More About Livestock Trailers
The safe transportation of livestock requires you to have a livestock trailer that is specifically designed to haul live animals around. A good-quality trailer will help ensure that you get your livestock from point A to point B with the least amount of stress and hardship, but shopping for a livestock trailer can be something of a challenge if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
What Size?
The size of your livestock trailer has to do with how big your animals are and how many you’ll need to haul regularly. You want each animal to have some space to move around so that they don’t feel cramped. If push comes to shove, you may end up needing to make two trips to safely transport your animals, rather than trying to cram them into a trailer when they won’t fit; there is, after all, a limit to how big a trailer can be!
Think carefully about the weight of your livestock trailer, too, so that you don’t go over your towing vehicle’s gross combined weight rating (GCWR), generally listed in the side door label or your owner’s manual. If your livestock weight is pushing the limits of what your truck can haul, then you may need a smaller trailer or a bigger towing vehicle.
Thoughts On Safety
When hauling live animals, safety is of particular importance. The heavy weight of your livestock means that you must avoid overloading your trailer or your truck at all costs, as an overweight trailer can cause swaying, which endangers the drivers around you on the highway. So make sure that whatever trailer you purchase can handle the weight of your animals and that your towing vehicle can handle the weight of the loaded livestock trailer.
Always perform a thorough inspection of any livestock trailer you’re interested in purchasing, particularly if you’re going with a pre-owned model. You don’t want to end up with something full of flaws or in need of significant repairs before it can be used, as this will be a waste of your time and your money.
By a similar turn, it’s helpful to inspect your livestock trailer before each use to make sure that the towing chains are anchored correctly, the hitch is secured, the brakes are functional and the tires are properly aired up and in good condition. A few minutes of looking over your trailer now can save you a real headache in the future.
Searching for a livestock trailer to help safely transport your animals from point A to point B? Then be sure to visit us here at Flat Rock Trailers to browse our amazing selection of top-of-the-line models for sale! Our location in Hewitt, TX offers convenient financing and rental options for you to take advantage of, and we proudly serve the nearby communities of Waco and Killeen, TX.