Even if you're a complete novice to the world of livestock showmanship, you've probably or seen the Dadson family around social media. This California-based family has become instantly recognizable online since they burst onto the TikTok scene a few years ago sharing content for their show pig business, Dadson Farms. We’ve been following the Dadsons on Instagram for a while now, and we couldn’t help but notice a familiar silhouette: a Frontier Stock LowPro DDFW trailer!
We caught up with Karalyn Dadson, the hard-working mom behind the now-viral social media accounts, who’s busy raising a family and award-winning show pigs. Her teenage twins, Karis and Krew, already have many years of experience in the ring, and both have honed their showmanship with a focus and precision that’s led to numerous victories. The family is on the road frequently, and they've continued to connect with a growing social media community.
The Dadson family is rolling with a Frontier Trailers Stock LowPro DDFW Bumper Pull Series. It’s a six-pen, 7’ x 16’ trailer with screwless bonded side panels in Crystal White. The Dadsons purchased their Frontier Trailer in 2019 after seeing it at a livestock show, where a dealer friend was showing and selling Frontier.
"We bought our trailer in 2019 and it is still going strong," Karalyn shared. "It definitely has exceeded our expectations; the only problem was not buying a bigger one [to start]."
We asked about life on the road with a Frontier trailer. What's it like for a hard-working family who routinely travels to visit livestock shows across the USA? It's a whole lot of driving; Karalyn told us they're on the road at least once a month, with up to three livestock show trips in a busy month. Some shows are close to home, just a few minutes down the road, while others range up to 26 hours away. The Dadsons have hauled their Frontier trailer cross-country from their California farm to Duncan, OK; Des Moines, IA; Idaho; Arizona; and even to Mount Rushmore!
At a livestock show, the trailer has multiple uses. It's a changing room; a place to hang out and relax; a lockable enclosure for valuables. Check out this trailer tour for a close-up view of how the Dadsons have customized their trailer, and how cozy that tack room looks when it’s set up as a mini lounge!
At home, a trailer with built-in pens is convenient because it can be used as temporary livestock pens.
The Dadsons keep their Frontier trailer in great shape with routine cleanups. They also wash the trailer out before a show and put down fresh shavings before getting underway, so everyone has a clean and comfortable ride.
A few must-have trailer upgrades Karalyn shared with us? Don't skip the following when setting up your livestock trailer:
We'd like to thank Karalyn Dadson for taking the time to give us a sneak peek inside her family's trailer. The Dadson family is always on the go, and each member of the family is involved in livestock showing. As a recent post on their Facebook page shared, the Dadsons didn't start with much beyond a dream, hard work and plenty of heart. Today, they're setting an example for families nationwide who are interested in learning more about the world of livestock shows and the livestock industry!
Want to haul like the champs? Check out the Frontier Stock LowPro DDFW Bumper Pull Series. These livestock trailers are built to withstand regular travel wherever you're heading for livestock shows, auctions, agricultural fairs and more. Let's look specifically at the standard and available features for the Dadsons' Frontier trailer, the Stock LowPro DDFW BP 7x16.
The Stock LowPro DDFW has a V-nose front and 24" stone guard, all box tube aluminum chassis, one-piece .040" aluminum roof, and extruded aluminum decking with 12" O/C I-beam crossmembers. The upper side panels are 040" pre-painted aluminum and the lower panels are extruded aluminum. All the trailer's lights are fitted with LED bulbs and sealed against water intrusion for long-lasting, bright, efficient marker and signal lights.
Inside, the 6-pen 7x16 model has six 4' adjustable stalls built with a spring latch system. Each pen includes one drop-down feed window. The window is 45" x 18" with a drop-down panel that opens from the outside for easy access, and strong aluminum bars for security and ventilation. The built-in tack room is 44" x 7' plus the V-nose area, with a side access door that includes its own sliding window and screen. Half-inch rubber mats in the tack room are easy to clean, and an LED dome light with a wall switch comes standard.
Available upgrades include a ramp over the rear double doors that makes it even easier for animals to get in and out of the trailer; an outside loading light; an interior power and light package; larger drop-down feed windows (45" x 24" from 45" x 18"); bucket hangers in the tack room and stock area; a brace and stub wire for installation of an air conditioner. For a finished look, add wall and/or ceiling liners to the stock and tack areas; optional wall and ceiling insulation are available for improved climate control.
When you're ready to upgrade to aluminum for your own livestock trailer, think Frontier Trailers! Explore our horse trailers and livestock trailers online to learn more. Our livestock trailers are available in bumper pull and gooseneck models, with smaller and larger sizes for every need. Then, use our Dealer Locator to find your nearest Frontier Trailers dealer and get started customizing your own ideal aluminum livestock trailer.