The trusty livestock trailer is used by all types of livestock farmers, big or small.
Used all year round, it is often one of the most neglected pieces of kit around the farmyard, only receiving attention if a light breaks or a tyre goes flat.
However, there are many more important aspects of a trailer that need to be looked at for the safe movement of livestock on public roads, and to keep on the right side of the law.
Damien Feeney from Feendy trailers with his six sons; Sean, Conor, Brian, Mark, Eoin, and Ruairi.
We visited Feeney Trailers in Co Galway, an Ifor Williams official dealer for almost a decade. We put a 10ft x 6ft trailer, a typical livestock trailer on many Irish farms, through a routine service. Many of these points are also applicable to other brands and other types of trailers such as flatbeds.
1 Hitch
Once the hitch head is locked onto the ball, you shouldn’t be able to lift the latch past the wear indicator. A new hitch head priced in the region of €100 plus VAT.
.
Starting at the front of the trailer, the hitch head should be inspected for wear. Once the hitch head is locked on to the ball, you shouldn’t be able to lift the latch past the wear indicator.
The wear indicator is clearly marked on the side of the hitch head.
Once it begins to surpass the indicator, a new hitch head should be fitted. These cost about €100 plus VAT.
If the the draw tube is worn or twisted, it’s advisable to fit a full new hitch. This is priced in the region of €300 plus VAT.
Depending on the type of head, it may have either one or two grease nipples. These should be greased on a regular basis to avoid sticking or wear, helping to offer better braking efficiency.
The rubber bellows sits over the draw tube. It keeps the grease inside the cover. It typically costs €15 to €20 plus VAT.
If the draw tube is worn or twisted, it’s advisable to fit a full new hitch. A full new hitch costs about €300 plus VAT.
2 Breakaway cable
The breakaway cable is a legal requirement and hugely important in the case of a mishap. A new one costs around €10.
Damien said the breakaway cable is one of the most important components on any trailer. He said you would be surprised by the amount of trailers that come in for a routine service with no breakaway fitted.
The breakaway cable is connected to the handbrake. In the event of a trailer coming off the ball hitch, it will engage the brakes and bring the trailer to a halt. The breakaway cable is a legal requirement and hugely important in the case of a mishap.
The breakaway cable is one of the most important components on any trailer
A new cable costs around €10. Damien said the cable should be placed around the frame of the hitch rather than the ball, as it is possible for the ball to break.
Grease points on the handbrake need regular greasing. The break fork should be checked. It’s important that it can move freely and is not seized.
The breakaway cable is connected to the break fork so it’s required in the event of an emergency. Regular lubrication should be applied.
3 Damper
A new dampener should be fitted at every service and costs in the region of €70 plus VAT.
To check whether the damper is working, try pushing back the hitch head. If it’s stiff, it’s fine. However, if there’s play it needs to be changed.
Similarly, if the trailer comes forward with a thump after braking while pulling on the road, the damper needs replacing. The date of manufacture is stamped on each damper. Damien recommends changing it at every service.
If the trailer comes forward with a thump after braking while pulling on the road, the damper needs replacing
A new damper costs about €70 plus VAT. He said it is important that the damper is working. A non-functional damper will stop the brakes from working which will cost you a lot more on jeep/van maintenance in the long run. Damien said a lot of trailers he works on have damaged jockey wheels.
For the sake of your back, you should never attempt to lift on a trailer. The threads should be greased on the jockey wheel. While inspecting for wear and tear around the hitch area, it’s worth checking the torque on all the bolts.
4 Brakes
It’s important that the break fork can move freely and is not seized.
The handbrake rod comes back to the front of the trailer where it meets four break cables (on a twin-axle trailer), each of which leads back to one hub. These brake cables should be inspected. If there is any wear, fatigue or damage, they should be replaced. If one needs to be changed, it’s recommended to change all four. Each cable costs about €15 plus VAT.
Once the trailer is lifted off the ground to check the condition of the hub bearing, check each wheel for play and any roughness by spinning. A whining noise when towing can also indicate the bearings need to be changed.
The handbrake rod comes back to the front of the trailer where it meets four break cables (on a twin axle trailer), each of which lead back to one hub. Each cable costs in the region of €15 plus VAT.
