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 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/

What to Consider when Buying a Car that Requires Towing Capabilities

When in the market for a new vehicle, there are plenty of criteria that often appear on people’s wish lists. Good gas mileage? That’s an absolute must (especially with today’s rising gas prices). A comfortable yet stylish interior? That goes without saying. A quality sound system that can play all of your favorite songs? You need that without question. But one important component that may not immediately come to mind for many people is whether or not that car will have appropriate towing capabilities.

The summer season is the perfect time to buy a vehicle; after all, it is the ideal time of year for road trips and weekend getaways. But planning that weekend getaway becomes easier when you have a car that can easily carry all your vacation gear.

Here is what you need to keep in mind when purchasing a car that requires towing capabilities:

Know the Tow Capacity

This is what the manufacturer sets as the maximum amount a weight a vehicle can comfortably and safely tow. If the car you are considering purchasing cannot handle the potential weight, then it’s time to cross that car off your wish list.

Pay attention to the Curb Weight

The curb weight is the weight of a tow vehicle when it is not carrying passengers or cargo, but has a full tank of fuel. Don’t let a low curb weight throw you off--vehicles are built lighter today and more fuel efficient, so a lower curb weight can still mean that car is strong enough to tow heavier trailers.

Look at the Drive System

Be sure the car you are considering purchasing has the option for rear-wheel drive; this is so that when you are towing, the engine’s power is directed to the axle that bears the most weight. Avoid cars that only have a front-wheel drive for this exact reason.

When looking for your new vehicle this summer, make sure that your criteria include towing capabilities. It is a practical feature that can easily and safely transfer equipment and gear both this season and beyond. For more information on what kinds of a vehicle can best handle a tow, talk to your trusted team at Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales. Call us at 641-985-2536 or visit our location on Highway 9 in Riceville.

Sources:

https://www.transwest.com/kansas-city/7-features-you-should-look-for-when-shopping-for-a-towing-vehicle
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/how-much-towing-capacity-do-i-really-need