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

3 Tips for Towing in the Winter

Winter is a beautiful time of year with fresh powder of snow, Christmas songs, hot chocolate, and heated seats in your car to keep you cozy while driving. Enjoying long winter drives and seeing trees covered in snow can be beautiful but can turn dangerous with icy roads or heavy snow hitting your windshield. If you are traveling far with a trailer this winter, keep you and your family safe with some planning and preparation. These winter towing tips will help you and your trailer arrive safe and on time at your destination.

Regular Maintenance Check

Before you begin your long drive, it’s important to make sure your trailer is up-to-date on its maintenance checks. Part of maintenance checks should be checking the battery. Cold temperatures may cause old batteries to die. If your battery is a few years old, consider replacing it. Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales offers brake repairs, new wheel and tire replacements, bearing and seal replacements and more. By having a regular maintenance check, it’s an efficient way to ensure breakdowns won’t happen and you remain safe on your drive.

Install Trailer Brakes

Towing in snow can be extremely dangerous if you are not equipped with the right equipment. If your trailer is equipped with a trailer brake controller, adjust it to provide less braking power in the snow. By doing so, it will help prevent the trailer tires from locking up, sliding, and potentially jackknifing. If your trailer is not equipped with trailer brake controllers, Terry's Auto Body & Trailer Sales can install a set of trailer brakes. By installing brakes, it helps distribute brake force between your vehicle and the trailer and you are less likely to fishtail or slide.

Avoid Cruise Control

Cruise control is wonderful when driving long distance but avoid using cruise control while towing in the winter. When allowing your vehicle to control the throttle, you become less engaged with driving and less likely to react quickly and safely when a dangerous situation arises. The cruise control system also isn’t able to detect when the weather gets bad and how snow covered the road is which may result in accelerating or downshifting at the wrong time and potentially destabilizing the trailer.

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.

How to Teach Someone How To Tow a Trailer

When you imagine learning how to drive, we would have to assume that a nervous teenager who has no experience behind the wheel instantly comes to mind. Things that seem so routine and mundane to you, such as using the turn signal or changing lanes, seem like insurmountable tasks to a new driver. But after careful instruction and testing, soon, that timid teenager understands the rules of the road and can safely and seamlessly operate a vehicle.

Mastering the art of driving a typical automobile is one thing. Driving that automobile with a trailer towed behind it is an entirely different situation. Whether you are dealing a 16-year-old who just got their driver's license, or a lifelong friend who has plenty of years experience behind the wheel, here are a few things to keep in mind when teaching someone how to tow a trailer:

Do Your Research

Before you and your student get behind the wheel with a trailer in tow, you’ll want to consult the vehicle’s owner’s manual. This will have information on how much weight the given car can successfully haul. While some regularly sized sedans can haul up to 2,000 pounds, large trucks and SUVs can tow considerably more weight.  

Understand the Difficulty

Emphasize to your student that driving with a trailer is very difficult and is a task that should always be taken seriously. Safety should never be compromised. A new driver should practice pulling in and out of a driveway and navigating quiet back roads before attempting to drive in heavy traffic while pulling a trailer.

Check the Equipment

Make sure that the trailer is properly attached before hitting the road. Check the safety chains, lights, and license plate.

Know how to Navigate the Road

Because your vehicle is now close to double its regular length, you will have to take turns significantly wider to avoid hitting curbs, other cars, or running off of the road. It’s also best to keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you when towing a trailer.

Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales prides itself on providing 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. To discover more about how we can serve your needs please visit our website or call us at 641-985-2536 today. Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on current events, tips, and specials.  

Everything You Need to Know About Trailer Tires

There’s nothing worse than heading out for a long weekend trip, and all of a sudden running into problems with your trailer tires. If you’re new to using a trailer, figuring out how to deal with tire problems can be confusing. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be! Here are some important things to keep in mind the next time you break out your trailer.

