Transport

InvalidID · #1 07/24/12, 12:55 PM

I need a new trailer. The one I've been using is, to be kind, a hunk of scrap. I'm wondering if anyone has ever used a box van to move cattle. I like the idea of a box van because I could use it for so many other things as well.

So, what do you guys think?

lonelyfarmgirl · #2 07/24/12, 01:32 PM

Three things.
First, sufficient air flow and light, cattle put off lots of heat and are afraid of entering narrow, dark, enclosed areas.

Second, whats the floor made of,

Third, and most important, when they get to dancing around while you are driving, are they going to crash through the sides?

InvalidID · #3 07/24/12, 01:42 PM

I think I can handle light and airflow pretty well, even if I have to put a few lights in it. I was thinking of adding a few skylight vents. I also have some older RV windows that I could put up high enough the cattle couldn't bust them out, but would allow air and light in.

The floors so far have been made of wood, but they can haul some pretty heavy stuff. If it had to be done I'd be fine with reenforcing the floor though. Not something I haven't done before.

The sides could be tricky. I was thinking of putting in dividers (like in a horse trailer) to minimize the dancing. As yet I'm not 100% sure what's behind the walls in these things. Looks a lot like thin beams with a plywood shell. I imagine a little reinforcement of the walls could be done without too much trouble though.

My main concern is getting them in. While the vans I'm looking at aren't really any higher than a trailer the ramp is a bit thinner. Maybe convert the rear door to a drop down ramp like the toy hauler RVs have?

And there's another idea. Maybe I could sell my wife on a new RV as an investment for the cattle... LOL

G. Seddon · #4 07/24/12, 02:25 PM

There is nothing better than a stock trailer for transporting cattle safely (for people and animals).

haypoint · #5 07/24/12, 02:30 PM

center of gravity?

MO_cows · #6 07/24/12, 02:47 PM

Nothing wrong with thinking outside the box, but I wouldn't put cattle in a box van.

Why not? Height of the step up (and step down, especially if on concrete), dark interior that they will resist entering, springs not firm enough for live weight, strength of side walls and floors, etc.

The best bang for the buck might be a used 2 horse trailer. We used one of those for cattle when we started. Take out the center divider. The horse folks are going more and more to slant loads, trailers with living quarters and so on, and the basic old 2 horse is not in demand. Therefore, should be cheap to buy used. Just make sure to get under it and check the floor.

coolrunnin · #7 07/24/12, 02:54 PM

Most box beds will only have a thin sheet of fiberglass or aluminum and 1/4 plywood for inner wall they hit that and I would be concerned other than that it is just the truck rating I have hauled them in p/us in the old days so yes you can do it. But should you is another question. You can use a good gooseneck for anything you could use a box truck for and I would think it would be cheaper.

InvalidID · #8 07/24/12, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolrunnin

Most box beds will only have a thin sheet of fiberglass or aluminum and 1/4 plywood for inner wall they hit that and I would be concerned other than that it is just the truck rating I have hauled them in p/us in the old days so yes you can do it. But should you is another question. You can use a good gooseneck for anything you could use a box truck for and I would think it would be cheaper.

So far I've found that a good gooseneck is about the same price as a good box truck. Being as it's easier to drive through town in a box truck, I got to thinking...

haypoint · #9 07/24/12, 06:46 PM

Years ago, I hauled 6 Draft horses in a school bus.
The floor is a sheet of steel, with an inch of marine plywood topped with a hard rubber floor covering. The floor was plenty strong enough for them. The springs in a school bus had no trouble with the weight.
I removed the windows (and seats of course). Put up plywood inside, 48 inches up. Took the painted interior metal panels and used them above the plywood, right up to the interior metal roof. I raised the roof an extra foot and replaced the rear exit with a drop ramp. I bought big sheets of steel for the exterior (where the windows once were. I built a divider between the horses and the driver area. I saved an area for 3 bench seats and a dining table next to the driver's seat. Painted the outside an off white putty color.

I don't think I'd dare haul cattle, but the horses were calm and I never had any problems. Used it for going to Draft Horse Shows hundreds of miles from home.

