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

Inspecting Your Trailer Before a Road Trip: What to Look For

The last thing you want on your scenic road trip to your vacation destination is car problems. A flat tire, mechanical issues or even a burnt out light bulb can mean hours or even days of lost vacation time. Like all vehicles, It’s important to check up on your car’s maintenance and the preventive care you could be doing before a road trip.

1. First things first, check your tires for splitting, flation, and dry rot. And of course, use your own judgement if your tires will be able to make the trip or not.

2. If your trailer has brakes, get a brake inspection beforehand so your trailer can stop safely.You don’t want a locked wheel bearing!

3. Along with your car lights, make sure your trailer’s lights are working. No lights could wind up in a costly ticket!

4.  Whatever vehicle you choose to tow your trailer, make sure it has enough strength and power. The ball on the hitch needs to be the right size. In case your ball hitch fails, double check that chains are able to catch to the trailer. Packing your trailer could change that, but it’s also important to remember equal weight distribution when comes to packing.

In the end, it’s a whole lot of double checking, but it's necessary when it comes to having a stress free road trip!

Since 1986, Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales has been servicing vehicles and trailers across northeast Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. We offer a variety of trailers and parts for all of your auto needs! With our wide trailer part selection and repair experts, we can get your trailer into tip top condition before your road trip!

Located off Highway 9 in Riceville, we are proud to offer trailers and parts from name brands including PJ Trailers, American Hauler, RoadRunner Manufacturing and Zimmerman Trailers. Stop into Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales and choose from our selection of dump trailers, utility trailers, tilt trailers, car haulers, cargo trailers, snowmobile trailers, car trailers, and truck beds. Our shop also services a range of trailer needs including brake repair, wiring, wheel replacement, axle replacement and much more. With a large selection of trailer parts, we can supply you with brakes, lights, seals, trailer plugs, tarp kits, tires and batteries to keep your trailer up-to-date. If you’re ready to improve your trailer or vehicle, contact the professionals at Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales! For more information, visit www.ricevilletrailers.com or call 641-985-2536.

What to Know About Towing a Trailer

Trailers come in handy for moving, heavy-work jobs, and leisure activities that require towing a boat, recreational gear, ATVs, bikes, or even a second vehicle. Towing a trailer takes practice, but luckily, part of it boils down to simple mathematical calculations and a few basic safety steps. While some aspects of towing may take trial and error to master, such as backing up and making a turn, others such as finding the right weight and hitch for your vehicle, as well as placing and securing the load strategically, will help avoid some of the most common problems on the road.  

Finding the Right Weight and Hitch 

Your vehicle’s towing capacity can be found in the owner’s manual. You will need to identify two different weight specifications for your vehicle:

• GTW (gross trailer weight): how much trailer weight your vehicle can tow, including the weight of the trailer’s contents when loaded.
• Tongue weight: the amount of stability provided in the hitch, which determines the class of hitch to be installed on the vehicle, as well as where the center of gravity in your trailer will lie. Swaying trailers result from insufficient tongue weight.   

After you position and secure your load will be the best time to check your trailer’s weight using the nearest truck scale or gravel lot. 

Positioning and Securing Load

Distribute the load evenly throughout the trailer so that it stays balanced, with a stable center of gravity. Fasten every object down, using tarps, bungee cords, and ties. Don’t forget moveable items like drawers. Even if you don’t think it will move, in all likelihood, it can, whether due to shifts in weight, wind, or stops. If an object flies from the trailer and causes damage to another vehicle, you can be held responsible.

Brake Light and Tire Checks

Check your trailer’s brake lights and tires before you drive, and whenever you make stops. An underinflated trailer tire quickly builds up too much heat. Turn on your vehicle’s emergency flashers and walk to the back of the trailer to make sure the brake lights are working.

Maneuvering in Traffic

Making turns, parking, changing lanes, and backing up all become more challenging with the extra weight and length of the trailer in tow. Practicing in an empty parking lot before towing the trailer in traffic can help you handle the vehicle better the first time on the road. Stay calm if you make too narrow of a turn, and have a passenger who can get out and spot you during backups and tight turns. For more trailer driving tips, visit here. 

Conveniently located on E. Main St/Highway 9, Terry's Autobody has been selling and servicing vehicles and trailers since 1986 in Riceville, Iowa. Please visit our site or call (641) 985-2536 to learn more about us! 

Tips to Use a Trailer Safely

Trailers are an excellent way to haul extra equipment if you do not have the space inside your vehicle. From utility trailers to moving units, they are a convenient solution for moving, recreation, travel or for contractors, businesses or events.  Understanding how to properly load and use a trailer is crucial to the safety of both the individuals in the hauling vehicle, and others with whom you share the road.  Here are eight tips to help you safely use a trailer: 

Weight distribution for your trailer.

