Ifor Williams moves into bigger livestock trailers

The StockMaster is reckoned to be Ifor Williams’ most significant development for the farming sector for a while. Aimed at users looking beyond its smaller 3.5t stock trailers, it’s based on a 7.3m x 2.4m platform with demountable stock box.
The unit will be offered in farm (up to 20mph) spec or high speed tractor spec (over 20mph) variants with appropriate braking configurations. Gross vehicle weights are between 19-21t depending on tyre choice and it’s expected to be on sale from early 2014.
The StockMaster has been designed to accommodate 12 550kg cattle, which can be split into three compartments to aid balance when partially loaded, says IWT. Units fitted with retractable decks can fit 148 55kg sheep split into six compartments. The upper deck uses an internal eight-foot ramp powered off the towing vehicle’s hydraulics.
When the deck is retracted and ramp raised, the 1.8m headroom is adequate for cattle and stockmen alike.
Ramp angle is an impressively gentle 20deg (EU regs state 26deg max) with – importantly – no step-down at the top, emphasised chief designer Bob Davis. “We believe this is a class leader. Throughout development we’ve had in mind the chassis needed to be low which affected tyre choice.”
A lot of work has gone into the chassis set up. Positioning of the load-adjusting twin axles carried on IWT double parabolic leaf-springs improve ride characteristics, are said to give good tracking behind the tow vehicle and enable sharp turn-in angles for narrow gateways.
Pre-production models have been on-farm tested for two years and users report handling and access is good even on tight Welsh hill farms. Both fixed and sprung drawbar options can be retrofitted, says the company.
Chassis components have been selected for longevity featuring easily-accessed greasing points and wear plate protection on the company’s two-piece parabolic spring suspension units said to give better ride characteristics.
Safety of stockmen has also come high on Ifor’s design criteria. Cattle partitions can be opened externally, preventing the need to be inside the box as cattle are released. A stockman’s door up front and two lines of vents per side – including the three-section front vent – meet current EU regulations.
The box can be removed using Ifor’s four-leg demount system (requiring the drawbar to be lowered to set the rear legs and then again to pull out from under the fronts). The flat trailer can then have hay raves/ladders fitted in a one-man operation for carting fodder, explained Mr Davis.
Prices have yet to be finalised and will depend on preferred component choice. As a guide, competitors’ products are around £20,000.
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