The hub bearing is removed by opening the sur-clip, and a hydraulic press is usually required to remove it. Hub bearings typically costs around €50 to €60 plus VAT each. These are sealed bearings and do not need to be greased.
If you let the bearing go too far, the whole hub may need to be replaced. This could cost around €135 plus VAT per hub depending on the size. The axle nut should be kept torqued to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
The condition of the hub bearing can be inspected by checking for play and any roughness by spinning each wheel. A whining noise while towing can also indicate that the bearings need to be changed.
A hub bearing typically costs around €50 to €60 plus VAT each.
Next, open up the brake assembly and adjust the brakes if necessary. Don’t over tighten. If evident wear is visible on the drum and pads, fitting a new set is advised. This will set you back around €60 to €80 plus VAT per axle.
5 Springs
Bushing failure can lead to broken springs which can be very dangerous. Each spring has two bushings which cost around €10-€15 plus VAT each.
Many trailers in Ireland use a leaf spring system. When it comes to the springs, the bushings is the big one.
Bushing failure can lead to broken springs which can be very dangerous. If you push the wheel forward and backwards and the axle rocks, then the bushings need changing.
The springs are held onto the axle by U-bolts.They can weaken on the bends over time.
Each spring has two bushings which cost around €10-€15 plus VAT each. Replacement springs cost €60-€100 each plus VAT. The condition of the bolt is very important as the it can shear if the bushing goes too far.
The springs are held on to the axle by U-bolts. It’s important to check their condition as they can weaken on the bends over time.
6 Lights, tyres
If there’s a lighting issue that goes beyond a broken bulb, damaged wire or the plug, then it’s worth checking the two junction boxes for corrosion.
Lights should be monitored on a daily basis. If there’s a lighting issue that goes beyond a broken bulb, damaged wire or the plug, it’s worth checking the two junction boxes.
The only issue here can be corrosion. The condition of the lenses and reflector plates should be monitored and they should be replaced if cracked or damaged.
Lights should be monitored on a daily basis.
The tyres should be checked daily. The walls of trailer tyres will often give way before the tread depth becomes an issue. Tyre pressures should be monitored and set to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Many trailer tyres are designed to run at higher pressures than jeep/van tyres. An underinflated tyre will flatten under a full load. Running them too low is dangerous and will wear the tyres much quicker.
7 Ramp
Wear in the plastic bushings at the bottom of the ramp can also creep in, becoming noticeable as the ramp becomes more difficult to close.
The ramp is much more self-explanatory than many of the other components. If there is too much play in the latches (ramp closers), they can open while travelling. To address this, tighten the bolt which the latch hinges on.
Fatigue in the spring can also be a factor. Wear in the plastic bushings at the bottom of the ramp can also creep in over time. This can become noticeable as the ramp becomes more difficult to close. These plastic bushings cost €10 plus VAT each and are easy to replace.
The plastic bushings for the bottom of the ramp cost €10 plus VAT each and are quite easy to replace.
Many farmers will be well aware of the little spud at the bottom of the inside gates. Over time these can become loose and fall off.
If there is too much play in the latches (ramp closers), they can open while travelling
From a safety aspect of closing the gate behind animals, paying €10 for each of these is a good investment, especially for the inside gate. The gate hangers at the top are held in place with a piece of tubing and an aluminium frame.
It’s advisable to service a typical livestock trailer once a year. Farmers doing a lot of haulage work are advised to service their trailers twice annually. The hitch head (€100+VAT), rubber bellows (€15/20+VAT), breakaway cable (€10+VAT) and the damper (€70+VAT) are the main areas that need attention at the front. The handbrake rod, brake cables (€15+VAT each), hub bearings (€50/60+VAT each) and the brake assembly should be checked. The bolt and bushing condition on the leaf spring and the U-bolts holding it to the axle should be inspected.In the ramp area, the latch closers, ramp bushings (€10+VAT) and the gate spuds (€10+VAT each) should be checked over. Finally, lights, reflectors and tyres should be kept up to standard. Always remember that at the end of the day, it’s your own responsibility to ensure your trailer is in good working order.
