Machinery Photo/Discussion Thread II

The way the material is put together would be of equal importance to it's thickness imo. I wouldn't have much faith in the IW especially if hauling cows or bigger cattle. There a grand trailer for sheep, light and easy pulled with well designed and user friendly decks. However pop rivets and lightweight hardware aren't compatible with cows/big cattle.

The second hand market is red hot atm the same as all other machinery but I'd be looking more towards something like a Nugent, Hudson, Porter, Hamilton ect that would be better built and able for a bit of abuse. I bought a 12x6 Porter last year and I'm very impressed with it being honest. It depends on you're budget atm, it doesn't take much to make €5K and maybe spend another €1k or 2 on brakes, lights, tires ect afterwards. I was taking to a man lately who bought a new 14" IW with decks recently at €14,500, it's wild money for what it is.

You'd be as well off going for the 14" especially if towing behind the tractor most of the time. The extra weight won't be an issue and you'll have the bit of extra capacity when needed. Granted you'll be over the legal towing limit of the hitch when loaded but you could probably exceed that with a 10x6 with 3 big cattle on board.

If you're going using the tractor as a towing vehicle I'd definitely be looking at something a bit more substantial than a IW. The weight of the trailer won't be as much of an issue compared to towing with a jeep and it should stand up to a bit more wear and tear. Whatever you buy make sure that the hitch is configured in such a way as to keep the trailer level behind the tractor. You see lads going about with the hitch way to high and the arse of the trailer dragging the ground. The back axle is carrying all the weight in that scenario and something will have to give sooner rather than later.

I agree re the mechanisms on the IW dividing gates, particularly the newer versions. You'd see similar setups holding the door of a chicken coop closed. How they expect then to stand up to cattle pressing and turning around against them I honestly don't know.

As for making a safe refugee behind one end of the dividing gate that would be a worthwhile modification. Some of the higher spec lorry bodies are built like you described but I've never seen it on a trailer. However there'd be nothing stopping you manufacturing you're own dividing gate to that design and retrofitting it. Especially with the likes of Porter where the gate simply hangs off a rail inside and a spud on the floor and closes to a flat plate with a hole in it on the opposite side. If you hung a gate the full length and put a smaller gate 2/3 the length inside the main frame you'd have a good strong job and still retain the best of both worlds.

To answer your question no, tractors wouldn't be that common as towing vehicles. A good percentage of the tractors I would encounter would usually be towing large tractor trailers maybe 18" foot or more. There wouldn't be that many lad's towing jeep trailers with a tractor and those who are do so because they haven't a jeep as opposed to leaving it parked at home in most cases.

As for the Landcruiser yes there still king although maybe not to the same degree as beforehand. The older body shape (2003-2010) were and still are immensely popular. I cam never understand that Toyota Ireland didn't base some sort of marketing campaign off there prevelance at marts. I often saw 8-10 of them parked in a row and there's not many other examples of that sort of brand loyalty.

Some of the market share has been taken over by the newer type Ford Ranger and Volkswagon Amarok, a lot of lad's who buy new regularly were disappointed with the 2.5 litre Landcruiser and made the switch. Since Toyota went to the 2.8 litre I haven't heard many complaints about a lack of power. There's still a world of Toyota jeeps on the go between all the body shapes and both Landcruiser and Hilux. In an ideal world where diesel was closer to €1.20 than €2.20 a litre and the second hand market wasn't red hot I'd have a sub 5 year swb cruiser. Yes there thirsty and over priced and whatever else but there reliable, comfortable and just look the part imo.