Star Manufacturing Bar Top Livestock Trailer: Configuration Guide and Specs

By Star Manufacturing • May 29, 2026 • cattle-trailers

What Is a Bar Top Livestock Trailer?

The bar top — sometimes called open top, slat side, or pipe rail — is the traditional open-sided livestock trailer configuration. Instead of a solid steel wall, the upper portion of the trailer sides consists of horizontal rails or bars spaced to provide ventilation while containing livestock. The lower section typically has a solid kick plate to protect animals at leg level.

For most commercial cattle operations hauling beef cattle, bar top trailers are the standard choice. The ventilation keeps cattle cooler under load, reduces heat stress on summer hauls, and the open design lets you visually check on your load from the road.

Star Manufacturing builds bar top livestock trailers on the same 5/16" thick, 3×5 heavy angle frame — seam welded and fully hot dip galvanized — that goes into every trailer we make. The difference is in the upper sidewall design, not in the structural integrity underneath.

Bar Top Configuration: Design Elements

Upper Rail Section

The bar top section on Star Manufacturing trailers consists of horizontal steel bars spaced to prevent cattle from putting legs through while still allowing full airflow. The spacing is designed around cattle behavior: close enough to prevent escape attempts or leg entrapment, open enough that a full trailer of cattle isn't sharing recycled air at highway speed.

All rails are laser cut and tabbed-and-slotted into the upright posts before welding, ensuring consistent spacing the full length of the trailer. This matters more than it sounds — inconsistent bar spacing from hand-fabrication can create leverage points that stressed cattle push against, and over time those points fail before the rest of the trailer.

Solid Kick Plate / Lower Side

The lower 18–24" of the trailer side is solid steel — the kick plate. This protects against leg injuries when cattle shift, prevents debris from getting underneath at low clearance, and keeps manure and bedding from washing out on the road. The height of the kick plate can be configured based on your operation.

Roof Options

Bar top trailers can be configured with:

Open top — maximum ventilation, traditional for cattle. Not appropriate for rain-sensitive livestock (calves, show cattle) but standard for mature beef cattle operations
Solid roof — full coverage for weather protection. More common on horse/stock trailers but available for livestock configurations when needed
Partial vented roof — ridge vent or side overhang with partial coverage; balances ventilation and weather protection

Gate Configurations

The gates on a livestock trailer are where a lot of the day-to-day frustration (or satisfaction) comes from. Star Manufacturing bar top trailers can be configured with:

Rear full-width swing gate — single gate for full rear opening, most common for general cattle hauling
Rear split gates (barn door) — two gates that open independently. Useful for sorting individual animals or managing partial loads
Mid-gate / divider — interior gate for dividing the trailer into two compartments. Allows hauling multiple groups (bulls separate from cows, different lots, etc.)
Front escape door — small personnel door at the nose for accessing the front compartment without going through livestock

Trailer Lengths and Cattle Capacity

Star Manufacturing bar top livestock trailers are available from 14' to 40' in length, with widths at 6'8", 7', and 7'6". Capacity depends on cattle weight class:

Trailer Length	Width	~Capacity (1,000 lb steers)	~Capacity (1,200 lb cows)
16'	6'8"	6–7 head	5–6 head
20'	7'	9–10 head	7–8 head
24'	7'	11–13 head	9–11 head
28'	7'6"	14–16 head	12–14 head
32'	7'6"	17–20 head	14–17 head
36'	7'6"	20–24 head	17–20 head
40'	7'6"	24–28 head	20–24 head

Note: Capacities are estimates based on standard loading density guidelines (0.5–0.6 sq ft per 100 lbs per USDA/APHIS recommendations). Always comply with your state's livestock hauling regulations and your tow vehicle's rated capacity.

Bar Top vs. Solid Side: How to Choose

The bar top vs. solid side decision comes down to what you're hauling and your typical weather conditions.

Choose Bar Top If:

You're hauling beef cattle (stocker, feeder, cow-calf, commercial ranching)
You haul in warm to hot weather (Texas, Gulf Coast, Southern plains)
You want to visually check your load from the cab mirror or roadside
You're loading and unloading at multiple locations (feedlot, auction, pasture)
Weight matters — bar top trailers are lighter than solid side equivalent sizes

Consider Solid Side If:

You're hauling horses or show cattle regularly (weather protection, reduced road noise/spooking)
You haul in frequent cold, wet, or windy conditions
You're moving young calves or lighter livestock that may be more vulnerable to temperature variation
You need privacy/containment (exotic livestock, stressed animals)

Many ranchers operate both configurations depending on the season and the haul. Star Manufacturing can build to your specs — use the quote builder to compare options side-by-side.

Hot Dip Galvanizing on Bar Top Trailers

One of the advantages of the bar top configuration specific to galvanizing: every bar, post, and rail gets fully coated when the whole trailer is dipped in molten zinc. On a solid-sided painted trailer, the interior of enclosed panels can trap moisture and rust from the inside where you can't see it. With a bar top galvanized trailer, there are no enclosed cavities — every surface is exposed to the galvanizing bath and protected equally.

This means the rails that take the most direct contact from cattle movement — rubbing, leaning, impact — are just as well protected as the frame rails underneath. On a painted bar top, the rails are often the first thing to show rust from constant livestock contact scratching through the paint.

Read more about the galvanizing process: Hot Dip Galvanizing Process Explained

Floor Options for Bar Top Livestock Trailers

The floor is the livestock trailer component that takes the most direct abuse. Options on Star Manufacturing livestock trailers include:

Aluminum tread plate — lightweight, corrosion-resistant, easy to clean, good traction with the raised diamond pattern. Standard for most cattle operations.
Rubber mat over aluminum — adds cushioning for longer hauls or livestock welfare considerations. Heavier, but reduces leg fatigue and injury on extended transport.
Steel grating — maximum drainage, common in commercial feedlot and auction house applications where fast cleanup between loads matters

See the full breakdown: Cattle Trailer Flooring: Rubber Mat vs. Aluminum

Hitch Type: Gooseneck vs. Bumper Pull for Bar Top Trailers

Star Manufacturing bar top livestock trailers are available in both gooseneck and bumper pull configurations. The choice depends on your tow vehicle and trailer length:

Bumper pull — practical for 14'–20' trailers. Lower hitch capacity limits maximum load for longer trailers.
Gooseneck — recommended for 20'+ trailers. Gooseneck hitches in the truck bed allow greater tongue weight capacity (typically 25,000–30,000 lbs) compared to bumper pull (up to ~18,500 lbs for heavy-duty setups).

For commercial cattle operations regularly hauling 10+ head, a gooseneck configuration is the practical standard. See towing requirements by trailer weight: Cattle Trailer Towing Guide

Pricing and Configuration

Bar top livestock trailer pricing varies by length, width, gate configuration, floor choice, and hitch type. Star Manufacturing's online quote builder lets you build your exact specification and see pricing instantly without waiting for a dealer callback.

To talk through your operation's requirements and get a custom quote, call (979) 532-1486 or visit us at 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488. We build every trailer to order in Wharton, TX — you're talking to the people who will actually build yours.

Browse the full cattle trailer lineup or contact us with any questions about bar top configurations for your specific operation.