Trailers | 4x4, Trucks & Trailers

How to Build a Trailer?

November 21st, 2008 by Shenron

It is quite obvious that you want to build your own trailer as it can save a lot of money for you. You can make your own choices while building it and add some personal features. There are a series of steps, following which you can easily build your trailer.

Are you planning to build your own trailer? This article can provide you some good tips and guide you in the process.

Before building your trailer, make sure of the exact length which you want. Trailers are generally 10′ in length and 6′ in width. The materials you need for building a trailer are 102′ of angle iron, axle and wheel assembly, leaf spring assemble of 25′ in length, female end of trailer hitch, 35″x36″ sheet metal, boards, wheels and tires. The required tools are cutting torch, welding equipment, hammer, large c-clamp, impact wrench and sockets and metal marking chalk.

You should choose a good axle kit along for your trailer, considering the weight capacity, frame, suspension and the height. Firstly cut the main frame pieces and weld them by using a good welder and a cut off saw. Test the flatness and the shape before taking further steps.

Secondly, position the axle depending on the trailer. For example, you have to position the axle towards the gravity centre if you are using a tilting trailer. Calculate the tongue weight and you can use nearly 5% of the weight of the trailer as your tongue weight.

The next step will be to centre the axle with the frame as this is one of the most critical points which should not be ignored. Remember to keep the axle in line with the frame’s centre line. You can check the distance between the hitch and wheels which should be equal in order to be sure that the tracking is done straight. The tongue has to be made centered and square to the frame so to make the axle more centered on the frame.

After this you can mount the tongue to a cross bar and also ahead of the axle making the frame upside down. Generally, a solid round bar should be at the end, leaving a square tube forming the tongue. You should use two mounting tabs, each having half inch holes and place a round bar between them. This mechanism helps in the pivot action which is required for the trailer.

In the next step, attach the latch which prevents the trailer from tilting. You should latch to something keeping in mind that it doesn’t fall out of place. You can use small rods for fenders along with some low heat to weld all these into the system. It is recommended to use angle iron for reinforcing the fenders, using them as mounting points for different purposes. An angle iron should be used to create the rails on the sides. To strengthen the overall of the system, you can attach fenders at the sides.

Lastly, you can use two pieces of angle iron welded together for the vertical pieces present at the back. You should make a good ground connection between the pivots which helps in dimming the tail lights. Before you start painting your trailer, don’t forget to remove the surface rust making it long lasting.

Learn more on How to Build a Trailer

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How to Use Fast Gun Camper Tie Downs?

November 18th, 2008 by Shenron

Fast gun camper tie downs are a useful tool and help you in avoiding unforeseen events when you take your campers during trips to campgrounds, mountain or beach. It’s easy to use it and takes less than 20 minutes to get assembled.

Campers can be considered perfect in case you’re opting for trips to campgrounds, mountain or the beach. Packing all the necessary tools involved on such excursions is certainly very much imperative. However, it takes only seconds for your dream vacation to become a nightmare once the camper detaches from the truck, which you’re driving. In such a scenario, fast gun camper tie downs will be vital tool for securely the transport of your camper along with everything present inside it.

Required Tool

Fast Gun Camper Tie Downs

What you need to follow to use it?

Tie Downs

The construction of tie down of a camper can come with binding of load-type or lever-type instruments. The tie-down mechanism might be utilized for attaching a truck-to-truck camper. It may also consist of cushioning members, which are used for absorbing tension loads that are enacted between tie down’s first & second end. Tie down mechanisms can also comprise of a removable handle, which can be used for enacting binding mechanism that function similar to a lever.

Form of Fast Guns

Fast gun camper tie down is amongst the best ones available in the market. Each of these solid steel pieces is made with quite noticeable precision. It consists of a stainless steel square barrel and a trigger lock. They also comprise of indicators and springs for relieving its spring tension. This prevents the springs from compressing the amount needed. Fast gun camper tie down is built for preventing internal rust. This helps in increasing your tie downs life. Again, Fast gun camper tie down is the only turnbuckle available in the market, which can be locked.

Function of Fast Gun

Many features of fast gun camper tie down makes it easy for usage. No extra tool is necessary. It saves your time, effort and leaves you with enough time to enjoy the trip. Smooth lever actions allow you for quickly operating the tie downs.

Need for Speed

Fast gun camper tie down is also amongst the fastest ones in the market, as they increase leveling process. They do so by permitting you to level the camper while it’s attached to your truck. Therefore, you are avoiding necessity of utilizing leveling blocks beneath your wheels.

Installation of Tie Down

When you install tie downs, certain procedure needs to be followed. Back tie down needs to be installed first, which should be followed by front tie-downs. It requires more skill and time than rear ones.