Passenger Tires vs. Special Trailer Tires

Many people out there will tell you that passenger tires will work just fine for your trailer. The truth is, they won’t. We see too many people pulling trailers on the side of the road with a flat trailer tire because they aren’t using the right ones, or they haven’t replaced it in the recommended time-frame. Special trailer tires, just like snow tires, are designed for a specific job in mind. These special tires are designed to handle the load of whatever you’re carrying around turns and corners at highway speeds. A normal passenger tire is NOT designed to do this. According to Goodyear Tire Company, “Trailer tires are designed for heavy-duty, free-rolling applications with emphasis on tread wear, rolling resistance, stability, and ease of towing.” In addition, they also have a heavier construction to meet the additional load carrying requirements of trailers.

Watch for Oxidation

Your true mark for knowing when to get new trailer tires is how much oxidation there is, not how much the tread has worn. You don’t wear down your trailer tires by driving as much as you do by letting them sit still through winters or different seasons because of bad weather. Because the rubber on the tire oxidizes, it’s recommended that you swap out your trailer tires every 3-5 years and replace them with new ones.

Under-inflation

One of the biggest causes of flat tires on trailers is because of under-inflation. A good rule of thumb is to check your tire pressure often, especially because trailer tires won’t show the same signs of low pressure that normal car tires will. Just remember to know exactly what PSI your trailer tires need to be at and always check them with a quality gauge.

If you have questions about the right tires for your trailer, give the professionals at Terry’s auto Body & Trailer Sales a call at 641-985-2536. We can help you find the best replacement tires for your trailer and would love to answer any additional questions you may have.

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References

https://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Trailer-Tire-Basics

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/trailering/archives/what-to-know-about-trailer-tires.asp

http://bestride.com/research/towing-choosing-the-best-pickup-for-the-job

Common Towing Issues

When towing a trailer, there are ample opportunities for problems to arise. It’s best to do your homework and know about the many problems that may pop-up before you head out, and how you can go about fixing them.

Trailer Sway

Trailer sway can be dangerous for many reasons, and it’s important to know how to deal with it if it happens to you. The most important thing to remember is to not brake, as this could make the swaying worse and harder to control. Instead, take your foot off the accelerator and let your vehicle slow down naturally. Try to steer your vehicle in a straight line, and if possible, pull off to the side of the road and see if you can figure out the source of the swaying.

Level Towing

Making sure you’re towing a level trailer to ensure both your towing vehicle and trailer are stable. If you happen to have a load that isn’t level, you could throw off the center of gravity of your load, and this can result in rollovers if you’re not careful. Make sure your trailer is level, including everything in it, before you start on your journey, and check on it every time you make a pit stop.

Balance Your Load

We can’t stress the importance of this enough. A balanced load can eliminate any stressful swaying or pitching during your trip while keeping others on the road safe as well. When packing your trailer, make sure you’re distributing the objects inside evenly throughout the trailer. It’s also important to not overload the trailer. Pack everything in tightly and make sure it can’t slide around as this can lead to pitching and uneven towing.

Troubleshoot

Before even starting your trip, double check that all lights on your trailer work. This includes brakes, blinkers, and hazards. Check the tire pressure in each tire to make sure they’re at the right pressure, and double check you have everything you need should you need to replace it along the way.

If you notice something wrong with your trailer before a trip and need some things repaired, contact Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales at 641-985-2536 to set up an appointment today. We can help you with brakes, wiring and lighting, welding, hitch replacements and installations, and bearing and seal replacement. If you’re looking for a new trailer, visit our website to browse our selection.

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References

http://www.trailersauce.com/information/trailer-towing-problems/

http://blueoxstudio.com/2016/05/31/troubleshooting-some-common-problems-with-a-trailer/

What to Remember When Towing Your Trailer

If you have ever gone through the process of towing your trailer before, you’ll know it’s not as simple as it might initially sound. If this is something that you have never done before, then this may seem like an intimidating task to accomplish. Whether this is your first time or your 100th time towing your trailer, it always helps to have a firm understanding of the steps involved to get you and your equipment to your destination safely. Failing to comprehend the risks associated with taking these best practices seriously could mean disastrous consequences for you and others on the road.

Here are a few crucial safety tips you must keep in mind when towing your trailer:

Prepare Properly, Buy Carefully

The key to safely towing your trailer starts when you purchase it; make sure your tow vehicle can properly and safely haul your loads. This means you have to know the trailer-towing weight ability of your vehicle and the gross combined weight rating (incorporating the tow vehicle, passengers, cargo, and the trailer).

