Trailer opinion needed

[ohiodale]

Looking to upgrade to a Gooseneck Aluminum Trailer from the old bumper pull corn pro...

Side ramp - a "gotta have" option or a novelty? I could see benefits but wondering if there is a good number of places it can't be used.

What other options fit the "gotta have" category?

Thanks

 

[Doc]

At least 1 rolling cut gate. Plenty of lights inside. Tie rails, inside and outside. Closeable vents and depending on where you live, removable pieces for your side openings.

 

[GoWyo]

If you will be using it to travel to shows then a side ramp is really handy.  If more as a stock trailer, then probably not as useful.  If using for horse activities, then a stock combo is nice for the tack compartment.  We bought the stock combo a couple years ago because figured we would only be showing for a couple years then would be more of a ranch trailer.  Side ramp would have been nice, but  we have gotten along without it.  For general livestock use, a rear slam latch is nice to have to help keep from getting mucked out by the gate when loading.

 

[obie105]

We have a stock combo as well. We do horses too but our show box stays in the trailer in the tack area and I can keep a lot of essentials in the nose that way as well. We wish we would have a center gate that moves to make different size compartments instead of a fixed one. A ramp isn't a necessity and I don't think I would have one as we use our trailer for too many things. I know a slam latch on the rear is nice. Tie rails inside and out. Plenty of lights inside and outside. We will go with a Wilson next time so we can have a plug kit instead of plexi glass for winter.

 

[DLD]

Floating center gates are great if you use the trailer mostly for shows and not heavy ranch use - some may be better, but I've seen some get torn up when they get a lot of pressure from crowding or wilder cattle. 

Side ramps are prob'ly worthwhile, but we've never had one - our current trailer sits pretty high and makes me wish for one sometimes.  I don't think they'd bother you just hauling cows, and they're handy for loading ATV's, if you use them to check or gather cows.

Dressing/tack rooms are nice to have, but remember that's space you'll never be able to haul cattle in - you can pretty much do the same thing with strategically placed center gates and escape doors and plexiglass. Again it depends on how you're going to use it.

As others have said, make sure you get tie rails (we have tie rails down low and D rings up high outside on both sides and low tie rails inside on the drivers side) and you won't regret lights - inside and out.

 

[ohiodale]

Thank You for your feedback - will primarily (for the near future) be using it to travel to shows. It's after use is unknown - I may feed out steers at some point or start calves -but that's several years down the road when the kids are done with 4H.

I am leaning towards the ramp because it's a 4 foot opening - if you have just the door - that opening drops to about 32 inches approximately depending on the brand.

I am hearing alot of folks talking about Wilson Trailers - I am going to have to look at them closer as I really have never looked at those.

Thanks

 

[GoWyo]

I own a Merritt trailer and would have bought a Wilson, but the Merritt was on the lot ready to go and Wilson was going to take 4 months to build a stock combo.  Both trailers are great trailers.  The only real upside the Wilson has over the Merritt is that it comes with a slam latch on the rear gate.  Otherwise, one is as good as the other as a stock trailer.  Both companies build cattle semi trailers and their little trailers are built the same way as their big ones.

 

[DLD]

If you order a trailer, you can pretty much get escape doors and/or ramps any size and any place you want them. Same goes for placement and style of center gates, size of tack/dressing rooms, etc...

You can go to horsetrailerworld.com and search stock trailers in your area. At least in our area, it will give you a nice cross section of what's available and what it's gonna cost.

 

[ohiodale]

Our closest dealer is an EBY Dealer - They have a very nice unit on their lot - has every option we want except the ramp - Ramp adds a bit of cost - thinking we would really like it. Wondering if the closeness factor makes a difference being able to take it for repairs - they are only about 25 miles away.

Any input on EBY trailers here?

Thanks for all your help

 

[Doc]

Our closest dealer is an EBY Dealer - They have a very nice unit on their lot - has every option we want except the ramp - Ramp adds a bit of cost - thinking we would really like it. Wondering if the closeness factor makes a difference being able to take it for repairs - they are only about 25 miles away.

Any input on EBY trailers here?

Thanks for all your help

I have an Eby trailer and love it. Fact is the dealer has sold two other ones based on people seeing my trailer and what I have had to say about it. One had a Featherlite and 1 had a Barrett.
As far as working on it, you really shouldn't need much. You grease the bearings and acid wash it at a truck stop.

 

[CJB]

Love our EBY.  23 years old and will look almost new after a good acid wash.  I know that the local dealer sold quite a few EBY's over the years as different locals looked at our trailer.  Plus the factory is in West Jefferson, OH, and you used to be able to get one built to your specs at a pretty reasonable cost versus the ones that were on the lot.