water troughs - plastic vs galvanised steel, which is better?

[pixie]

My lovely big (very old) galvanized steel water trough has rusted through this winter, so I'm having to make do with trugs and smaller troughs at the moment.
I'm looking to replace it ASAP. I'm wanting something about 6ft long so it can go between two fields. Also great if its not too heavy so it can be moved to the field edge at the end of the winter.

I was thinking about plastic, but does it go brittle when the water gets icy? Or should I stick with the trusty galvanized steel? pros? cons?

Thanks!!
(Also, ltns )

 

[ycbm]

I had a plastic one, I think the corners on metal ones can be a bit dangerous if there's any crowding at the trough.
.

 

[cauda equina]

I've got plastic ones years old, they're still sturdy with no broken bits

 

[PeterNatt]

I replaced all my metal ones with plastic ones as my neighbours horse broke its leg kicking against a metal one. I installed 7 plastic ones and they have all lasted over 20 years. I bought them direct from Paxton who make several different models. I also put an in-line plastic stop cock on each of them so that I can turn each one off and clean them out. Here is the link: https://paxtonagri.com/product-category/equine/water-troughs/

 

[SpotsandBays]

I have a huge plastic bucket that I use for my lot. I don’t think they make them anymore but will try to find a link!

 

[Lady Jane]

I have both. If I was buying again I would have plastic. My 'permanent' plastic trough has been is use 12 years and is still going strong, I inherited my galvanised steel troughs

 

[JBM]

Plastic
Was told the water freezes slower in it ??‍

 

[pixie]

Interesting! Thank you for the swift replies <3

 

[jsprince]

I originally had 240 litre plastic troughs but have moved to 6 ft galvanised ones.

I would advise not to go plastic if you have horses like mine who would make a game of picking the trough up with teeth and play tug with it, you too will end up with flooded field and a water geyser.

This could just be my Draft hooligans though.

I will say the trough didn't break just the water pipe.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I use the really big stubbs buckets or the huge trugs as my metal trough started leaking.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Definitely plastic. When I was at livery my Dales enjoyed knocking on the 100 gallon galvanised trough with his hoof for attention. It made a satisfying bonging noise across the valley until he put his hoof through it. Here in Ireland during lockdown the only double trough I could buy was made of steel encased in concrete. It is very heavy. In fact we had to hire a caterpillar telehandler machine to get it in position. Then I noticed there was no bung and phoned the supplier. They don’t come with a bung, just jamb a stick in the drainage hole. WTF I thought. I’m into this for the cost of the damn trough, transport, two men x half a day‘s labour each and a giant machine, there’s no way I’m using a stick as a bung. I used an antique silver champagne cork until I found the perfect bung at Mr Price. It’s a silicone bottle stopper with a sunflower on top. I bought nine but I’m still on the first one. Stick be damned.

 

[Esmae]

Plastic plasterers baths. Had mine years now and they are as good as new.

 

[Highmileagecob]

If you like your steel one, it might be worth asking a welder to patch it?

 

[Indieanna6]

I use a plastic plasterers bath - only about £30 and had it a few years now.
Light enough to move around and easy to clean out ?

 

[scruffyponies]

i can't be the only one using the old cast iron bath from the house, surely? My OH still hasn't forgiven me for asking him to get it down the stairs in one piece.

 

[pixie]

I used to use an old bath when we lived in South Africa, it was great! Holds a huge amount of water, plus a handy plug for easy emptying and cleaning

 

[Muddy unicorn]

I was about to ask a similar question so thank you. The old cast iron bath in one of my fields is cracked beyond repair. The adjoining field doesn’t currently have water running to it as there’s a stream at the bottom of the field. However I’d like to replace the current bath with a double trough that can go either side of the boundary hedge - any recommendations for good double troughs please?

 

[ponynutz]

We use a bath still! Probably past it’s sell by date but have very sensible horses and padding round the edges.

 

[PeterNatt]

Muddy Unicorn As stated above the automatic Paxtons last for years and have a ball cock valve so fill up automatically from the connected water supply. https://paxtonagri.com/product-category/equine/water-troughs/

 

[SheriffTruman]

Definitely plastic. When I was at livery my Dales enjoyed knocking on the 100 gallon galvanised trough with his hoof for attention. It made a satisfying bonging noise across the valley until he put his hoof through it. Here in Ireland during lockdown the only double trough I could buy was made of steel encased in concrete. It is very heavy. In fact we had to hire a caterpillar telehandler machine to get it in position. Then I noticed there was no bung and phoned the supplier. They don’t come with a bung, just jamb a stick in the drainage hole. WTF I thought. I’m into this for the cost of the damn trough, transport, two men x half a day‘s labour each and a giant machine, there’s no way I’m using a stick as a bung. I used an antique silver champagne cork until I found the perfect bung at Mr Price. It’s a silicone bottle stopper with a sunflower on top. I bought nine but I’m still on the first one. Stick be damned.

???

 

[Esmae]

I was about to ask a similar question so thank you. The old cast iron bath in one of my fields is cracked beyond repair. The adjoining field doesn’t currently have water running to it as there’s a stream at the bottom of the field. However I’d like to replace the current bath with a double trough that can go either side of the boundary hedge - any recommendations for good double troughs please?

Again plasters baths. We have ours between 2 paddocks. Works perfectly.

 

[PeterNatt]

Esmae! Why not buy a 'Ram Pump' which only requires the water from a stream to make it pump water from the stream. You could then then attach it to a plastic water trough and no more filling it up by hand.

 

[Esmae]

Esmae! Why not buy a 'Ram Pump' which only requires the water from a stream to make it pump water from the stream. You could then then attach it to a plastic water trough and no more filling it up by hand.

I fill nothing by hand. I have an integrated system of hosepipes that click and unclick which takes water to all troughs all over the place. It was Muddy Unicorn who was talking of streams. We have a stream at the bottom of our land but there is no way that I would use it for livestock as it takes the outflow from the local sewage works. Our water comes from the mains.