Pick the Correct Hitch

Looking at the gross trailer weight and the trailer’s overall weight is the best way to choose from either a fifth-wheel hitch or a tongue hitch. While the fifth-wheel hitch mounts in the pickup bed, the tongue trailer is less prone to sway problems.

Buy Proper Trailer Brakes

This is a separate braking system for trailers that weigh more than 1,500 pounds when loaded. Get to know the two types of trailer brakes and choose which one is best suited for your needs. Electronically controlled brakes provide both automatic and manual control for trailer brakes, while surge brakes automatically applied when you slow the tow vehicle.

If you are a beginner or at towing trailers or if you need a refresher in the mechanics, following these safety tips is the best way to get the job done in a secure and timely manner. For more information on how to properly tow a trailer, trust your friends and experts at Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales -we’d be honored to assist you however we can. Call us at 641-985-2536 or visit our location on Highway 9 in Riceville.

Hauling Multiple Motorcycles: Finding The Right Trailer Option For You

Whether you’re hauling multiple motorcycles cross-country or just across town, using the right trailer ensures your precious cargo will arrive safely. So when looking for a trailer, consider the following factors.

Trailer Size

Trailer size depends on how many motorcycles you will be towing. It might be tempting to load as many bikes that will physically fit on a trailer, but there needs to be plenty of space left to securely strap them down. If there isn’t enough room for you to reach a strap, you will need a bigger trailer.

Loading motorcycles too close together could result in damage if they sway on the trailer. Luckily, there are a variety of trailer sizes and styles to choose from.

Trailer Styles

Dedicated motorcycle trailers are a great choice because they’re designed specifically to safely carry your bikes. They come in one, two, and three place configurations, and are easy to load. The drawbacks are that your motorcycles are exposed to the elements and the trailer isn’t useful for towing other equipment.

If you’re looking for versatility, check out a utility trailer. These come in a wide range of sizes and can be outfitted with E-Track for extra assurance that your bike is strapped down securely. Larger utility trailers are a great choice for hauling multiple motorcycles, three-wheel motorcycles, or motorcycles with sidecars. Utility trailers can also be used for other things besides hauling motorcycles, but they’re still open-air.

For the ultimate in security, an enclosed cargo trailer is the best way to transport your motorcycles. Like utility trailers, enclosed trailers come in a range of sizes to fit your needs, but have the added benefits of keeping your motorcycles covered from the weather and prying eyes. If you’re towing your bikes a long distance, enclosed trailers are your best option.

Weight

To avoid damaging your tow vehicle, you’ll also have to keep the trailer’s weight in mind. The lightest option is a motorcycle trailer, which is perfect for towing behind a car or smaller SUV. Utility trailer weight depends on size, so don’t go too large unless you’ve got a big enough truck. Enclosed trailers are the most aerodynamic option, but also the heaviest so make sure your vehicle can handle the weight.

Ultimately, the best way to haul multiple motorcycles depends on the number of bikes you’re transporting, the style you prefer, and the towing capacity of your vehicle. Regardless of which choice you make, Terry’s Autobody and Trailer Sales has the perfect trailer for you. Search our brand selection at ricevilletrailers.com or call 641-985-2536 to speak with our helpful staff.

Driving During Deer Season? Learn How to Stay Safe

The change in landscape during the fall season is famous for its vibrant colors and incredible scenery.  While you are driving and enjoying the beautiful fall foliage, keep in mind that it is prime deer season. Educate yourself so that you stay safe on the road.

Knowing where deer live will help you know when to be more alert. At times, deer may wander into suburban neighborhoods. They are most frequently found on the outskirts of towns and in heavily wooded areas. They also will be seen near farms that grow fruits and vegetables.

DEER FACTS

• Deer are herd animals and travel together.
• During the fall harvest season, deer will be searching for food and not watching for vehicles.
• It is mating season, bucks will be chasing does across roadways.
• Hunters will be clearing deer out of the woods.
• They are most active at dawn & dusk.
• They are mesmerized by lights.
• They are unpredictable, especially when frightened.
  
  

DRIVER SAFETY

• Always wear your seatbelt.