Mounted to the frame

Fast gun camper tie down is mounted on the truck’s frame. For producing less expensive truck with better fuel-efficiency, makers construct light truck beds. Simultaneously, constructed truck campers become heavier. Thus, frame is only option in modern trucks for securely fastening the tie down.

Solid as Bolts

Half-inch bolt holds fast gun camper tie down through truck’s frame. You do it by using frame holes created on assembly line. Therefore, there is no requirement of drilling for installing these tie downs. Tie down is sold with lifetime guarantees that cover tie-down, camper anchor and even truck’s frame.

Record time for installing fast gun tie downs is only 17 minutes! So, come out and beat the clock.

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Camping Trailers: How to Choose One?

November 10th, 2008 by Shenron

Do you wish for a home away from home? If yes, the camping trailers are what you are searching for. These trailers are of different types, sizes and weighs. The article below describes the laws related to the trailers and their respective utility in accordance with their sizes and shapes.

Earlier, the camping trailers were the American tradition which began in 1920s. That time, they were summoned as tin can tourists. The sizes of camping trailers are different. Earlier, they were not considered too comfortable, but slowly and slowly, they turned quite cozy.

But at the same time, if you wish to make a purchase, here are some factors which must be taken into consideration. In countries like United States, the camping trailers are considered as recreational vehicles and the set of rules, which are applicable to these vehicles, are legally subjected even to them.

The law includes the following factors:

Implementation of some weight limitations which are currently not imposed on other vehicles
The lights which are present on the back side should always be on?
In order to bond the trailer to any car or any vehicle, the hitch type bond should be used.

But then, it’s not necessary that these rules and regulations are colloquial. Different countries and states have their own laws. Thus, it’s important to check the legal rules and regulations of the respective countries, where traveling would be conducted.

Though, there are some rules and laws which are somehow common in different countries as well. For example, if another vehicle is towing the respective trailer, the riders are not legally allowed to ride on the trailer. Moreover, driving license of class A is required to the driver if the weight of the trailer is more than 10,000 lbs. The maximum amount of space that is conferred to the trailer is 400 square feet. But then, there length varies in accordance to the space provided.

At times, the drivers need to change their respective vehicles once they mark their advent into the domain and utility of camping trailers. The trailers which are small are used merely for camping are eighteen feet long and around 3000lbs. but then, they need a bigger car for driving.

The small camping trailers are basically used for traveling at near places, which do not require many requirements. Even if they do require, they are fulfilled at the personal level.

On the other hand, those who need large space and are leaving for greater distance, the camping trailers with the length of 25 feet and 5000 lbs can be used. This can be then towed through V-8. The largest camping trailer stretches to 40 feet. Its weight is approximately 12,000 lbs. But eventually, it’s much more important to be knowledgeable regarding your personal financial condition before investing in the camping trailers because these are expensive.

After all, each kind of camping trailer has its own pros and cons. In case, you urgently need one and do not have enough money to support this purchase, you can have the camping trailers on rent also.

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Tips on Buying a Trailer

October 31st, 2008 by Justin

One of the joys of owning a Truck or SUV is the option of also towing a trailer. While a car can in some cases pull a trailer, you are more than likely to rip off the bumper than pull anything of considerable weight. If you own a truck or SUV and would like to tow your dirtbikes, boat, ATV’s, lawn equipment, etc here are some tips on choosing the best trailer that your money can buy.

One of the first things that you should do is to figure out how much your maximum towing load is. This information is usually found in your owners manual. If your maximum towing load is 5,000 pounds, you should note that this load includes both the object that you will be towing along with the trailer. It should be noted that even though your vehicle is stated as capable of pulling a certain maximum load, you shouldn’t push your luck if you don’t have to- always tow less than the maximum. Besides your vehicle having a maximum towing load, your trailer will also have a maximum that it can carry, so pay attention.

Choose between Trailer designs. Depending on what you would like to tow will determine the type of trailer design you require. For towing small equipment such as lawn equipment or a dirtbike, you will find that a single axle trailer will do fine. For towing large items such as boats, you will need a double axle trailer.

Choose a hitch. Make sure you have the right hitch on your vehicle for the trailer you are towing. For instance, you can tow a small trailer with a bumper hitch, but for larger towing, such as a boat, you will usually need a large hitch with a 5th wheel called a gooseneck hitch.

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Types of Trailers

November 8th, 2007 by Shenron

Trailers are extremely common structures used on roads today. A trailer is almost any type of structure that connects to a towing vehicle in order to carry an item. Some trailers are enclosed units, while others are open. Most trailers include the same types of components such as wheels, axles, chassis, suspension and enclosures. Certain types of trailers are made for specific devices (e.g. boat trailer, motorcycle trailer, etc) others are all purpose.

