Cattle Trailers in Wichita, Kansas — Built for Kansas Cattle Country
Wichita sits at the center of Kansas's cattle industry — the most beef-intensive state in the nation. Sedgwick County is surrounded by counties that run millions of head of cattle through feedlots, cow-calf operations, and stocker programs every year. To the south and west — Sumner, Kingman, Pratt, Barber, Harper, and Comanche counties — range beef cattle at commercial scale on native bluestem and mixed-grass prairie. To the north, Harvey and Butler counties blend grain and cattle. And east, Greenwood and Elk counties anchor the Flint Hills — arguably the finest native grass cattle country in North America. If you're running cattle in south-central Kansas, your trailer gets used hard. Star Manufacturing builds for that.
Kansas Feedlot Country — What Your Trailer Handles
Kansas is the second-largest cattle-feeding state in the country. Cattle flow through this region constantly — calves backgrounded on grass in the Flint Hills, then trucked to feedlots in the south-central Kansas corridor, then to packing plants in Dodge City, Liberal, or Garden City. The cattle that move through Wichita-area operations are often moved multiple times in a single season — from range to backgrounding to feedlot to processing. Your trailer takes every one of those trips.
Star Manufacturing trailers are built on a 5/16" thick, 3×5 heavy angle frame — seam welded throughout. This isn't the light-gauge construction you'll find in production trailers built to a price point. The frame is designed to handle commercial loads repeatedly over decades, not just seasonally. When you're running cattle twice a week from a 500-head backgrounding operation to Wichita markets, frame integrity over the long haul matters more than the initial price difference.
Star Manufacturing Specs
- Frame: 5/16" thick, 3×5 heavy angle steel — fully seam welded
- Finish: Full hot dip galvanized (ASTM A123) or premium paint
- Fabrication: Laser cut, tabbed and slotted components — precision fit before welding
- Sizes: 14' through 40'
- Widths: 6'8", 7'0", or 7'6"
- Factory: Star Manufacturing, 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488
Drive Time: Wharton, TX to Wichita, KS
Wichita is approximately 9–10 hours from our Wharton facility — north on US-183 through Abilene, Texas, continuing north through Oklahoma, or via I-35 north through Oklahoma City. It's a straightforward route with minimal mountains or difficult terrain. We arrange delivery to the Wichita area, and pickup buyers find the run easy to combine with a visit to Oklahoma cattle markets on the way down.
Cattle Markets and Infrastructure Near Wichita
Wichita and the surrounding area host some of the highest-volume cattle markets in the central Plains. Kingman Livestock Auction, El Dorado Livestock Auction, and the state's largest sale barns in Pratt and Medicine Lodge draw producers from across south-central Kansas. The Flint Hills Grassland east of Wichita — spanning Butler, Chase, Greenwood, and Elk counties — provides premium native grass for stocker cattle that's in high demand from Gulf Coast and Midwest feedlot buyers alike.
Producers hauling to Kansas City or to western Kansas feedlots from the Wichita area regularly run 32'–40' trailers with full loads. Commercial-scale operators who've run light-duty trailers for a season quickly discover the value of heavy angle framing when a trailer sustains damage on a rough county road and the frame needs to take the hit without flexing.
Trailer Sizes for Kansas Operations
| Trailer Length | Typical Use | Approximate Head |
|---|---|---|
| 14'–16' | Small farm, stocker samples, local moves | 4–6 cows |
| 20'–24' | Cow-calf hauls, mid-size backgrounder loads | 8–12 cows |
| 28'–32' | Commercial backgrounder and feedlot transfers | 14–18 cows |
| 36'–40' | Full commercial loads, feedlot and packing plant runs | 20–26 cows |
Get an Instant Price — No Waiting
Star Manufacturing's online quote builder gives you live pricing on any configuration immediately. Set your length, width, finish, and options — get your number. Ready to order or have questions about a custom spec? Call (979) 532-1486 or visit us at 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488.
Other Kansas and Midwest Pages
We serve Kansas cattle producers across the state. See also: Dodge City, Kansas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, OK, and Springfield, MO. Browse our full cattle trailer lineup and contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you deliver cattle trailers to Wichita, Kansas?
Yes. We arrange delivery to Wichita and the surrounding south-central Kansas region. Call (979) 532-1486 to discuss scheduling and delivery rates.
What's the best trailer size for Kansas feedlot operations?
Commercial feedlot transfer and backgrounder hauls typically run 32'–40' trailers. Smaller cow-calf and stocker operations are well served by 24'–28' units. Use our quote builder to price any configuration.
Do I need galvanized in Kansas's dry climate?
Kansas is drier than Gulf Coast states, so the corrosion argument is less urgent — though south-central Kansas still gets 28–35 inches of rain annually and the feedlot environment (urine, manure, and perpetual moisture) is highly corrosive regardless of climate. Galvanized is still the right choice for heavy commercial use; painted is a reasonable option for operations in drier western Kansas or with good maintenance practices.
Can I customize the trailer length and gate configuration?
Yes. Use the online quote builder for standard configurations or call us to discuss custom specs for specific hauling requirements.