• Look for Deer Crossing signs.
• Slow down if  you are driving through an area known for high deer populations.
• Use your high beams when there is no oncoming traffic.
• If you see one frozen on the road, slow down and flash your lights.
• One long blast of the horn will scare deer out of the road.
• When you notice a deer, tap on the brakes and slow down to alert drivers behind you that you are slowing down.
• If you do strike a deer, don’t approach it. Stay in your vehicle and call 911.

DID YOU KNOW?

• 60% of fatal animal crashes occurred when the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), large animal-vehicle collisions resulted in an average of 187 fatalities in recent years.
• Deer whistles that you can mount to your car have not been proven to work.

Accidents can still happen, even though you know about deer and what to look for. If you need body work please call Terry's Auto Body and Trailer Sales at 641-985-2536 or visit us at  413 E Main St in Riceville.

Sources:

www.afgroup.com

www.schaeferinsurance.com

www.geico.com

Protect Your Vehicle From Salt Damage This Spring

Each year, the Iowa Department of Transportation uses approximately 200,000 tons of rock salt to keep our highways clear of snow and ice. While some consider this to be necessary for our safety in winter driving conditions, all this rock salt is incredibly corrosive and can cause a lot of unsightly and expensive damage to your vehicle. One particularly frightening element of this damage is that the majority of it occurs where you can’t even see it - on your vehicle’s undercarriage. Left unattended, road salt can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your car or truck, but there is an easy fix that many owners overlook.

Hazards of Road Salt

The biggest threat posed to your vehicle by all this rock salt is rust. Your tires kick up salt and slush from the road, which creates rust spots on your vehicle. On an older vehicle, salt will cause further corrosion to the already rusted spots, especially on the undercarriage of your car or truck. Prolonged exposure to salt can cause damage to the car's exhaust and muffler systems, coil springs and even the frame and subframe of the car. And unfortunately, by the time many vehicle owners notice the damage, they may already have an expensive repair situation on their hands. 

Wash Your Car!

So, aside from keeping your car in the garage all winter, what is an Iowa driver to do?  Even though your car won’t stay nice and clean looking for long, it’s important to have your car washed at least a few times each winter. Make sure that you use a tunnel wash that includes undercarriage washing, as some regular car washes won’t have the water pressure necessary to get at the most at-risk spots. Even though these car washes may be a little more pricey than some others, making that $12 or $15 investment a few times over the course of the winter is a heck of a lot better than spending thousands repairing a rust-damaged vehicle. And, even though some states and municipalities use a brine mixture as a de-icer, it’s still a smart idea to give your vehicle a good washing, top to bottom, above and underneath, once winter is over. 

Here at Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales, we see a lot of salt damage that could have been prevented. This spring, make a stop at your local car wash and prevent rust and salt damage before it can take a toll on your vehicle!

Decoding Your Dashboard

With vehicle computer systems rapidly evolving, if you’ve driven a newer vehicle lately, chances are there were unfamiliar icons and maybe even warning lights to decipher. The last thing you want is to be confronted with a strange dashboard alert just as you’re enjoying the open road with your trailer this summer. Taking a few moments to learn the various dashboard icons and their degree of urgency can help put your mind at ease on the road.

Color coding

The basic rule of thumb is that a red dashboard light means a critical warning. If possible, you should pull over before proceeding with your trip to resolve the issue. Orange or yellow icons can generally wait until your next planned stop before addressing.

Towing icons

Some vehicles are equipped with trailer indicators that appear when the vehicle is towing. These include:

• Trailer turn signals: when you connect your trailer’s signal lights to your vehicle, the dashboard may light up with an outlined trailer icon when you first start the ignition, and when you use your turn signals.
• Tow mode: If your vehicle has a “tow mode” option, it will switch to a shifting and driving method that is more efficient for heavy loads, and this light will indicate it’s on.

