Trailer vs. Stock truck

Mule Fool · 06-18-2006, 11:13 AM

Back when I first started riding in the mountains (1973) it seems like about half the rigs where home built stock trucks. I thought it was the slickest deal. Some were set up with sleeping quarters up in the overhead just like a camper. If you got in a tight spot you could turn around easily, and you didn't need 6 guys standing around telling you which way to turn the wheel to back up your trailer. Well now, other than some of the outfitters, we're the only stock truck around in amongst the $40,000 trucks and trailers. Is there ANYBODY out there anymore with a stock truck? Well I guess there's a few draw backs. It's harder to teach one to load up the ramp which is steep. But once you can get one in there you can load in a regular trailer backwards and blindfolded. Just curious, is there anyone else out there with one?

Rocking Horse · 06-18-2006, 11:39 AM

I remember when I was a kid (telling my age now) at the track all the horses were transported in horse vans or "stock trucks". Back in those days, you rarely saw a truck and trailer, unless it was an open cattle stock.... When I was in the UK, I only saw a few trucks and trailers, most everyone has a horse van too..

If I could find one, I'd buy it in a heartbeat

So much easier and less to worry about....

Wow, I'd love to see pix of yours

beth55051 · 06-18-2006, 10:14 PM

Good friend of our's in South Dakota still has one that he can take out of his truck as long as he always drives a late 70's early 80's Chevy truck. It's built out of square tubing portable panels that slide into the holes in the bed rails of the truck and then has a gate on the back that swings open much like a walk through gate on a round pen. Of course he has rubber matts in the bed of the truck with good ribbing on them so they don't slip.

His old horse used to jump right in until he got older and then he built a slide out ramp that fit's into special brackets under the truck much like a utility trailer for 4-wheelers or lawn tractors.

He still uses it if he's only hauling one horse to work that day otherwise he'll haul the horse in the truck and hook up his old stock trailer without a roof (used to have longhorn bulls that didn't fit) and off he goes.

**taelesean** · 06-19-2006, 12:31 AM

There is someone around here that hauls thier horses in a stock rack - three big horses and a pony all at once on a regular long-bed pickup! The horses look happy, the pony doesn't (he ends up sideways in the back, with the other three horse's heads over him - the horses face backwards)

I've always wondered why there aren't more vans being used - seem to me it would be more ecconomical to produce a truck bed replacement than an entire trailer, let alone a stock rack or other insert.

Mule Fool · 06-19-2006, 12:26 PM

My husband built ours and if I can figure out the posting photo thing I'll post a pic. It's really slick. A few years ago he built an alaskan skiff with the stitch and glue method of epoxy and fiberglass over plywood. My old 1969 stock truck was starting to worry me and he said you know I think I could build you a nice box with that same method, and we can put it on a newer truck. So I'm stylin now. Even have a mule head on the door. We put our sleeping bags in the part that goes over the cab and he even put wood paneling in there, very comfy, just like a nest. The stock ride sideways head to tail. we usually just haul 2, but we could get four in if we had a really big shoe horn. It draws alot of interest and I told him he could have a new career, but I think he got his fill of working on it.

06-18-2006, 11:13 AM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Trailer vs. Stock truck Back when I first started riding in the mountains (1973) it seems like about half the rigs where home built stock trucks. I thought it was the slickest deal. Some were set up with sleeping quarters up in the overhead just like a camper. If you got in a tight spot you could turn around easily, and you didn't need 6 guys standing around telling you which way to turn the wheel to back up your trailer. Well now, other than some of the outfitters, we're the only stock truck around in amongst the $40,000 trucks and trailers. Is there ANYBODY out there anymore with a stock truck? Well I guess there's a few draw backs. It's harder to teach one to load up the ramp which is steep. But once you can get one in there you can load in a regular trailer backwards and blindfolded. Just curious, is there anyone else out there with one?

06-18-2006, 11:39 AM
Rocking Horse Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,388	I remember when I was a kid (telling my age now) at the track all the horses were transported in horse vans or "stock trucks". Back in those days, you rarely saw a truck and trailer, unless it was an open cattle stock.... When I was in the UK, I only saw a few trucks and trailers, most everyone has a horse van too.. If I could find one, I'd buy it in a heartbeat So much easier and less to worry about.... Wow, I'd love to see pix of yours __________________ http://www.horsetopia.com/2year.gif ~ Too many freaks, not enough circuses ~

06-18-2006, 10:14 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	Good friend of our's in South Dakota still has one that he can take out of his truck as long as he always drives a late 70's early 80's Chevy truck. It's built out of square tubing portable panels that slide into the holes in the bed rails of the truck and then has a gate on the back that swings open much like a walk through gate on a round pen. Of course he has rubber matts in the bed of the truck with good ribbing on them so they don't slip. His old horse used to jump right in until he got older and then he built a slide out ramp that fit's into special brackets under the truck much like a utility trailer for 4-wheelers or lawn tractors. He still uses it if he's only hauling one horse to work that day otherwise he'll haul the horse in the truck and hook up his old stock trailer without a roof (used to have longhorn bulls that didn't fit) and off he goes. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

06-19-2006, 12:31 AM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,319	There is someone around here that hauls thier horses in a stock rack - three big horses and a pony all at once on a regular long-bed pickup! The horses look happy, the pony doesn't (he ends up sideways in the back, with the other three horse's heads over him - the horses face backwards) I've always wondered why there aren't more vans being used - seem to me it would be more ecconomical to produce a truck bed replacement than an entire trailer, let alone a stock rack or other insert. __________________

06-19-2006, 12:26 PM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	My husband built ours and if I can figure out the posting photo thing I'll post a pic. It's really slick. A few years ago he built an alaskan skiff with the stitch and glue method of epoxy and fiberglass over plywood. My old 1969 stock truck was starting to worry me and he said you know I think I could build you a nice box with that same method, and we can put it on a newer truck. So I'm stylin now. Even have a mule head on the door. We put our sleeping bags in the part that goes over the cab and he even put wood paneling in there, very comfy, just like a nest. The stock ride sideways head to tail. we usually just haul 2, but we could get four in if we had a really big shoe horn. It draws alot of interest and I told him he could have a new career, but I think he got his fill of working on it.