Towing Tips: Winter Holiday Travel with a Tow

The winter is filled with beautiful, cloud-like views, soft snowfall followed by warm evenings by crisp, hot cocoa filled fires. The winter can truly bring out the inner adventurer in you. But don’t let your next road trip come to a halt due to safety issues. Take on the winter equipped with the proper knowledge to make sure you don’t get into any life-threatening situations and your trips run smoothly. When it comes to towing in the winter, it becomes even more important to know these towing safety guidelines. Read below to learn how to travel safely this holiday season with a tow. 

5 Winter Tow Tips, Trailer Safety, & More 

1. Maintenance & Tire Checks: Regular vehicle maintenance checks should be done once a year to multiple times a  year, as well as making sure your tires are maintaining their tread. Your trailer needs to be up to date and maintained, as well as your vehicle. Consider checking the battery more often due to the cold weather. Cold weather decreases the life in batteries at a faster rate, especially when the batteries are older. However, replacement batteries are usually your best bet to avoid a dying battery. Regular maintenance for your trailer and brake repairs, as well as finding replacements for your wheels, tires, bearings, and seal is another way to ensure a safe ride. Safety during the winter is even more critical, so proper maintenance and repairs should on top of your list. 
2. Drive Safe & Slow: Be aware of the amount of weight you are driving and practice, especially if you’re a first-time driver. Icy roads reduce traction, so it’s ideal that you’re extra alert even if you have quality tires. For example, slowly add more and more power to your vehicle when speeding up. Once you are sped up, maintain your vehicle's forward motion and avoid stopping on icy inclines.  
3. No Cruise Control: No matter the distance, cruise control is a no-go when you tow in the winter. Towing in the winter and using cruise control can disengage the driver and potentially cause the trailer to be unstable.
4. Install Trailer Brakes: With the added dangers of driving in the winter, it’s vital to have trailer brakes. After you install your trailer brakes, check to see if they have a brake control. if they come with a brake controller ease up on the braking power if there’s a lot of snow. A trailer brake control is something to consider purchasing when towing during winter travel to avoid sliding or worse, potentially jackknifing. 
5. Stay Equipped: If it’s going to snow during travel, it’s a sign you will need to be more cautious and bring extra equipment. You never know what safety measures you will have to take. Stay equipped and keep the following in your car:

• Extra set of snow tires 
• Emergency kit
• Flares to call for help if you get stuck 
• Food and water 
• Charged batteries
• Flashlight 
• Blankets and extra clothing for warmth 

Stay safe this winter with Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales. If you are driving a trailer this winter in the snow, contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance. Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 or visit our website at www.ricevilletrailers.com. 

sources:

http://knowhow.napaonline.com/5-winter-towing-tips-safe-trailering-ice-snow/ https://www.crossroadstrailers.com/blog/index.php/how-to-tips-for-driving-your-trailer-in-the-snow/

How to Drive Defensively

Driving can sometimes be a scary ordeal. Aggressive, inattentive, and impaired drivers not only pose a threat to themselves, but to other drivers sharing the road with them. While you can’t control the actions of others, you have the power to make the roads safer while protecting yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle by being a defensive driver. 

Follow these tips to hone your skills and stay safe behind the wheel:

• Be Aware. Being aware of your surroundings may seem like common sense, but this is the easiest and best way to protect yourself and others while traveling the roadways. Check your side- and rear-view mirrors periodically (every 5-10 seconds is suggested) and when your changing lanes or turning. Scan your peripheral for other vehicles and potential obstructions for at least a quarter-mile ahead. For those driving larger vehicles or towing wider loads, make a conscious effort to scan your surroundings more frequently. 
• Delete Distractions. In today’s digital world, our main distraction is the cell phone. While hands-free calling appears to be safer, it takes your attention off the road and increases accident risk. Your best bet is to resist the urge to use your phone while driving. If you need to make or take a call, pull over in a safe area and resume driving once your call is completer. However, cell phones are not the only factor. Checking your GPS for directions, adjusting the climate or radio, and even eating affects our situational awareness. Plan ahead by programming your GPS prior to the start of your trip and mapping our restaurants and rest stops along your route. 
• Rest Up. Tired or sleep-deprived driving is considered distracted driving and thus has a negative impact on your attentiveness. When driving long distances, stop every few hours to walk around, stretch out, and recharge your batteries. If you have a travel buddy, alternate driving shifts. 
• Get a Grip. In driver’s education we were taught to keep our hands at “ten and two,” but times have necessitated us to change to “nine and three.” Should you get in an accident and the airbag deploys, the “nine and three” position gives you the range of motion to turn and react if needed with a higher chance of avoiding injury. 
• Be Ready to React. Follow the “three-second rule” while driving; maintain a “three-second” following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Increase the distance inclement weather or other difficult driving conditions. This will allow you the necessary time to react to accidents or other unforeseen situations. 