General system symbols

• When stability control is off, you’ll see an illuminated vehicle icon with skid marks behind it. You can drive normally with this alert on, but turning traction and balance may not be optimal.  
• When the vehicle’s system detects a change in tire pressure or a flat tire, a U-shaped icon with an exclamation point will come on. For those unacquainted with this icon, it often causes confusion, most likely because the image doesn’t resemble a tire. Seasonal temperature changes can affect tire pressure and cause this light to come on.
• Your grade and terrain assist icon, a green SUV depicted on a hill or rocky surface, will come on when your 4-wheel drive vehicle is registering throttle and braking control on hills and slippery terrain.

For a full list of icons and their meanings, click here.

Since 1986, Terry's Autobody has been selling and servicing vehicles and trailers in Riceville, Iowa. Conveniently located on E. Main St/Highway 9, Terry’s sells PJ Trailers, American Hauler, Zimmerman truck beds, and trailer parts, as well as services all your trailer repair needs. Please visit our site or call (641) 985-2536 to learn more!

Terry’s Auto Body Wants You Prepared for the Dangers of the Season

Winter has officially arrived, and even though we are only in the month of December, there is no doubt that the weather outside is frightful. The frigid temperatures and the constant snowfall mean hazardous road conditions for you and your loved ones. No matter how many winters you have seen and no matter the number of times you have driven through a snowstorm, that is no excuse for being unprepared for what dangers and challenges this winter can present you with.  While many consider the most wonderful time of the year, some could argue that it is also one of the most dangerous times of the year.

Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales wants to make sure you are driving as safely as possible at all times, but especially during these upcoming winter months. A big component of being safe on the road is being prepared for emergency situations. 

Take a look at some of our top tips this winter to keep you and your family safe on the road, especially in case of an emergency!

Have a First Aid Kit on Hand

You never know if you are going to need it—we pray that you don’t, but just in case, it is essential to be ready for anything. As well as an assortment of Band-Aids, the first aid kit in your vehicle should include adhesive tape, gauze pads, aspirin, antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream or ointment, and anything particular to you or your family.

Stock Your Car with Items Needed for Roadside Assistance

Having items such as a spare tire, orange cones, flashlights, a fire extinguisher, and a minimum of three reflective warning triangles will be very useful to you in case of a roadside emergency. 

Is your Cell Phone Charged?

Your phone needs to be prepared for an emergency just as much as you need to be! Before every trip you take, whether it just be down the street to the grocery store, or if you are going on a cross-country trip, make sure your phone has a full battery every time. A portable power bank is great to have in a pinch as well.

For other important winter driving tips, visit the Iowa Department of Transportion's website to bring these important things top of mind as we battle the winter elements. If you have teens that are new drivers this info should be reviewed regularly with them. 

Terry’s Auto Body Wants You Driving Safe This Holiday Season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—the time when the weather outside is frightful, city sidewalks are dressed in holiday style, and sleigh bells ring. The holiday season has arrived!

Something else that has arrived with the holiday season is holiday shopping. For many, that means one (or several) trips to your local mall or department store, in search of the perfect gift for everyone on your list. With plenty of people to buy for and not enough hours in the day, it is understandable to become flustered. But just because the holiday errands you run can occasionally lead to stress and frustration, that shouldn’t mean that the quality of your driving has to be sacrificed.

Luckily, many new vehicles today feature plenty of safety features. Here are a few of our favorites that make holiday driving as safe as possible!

Backup Cameras

Sometimes, finding the perfect parking spot at the mall doesn’t necessarily mean backing out of it will be a breeze—especially when you have three other people waiting to claim that spot for their own holiday shopping! Backup cameras can help holiday drivers be aware of all possible obstacles surrounding them in a crowded parking lot.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration all vehicles over 10,000 pounds will be required to have backup cameras by 2018.

Parallel Assist

Are you a parallel parking expert, or does it take you a few tries to successful enter a parking spot? No matter what your skill level, cars that feature parallel assist give you extra protection to make sure you are parking correctly and don’t damage surrounding vehicles!

Forward Collision Warning Systems

A forward collision warning system scans the road ahead using radar beams, laser beams, or cameras. When the system determines that the vehicle is closing on an object at an unsafe speed, it alerts the driver and either readies the braking system for full braking power, or automatically brakes the car.

 

While these are all exceptional safety features that we highly recommend you use, we also know that these only work when you are driving safely. From all of us at Terry’s Auto Body, have a safe and happy Holiday season!