What You Should Know About Height Clearance for Trucks & Trailers

Trucks, trailers, and commercial vehicles are essential to our economy, providing goods and services to billions of Americans every day. But “under blunders,” or low clearance accidents are still prevalent within the trucking community. Many truck and trailer drivers, after seeing the clearance measurements, still think their vehicle can fit underneath.  In order to maintain safety of all drivers and for this system to function efficiently, it is important that drivers observe the signs, rules, and regulations.

1. Knowing the Height of Your Truck

Sounds pretty simple, right? But these accidents are still happening. It’s important to know the height of the entire truck or trailer. Also, if traveling outside of the U.S., knowing the height in metric is key to a safe journey. To help American truckers who are traveling in Canada, and Canadian truckers who are traveling in the USA, a "Truck Height Feet to Meters Conversion Table" has been created. To get access to the printable PDF document, enter your name and email address in the form on this website.

2. Don’t Rely on GPS Alone

We have all had a problem with GPS at some point. Unfortunately, the GPS we use to navigate our way isn’t standardized for commercial truck and trailer use. Height regulations are rarely made apparent and could be a major cause of trucking accidents. This article by Fox News addresses this exact problem. FMCSA's information systems do not have crash statistics associated with the use of electronic navigation systems. However, even one truck or bus striking an overpass is one too many.

3. Pay Attention For Low Clearance Signs & Stay Alert for Temporary Ones

If your truck or trailer measures 13’6” in height and the clearance is 12’9”, simple math will tell you that you will not fit underneath. Knowing the height of your truck is the first step, but actually paying attention to the signs and understanding their significance, is another.

4. Unsure If You Will Fit?

Don’t try! Remember that you are a professional and are transporting something of value. Not to mention, you don’t want to put other drivers and passengers in harm’s way. It is always better to stop than risk having an accident.

Truck or trailer roof damage is more common than one might expect and can happen at the front or back. It is important that you take safety precautions and pay attentions to the road signs, especially those posted in regards to height clearance.

Learn more about trucks and trailers by visiting Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales website or calling 641-985-2536.

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!

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!

Trailer Wheel Bearings

Have you ever noticed a trailer stuck on the side of the road? Chances are, there was an issue with the trailer’s wheel bearings. Changing bearings is a job that is easy, but often neglected. Trailer bearings are an important component in successful towing and should be maintained for safety and functionality. Before your next trip, make sure the job is done and the bearings have been changed on your trailer.  

Bearings are essential to keep dust and water out.
Photo via ISTOCKPHOTO

Prior to taking the wheel, here’s what you should know about trailer bearings!

Importance of properly maintained wheel bearings: No parts are more critical for a trailer than the bearings. The center part of a wheel is called the hub, which works smoothly due to the bearings inside. Trailer wheel bearings ensure that your trailer performs reliably. They help provide a smooth towing ride and prevent friction from slowing you down.

How does wheel assembly and bearings work: While trailer bearings are small, they play a big role in your trailer. Bearings are made of two parts, the cup that is attached to the hub and the cone containing steel ball rollers. The steel balls allow the hub to roll around the axle instead of rubbing against it. This creates a smoother ride without rocking and rattling.

Replacing trailer bearings: Trailer bearings should be inspected or replaced every 12 months or 12,000 miles. To replace them, find the right size and type of bearings for your trailer’s wheel hub. Remove the lugs, nuts, tire, wheel hub and central spindle to access the wheel bearing. Clean the parts, reassemble with the new wheel bearing and add fresh grease to keep the trailer rolling along smoothly.

If you have any questions about your trailer or trailer parts including the bearings, contact Terry’s Auto Body & Trailer Sales. In addition to selling, replacing and repairing trailer bearings, we also provide a range of other trailer services including brake repair, wiring and light repair, welding, new tire and wheel replacement, axle replacement, seal replacement and more.

If you have a question about your trailer, please contact Terry’s Autobody and Trailer Sales at 641-985-2536.

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!