Smyth or Broughan for a Grain trailer?

I have a 22ft broughan, bought it second hand. Steer axle; silage sides; air and oil; flotation tyres.

I like it; I had a 20ft Dooley years ago; and my only regret was it was on super singles and due to chassis rails and body i would be over legal width if I put on flotations; and I always hated the tyre scrubbing so I said next trailer would be rear steer.

I like the broughan; but agree paint isn’t the best on headboard; but I think this is lack of washing more than bad paint to be honest.

My rear axle is splayed and on my to do list to get repaired; I just hope it’s not a new axle.

But I like the hydraulic door; latching system; and Im going to add large tool boxes.

Mine doesn’t do a whole bunch; we just chip and drop branches into it. But couldn’t do some jobs without it
 
used both smyth and broughans. i think the smyth is the nicer trailer. the frame of the door is higher compared to the broughan, less likely to catch on gateposts and such. im not a fan of the latching system on the broughan. for some reason the door sometimes has a habit of bouncing back out so it doesn't latch right. never had an issue with the doors on the smyths doing that. can also spec 2 extra latches at the middle of the door on the smyths to give it extra strength when loaded.
axle wise the smyths have greaseable bushings for the springs compared to the rubber bushes for the broughan. one thing i found the smyth tends to act top heavy compared to the broughan. the broughan doesnt sway as much.
things like wiring and how the light boards are done on the smyth i find better than the broughan.
if with a mid sized tractor like the size of a tm155 or 6480, 20ft be the way to go. the weights the 22ft carry will push them tractors about the place. lwb tractors would have an easier time.
reverse lights a must. they usually work by slightly tipping the trailer when the parks are on. a bit like that shutoff valve for the door.
tyre wise, it depends. super singles are cheaper to replace and wear much better on the road compared to floaties. floaties do what they're designed to do. less compaction. if silage is being done also, floatations all the way. id be hard pressed for floations if just doing grain unless you are anal about compaction and filling off the combine rather than the headland. the floatations look much better though in general
colour wise is up to you. personally im not a fan of colour matching with tractors but thats just me. i did hear that yellow paint tends to last longer. something to do with extra coats of paint having to go on to get the desired finish? maybe thats something worth asking
 
KTM 450 said:
No issue whatsoever, it was the same price as one with 6ft sides which I expected.
From date of order it was ready in 5 weeks.
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The lads had priced up a trailer with 5ft sides and tie off points to have a canvas sheet on heavy bungie cord and padding on the floor/sides just under the front window to catch the first spuds if they needed to do bulk ones again. Most of what they do is pre pack washed so they just dig into boxes now for less damage/handling.
It was bought through J Stafford plant hire in Wexico, you wouldn't be told the full story but it was a stock order trailer of his that turned up instead.
TAFKAT said:
Bought a couple of new grain trailers off him in 2008 or so, thought they were the best trailer on the market at the time.
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The lads have a 8 and 10 box trailer from the late 00's which are just getting to the stage a scratch in the paint is just starting to bubble up and are due a sandblast and respray but they live out 90% of their life. The only issue is really is strap down points are all over the place and don't match side to side. There's a 20ft grain trailer which is about the same age as yours that lives in doors other than harvest that is fairly mint other than over zealous washing with too high a pressure.
They had a few old flatbed trailers that were for the chop in 2015 or 16 and asked for 2 new trailers for 9 months time. Start dates got dragged out and by late June had to go to Broughans in a panic as Deery confirmed he wouldn't be building anymore, but they had one ready for September.
 
Arthur said:
How is it extra weight, trailer plus load are the same legal limit.
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i never mentioned anything about legal limit. was pointing out the 22ft trailer would push around the likes of a t7.200 easier compared to a 20ft unless theres a lwb tractor which would pull the 22ft more comfortably. a 22ft would carry more, but at what cost and at that point, might as well get a tri axle
 
c4l said:
i never mentioned anything about legal limit. was pointing out the 22ft trailer would push around the likes of a t7.200 easier compared to a 20ft unless theres a lwb tractor which would pull the 22ft more comfortably. a 22ft would carry more, but at what cost and at that point, might as well get a tri axle
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Re read your post " the weights a 22' will carry' how is it different if you put the same gross in a 20'.
 