The trusty livestock trailer is used by all types of livestock farmers, big or small.
Used all year round, it is often one of the most neglected pieces of kit around the farmyard, only receiving attention if a light breaks or a tyre goes flat.
However, there are many more important aspects of a trailer that need to be looked at for the safe movement of livestock on public roads, and to keep on the right side of the law.
Damien Feeney from Feendy trailers with his six sons; Sean, Conor, Brian, Mark, Eoin, and Ruairi.
We visited Feeney Trailers in Co Galway, an Ifor Williams official dealer for almost a decade. We put a 10ft x 6ft trailer, a typical livestock trailer on many Irish farms, through a routine service. Many of these points are also applicable to other brands and other types of trailers such as flatbeds.
1 Hitch
Once the hitch head is locked onto the ball, you shouldn’t be able to lift the latch past the wear indicator. A new hitch head priced in the region of €100 plus VAT.
.
Starting at the front of the trailer, the hitch head should be inspected for wear. Once the hitch head is locked on to the ball, you shouldn’t be able to lift the latch past the wear indicator.
The wear indicator is clearly marked on the side of the hitch head.
Once it begins to surpass the indicator, a new hitch head should be fitted. These cost about €100 plus VAT.
If the the draw tube is worn or twisted, it’s advisable to fit a full new hitch. This is priced in the region of €300 plus VAT.
Depending on the type of head, it may have either one or two grease nipples. These should be greased on a regular basis to avoid sticking or wear, helping to offer better braking efficiency.
The rubber bellows sits over the draw tube. It keeps the grease inside the cover. It typically costs €15 to €20 plus VAT.
If the draw tube is worn or twisted, it’s advisable to fit a full new hitch. A full new hitch costs about €300 plus VAT.
2 Breakaway cable
The breakaway cable is a legal requirement and hugely important in the case of a mishap. A new one costs around €10.
Damien said the breakaway cable is one of the most important components on any trailer. He said you would be surprised by the amount of trailers that come in for a routine service with no breakaway fitted.
The breakaway cable is connected to the handbrake. In the event of a trailer coming off the ball hitch, it will engage the brakes and bring the trailer to a halt. The breakaway cable is a legal requirement and hugely important in the case of a mishap.
The breakaway cable is one of the most important components on any trailer
A new cable costs around €10. Damien said the cable should be placed around the frame of the hitch rather than the ball, as it is possible for the ball to break.
Grease points on the handbrake need regular greasing. The break fork should be checked. It’s important that it can move freely and is not seized.
The breakaway cable is connected to the break fork so it’s required in the event of an emergency. Regular lubrication should be applied.
3 Damper
A new dampener should be fitted at every service and costs in the region of €70 plus VAT.
To check whether the damper is working, try pushing back the hitch head. If it’s stiff, it’s fine. However, if there’s play it needs to be changed.
Similarly, if the trailer comes forward with a thump after braking while pulling on the road, the damper needs replacing. The date of manufacture is stamped on each damper. Damien recommends changing it at every service.
If the trailer comes forward with a thump after braking while pulling on the road, the damper needs replacing
A new damper costs about €70 plus VAT. He said it is important that the damper is working. A non-functional damper will stop the brakes from working which will cost you a lot more on jeep/van maintenance in the long run. Damien said a lot of trailers he works on have damaged jockey wheels.
For the sake of your back, you should never attempt to lift on a trailer. The threads should be greased on the jockey wheel. While inspecting for wear and tear around the hitch area, it’s worth checking the torque on all the bolts.
4 Brakes
It’s important that the break fork can move freely and is not seized.
The handbrake rod comes back to the front of the trailer where it meets four break cables (on a twin-axle trailer), each of which leads back to one hub. These brake cables should be inspected. If there is any wear, fatigue or damage, they should be replaced. If one needs to be changed, it’s recommended to change all four. Each cable costs about €15 plus VAT.
Once the trailer is lifted off the ground to check the condition of the hub bearing, check each wheel for play and any roughness by spinning. A whining noise when towing can also indicate the bearings need to be changed.
The handbrake rod comes back to the front of the trailer where it meets four break cables (on a twin axle trailer), each of which lead back to one hub. Each cable costs in the region of €15 plus VAT.
