Chat
09-25-2023, 06:48 AM
Most folks use a trailer for such long journeys, but not everyone. Usually at every NAPgA Rendezvous there are at least one or two people who haul across several states with their goats in the back of a pickup, van, or SUV. How comfortable they are will depend a lot on how big they are. Unless you have a custom-built goat hauling crate on the back of your truck, your full-grown goats won't be able to stand with their heads in a normal position, especially if they have horns. You also have to be careful about your windows. Windows on truck toppers are not built for livestock and your goats might break them. If you leave them open for ventilation they'll almost certainly eat or poke out the screens. I'd definitely suggest hauling them on a few shorter trips first and see how they do. If they handle it great you can plan a longer trip. If you discover that they really aren't happy then you'll have to figure out some way to modify your set-up.
A lot of folks find it's just easier to use a horse trailer. Sometimes you can find an old two-horse trailer pretty cheap and fix it up. Just make sure you get one with a solid door in the rear and not one with a 3/4 door. Either that or be prepared to have something welded across the upper portion so your goats can't jump out and so a bear can't get in. With a trailer you will have the bed of your pickup available for hauling gear, and it may also be more bear-proof than the back of your truck. Bears are something I always consider when camping in the mountains. A trailer will also give you a separate area to store your feed, extra bedding, etc. There's a lot of stuff that goes into an extended trip with goats so you want to make sure all of you are as comfortable as possible.
Usually I try to make sure the first day after a long trip is an easy one. You either want to plan a day hike so there is less gear to haul. If you don't have enough time to squeeze in a day hike, then make sure the first leg of your multi-day trip is a short one so you can start late after you've given your goats at least a couple of hours to stretch their legs, browse, and have time to rest and get a drink, with plenty of time to do more of the same once you reach the first camp.
I hope this works out for you!
A lot of folks find it's just easier to use a horse trailer. Sometimes you can find an old two-horse trailer pretty cheap and fix it up. Just make sure you get one with a solid door in the rear and not one with a 3/4 door. Either that or be prepared to have something welded across the upper portion so your goats can't jump out and so a bear can't get in. With a trailer you will have the bed of your pickup available for hauling gear, and it may also be more bear-proof than the back of your truck. Bears are something I always consider when camping in the mountains. A trailer will also give you a separate area to store your feed, extra bedding, etc. There's a lot of stuff that goes into an extended trip with goats so you want to make sure all of you are as comfortable as possible.
Usually I try to make sure the first day after a long trip is an easy one. You either want to plan a day hike so there is less gear to haul. If you don't have enough time to squeeze in a day hike, then make sure the first leg of your multi-day trip is a short one so you can start late after you've given your goats at least a couple of hours to stretch their legs, browse, and have time to rest and get a drink, with plenty of time to do more of the same once you reach the first camp.
I hope this works out for you!