Arthur said:
Re read your post " the weights a 22' will carry' how is it different if you put the same gross in a 20'.
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better way of putting it, I see the 20ft as a way of limiting the weights to an extent
 
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callwaster said:

It's more UV stable than other colours apparently blue is good too.

Red and black less so.
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Not strictly true according to ChatGPT. Not sure who is right 🤔

“In 2-pack paints, fade resistance is mostly about pigment choice rather than the paint system itself.

Best UV-stable colours are whites and light greys (reflect heat), silvers, deep blues, dark greens, and earth tones. These usually use more light-fast inorganic pigments and fade slowly.

Colours that fade fastest are bright reds, oranges and purples. Bright yellows can also fade, despite the common belief they’re very stable. Black generally holds colour but runs hot, which can shorten clear-coat life if the system isn’t good”
 
in work we’ve 22ft broughans for silage and grain, generally we only put no more than 20 t of grain in them they’ll hold over 23 tonne of wheat if you were really stuck, the issue is the 560 flotation tyres aren’t fit for it at all, some brands of tyres will stick it better, we’re trying Pirelli’s at the moment they seem good, as far as I know Smyths will build thin on a bigger tyre if you request it, it probably leaves the trailer wider, I’d say the wiring and finish is slightly better on the Smyth, some of the painting and welding underneath the broughans can be average enough, the safety valve is a must, if I was buying a Smyth I wouldn’t go for the super cube personally, I find they bully the tractor a lot but they definitely have huge capacity, I see red rock now has the same door lock system as the broughan, they’d be my choice if I was buying a tandem axle
 
A friend of mine has a Broughan and a Smyth, both 22' and both fine trailers. The Smyth is better finished (the welding and the wiring) but the Broughan tows better, laden and unladen in his opinion. The Smyth didn't come with a safety valve for the hydraulic back door so he had one fitted.
We have 3 Broughan trailers here, bought from 2 different dealers and one direct from the manufacturer, there was no problem facilitating any customisations I requested. But I can see how this would be an issue through one particular agent as @Philip.. said!
All my trailers were delivered on schedule at or before the agreed date. I've never had any issue with any of the trailers, but they wouldn't be working too hard.
I won't be buying a new trailer this year but if I were, my first choice would be Damien Power, I'm just not sure how busy he is or when he'd be able to deliver a tipping trailer, maybe @Claas Grass has an idea on this? But I do believe that his workmanship is up there with the best.
 
Blue Ray said:
A friend of mine has a Broughan and a Smyth, both 22' and both fine trailers. The Smyth is better finished (the welding and the wiring) but the Broughan tows better, laden and unladen in his opinion. The Smyth didn't come with a safety valve for the hydraulic back door so he had one fitted.
We have 3 Broughan trailers here, bought from 2 different dealers and one direct from the manufacturer, there was no problem facilitating any customisations I requested. But I can see how this would be an issue through one particular agent as @Philip.. said!
All my trailers were delivered on schedule at or before the agreed date. I've never had any issue with any of the trailers, but they wouldn't be working too hard.
I won't be buying a new trailer this year but if I were, my first choice would be Damien Power, I'm just not sure how busy he is or when he'd be able to deliver a tipping trailer, maybe @Claas Grass has an idea on this? But I do believe that his workmanship is up there with the best.
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Is Damian Power what was the late Eamon Power ?
Is so , a few cattle trailers locally . They seemed as good as any.
Broughan would be the most popular dump trailer locally by a fair margin . Dealer at each side , so that's probably why .
Lots of Broughans , Smyths , Odd Kane . The older Kanes gave great service .
Still a few Thorpe on the go. Have one myself . Great trailer , probably built heavy enough .
Pity about Dooley going . Nearly the best.
 