Following these defensive driving tips will not only make the roads safer for everyone, but it also removes the fear-factor, allowing the drive to be an enjoyable part of the journey.

If you are driving a trailer this winter in the snow, contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance. Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 or visit our website at www.ricevilletrailers.com. 

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Sources

https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/driving-safety.html

https://driversed.com/driving-information/defensive-driving/defensive-driving-techniques.aspx

https://www.businessinsider.com/defensive-driving-tips-2017-2

How To Choose a Vehicle That Can Tow

When it comes to purchasing a new vehicle, there are a number of factors to consider. Does the car that I’m looking at have sufficient gas mileage? Is there enough storage to properly transport my everyday essentials? Does the manufacturer have a good reputation for consistently providing quality and reliability? Will I have enough cup holders to comfortably hold my morning cup of coffee and my water bottle?  (Okay, some questions are more serious than others!) 

Yes, there are countless things to think about when it comes to choosing not only a car that not only matches your personality but that functions in the best way to meet your unique lifestyle. But when it comes to selecting a towing vehicle, many people, even if they have previously owned a car with towing capability, may seem lost and frustrated. 

Here are the best ways to evaluate a vehicle to see if it can tow properly. 

Look at the Tow Capacity

According to our friends at Transwest, the manufacturer of a vehicle sets a towing capacity for that car, or what the maximum weight is that a car can safely tow. No car purchase should be made before knowing what this number is and if that number will work given your specific towing needs. 

Examine the Transmission

Trailerlife.com tells its readers that automatic transmission often has higher tow ratings than cars with manual transmissions. HD, or heavy duty models, the difference is generally 1,000 pounds maximum, and on LD, or lighter-duty vehicles, a manual might have a lower tow rating by approximately 2,000 pounds. 

Know the Drive System

Front or rear two-wheel driving vehicles tend to have a higher tow rating. Pay attention to a 4WD drive system-this often adds up to 400 pounds of weight for many HD pickups, and that extra 400 pounds tends to come off of the overall tow rating. 

Don’t Forget Bed Length

Trailerlife states that in some cases, a long bed truck may have a 150-250 pound lighter towing capacity. That’s because the longer the bed, the more weight tends to be adding. 

When it comes to selecting your next vehicle, you need it not only need it to get you and your essential materials safely from place to place. That’s where your friends and experts at Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales can help. Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales is your headquarters for exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your trailer needs and will do whatever it takes to earn your business and remain lifelong clients. Terry’s Auto Body has been serving the  Riceville and McIntire area for over 30-years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. Contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance. Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 or visit our website at www.ricevilletrailers.com.

Sources:

https://www.transwest.com/blog/7-features-you-should-look-for-when-shopping-for-a-towing-vehicle/

https://www.trailerlife.com/towguides/choosing-the-right-tow-vehicle/

Protecting your Trailer from the Elements

Don’t let your RV season end with the summer. A camper or RV is an investment, so proper care is ideal. Covering your RV when you’re not using it and other precautionary steps will take ensure your RV of its quality, saving you money and time in the long run. 

Why Cover Your RV? 

Not everyone is blessed with an indoor unit to store their RV, so many drivers tend to go with a tarp as a cover. While tarps can prevent water damage, they won’t ensure complete coverage, so using a tarp isn’t necessarily the way to go. To avoid a costly mistake, invest in an elements cover. Make your RV a priority, as the summer season comes to an end with an element cover. Here are some reasons to protect your RV.

• Sun Damage: The sun can cause seal damage to the exterior if there’s too much exposure to UV Rays. The interior will also reach extreme heats up to 144 degrees! Cover your roof to prevent costly sun damage. 
• Water Damage: During the winter, snow builds up on the roof, causing water damage. Eventually, all of the water build-up will seriously damage your RV.   
• Exterior Fading & Damage: Keeping your RV in the same condition as you purchased it, will ensure it’s value if you were to sell. Not covering your RV with an element cover will cause any color or design to fade or crack. 
• Dirt Build-Up: Dirt and debris build-up on your RV, leaving long, nasty dark streaks of dirt. These streaks tend to be a burden to wash off, so an elements cover can save you a whole lot of time! 

