Cattle Trailers with Roof Vents: Airflow Without Giving Up the Roof
A full solid roof protects cattle from sun and rain, but a sealed-up box with no airflow can turn into an oven on a stopped trailer in July. Star Manufacturing offers roof vents on our covered cattle trailers and solid-side builds — letting hot air escape out the top while keeping the weather protection ranchers choose a full roof for in the first place. Every vented roof is built on the same 5/16" seam-welded frame and fully hot dip galvanized in Wharton, TX.
Roof vents work on the stack-effect principle: hot air rises and exits through the vents, pulling cooler air in from lower openings or the front. On a covered trailer sitting in a parking lot or stopped in highway traffic, that airflow can be the difference between cattle riding comfortably and cattle showing real heat stress.
Roof Vent Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Available On | Covered/solid-roof trailers, 14' to 40' |
| Vent Type | Weather-resistant roof vents, positioned along roofline |
| Function | Passive airflow — hot air exits top, cooler air pulled in low |
| Frame | 5/16" thick, 3x5 heavy angle iron, seam welded |
| Finish | Full hot dip galvanized |
| Best Paired With | covered cattle trailers or solid side cattle trailers |
Who Should Add Roof Vents
- Covered trailer owners hauling in summer heat: A solid roof without vents can trap heat — vents restore the airflow a bar-top design gives up naturally.
- Solid-side operators: Closed lower panels already limit crossflow; roof vents add another path for heat to escape.
- Long-haul commercial operations: Trailers that sit loaded for extended stops (weigh stations, fuel breaks, sale barn queues) benefit most from passive top-venting.
- Anyone hauling year-round: Vents help in summer heat and don't compromise the winter weather protection a full roof provides.
If you chose a covered or solid-side trailer specifically for weather protection but haul through hot Texas or Gulf Coast summers, roof vents let you keep both — protection when it rains, airflow when it's hot.
Built the Same Way, Vented Where It Counts
Roof vents are added during fabrication on the same laser cut, tabbed and slotted frame and full hot dip galvanized finish as every trailer we build. Combine with LED lighting and rubber flooring for a fully equipped covered hauler.
Passive Vents vs. Powered Ventilation
Roof vents on our trailers are passive — no fans, no power source, nothing to wire or maintain. They rely on the same stack-effect airflow that ventilates a barn: hot air naturally rises and exits through the roof openings, pulling cooler air in below. That simplicity means one less system that can fail on the road, while still meaningfully improving airflow over a fully sealed covered box.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do roof vents let rain in?
No — vents are designed and positioned to allow airflow while shedding rain, keeping the weather protection of a full roof intact.
Can I add vents to an open bar-top trailer?
Bar-top trailers already have open sides for ventilation, so roof vents are typically reserved for covered and solid-side builds where airflow is otherwise limited.
How many vents does a typical trailer need?
It depends on trailer length and your typical hauling climate — talk to our team about your routes and herd size for a vent layout recommendation.
How do I get pricing on a vented covered trailer?
Use our online quote builder for instant pricing, or call (979) 532-1486 to talk through your hauling conditions with our team in Wharton, TX.
See the full lineup on our cattle trailers page, or contact us directly.