jf 850 said:
Is Damian Power what was the late Eamon Power ?
Is so , a few cattle trailers locally . They seemed as good as any.
Broughan would be the most popular dump trailer locally by a fair margin . Dealer at each side , so that's probably why .
Lots of Broughans , Smyths , Odd Kane . The older Kanes gave great service .
Still a few Thorpe on the go. Have one myself . Great trailer , probably built heavy enough .
Pity about Dooley going . Nearly the best.
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As @Arthur said, a completely different outfit. He used to build some trailers for Smyth, maybe still doing some lowloaders that way.
 
jf 850 said:
Is Damian Power what was the late Eamon Power ?
Is so , a few cattle trailers locally . They seemed as good as any.
Broughan would be the most popular dump trailer locally by a fair margin . Dealer at each side , so that's probably why .
Lots of Broughans , Smyths , Odd Kane . The older Kanes gave great service .
Still a few Thorpe on the go. Have one myself . Great trailer , probably built heavy enough .
Pity about Dooley going . Nearly the best.
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Bought a 22ft Thorpe myself recently, seems nicely balanced, but with a load of dung behind it, she bosses my 180hp tractor.
 
Have a older smith and a fresh broughan here broughan tows very well .and would probably buy another the same we had issues with the paint on the smith when it was new and we spoke to them about it as we knew they had sorted a few .they wouldn't sort ours .we won't be buying another. The broughan came from a dealer who as mentioned above was hard work but in fairness can't fault it since. Any other type of trailer i would go local with hourihane
 
20ft Smyth and 20ft Gillespie here. Smyth is very well finished. The Smyth is on floatations and the Gillespie is on super singles.
Both are just used for grain mainly although the Smyth does a small bit of beet and maize.

I wish Gillespie still made trailers, I’m very fond of it - the load sensing for the brakes is just perfect, it’s like driving a car when you’re using it. The Gillespie came from a big farm near Bunclody and it would have a lot of work done.
If I was buying a new trailer in the morning I’d probably choose super singles as they are much nicer to pull on the road.
 
jf 850 said:
Is Damian Power what was the late Eamon Power ?
Is so , a few cattle trailers locally . They seemed as good as any.
Broughan would be the most popular dump trailer locally by a fair margin . Dealer at each side , so that's probably why .
Lots of Broughans , Smyths , Odd Kane . The older Kanes gave great service .
Still a few Thorpe on the go. Have one myself . Great trailer , probably built heavy enough .
Pity about Dooley going . Nearly the best.
Click to expand...
What were the later Dooleys like? Probably the worst trailer I ever pulled was a Dooley, Farrelly bros have 3 of the older Dooleys, they're probably tumbled at least once every years, very unstable trailers, more so loaded than empty, it's like pulling a boat, you just can't look in your mirrors or you'd be a nervous wreck, never seen trailers to sway so badly. The whole undercarriage on them was refurbished a few years ago and floatation tyres fitted at the time but it made very little difference. We used to get the loan of them for silage but they were that bad we went back to using the timber Eurekas...
 
Blue Ray said:
A friend of mine has a Broughan and a Smyth, both 22' and both fine trailers. The Smyth is better finished (the welding and the wiring) but the Broughan tows better, laden and unladen in his opinion. The Smyth didn't come with a safety valve for the hydraulic back door so he had one fitted.
We have 3 Broughan trailers here, bought from 2 different dealers and one direct from the manufacturer, there was no problem facilitating any customisations I requested. But I can see how this would be an issue through one particular agent as @Philip.. said!
All my trailers were delivered on schedule at or before the agreed date. I've never had any issue with any of the trailers, but they wouldn't be working too hard.
I won't be buying a new trailer this year but if I were, my first choice would be Damien Power, I'm just not sure how busy he is or when he'd be able to deliver a tipping trailer, maybe @Claas Grass has an idea on this? But I do believe that his workmanship is up there with the best.
Click to expand...

Time would be Damiens only flaw, he makes a lot of bespoke stuff so it's probably much harder to put a timescale on a trailer like Smyth who are almost production line spec. The next grain trailer will either be from Damien or a Redrock, they are extremely well built in my opinion.
 
It used to be the case with the older Redrock trailers that they were narrower those south of the border.

Is that still the case?
 
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