•   Load Front First – Unless otherwise noted by the trailer manufacturer, load the heaviest items to the front of the trailer. This will make the unit more stable when on the road. Load 60 percent of the weight to the front of the trailer.
•   Tie down items – Regardless of whether you are using an open trailer or closed unit, it is crucial to tie down any loose items. Items can shift, causing the weight to redistribute, creating a potentially hazardous driving condition.
•   Slow down – Drive at a slower rate of speed when you are hauling a trailer.  It is also not recommended that you exceed 55 miles per hour.
•   Don’t tailgate – Towing a trailer adds extra weight to your vehicle. This increases the amount of distance you will require to come to a full and complete stop.  It recommended you leave at least 4-5 seconds of stopping distance between you and any vehicles you are following.
•   Watch braking – If the trailer starts to sway, remove your foot from the gas but do not brake or speed up. Let your vehicle slow down on its own.
•   Pass with care – Remember that the trailer will add more length to your vehicle. Be sure to allow more passing space and do so carefully.
•   Check gears – When traveling in hilly areas, use the same gear to ascend the hill as you do descending. This will help to control your speed as you start down the hill.
•   Wider turns – Turning a corner with a trailer will require a bit more room.  Pull up into the intersection a bit more and take the turn wider than you normally would to avoid hitting a curb.

Incorrect and correct way to load your trailer.

Do you have questions on how to properly use a trailer? Contact the experts at Terry’s Auto Body and Trailer Sales today! We are happy to service trailers and provide you with flat decks, dumps, car hauler and much more. Visit our website to learn more.

What Is Triple Towing, and Is It Legal?

Triple towing occurs when two trailers are pulled behind a vehicle. Triple towing is legal in some states, but not all. Before planning a trip pulling two trailers, it’s important to take a look at the laws of each state on your route. Not all states that allow triple towing are contiguous, which can make planning a long-distance road trip with two trailers a challenge.

First, let’s take a look at a couple of examples of triple towing:

• A family wants to take a long-distance road trip to a national park, camping along the way. Behind their regular vehicle, they wish to tow a camper and a trailer with an ATV and their bicycles on it.  
• A retired couple plans to spend part of the year in Florida. They have an RV that they park each night as they travel, and live out of during their winter months. They want to tow their regular vehicle behind the RV, as well as a trailer carrying their aluminum fishing boat.

Some states allow triple towing because they have many long, relatively flat roads and require great travel distances. Alaska is a good example, with seasonal changes making towing small planes and boats, snowmobiles, and ATVs quite common. Other states that allow triple towing include North and South Dakota, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. For a full list, see here.

However, even states that allow triple towing may have additional stipulations for length and the kinds of trailers you can combine. For more information, visit Woodall’s Rules of the Road for the US and Canada, and contact the Department of Transportation in each state you wish to triple tow through.    

Why is triple towing illegal in some states? The federal entity, the U.S. Department of Transportation, has left it up to each state to decide the legality of triple towing, regardless of whether it occurs on a state’s local highways or interstates. Recreational triple towing is different from commercial towing, which tends to use a uniform braking system for trailers. By contrast, recreational towing for personal use will almost invariably combine different brake systems from tow vehicle to trailer, with a third trailer potentially not even having brakes.

Drivers who are new to triple towing should consider their route carefully. Backing up, parking, and turning are challenging, if not sometimes impossible, with triple towing. Likewise, it will be more difficult to come to a quick stop. 

Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales has been proudly serving Iowa’s Riceville and McIntire areas for the past 30 years. We sell trailers, haulers, and trailer parts, including cargo, flatdeck, and snowmobile trailers. We also service trailers with brake repair, axle replacement, wiring and electrical repair, and tire and wheel replacement. Visit our site or call (641) 985-2536 to learn more!

Choosing the Right Trailer

Are you thinking of buying a trailer, but don’t know where to start? Flatdeck, dump, utility, and haulers are just some of many different kinds of trailers. Depending on what you plan to use your trailer for can help you narrow down the search. At Terry’s Autobody & Trailer Sales, we sell PJ Trailers and American Hauler trailer brands. Both are established, trusted trailer manufacturers. After choosing a manufacturer, you can narrow your search further by determining which factors suit your needs. Here are two of the most important criteria when it comes to choosing a trailer:

Open or Enclosed Trailers

Two big differences in utility and cargo trailers are whether they are open or enclosed. An open trailer is one which exposes the cargo to the outside elements. If weather isn't a factor for your cargo, then an open trailer may be the most economical choice, since they are cheaper than enclosed trailers. If you live in a climate with that sees a lot of rain, high winds, or harsh winter weather, an enclosed trailer is for you. Enclosed trailers also offer better security with the ability to lock up your cargo rather than leaving it exposed. Enclosed trailers are more expensive to purchase than open trailers, and they’re also heavier and less aerodynamic, meaning it will lessen the fuel economy of whichever vehicle is towing the trailer.

