PRACTICAL TEST: Seven forage trailers took part in our big comparison test. Our focus in part one is on payload, unloading speed and running gear.

Tipping trailers do the vast majority of silage carting in the UK and Ireland, so why are we testing seven different makes of forage trailer? These trailers with a moving floor have two key advantages when compared with similarly sized tippers: for starters, they don’t demand a vast amount of take-out oil; and, secondly, they are much more stable when unloading.

With grass and maize to cart, our colleagues in Germany assembled seven different makes for this group test. One of them, the Kaweco, is not available here, and Claas is pulling the pin on the Cargos, but we’ve still included them in the review. To ensure all of the trailers were as similar as possible, we asked the manufacturers for the following specification:
● a capacity of 45m
● tandem axle with hydraulic suspension and a steered axle
● crop covers
● and discharge rotors for unloading the trailer on the clamp.

The differences start with hitching up. For the test, Joskin and Schuitemaker had fitted a load-sensing system with an in-cab control box for the hydraulic functions. This means fewer hydraulic hoses to plug in. However, if you operate a fleet of tractors with differing hydraulic fittings, it might be better to stick with the entry-level spool valve spec … if you have access to enough couplers.

With the HTW from Bergmann, for example, there are 11 hydraulic hoses to connect. The most important functions (tailgate, steered axle and crop covers) already occupy three of the double-acting spools. Other functions, such as operating the top of the headboard, the hydraulic park stand or raising the drawbar to put more load on the hitch, are options.

With so many hoses it’s important there is a decent hose holder to keep the connectors clean. Bergmann solves this best, although its hose labelling can be confusing, especially with regard to flow direction. Krone’s hoses are neatly and permanently marked, but the handles are too big for some spools where the couplers are stacked on top of each other. The colour coding with the help of cable ties is a neat solution from Claas and Strautmann on the Cargos and Radium, the hose holder is too short.

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