Anatomy of an Alpaca Trailer
October 10th 2007 21:47
My Dad, who was a Spring Maker for 60 something years, made our alpaca trailer. He originally built it as a removable cage for the back of the flat-tray, but the ramp was way too steep and high to haul the alpacas up. And getting off, they’d simply jump, so if you happened to be holding onto the end of a lead when they went, you’d go paca-sailing off the back of the vehicle. Not fun.
So he made the cage into a trailer. It’s a tandem trailer (two wheels on each side). I think this makes it more comfortable for the alpacas, and it remains stable when not attached to the vehicle. You can walk around in it without it rocking like a see-saw.
The trailer is large, so we can fit quite a few alpacas in, if we ever need to. It’s also a good size for carrying hay, the ride-on, furniture, whatever.
The floor is quite low to the ground which means the alpacas can step in and out. This is much easier than having a ramp that they need to walk up. The roof is high enough so we can stand up in there. The alpacas are shorter but the high roof is good so they don’t feel so boxed in.
It is fully enclosed with steel mesh. Horse floats make good alpaca trailers but alpacas can, and have been known to, jump over the back doors of horse floats, so it’s a good idea to enclose the back of the float, so your alpacas will still be with you when you reach your destination.
Our trailer has double doors at the back. This is handy when transporting multiple alpacas as you can keep one door closed, so they won’t all decide to pile out of the trailer while you’re trying to get another one in.
We have put rubber matting inside on the floor of the trailer. This helps prevent the alpacas from sliding around, so they won’t hurt themselves. It’s also probably more comfortable for them to sit on than a bare metal floor – though I haven’t tested this out myself. We got the matting from a company which makes mats from recycled car tyres. It’s thick and tough. It will probably outlast the trailer.
We had a PVC canvas cover made up for the trailer. This is for the comfort of the alpacas, and so if they decide to relieve themselves in the trailer, the wind won’t blow it all straight into the windscreen of the car following (they shouldn’t be driving so close anyway). There’s a clear plastic window in the front, so we can look back and check on the alpacas from the vehicle whenever we like without having to stop and walk back.
The cover has zippered corners and each side can be rolled up and secured if we don’t want to use the cover. We usually have the back canvas rolled up all the time, as the alpacas like to watch the world as we’re going along. (People in cars behind often like to watch the alpacas too)
That’s about it. I think our trailer is a good design for alpacas. It’s served us well for many years now. Transporting alpacas can be stressful and tiring, especially if you have a long way to go. If you can make the process easier by having a good trailer, then it’s better all round.
Our trailer needs re-painting again. Might paint it bright yellow this time.
So he made the cage into a trailer. It’s a tandem trailer (two wheels on each side). I think this makes it more comfortable for the alpacas, and it remains stable when not attached to the vehicle. You can walk around in it without it rocking like a see-saw.
Alpaca Trailer
The trailer is large, so we can fit quite a few alpacas in, if we ever need to. It’s also a good size for carrying hay, the ride-on, furniture, whatever.
The floor is quite low to the ground which means the alpacas can step in and out. This is much easier than having a ramp that they need to walk up. The roof is high enough so we can stand up in there. The alpacas are shorter but the high roof is good so they don’t feel so boxed in.
It is fully enclosed with steel mesh. Horse floats make good alpaca trailers but alpacas can, and have been known to, jump over the back doors of horse floats, so it’s a good idea to enclose the back of the float, so your alpacas will still be with you when you reach your destination.
Our trailer has double doors at the back. This is handy when transporting multiple alpacas as you can keep one door closed, so they won’t all decide to pile out of the trailer while you’re trying to get another one in.
Alpaca Trailer - Back doors
We have put rubber matting inside on the floor of the trailer. This helps prevent the alpacas from sliding around, so they won’t hurt themselves. It’s also probably more comfortable for them to sit on than a bare metal floor – though I haven’t tested this out myself. We got the matting from a company which makes mats from recycled car tyres. It’s thick and tough. It will probably outlast the trailer.
We had a PVC canvas cover made up for the trailer. This is for the comfort of the alpacas, and so if they decide to relieve themselves in the trailer, the wind won’t blow it all straight into the windscreen of the car following (they shouldn’t be driving so close anyway). There’s a clear plastic window in the front, so we can look back and check on the alpacas from the vehicle whenever we like without having to stop and walk back.
Alpaca Trailer - Front
The cover has zippered corners and each side can be rolled up and secured if we don’t want to use the cover. We usually have the back canvas rolled up all the time, as the alpacas like to watch the world as we’re going along. (People in cars behind often like to watch the alpacas too)
That’s about it. I think our trailer is a good design for alpacas. It’s served us well for many years now. Transporting alpacas can be stressful and tiring, especially if you have a long way to go. If you can make the process easier by having a good trailer, then it’s better all round.
Our trailer needs re-painting again. Might paint it bright yellow this time.
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Comment by JoH
Persistent Parent
Put a couple of blankets and some food in there, and I am sure the Alpacas would never leave!
I wish my Dad could build stuff
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
It's pretty cool. It is a bit like towing a house, size and shape wise but it isn't as heavy as it looks.
I have had to coax the alpacas out on occasion. You open the doors and they just sit there and look at you as if to say "Well, what do you want". They're funny creatures.
It'd probably make a pretty neat camper - if you hosed all the paca poo out. Bit cool though here in Tassie. Cheers.
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
I loved it, took masses of photographs.
I just loved all of this on the post, what a clever dad you have there. And the little anecdotes about the Alpacas made me laugh, great stuff.
katyzzz