Enclosed Trailer

Open Trailer

 Single or Tandem Axle

Once you've decided on an open or enclosed trailer, it’s time to decide whether the trailer should have a single axle, dual axle, or possibly even more. Single axle trailers have just one load-bearing axle and are used on the smallest trailers. Any load exceeding 3,000 lbs should be hauled on a dual axle. Of course, dual axle trailers are more expensive than single axle trailers, but in addition to handling a heavier load, they also tend to track more accurately over varying road surfaces.

Single Axle

Tandem Axle

 If you’re still unsure which type of trailer is the right one for you, come to Terry’s Autobody & Trailer Sales! We’ll be happy to match you with the PJ Trailers or American Hauler trailer to suit your needs. Stop on by or contact us today!

Driving Tips for a Safe Summer

It’s only a month before school is out, drivers are rushing to get to their weekend getaways and road construction is in full-force.  Summer driving is here!  The dangers of driving in summer are just as hazardous, but less obvious, than the dangers of driving in winter.  In fact, the Department of Transportation reports that summer is the most dangerous driving season of them all.

Before you hit the road this summer, take a look at our tips for safe driving:

Be Cautious – When warm weather arrives, you can expect to see an increase in motorcycles and bicycles on the road.  The most important thing to do is to pay attention to cyclists and give them plenty of space.  You should also be cautious of stop-and-go traffic in construction zones and rush hour.  If possible, anticipate heavy traffic and choose a different route with less traffic.

Manage the Heat – No matter the season, your car should always be packed with emergency essentials. When disaster strikes, travel gear and supplies can make a huge difference in your safety. Good emergency supplies to have in your car include a flashlight with extra batteries, booster cables, first aid kit, bottled water and non-perishable food.  It’s always a good idea to keep sunglasses and water at within arm’s reach.

Summer Storms – Summer storms are dangerous and deadly.  If possible, avoid driving in strong winds, heavy rain, hail and lightning.  If you must drive during a storm, be cautious and drive slower.  Rain can loosen grease, creating a slippery surface for wheels. In addition, rain can be particularly dangerous when water pools on top of pavement and causes hydroplaning.

Proper Trailer Techniques – Are you hauling a boat or recreational vehicle for some summer fun?  Driving a vehicle with a trailer hitched behind you is very different than driving a car alone.  Be sure to follow the proper rules and regulations enforced by the Department of Transportation.  You can find a complete list of Iowa DOT trailer regulations here: http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/driverslicense/dlmanual/section7.pdf

If you are in need of a new trailer or service to your old trailer, stop into Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales!  We can help get your trailer prepared for a busy summer season.  Any questions?  Give us a call at 641-985-2536.

Prepare For The Road With DOT Trailer Regulations

Before you hit the road with your trailer in tow, there are a number of regulations you must follow for your trailer to be road ready.  Driving a vehicle with a trailer hitched behind you is a very different experience than driving a car alone.  The extra weight and added length makes controlling and handling much more difficult.  For this reason, driving with a trailer requires extra attention to detail, a heightened sense of safety and fully functioning gear.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Motor Vehicle Enforcement (MVE) have regulations in place for the safety of you and those around you.  Before you start driving, make sure you are prepared with the right equipment and vehicle adjustments. 

Hitch:  A trailer hitch attaches directly to a tow vehicle providing the connection between the vehicle and the trailer.  As a key component of towing, the hitch should be tightly fastened to the rear axle of the towing vehicle.  A properly loaded trailer should have about 15% of the total trailer weight on the hitch.  If you have too much weight on the hitch, the trailer will be more likely to sway back and forth while you are pulling it.

Trailer Control:  Whenever possible, you should use the smallest and lightest trailer to carry your load.  The heavier your trailer, the more time you will need to effectively stop.  It’s also important to note that the faster you go, the less control you will have over your trailer.

Equipment:  When towing another vehicle, there is required equipment needed to ensure safety.  If your trailer and load weighs more than 3,000 pounds, it must have brakes on all axles.  Safety chains must also be used to connect the trailer to the towing vehicle.  In addition, there must be efficient lighting.  Clearance lights must be mounted on the widest part of the trailer, reflectors should be in the front, rear lights must be red, and a white light must illuminate the license plate.

Whether you need a trailer to haul your cargo or parts to fix your malfunctioning trailer, Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales offers a wide range of items from name brands including PJ Trailers, American Hauler, RR RoadRunner Manufacturing and Zimmerman Trailers.  For all of your trailer needs, contact the professionals at Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales by calling 641-985-2536.