The hub bearing is removed by opening the sur-clip, and a hydraulic press is usually required to remove it. Hub bearings typically costs around €50 to €60 plus VAT each. These are sealed bearings and do not need to be greased.
If you let the bearing go too far, the whole hub may need to be replaced. This could cost around €135 plus VAT per hub depending on the size. The axle nut should be kept torqued to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
The condition of the hub bearing can be inspected by checking for play and any roughness by spinning each wheel. A whining noise while towing can also indicate that the bearings need to be changed.
A hub bearing typically costs around €50 to €60 plus VAT each.
Next, open up the brake assembly and adjust the brakes if necessary. Don’t over tighten. If evident wear is visible on the drum and pads, fitting a new set is advised. This will set you back around €60 to €80 plus VAT per axle.
5 Springs
Bushing failure can lead to broken springs which can be very dangerous. Each spring has two bushings which cost around €10-€15 plus VAT each.
Many trailers in Ireland use a leaf spring system. When it comes to the springs, the bushings is the big one.
Bushing failure can lead to broken springs which can be very dangerous. If you push the wheel forward and backwards and the axle rocks, then the bushings need changing.
The springs are held onto the axle by U-bolts.They can weaken on the bends over time.
Each spring has two bushings which cost around €10-€15 plus VAT each. Replacement springs cost €60-€100 each plus VAT. The condition of the bolt is very important as the it can shear if the bushing goes too far.
The springs are held on to the axle by U-bolts. It’s important to check their condition as they can weaken on the bends over time.
6 Lights, tyres
If there’s a lighting issue that goes beyond a broken bulb, damaged wire or the plug, then it’s worth checking the two junction boxes for corrosion.
Lights should be monitored on a daily basis. If there’s a lighting issue that goes beyond a broken bulb, damaged wire or the plug, it’s worth checking the two junction boxes.
The only issue here can be corrosion. The condition of the lenses and reflector plates should be monitored and they should be replaced if cracked or damaged.
Lights should be monitored on a daily basis.
The tyres should be checked daily. The walls of trailer tyres will often give way before the tread depth becomes an issue. Tyre pressures should be monitored and set to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Many trailer tyres are designed to run at higher pressures than jeep/van tyres. An underinflated tyre will flatten under a full load. Running them too low is dangerous and will wear the tyres much quicker.
7 Ramp
Wear in the plastic bushings at the bottom of the ramp can also creep in, becoming noticeable as the ramp becomes more difficult to close.
The ramp is much more self-explanatory than many of the other components. If there is too much play in the latches (ramp closers), they can open while travelling. To address this, tighten the bolt which the latch hinges on.
Fatigue in the spring can also be a factor. Wear in the plastic bushings at the bottom of the ramp can also creep in over time. This can become noticeable as the ramp becomes more difficult to close. These plastic bushings cost €10 plus VAT each and are easy to replace.
The plastic bushings for the bottom of the ramp cost €10 plus VAT each and are quite easy to replace.
Many farmers will be well aware of the little spud at the bottom of the inside gates. Over time these can become loose and fall off.
If there is too much play in the latches (ramp closers), they can open while travelling
From a safety aspect of closing the gate behind animals, paying €10 for each of these is a good investment, especially for the inside gate. The gate hangers at the top are held in place with a piece of tubing and an aluminium frame.
It’s advisable to service a typical livestock trailer once a year. Farmers doing a lot of haulage work are advised to service their trailers twice annually. The hitch head (€100+VAT), rubber bellows (€15/20+VAT), breakaway cable (€10+VAT) and the damper (€70+VAT) are the main areas that need attention at the front. The handbrake rod, brake cables (€15+VAT each), hub bearings (€50/60+VAT each) and the brake assembly should be checked. The bolt and bushing condition on the leaf spring and the U-bolts holding it to the axle should be inspected.In the ramp area, the latch closers, ramp bushings (€10+VAT) and the gate spuds (€10+VAT each) should be checked over. Finally, lights, reflectors and tyres should be kept up to standard. Always remember that at the end of the day, it’s your own responsibility to ensure your trailer is in good working order.
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