At Home Storage Tips

Depending on which state you live in, the laws are different on whether or not you can keep your RV at home. If your state allows it, you’re going to have to winterize your vehicle, along with investing in tire and vehicle covers. 

• Winterize Your Vehicle: When it’s officially the off-season, it’s time to winterize your vehicle. If there’s any chance of snow, get ready to do some maintenance. The winterizing process involves cleaning out the vehicle itself and flushing out the lines. Your RV or camper is about to sit without movement for a while, so winterizing is crucial. 
• Tire Covers: Ensure your tires durability with tire covers. The winter can take a toll on the traction and overall quality of your tires. Tire Covers are an easy fix for an expensive problem. 
• Element Covers: Protect your RV from the elements with an element cover. Element covers keep the interior at a temperature that won’t cause any unwanted damage. They also protect from water damage, dirt, and sun damage, something a tarp can’t quite do! 

Treat your trailer at Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales! Contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance. Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 or visit our website at ricevilletrailers.com.

What to Know About Triple Towing

If you’re not quite sure what triple towing is, you might know it as “double towing” or “hauling doubles.” Triple towing is for the adventurer who needs an extra set of wheels. This includes, for example, a trailer, car, golf cart, boat, or maybe even an ATV. Whatever adventure you go on, make sure you know the triple towing safety guidelines and regulations. Read below to start your journey! 

Towing Safety & Regulations

• Training: Proper training for “what-if” scenarios are critical when it comes to triple towing. Proper education that a bus or truck driver would go through goes the same way for triple towing. Some states require training and education to get an endorsement on your license. 
• Legality: Each state has different laws regarding triple towing, so do your research on your state beforehand! Most states on the east coast don’t allow it, while the west coast does allow it. For example, different heights and widths of your motorhome are different per state, as well as proper training and education, as stated earlier. 
• Breaks: Commercial towing generally has air brakes that connect to all of the wheels, so even the farthest item being towed will stop. Recreational vehicles could have air brakes on the motorhome and electric brakes on the trailer, creating no brakes on the third towing device. Properly using your brakes while triple towing is critical to your safety and to keep your motor vehicles in quality condition. 
• Lifestyle: Triple towing isn’t for everyone and especially isn’t for every vehicle. Don’t be a mechanical burden on your vehicle. Learn the regulations of each state and if your primary vehicle has the capacity to triple tow. 
• Responsibility: Adding 2 trailers to your vehicle creates a lot of responsibility, especially with that second trailer. From stopping to traveling in tight spaces, to backing the trailer up, education and taking the proper safety precautions is vital and is your responsibility! Ensure the safety of yourself and others by doing your research. 

Start your next adventure today at Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales. Contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance. Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 or visit our website at ricevilletrailers.com.

Source:

http://rvlife.com/rv-triple-towing-laws/

https://www.rvsafety.com/rveducation

Rules of the Road for Trailers

While most of us have a firm grasp of the rules of the road for our automobiles, we may not have first-hand knowledge of the regulations that go into trailers. A trailer is commonly used for the transport of goods and materials. There are certain rules and regulations of the road for this important carrier.  The following is a guideline of regulations for registration, trailer towing, passing and speed.

Registration.  Just like your car, truck, motorcycle or moped, you must also register your trailers except for bumper hitch farm trailers. The registration fee is based on the size and/or class of your trailer. If you have a travel trailer or a fold-down camper, you pay 20-cents per-square-foot, using the outside dimensions of your trailer. If you have a utility trailer, you pay a flat fee of $10. To register your trailer, complete forms, and pay the fees at the county treasurer’s office.

Trailer Towing

The extra weight of trailer towing makes it more difficult to control your vehicle, to stop, or to handle the trailer and the towing vehicle.  Keep this in mind and use caution.

Passing

Your vehicle cannot accelerate quickly when pulling a trailer. With this in mind, make sure you have plenty of room when passing another vehicle.  You must pull your car and trailer far enough ahead to safely move back into the right lane. Sudden swerves can send your trailer out of control, be sure to avoid them.  

