkqg

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Has anyone priced a falcon?

The local jeep cattle haulage man has a falcon tri axle for the last year. its going 12 hours plus a day 6/7 days a week and its a tough life. hes very happy with it

patsy_mccabe

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Has anyone priced a falcon?

An unwanted birthday present;

https://www.donedeal.ie/cattletrailers-for-sale/cattle-trailer-new/23099362

hopeso

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

An unwanted birthday present;

https://www.donedeal.ie/cattletrailers-for-sale/cattle-trailer-new/23099362

I could do with a few friends like he has......

I looked at his other ads for sale. The same trailer is listed 44 days ago, which seems strange considering the price drop he's offering....

Welding Rod

There seems to be a “correlation”, between the markets for gates and trailers....ðŸ˜

josephsoap

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

An unwanted birthday present;

https://www.donedeal.ie/cattletrailers-for-sale/cattle-trailer-new/23099362

A fine looking trailer anyway - kind of reminds me of the old Hudson’s

Albert Johnson

hopeso wrote: »

I could do with a few friends like he has......

I looked at his other ads for sale. The same trailer is listed 44 days ago, which seems strange considering the price drop he's offering....

It must have been a milestone birthday!

It does seem strange that a trailer in that condition has been advertised for so long without any takers. A quick conversion from sterling to euro comes to €5000 straight deal, it's seems very good value, too good even. I'm assuming the same trailer in the South would be circa €7000 incl VAT as most other manufacturers are around that price for a 12" trailer. What VAT rate is applicable on new trailers in the South compared to Northern Ireland? I'm not vat registered and don't really understand the differences, would I be better off going North of the border for a new trailer?

hopeso

Albert Johnson wrote: »

It must have been a milestone birthday!

It does seem strange that a trailer in that condition has been advertised for so long without any takers. A quick conversion from sterling to euro comes to €5000 straight deal, it's seems very good value, too good even. I'm assuming the same trailer in the South would be circa €7000 incl VAT as most other manufacturers are around that price for a 12" trailer. What VAT rate is applicable on new trailers in the South compared to Northern Ireland? I'm not vat registered and don't really understand the differences, would I be better off going North of the border for a new trailer?

I've passed a few milestone birthdays at this stage, but nothing as shiny as that turned up..... :rolleyes:

The VAT in the North is 20%..... If you are not registered, I think you have to pay the 20% in the North when you buy it. If you are registered, you buy it VAT free in the North, and pay the VAT here when you bring it in. I think the VAT here is probably 23%, but anyone registered claims it back, so they won't mind paying the 3% extra....

As for being better off going North, well, the VAT is 3% less than it is here, and, as most of them trailers are made up there, you might be able to deal directly with the factory. Exchange rate would be the biggest influencing factor....so hang on until Boris f**ks something up......