8 Dog Trailer

Once a dog trailer crosses 750 kg on the GVM plate the law changes, and the 8 Dog Trailer is where that line is crossed. It runs a braked 1250 kg axle, eight blade springs and 195 x 14 inch wheels, which is a heavier chassis than the four and six compartment models below it. TRAILERS SA sells this trailer new from Hartswater as a retailer, and the specification below is the published builder specification.

8 Dog Trailer published specifications

The figures below are taken from the builder data sheet for the braked eight compartment model.

Standard specification of the body

Everything on this list is fitted to the trailer as it leaves the factory floor, and none of it is an optional extra.

• Body from 0.9 mm corrosion resistant rigidised electro galvanised sheet steel
• Eight compartments separated by internal partitions
• Eight padlockable doors, each with an adjustable sliding vent
• Mesh hole in each compartment floor for cleaning
• Weather proof sprung roof mounted air vents, and the trailer can be supplied without them
• Formed top hat sections in the sides to prevent drumming and vibration
• Multi function LED lights, steel number plate mounting panel and a robust number plate light
• Padlockable front mounted spare wheel bracket, spare wheel 195 x 14 inch included
• Adjustable jockey wheel and coated cast alloy door hinges

Brakes, towing and licensing

Brakes are fitted as standard, because at 1250 kg GVM they are compulsory. That single fact changes what you need at the tow vehicle end: a towbar and coupling rated for the load, and a tow vehicle whose plated towing capacity covers 1250 kg. In exchange you get 830 kg of payload, which is more than double what the six compartment trailer offers, and a much calmer trailer on a long descent. Braked or not, the mass and licensing rules that apply are set out in the National Road Traffic Act, and your licensing office will confirm what your licence code allows.

How the 8 Dog Trailer compares with the smaller models

Put next to the 6 Dog Trailer, this trailer adds 790 mm of body length, two more compartments, 120 kg of tare and 430 kg of payload, and it swaps 165 x 13 inch wheels for 195 x 14 inch. Ground clearance and overall width are unchanged, so it is no harder to place on a two track. What changes is the tow: heavier, braked, and demanding a properly rated vehicle. Buy this one when the pack is genuinely eight strong or when you want the payload headroom.

Who needs eight compartments

Commercial kennels, security dog units, large hunting syndicates and breeders moving stock to shows are the buyers for a trailer this size. Eight separate compartments also give a working operation flexibility, because half the box can carry equipment while the other half carries animals. Payload headroom means a full load of water, feed and crates can travel with the dogs without pushing past the plate. The body is 3190 mm long, which is a lot of trailer to reverse, so a spotter helps at a tight farm gate. Compare the full range on the dog trailers category page.

Ventilation, cleaning and upkeep

Each of the eight compartments drains through a mesh hole in the floor, so a hose does most of the cleaning. Sliding door vents let you shut a compartment down in a cold wind and open it in heat. Roof mounted sprung vents deal with the heat that builds in a steel box standing in the sun, and they can be left off the build if you prefer. Leave the doors open after washing so the floor pans dry properly, and the galvanised body will stay ahead of the rust. Because brakes are fitted, add the brake shoes and the coupling damper to your service list, alongside the wheel bearings.

Ordering, delivery and warranty

Free delivery applies anywhere in South Africa on this trailer, and the delivery page covers how and where we hand over. If you would rather see it first, collection from our Hartswater yard is always available. Cover comes from the builder warranty, which we administer on your behalf, and the warranty page sets out the detail. Kennels and security operators buying more than one unit should send the requirement through the quote request form so we can price it properly in writing.