Covered vs. Bar Top Cattle Trailers: Which Roof Fits Your Operation?
After hitch style and length, the roof is one of the biggest decisions on a cattle trailer. Star Manufacturing builds both a full covered (solid roof) trailer and an open bar top trailer, plus a half top that splits the difference. The frame underneath is the same either way. What changes is how much air moves through the trailer, how much sun and rain your cattle see, and what you can safely haul. This guide lays out the tradeoffs the way a rancher would weigh them.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Covered (Solid Roof) | Bar Top (Open Top) |
|---|---|---|
| Ventilation | Depends on side slats and roof vents | Maximum — hot air escapes straight up |
| Sun / shade | Full shade over the load | No shade; cattle exposed to direct sun |
| Rain, sleet, road spray | Keeps the load and floor drier | Load gets wet in bad weather |
| Containment | Nothing can jump or climb out | Top bars contain cattle; less ideal for goats, sheep, or jumpy stock |
| Headroom feel | More enclosed — some cattle load more hesitantly | Brighter, more open — cattle often load more willingly |
| Weight | Slightly heavier (roof sheet and bows) | Lighter overall |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Lower |
| Best climate | Mixed or northern weather, long hauls, sale-barn or show use | Hot, humid Gulf Coast and South Texas summers, short ranch hauls |
When a Bar Top Makes More Sense
In Texas summers, heat stress is the main thing that hurts cattle in a trailer. A bar top lets heat and ammonia vent straight out, which is why it's the traditional choice for working ranches that make short hauls between pastures, pens, and the sale barn. It's also the lighter, more affordable build. If you mostly move grown cattle a few miles at a time and you don't haul in freezing rain, a bar top is hard to beat.
- Pasture-to-pen moves and local sale barn runs
- Hot, humid climates where airflow matters more than shade
- Buyers who want the lowest trailer weight for a given length
When a Covered Trailer Makes More Sense
A solid roof protects cattle from sun on long daytime hauls and from rain, sleet, and highway spray in winter. It also keeps anything from jumping out, which matters if you haul mixed species or show stock. Pair a covered build with side slats and roof vents and you keep much of the airflow while gaining shade. For long-distance hauling, show cattle, and seedstock buyers who want animals to arrive clean and calm, covered is usually the better call.
- Long hauls across multiple states or overnight trips
- Show cattle, registered seedstock, and 4-H/FFA animals
- Sheep, goats, calves, or any stock that might climb or jump
- Northern buyers who haul in cold, wet weather
The Middle Ground: Half Top
If you can't decide, a half top cattle trailer covers the nose or gooseneck section and leaves the rest open. You get a shaded, dry compartment up front and full airflow in the back. It's a popular choice on gooseneck trailers where the front compartment doubles as tack or feed storage.
Finish Matters Either Way
An open top lets rain and manure moisture sit on the frame, and a covered trailer can trap humidity inside. Both are reasons we hot dip galvanize every trailer: the zinc coating covers every weld, seam, and inside corner, not just the surfaces a paint gun can reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a bar top trailer bad for cattle in the rain?
Grown cattle handle rain fine on short hauls. The bigger concerns are wet, slick floors and wind chill at highway speed in cold weather. Rubber flooring helps footing in either build.
Will a covered trailer overheat my cattle?
Not if it's built with enough side openings and vents, and you don't park loaded in the sun. For heavy summer use, add roof vents.
Can I add a roof to a bar top later?
It's usually cheaper and cleaner to order the roof you want from the start, because the roof bows and sheet are welded in before galvanizing.
Which holds resale value better?
Both sell well in Texas. Covered trailers tend to draw a wider buyer pool outside the Gulf Coast; bar tops are what most local ranchers look for.
Build and Price Yours
Every Star Manufacturing trailer is built in Wharton, TX on a 5/16" thick, 3x5 heavy angle frame, seam welded, with laser-cut components that are tabbed and slotted for a precision fit, then finished with full hot dip galvanizing — the entire trailer submerged in molten zinc. Sizes run from 14' to 40'. Use the online quote builder for instant pricing, browse all cattle trailers, or contact us at (979) 532-1486. Visit us at 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488.