Being Passed

Air from passing trucks will push your trailer to the right. Be ready for the trailer to pull to the right when being passed by another vehicle. Be ready to correct any swaying by steering in the direction of the sway. A quick burst of acceleration may help pull the trailer back in line. Never brake hard -- it may cause the trailer to jackknife or flip over.

Speed

Follow the same speed limits as for cars, unless posted otherwise. Remember to increase your following distance because you will not be able to stop as fast as you did without the trailer.

Be careful going around large curves or down steep hills. The forces on your trailer can make handling dangerous;  take command of your trailer and vehicle.

Projecting Loads

If you have a load that sticks out from the end of your trailer or vehicle four feet or more, it must be marked. Normally, during the day a red flag should be tied on the end. When lights are required, a red light or lantern must be used to mark the end of the load.

At Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales, we specialize in trailer parts and trailer services.  Contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance.  Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 contact us or visit our website.

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Sources:

https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverslicense/dlmanual/section7.pdf

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailer_(vehicle)

What Type of Maintenance Does My Trailer Need?

Spring is here and trailers everywhere are being pulled out of storage to haul a variety of goods. The best time to check over your trailer and take care of any maintenance issues is now! Towing a trailer can be tricky business and confirming it so it’s safe should be a priority. To get started, check out these common maintenance tips and tricks:

Tires & Brakes

Be sure to take a look at the tires and brakes on both your trailer and the truck you will use to tow. Correct load rating and proper inflation of your tires can be critical. Look out for dry rot and wear on your trailer tires. Tires older than five years need to be observed closely, you can check the manufacture date on the sidewall of the tire. The DOT alphanumeric code includes the date of manufacture stated in the last four numbers. For instance, 2709 tells you tire was manufactured in the 27th week of 2009.

Make sure your brakes are working properly. You need more stopping distance while towing so having brakes that are even slightly spent could be a real hazard. Riding the brakes while towing can lead to overheating your brakes and possibly losing control.

Hitch & Safety Chains

Confirm the towing capacity limits on all gear and be sure the hitch ball is still firmly attached to the drawbar. Make sure that the coupler and hitch ball is sized correctly and fit together snugly. Your second line of defense is your safety chains, which are required. When choosing the thickness of your safety chain, confirm they will prevent the trailer from drifting, while still allowing it to turn easily. Also, crisscrossing your safety chains underneath the trailer's tongue can prevent the tongue from striking the ground in case the trailer becomes unhitched.

Wiring

Whether your truck and trailer came prewired or whether you needed to do your own trailer wiring, you need to confirm that nothing has short-circuited before you tow. Have someone stand behind the trailer while you run through a test of the brake lights and turn signals.

Contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance. Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 or visit our website at www.ricevilletrailers.com.

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References:

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/r/advice/car-truck-mods/10-towing-maintenance-tips

https://trailerguys.com.au/faq/trailer-maintenance/

Choosing the Best Trailer for Your Needs

Image source: Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales

Farmhands, landscapers, agricultural, small business owners, and consumers at large often find business or life can be improved if they purchase a trailer. The next step is researching different types of trailers, consumers are finding they are overwhelmed at the array of choices.

One way to narrow down the trailer process decision is to start thinking about how you will use the trailer. Do you own a landscape business and know that you’ll be hauling a lot of brush?  Is this a trailer that you think you’ll be bringing to job sites and then closing safely? With you be hauling other vehicles, like an ATM?

Are you thinking you may want to lock up your trailer and not have to think about it or worry about theft, weather damage or another hazard? if that is the case then you’ll need an enclosed trailer which is different from an open application trailer.    

Before choosing a trailer, give some time and thought to how you will use different types of trailers available on the market.

Open Application Trailer:  Sometimes you just need an open application trailer, for hauling things like landscape brush, or perhaps supplies like bags of seed corn or potting soil. If this is the case, you are likely looking for an open trailer. There is a lot of flexibility in it, for example, you can buy optional side wall kits for hauling things like trees and branches, and ramps for loading the ATV.  

Enclosed Trailer:  Enclosed Trailers are widely used for purposes that can range from car haulers, bike trailers, to farm equipment trailers, utility trailers, motorcycle trailers, and more.  Many consumers appreciate enclosed trailers because they provide protection of the cargo, outfitted with track, rings, tie-down, shelving or floor to accommodate any time a cargo that needs hauling.

