I can't imagine why a homesteader would be embarassed to use a 'home made' piece of equipment, surely that is the essence of homesteading?
Anyway, I have been thinking over the last two days on how a real nice 'stock crate' could be made with little effort. I have come up with a design that might fit the bill.
My idea is to buy four sheets of flooring ply or maybe lighter if flooring is too expensive or you think a sheet is too heavy to handle.
The only tools you need are an electric jig saw (do you call those 'sabre saws' in the US?) and an electric drill or a brace with about a 1" drill.
The idea is to build a box that will fit neatly inside the trailer or pickup bed, I assume the trailer and/or pickup has a 'wellside' not a flat deck.
The corners do not need to be rigid in fact they may be more durable if there is some 'give'.
So, cut the four sheets to fit neatly inside the vehicle, you will most likely have to do a cut out over the wheel arches and for the pickup you might need to do a cut out so that the tailgate latch can still be reached.
Now drill a series of holes about 6" from each corner, by this I mean say 4 holes equal spaced in a vertical row from near the top of the sheet down towards the vehicle. Do this on each end of each sheet.
Use some rope to 'sew' the corners and just for extra security make the ends of the rope fast to the vehicle.
If my idea is any good, and I must stress I have never tried it, you should have a very sturdy box in the vehicle that no animal will be able to break out of.
Now for the artistic component. Your sheep enjoy a bit of a view and need some fresh air so draw some appropriate shapes, stars, moon, sheep, etc on the sides and cut these out with the jig saw. More or less holes according to your climate I guess.
Cut one more hole in the rear of the box just big enough for your intended animal to pass through, don't cut it right to floor level as that would weaken it. I have in mind an oval shaped hole about 6" up from the bottom. When the vehicle tail gate is up most of this hole will be covered which may or may not be enough to stop attempted escapes, you will have a few pieces of ply offcuts so if necessary just drop one of these down between the box and the tailgate to block off this hole.
Put a tarp over the top to stop suicidal jumpers and to keep off the sun or rain.
If the corners have been laced in a sort of cross over you should be able to just release one of these and fold up the crate when it is not in use.
Painted, this will be the smartest stock crate on the day!
If anyone ever makes one let me know please!