Alaska · #10 07/24/12, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haypoint

Years ago, I hauled 6 Draft horses in a school bus.
The floor is a sheet of steel, with an inch of marine plywood topped with a hard rubber floor covering. The floor was plenty strong enough for them. The springs in a school bus had no trouble with the weight.
I removed the windows (and seats of course). Put up plywood inside, 48 inches up. Took the painted interior metal panels and used them above the plywood, right up to the interior metal roof. I raised the roof an extra foot and replaced the rear exit with a drop ramp. I bought big sheets of steel for the exterior (where the windows once were. I built a divider between the horses and the driver area. I saved an area for 3 bench seats and a dining table next to the driver's seat. Painted the outside an off white putty color.

I don't think I'd dare haul cattle, but the horses were calm and I never had any problems. Used it for going to Draft Horse Shows hundreds of miles from home.

Yaah you uppers can do it all eh

bruce2288 · #11 07/24/12, 08:07 PM

what is a box truck? a grain livestock straight truck? If so loading uploading requires a shute. I will mention this I had a 16' bumper hitch stock trrailer that I used to haul 7 or 8 cows at a time. Bumper hitch with a heavy load is a sucide set up. I did the happy dance when I finally bought the gooseneck.

nosqrls · #12 07/25/12, 01:05 PM

If you live next to a tech. school that does welding classes do as I do offer to pay for steel and wire and any parts and let them rebuild your trailer. Her they will convert bumper pull to gooseneck if you pay for hitch and steel and wire. Seen them take axles and build a trailer with scrap steel from semi trailer plant. you may have to wire and install floor and paint it yourself but hey it helps.

myersfarm · #13 07/25/12, 01:18 PM

In a truck you load is high off the ground....if you only have a few in the box they can all hit one side of the box when you go around a curve five 600 pounders hitting the side of the bed with a running start does not sound good to me...plus loading ramp at your place and loading ramp at sale barn....sale barns here have a pull thought system to unload ....do not think a box truck could use the one for 18 wheelers either

PaulNKS · #14 07/25/12, 10:15 PM

You say that if you have a box truck you can do more than with a stock trailer? I think you can do anything with a stock trailer that you can do with a box truck.

We bought our stock trailer new in 1994, I think.. Maybe 1992. Anyway, It has the miles and use on it. We've used it for many things other than just hauling livestock.

As others have said.... With a box truck, the box will not hold up. The center of gravity is too high and they could easily turn the truck over, if they all shuffle at the same time, which is common.

You can probably buy a used trailer for a less than a box truck?

The other thing is the ventilation. The types of ventilation you are discussing would be okay for horses but not cattle.

Good luck.

spacecase0 · #15 07/25/12, 10:35 PM

my first thought for the title of this thread was of the off grid transport
Low-tech Magazine: How to downsize a transport network: the Chinese wheelbarrow
and they are still in use today
No Tech Magazine: Chinese Wheelbarrow Lives on in Angola, Africa
sorry for the distraction if this is not part of what you are thinking about

Dreamfarm · #16 07/26/12, 01:39 AM

Picturing InvalidID pushing his cow in a wheelbarrow walking down the road.

coolrunnin · #17 07/26/12, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamfarm

Picturing InvalidID pushing his cow in a wheelbarrow walking down the road.

Now that is a picture I want to see!
Why is it easier to get a truck around as opposed to a trailer, guess I'm just not seeing it.

sammyd · #18 07/27/12, 07:28 AM

I don't think center of gravity would be an issue. Years ago all cattle were hauled around in straight cattle trucks.
They were built a little more solid than the box vans I've seen though. and had better ventilation since they were slatted.

MO_cows · #19 07/27/12, 09:47 AM

With the box van, you have to pay more for license plates and at least carry liability insurance on it. If your state has personal property tax, that will be higher on a box van than a trailer, too. So the ongoing cost to own it would be more than than the stock trailer.

Having one custom built by tech school students sounds like a great idea, if there are any in the area. Our stock trailer is old and has some issues, might look into that myself.

InvalidID · #20 07/27/12, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamfarm

Picturing InvalidID pushing his cow in a wheelbarrow walking down the road.

I thought about training an ox team and making them haul themselves to auction...