Special Considerations with an Enclosed Trailer:  Consider how far you will be traveling.  If you are only going a few miles or across town, an enclosed trailer with the standard features will suffice.  However, if you are traveling far, with something special (like a collector item or vintage car) you will want to purchase upgrades, enhancing the safety of the trailer.  Consider a mounted spare tire, stabilizers and tie-downs, and LED tail lights.

Finally, think about weight.  Be mindful of the weight of the trailer and the towing capacity of your vehicle. If you're hauling more than 3,000 pounds, the trailer you purchase should have its own braking system.

Contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance. Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 or visit our website.

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Sources:

http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/machinery/choosing-utility-trailer/

Identifying Trailer Axle Issues

Trailer axle issues can happen over time with wear and tear, hitting a bump, and neglect if things aren’t fixed. When axle problems arise, it’s important to get them repaired immediately or you could potentially take a hit to your budget. Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales are the experts at spotting axle issues and help with trailer maintenance and axle repairs. So how do you identify axle issues?

Usually, the first sign of axle issues starts from unusual wear-and-tear on the trailer's tires. If you’ve gone through a few tires this year, you need the professionals at Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales to identify the axle issue and repair it before having to use more tires again. A misalignment of the axle on the trailer can cause you to buy too many tires in a year from excess tire wear and possible consistent blowouts.

If the axle is misaligned, this can result in many issues including terrible gas mileage, expensive breakdowns, and vibration to the trailer. When the tires are uneven causing alignment issues, this can reduce the stability of the trailer and reduce the ability to maneuver. If this issue isn’t fixed by the professionals or maintained early on, you risk potentially losing tread and experiencing a blowout which is a severe safety concern.

Depending on how often the trailer is used, the axle should be inspected every six to 12 months and realigned to make sure your trailer drives straight without experiencing other issues. If you are looking for an experienced axle repair and maintenance professional, Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales is the expert to help you. We identify and repair:

1. Manufacturing defects
2. Axle damage that may be caused by heavy breaking or an accident
3. Axle misalignments from bumps or potholes in the road
4. Steer-axle adjustment issues
5. Excess tire wear
6. Caster issues causing vibration or steering issues
7. Bent axles & shifted axles
8. Excess camber resulting in tire shoulder wear

And so much more. Contact Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales for all your trailer needs, repairs, and maintenance. Avoid disaster and keep your family safe while driving. Call 641-985-2536 or visit our website at www.ricevilletrailers.com.

Let’s Get Hitched: Different Types of Trailer Hitches

The perfect accessory can make an outfit, and the perfect trailer hitch set up can make your life easier. If you’re new to the world of trailers and trailer hitches, this is a great place to start. Here are a few basic types of trailer hitches, which will help you understand the world of trailers.

Ball Mounts
Towing vehicles, such as a pickup or SUV, usually come ready with a hitch receiver. A hitch receiver is a square opening under the back bumper of your vehicle that allows a ball mount to slide right in and be secured with a locking pin. Your ball mount needs to match the class of your hitch, which should reflect how much weight you plan to pull. There are five classes, broken down as follows:

• Class I: 2,000 lbs
• Class II: 3,500 lbs
• Class III: 5,000 lbs
• Class IV: 10,000 lbs
• Class V: Anything > 10,000 lbs

Hitch Ball
A hitch ball is a trailer accessory that fits into the ball mount. The shank of the hitch ball comes in different diameters, so it's important to match the hitch ball to both the diameter of the ball mount and the coupler on the front of your trailer. Many trailer retailers sell packages with different sized hitch balls, allowing you to be able to tow a variety of different trailers.

Couplers
Couplers are the part that attaches to the front of your trailer. Couplers are similar to ball mounts in that they’re rated based on their weight capacity. There are two types of couplers: an A-frame and a straight-tongue. In both designs, a cup will be placed over your hitch ball, and a spring-loaded latch will secure the two pieces together. Since the opening of the coupler will need to fit over the hitch ball, you’ll need to make sure they’re the same diameter.

While there are many more different types of trailer accessories, these three are a great place to start when trying to understand the basics of hauling a trailer. If you want to learn more about trailer hitches, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us here at Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales. We’d love to help you learn more, so give us a call at 641-985-2536, or visit our website.

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References

https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/119/Select-A-Hitch-Guide/

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/equipment/hitch-accessories/10-most-popular-hitch-accessories3.htm