New trailer fits bill for Herts farming firm

A Hertfordshire contract-farming business operating one of the first short-chassis 24t Richard Western SF24HS Suffolk trailers is already reaping returns both through its capacity and key design features.

Launched at LAMMA 2024, the new design means the short-chassis SF24HS has a fully-tipped height 1.0m lower (8.5m) than the standard SF24, plus a smaller hydraulic cylinder requirement and a lower tractor oil demand of only 56 litres.

Overseeing 3,600ha (9,000ac) on farms between Hertford, Hitchin and Buntingford, AT Bone & Sons (ATB) purchased a short-chassis SF24HS primarily for compost and wood chip haulage.

“We were running an 18t trailer of another make, but after ten years it was showing its age,” explains James Ashley, ATB farm operations manager.

“We’ve long dealt with Olivers, currently running tractors, combines and a pair of Richard Western grain chasers from them, so when the SF24HS was launched, it appealed as we know Richard Western’s design and quality standards.

“Beyond the extra capacity, appealing features included triple axles with front and rear steering, hydraulic suspension, the hydraulically-damped drawbar and a hydraulically-operated rollover sheet.

“Our grain chaser experience showed us Richard Western products’ build quality and handling. The SF24HS rides really nicely behind our Fastrac 8330, and stops swiftly, even when fully loaded, aided by the tractor’s ABS. And while previously we’ve needed to lock the rear steering on tri-axle trailers for road travel, this trailer’s BPW steering axles are very precise.

“The weigh cells and connected phone app make for precise loading, while the hydraulic rollover sheet swiftly secures the load. And when tipping there’s no discernible movement on the hitch or rocking of the trailer. It’s an excellent design that’s more than met our expectations.”