Trailers can vary in size and are usually built for specific types of vehicles. For instance most motorcycle trailers are built for passenger style vehicles such as a pick up truck or car. Other trailers are used in commercial logistic services and towed only by a specific class of vehicle (e.g. semi trailers are only legally able to be towed by a big rig tractor). Following are some of the most common types of trailers used on America’s roadways.

The Semi Trailer

Semi trailers are usually large structures used for towing heavy loads. They are used by big rig tractors and include several axles, wheels, a suspension, brakes and brake lights. It should be noted that at the front of the semi trailer are usually connector wires that simply plug into the towing vehicle so that the driver can control the trailers brakes, braking lights and directional signals from the cab.

One of the characteristics of a semi trailer is that they do not have a front axle, instead when they are hitched to the tow vehicle, they balance out using the towing vehicles axle or a front axle assembly called a dolly. Semi trailers can be parked in a yard and hitched to numerous vehicles during the course of its delivery. Since semi trailers require a front axle to balance correctly, when parked, they have what is called a landing gear, or legs that stand the semi trailer upright and secure. In the US, there are certain laws regarding the total length of a semi trailer. Semi trailers are not allowed to exceed a total of 53 feet, however, on many roadways; you can see several trailers linked up to one another which exceed 53 feet. Linking is done with a small module called a bogey.

Semi trailers can vary by design. Some are fully enclosed, others can be refrigerated to carry food that can spoil and other types of semi trailers only include a flat bed or canvas enclosure to carry goods such as timber or items that are weather resistant.

The Motorcycle Trailer

The motorcycle trailer is a much smaller sized trailer and probably the smallest type of trailer on the road. Motorcycle trailers are built specifically to transport motorcycles. For most motorcycling enthusiasts bringing their motorcycle along with them on vacation or to a special area to ride is essential. Many times motorcycle trailers are used to transport recreational motorcycles such as dirt bikes or even quads that are not street legal. Since most motorcycles are considerably light weight, the motorcycle trailer doesn’t have to be an extremely heavy structure. Most motorcycle trailers easily attach to a pick up truck or even the family car. Motorcycle trailers usually have space to carry two motorcycles and use a series of belts and chains to anchor the vehicles to the trailer. Most motorcycle trailers are not enclosed, however enclosed motorcycle trailers are available.

In addition, there are motorcycle trailers in which a motorcycle is used to haul items. These trailers either come in one or two wheel models and are very light weight and thin. Motorcycles are never used to haul normal sized trailers due to safety concerns, but motorcycle trailers that for instance can carry an extra passenger (side car) or small amount of items (built specifically for motorcycles) are legal and relatively safe.

The Travel Trailer

Travel trailers are commonly called pop up campers or camper trailers. These trailers are enclosed units built specifically for lodging one or more individuals while camping outdoors.

Pop up campers are trailers that have a rigid bottom structure, but a canvas top that pops up to create an enclosure. One of the reasons pop up trailers are used is due to the weight savings of hauling these trailers and the aerodynamics of hauling these trailers. Since pop up campers are flat when hauled, they cause very low wind resistance which save on gas mileage and because they are light weight they can be hitched to a variety of vehicles including a pick up truck or even a family car. Other types of travel trailers can vary in size and may require a special type of vehicle such as a pick up truck or even a heavy duty pick up truck to haul them.

The Boat Trailer

A boat trailer is a trailer that is made to carry a boat. Besides the trailer frame, it sometimes also includes a winch to pull the boat (since boats have no wheels) onto the trailer frame. Most boats are purchased with their own customized trailer. Boat trailers vary in size ranging from large trailers to carry yachts to small simple boat trailers that carry personal watercraft.

The Small Cargo Trailer

Cargo trailers are used to haul light to moderate amounts of cargo. For instance, a cargo trailer might be used to haul a lawnmower, several bicycles, some home goods, etc. They are many times attached to cars and light duty pick up trucks. They usually include only two wheels which are usually smaller or relatively the same size as the car or light trucks tires. Most small cargo trailers are easy to hook up and relatively affordable – usually costing less than $1,000.

The Horse Trailer

A horse trailer carries horses from one stable to the other. They are usually enclosed structures with swing out doors and small windows at about eye level for ventilation. Besides horse trailers, other types of trailers are available to transport live stock such as chickens, cows, etc. Horse and livestock trailers can vary in size and complexity. Horse and livestock trailers for instance can be small and connect to a pick up truck or be as large as semi trailers that connect to a towing truck.

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