Work trailers · Veterinary
Mobile veterinary trailers
A ProVanWorks mobile vet trailer is a heated, insulated work trailer fitted out as an exam room for animals, with an exam table, seating for the owner, hot water, a waterproof floor and a railing at the door. We build it at our shop in Langley, BC, on the same platform as our winter-ready grooming vans and trailers, and deliver to veterinarians across Canada and in the United States.
Why choose a vet trailer instead of a vet van?
A vet trailer suits a practice that runs clinic days at one site, such as a rural community, a farm, a shelter, a rescue or a pet store, or a vet who already owns a truck that can tow it. You unhitch the ProVanWorks trailer, see animals all day on its own heat, water and power, and use the truck for farm calls in between. A mobile vet van suits house calls on residential streets, where one vehicle is easier to park. ProVanWorks builds both.
What goes inside a ProVanWorks vet trailer?
A ProVanWorks vet trailer has an exam area for you and the animal, and a seating area where the owner sits during the visit. The drawing at the top of this page shows a common layout, with a closed exam room in the back half and owner seating in the front half by the door. The build can include:
- An exam table in the work area, under the ceiling lights.
- Seating for the owner, close to the animal.
- A railing at the door, so dogs cannot get out when the door is open.
- A waterproof floor that you can wash down between patients.
- A sink with running hot water from a fresh water reservoir, and a separate grey water tank.
- Cabinets for supplies and equipment.
- Two fans, with air conditioning on the front fan.
- Optional windows that open, for daylight and fresh air.
We use top-quality products and materials in every build.
Can I pick a ready-designed layout or have my own built?
Yes, either one. ProVanWorks builds every vet trailer to the customer's specifications, or you can start from one of our already designed systems and change what you need. Tell us how you examine animals, the species you see and the equipment you carry, and we'll lay out the trailer around it.
What comes in every ProVanWorks vet trailer?
Every feature we build into our grooming vans is available in a ProVanWorks vet trailer, including insulation, in-floor and in-wall heat with heat exchangers and a thermostat, hot water that works in very low winter temperatures, a large water reservoir, a grey water tank, an auxiliary battery bank, lights along the ceiling and a door railing. The cards below explain each system.
Features available in every ProVanWorks trailer
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In-floor and in-wall heat
A diesel, gas or electric heater warms fluid that runs through pipes in the floor and walls, plus heat exchangers around the work area, so the whole trailer warms evenly.
How the heating works: In-floor and in-wall heat -
Hot water in deep cold
Hot water at the tub in very low winter temperatures, with the water reservoir kept inside the insulated, heated trailer.
The water system: Hot water in deep cold -
Large fresh and grey tanks
A large water reservoir for a full day of work, filled through a water inlet that can also supply water on the spot, and a separate grey water tank that empties through an outlet with an electric switch.
Tanks and grey water: Large fresh and grey tanks -
Batteries that charge at EV stations
An auxiliary battery bank runs your equipment and lights. It tops up through a J1772 inlet at the same Level 2 chargers electric cars use, or through the 50 A (or 30 A) and 20 A, 120 V inlets. A generator is available as an add-on.
Power and EV charging: Batteries that charge at EV stations -
Thermostat, fans and A/C
A thermostat holds the temperature you set. Two fans move air front and back, and the front fan also runs the air conditioning for summer.
Heating and cooling: Thermostat, fans and A/C -
Lights every 30 cm
Lights run along the ceiling about every 30 cm (1 ft), so there are no shadows on the dog while you scissor and trim.
How the layout works: Lights every 30 cm -
Waterproof floor and cabinets
A waterproof floor handles bath water, snow and slush. Cabinets in the trailer keep shampoo, tools and towels in reach.
How the layout works: Waterproof floor and cabinets -
Door railing and windows
A railing at the door keeps dogs inside when the door is open. Optional windows bring in daylight and open for fresh air.
How the layout works: Door railing and windows
How does a vet trailer keep animals warm in winter?
A ProVanWorks vet trailer keeps animals warm with insulation in the walls, roof and floor and heat that comes up through the floor and out of the walls. A diesel, gas or electric heater warms fluid in pipes running through the floor and walls, heat exchangers move the warm air around the room, and a thermostat holds the temperature you set. A sick or older animal lying on a warm floor is easier to keep comfortable than one on cold metal. In summer, the front fan runs the air conditioning. The cold-weather design page explains each part of the heating system.
What water does a mobile vet trailer carry?
A ProVanWorks vet trailer carries a fresh water reservoir in the rear utility area and a separate grey water tank, sized to the trailer and how many animals you see in a day. The water inlet fills the reservoir from a drinking-water-safe hose, or supplies water on the spot when you're parked by a tap. The grey water outlet opens with an electric switch, and grey water goes to an approved disposal point or the sanitary sewer, never a storm drain. The water system page covers tanks and hot water in more detail.
What power does a mobile vet trailer have, and can it have a generator?
A ProVanWorks vet trailer runs its lights, fans and equipment from an auxiliary battery bank in the rear utility area. The batteries charge at Level 2 EV chargers through a J1772 inlet, or from shore power through the 50 A inlet (30 A also available) and the 20 A, 120 V inlet. High-amp inverters and chargers are available for equipment that draws more power.
A generator is an optional add-on for vet trailers that spend full days at farms, rural sites or events far from any outlet. Solar panels and side covers (awnings) are also available. Send us a list of the equipment you plan to run so we can size the battery bank and tell you whether a generator makes sense for your rounds.
What standards apply to a mobile veterinary practice?
Veterinary colleges set the facility standards for mobile practices, such as the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia (CVBC) in BC. Those standards are the veterinarian's responsibility, so check what your college requires before you plan the layout, and send us the list.
Frequently asked questions
Can a vet trailer have a generator?
Yes. A generator is an optional add-on for any ProVanWorks vet trailer. Most trailers run on the battery bank, charged at EV chargers or from shore power, and a generator adds power for long days far from an outlet.
Does a vet trailer have the same railing as a grooming van?
Yes. ProVanWorks fits the same railing at the door of a vet trailer as on every grooming van, so a dog stays inside when you open the door to talk to an owner or bring in the next patient.
How do I get a price for a mobile vet trailer?
Email info@provanworks.com with how you practise, the equipment you carry, the truck you'll tow with and where you'll set up. We reply with a layout and a quote. See our other custom work trailers.
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