Livestock Show Season: What type of trailer do you need?
The 2024 livestock show season is here, and our team is ready to help you find the perfect trailer for your hauling needs. Livestock trailers come in many styles to cater to different hauling needs for owners and animals. At National Trailer Source, we offer a wide range of livestock trailers to fit your show stocks evolving needs.
Selecting the Right Livestock Trailer
What Size Trailer Do I Need?
Your animals need enough room to keep them from feeling cramped, but not too much room that would allow them to move around during travel. Consider how many animals you tend to need to move at once and if you'd like a trailer with living quarters or storage options.
Next, consider the combined weight of the trailer, animals, and gear. Refer to your tow vehicle's GCWR, gross combined weight rating, to determine its weight-handling capacity. If your total load exceeds this limit, it might be necessary to opt for a larger tow vehicle.
What Style Livestock Trailer is Right for Me?
Bumper Pull Livestock Trailers
Exhibitors with small livestock or those with less frequent hauling needs often opt for bumper pull trailers. These trailers can be easily attached to a vehicle using a hitch and are known for their maneuverability and compact size. Bumper pull livestock trailers are a lightweight option that can be towed by many trucks or personal vehicles.
These trailers come in various lengths and offer multiple options, including center gates, full swing rear gate with slider, and different axle ratings and tack room sizes.
Shop livestock bumper pull trailers here.
Gooseneck Livestock Trailers
Owners who regularly transport larger animals or heavier loads often prefer gooseneck trailers. Gooseneck livestock trailers feature an extended arm or neck that securely attaches to a ball hitch situated in the bed of the towing truck.
This design offers superior towing capability for significant weight loads due to the added stability provided by the connection. Additionally, the weight of the gooseneck trailer is distributed over the rear axles instead of the frame, ensuring a safer and more stable journey for your livestock.
Shop our inventory of gooseneck livestock trailers here.
Livestock Trailers with Living Quarters
Gooseneck livestock trailers can also double as living quarters trailers, catering to those who spend a substantial amount of time on the road transporting livestock. These trailers are thoughtfully designed with living space for owners and a dedicated area for show stock.
Choosing a livestock trailer with living quarters can enhance your travel experience to stock shows and events, providing both comfort and affordability. Instead of dealing with peak-season hotel bookings, you can enjoy the convenience of a home away from home, allowing you to camp on-site at livestock shows.
Shop our selection of gooseneck livestock trailers with living quarters here.
Pen System Trailers
Whether you need to transport a few cows to a local stock show or a whole herd of sheep to a national competition, a pen trailer can accommodate your needs.
Pen trailers come in many different sizes and shapes; some have one pen of considerable size, while others have several pens of smaller dimensions to keep animals separated. Pen trailers are built with top quality materials and innovative construction techniques to keep your show stock safe on the road.
Some pen systems can be removed and rearranged easily to fit your livestock hauling needs. This flexibility is especially useful for those who participate in multiple shows or have varying hauling requirements. This lets you change the stock trailer to fit the animals you are moving.
Some note worthy features of majority of pen trailers include, the inclusion of a side or rear ramp, a tack area, airflow ventilation systems and many more.
Shop our collection of pen system trailers here.
Whether you have three animals or nine, our team wants to help you pick the right livestock trailer for your stock hauling needs. Our focus is providing our customers with the best trailer buying experience, from sales to service, to financing and nationwide delivery- so that you can get on the road for your upcoming shows. Visit one of our ten locations today or give us a call to get started on owning your next livestock trailer.
