Stock trailer... To buy or not?

[LMK17]

The owners of the farm we're buying are offering to sell us some equipment. One of the offerings is a stock trailer for $2,300. I've seen it but haven't really gotten a good look at it. Anyway, I don't know anything about stock trailers. Here's the info I have on it:

16' bumper pull
painted w/red rust-proof paint
all wires/brakes/lights repaired or replaced
new bearings
solid floor

I don't know its age or make/model.

I don't need a trailer right now. In fact, I don't even have a tow vehicle for it! The trailer is going to be used probably just a few times a year to take steers to the butcher. We'll have 4-5 head of cattle at any given time, with 1-2 going to market at a time. The owners just took some animals to the processor, and of the ones remaining, the next time one will be ready is either this fall or spring, so no anticipated need for a trailer for a few months, at least.

I'm not sure if the price is so good I should pounce on it or if I'm just as well off to wait and buy a different trailer later on. We will be getting a truck, but hopefully not a huge one, so trailer weight and size is an important consideration. As I've said, I anticipate hauling 2 steers at a time, at most. So the smallest, lightest trailer that will get the job done is what I'm looking for. I think a 16' might be overkill?

So, should I buy the trailer? No? Or it depends? If I wait and buy later, how much should I plan to spend for a new, small stock trailer? (Maybe a 12' is the right size?)

 

[greybeard]

That's about 1/2 the price of a new 12'x6' trailer, but what you see on top is not the most important part when looking at a used trailer of unknown age.
It's the running gear underneath that rusts out most often. Frames, spring shackles, floor supports.
Does it have working trailer brakes?
How good are the tires?
Owner should have a title for it which will tell you how old it is.
Careful about buying one with just a bill of sale..TxDMV is getting real picky about registering a trailer without a title presented.


Do you have to have one? Not until you do, and that's when you'll wish you did have one..when you desperately need to get one to the vet's and don't have a way to do it with out calling around to borrow one or going into town to rent one....

I'm not much on pulling (or backing) short trailers. Most don't have a divider/cut gate, and you put two 1000# steers in there, they move around a lot, front to back and play havoc on your tongue weight--or lack of it.
Sequin Tx:
https://www.ddfarmranchtrailers.com/products/2016-calico-12x6x66-bp-stock-trailer

 

[LMK17]

The trailer is a 2009 Cary LS. Just asked the owner. And they do have the title, so that's good.

 

[Baymule]

We have a stock trailer. We don't use it every day, but when we need it, we need it. We paid $2900 for it, a new one was almost twice that. If you have animals, you need a trailer. A short trailer, like a 2 horse isn't worth pulling home IMO. They are about the length of a horse or cow and it seems it is easy to get their front feet in, but you play he!! getting their BACK feet in.

 

[LMK17]

Thanks, again, guys. We've told the owners that we'll take it.

I think it may make an appearance as a moving van before we use it for animals.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Thanks, again, guys. We've told the owners that we'll take it.

I think it may make an appearance as a moving van before we use it for animals.

They work for that too.

 

[LMK17]

What sort of insurance policy should I carry on a livestock trailer? We have a fairly extensive policy on our camping trailer, but I'm sure we can go barebones on the livestock one??

 

[OneFineAcre]

In NC it is covered by the liability on the vehicle pulling it.
So, I'm not sure you would need anything else.
You only paid $2300 for it so I personally wouldn't insure against the loss of it.

 

[Baymule]

We have a farm policy that covers everything.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

In NC it is covered by the liability on the vehicle pulling it.
So, I'm not sure you would need anything else.
You only paid $2300 for it so I personally wouldn't insure against the loss of it.

Old thread, but what covers the animals inside?