Horse stall mats for stock trailer floor?

gwece

Member
Can anyone tell me if the 3/4 inch horse stall mats like the farm stores sell will make a good floor covering for a 16 foot stock trailer floor (for hauling feeder calves) or will they be too slippery? My floor is rough sawn white oak (good floor but gets slick). If the mats are recommended, what is the best way to fasten down so you can remove easily if necessary? Or would I just be better off to staple in a cattle panel?

Thanks!
Horse Stall Mats Link
 
I put rubber mats in my 16 ft trailer when I bought it in 1997 and they have never been out. I nailed them down. If you could get a one piece mat I think it would be better but you do what you have to do. I would not staple down a cattle panel as you won't be able to clean out.
 
All of the horse trailers we have ever owned came with that type of stall mat. We matted our entire horse barn with them. The mats are not slippery when wet. They have a very course finish one side and a not so course on the other. They are very heavy so they will not move around once they are on the ground or in a trailer. I would not fasten them down. If they start to "walk out" the back of the trailer you could put a piece of angle iron or the like at the door way to hold them in place. I doen't think you will need too.

Jack
 
I've thought about trying them in the dog kennel. Looks like the would clean up/hose off pretty easy. I see them at auctions occasionally and they don't usually go for a lot.

Larry
 
Work great for calves and cattle .mine are not tied down nice if you want to wash it down also if you want to haul something beside cattle you can take them out
 
I have them in my trailers. Not slippery. Not nailed down but cut to fit. I take them out once in a while to clean the mats , wash the wood floor and let it dry good. Usually do the dry out on a very hot sunny july day.
 
agree with others - not too slippery.

Just be sure to take them out from time to time to let the floor dry out good.
 

Work good on wooden floor to take some "slip" out of it.

I only have one 4 x 6 piece in a 12' and it made a big difference, put it center line of trailer, does not move on floor and lifts easily to clean trailer. Leave out to dry floor good...
 
Fella I used to work for had rubber mats 64" wide and it came in rolls. It covered the holding area in his milking parlor. He took it out and changed it all a couple of years ago. I got a lot of it and sold it for truck bed mats and horse stall mats . It was about 1/2" thick and reinforced with a real fine wire mesh but could be cut with a utility knife. A piece the size of a truck bed is very heavy . I have it in the back of my truck and my granddaughter has it in her 12'X12' horse stall laid over item 4 gravel. I never knew the name of it but If you could find some it's would serve your purpose well.
 
Those mats are great once you get them in place. Getting them in place is a giant pain.

If you decide to use them, I found that clamping two c-clamps along the edge to use as handles is the best way to wrestle them into place.
 
I have them in my 7x16 ft stock trailer. Love them. They was to heavy so I cut them 2 ft. Wide. And also cut a handle in one end. A lot safer.
 
They work great as floor in a stock or horse trailer. Cut them to fit, don't fasten them down (don't need to- those suckers are HEAVY!). To take out and put back in, you and your assistant each need a Vice-Grip on each front corner- makes them manageable.
 
I removed those matts due to it being too hard to clean up. They also hold moisture and rotted out the wood. I replaced the rotten boards and put a goat panel, 4"x4" mesh,down on top of that. Easy to power wash and dries out.
 
In my opinion the rubber mats are great for horses or 1 or 2 head of other livestock. I would forget it for a whole trailor load of cattle. Would either use wire panel, or shovel in some sand. You need the cracks between the boards to let the liquid run out on full loads, especially cattle. The mats eliminate this and you will end up with a layer of soup as slick as snot on top of the mat.
 

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