Trailer Tips Blog

lovee you. x3 asked:

a. crisscrossed under the trailer coupler
b. crisscrossed over the trailer coupler
c. under the trailer coupler, but not crossed
d. over the trailer coupler, but not crossed

Brittany Y asked:

Ok, I kind of asked this question already, but no answers helped. At all.

I don’t have any problems loading my mare. She will get in the trailer just fine. So please if you’re going to tell me to bribe her in with food don’t bother answering. That. Doesn’t. Work. And it’s not even my question.

I want to know what I can do to my TRAILER to make it more comfortable for the horses.

I DON’T want to know what I can do to my horse to get her in the trailer. Because she DOES get in the trailer. She’s STILL afraid of it though.

I’m looking for ways to make my trailer less noisy/ painful/ scary so that she doesn’t have any more reason to be terrified of the trailer.

I’ve got rubber mats and butt bars; I’m planning on covering the butt bars with foam.

What else can I do to the trailer to help prevent other accidents? For example I’m covering the butt bars because they’re fallen off and hit horses in the legs.

Any ideas to make the trailer more comfy and safe?

TopFuel asked:

My partner and I have a patent on a saftey device for a over the road trailer, it will save lives and prevent injuries, who do I need to contact to try to get it mandated? names and organizations please.

geoffrey b asked:

which uses same wiring on trailer and that is good. all lights work. also hooked up another brand new trailer and had the same problem. please help
which uses same wiring on trailer and that is good. all lights work. also hooked up another brand new trailer and had the same problem. i bought two different brand new controllers with no luck. The controller is not even showing a trailer hooked up. And how does the controller know if there is a trailer or not? please help

Runaway trailers can cause devastating crashes, resulting in serious injuries and/or deaths. Trailers detach from their guidance sources more often than most people realize, despite the catastrophic damage they cause.

The government does not organize or supply national runaway trailer statistics for public access. However, the Los Angeles Times identified 540 runaway trailer accidents from news reports and court files between 2000 and 2007. These runaway trailer accidents resulted in hundreds of injuries and at least 164 deaths. It is likely that there were many more runaway trailer accidents, injuries, and deaths that were not reported by news sources.

The Los Angeles Times found many types of runaway trailer accidents in their investigation. However, the research showed that the large majority of runaway trailer accidents involved light- and medium-trailers, as opposed to large truck-trailers (i.e. big rigs, 18-wheelers, semi-tractors, etc.).

Individuals and businesses other than commercial-transportation owned most of the trailers. For example, gardening companies often use trailers to transport tools from one location to another. The report showed trailer-rental companies, such as U-Haul International Inc, owned a small proportion of the runaway trailers.

The majority of runaway trailer victims are motorists, however passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians have been seriously injured and killed as well. The following includes some examples of the runaway trailer accidents researched by the Los Angeles Times.

On April 13, 2006, Spencer Morrison and his 4-year-old-triplets, Ethan, Garret and Alaina, were stuck by a 3-ton wood-chipper, while driving in the family’s minivan. The wood-chipper broke loose from its “hitch and ball” attachment to a tow truck and glided straight into oncoming traffic. It smashed into the family’s minivan with incredible force. The father, Spencer, and two of the triplets, Garret and Alaina, died instantly upon impact. The last of the triplets, Ethan, received multiple injuries, including a fractured skull. He was the only survivor of the minivan.

In August 2003, Robin Teller and a friend, Brook Webb, were walking home when a trailer, which detached from an Ford pickup truck, struck them. The two women were passing a railroad crossing when the Ford pickup began to cross over the tracks. The trailer rattled as it went over the track and broke loose of its attachment to the Ford pickup. It plowed straight over the two women and crashed through a fence and into a field. Robin Teller was 41 years old and died at the scene. Brook Webb, 20 years old, suffered serious injuries to her legs. Although she endured numerous surgeries following the accident, her left leg had to be amputated below the knee and her right leg and ankle had to be supported with a rod and numerous pins.

On December 15, 2004, Earl J. Buetow was the victim of a runaway trailer accident. Buetow was driving northbound on Sierra Highway in his 1990 Dodge pickup truck, behind a Chevy Tahoe that was towing a trailer. At a bump in the pavement, the trailer broke loose from its attachment to the Chevy Tahoe and careened right into oncoming traffic. A southbound driver of a Ford Expedition swerved to avoid the runaway trailer. The Expedition collided, head on, with Buetow’s Dodge pickup, killing Earl J. Buetow instantly upon impact.

Failure to properly secure a trailer to its guidance source, usually a “ball and hitch” design, appears to be the major cause of runaway trailer accidents. The use of old or outdated trailer towing equipment accounts for a smaller proportion of runaway trailer accidents.

The 3-ton runaway wood-chipper trailer that smashed into a minivan, killing 3 of the 4 passengers in April 2006, broke loose due to the negligence of the truck driver to check to make sure the chipper-trailer was securely hitched to his vehicle. The truck driver also failed to connect the safety chains, which are a backup precaution that is supposed to keep the trailer attached in the event of a hookup failure. Had the truck driver checked the trailer’s hook up, he would have realized that the locking device wasn’t engaged and that the safety chains were not secured.

The trailer that plowed over Robin Teller and Brook Webb as they were walking home in August 2003 broke loose due to a combination of events. First, the truck driver failed to connect the safety chains as a backup precaution, and second, the driver used old, outdated, and unsafe equipment. A police report, included in the Los Angeles Times’ article, described the trailer as “a homemade-style car hauler, which was very rusty.”

Many runaway trailer accidents may have be prevented if, with every trailer purchase and/or rental, there was basic instruction of proper trailer hookup. There is very little regulation of non-commercial trailers. There is no rule, in any of the 50 states, that requires a person towing a small-to-medium trailer to have any special training or instruction.

According to the Los Angeles Times Article, the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) proposed federal safety standards requiring trailer safety instructions for motorists in the late 1960s. However, manufacturers and rental companies lobbied intensely to fight implementation of the proposal and it was dropped in 1972. Why would industry lobby against reasonable safety proposals. And, why does NHTSA give in to special interests groups instead of doing its job of setting real safety standards?

In January 2006, Charles Lewis was the victim of a runaway trailer accident that could have been prevented had the runaway trailer’s owner had instruction and/or training on how to properly attach and hook up a trailer. The driver of a pickup towing a 14-foot utility trailer was traveling south on U.S. Route 50 in Missouri. Lewis was traveling north on the same Route when the 14-foot trailer detached from the pickup and flew across the road straight at him. The trailer collided head on into Lewis’ Ford Explorer, killing him instantly.

The 14-foot trailer broke loose because of an improper attachment. The trailer’s coupler was wider than the hitch ball on the tow vehicle and did not allow a secure latch grab. Police investigators learned that it was the first time the truck driver had towed a trailer and that he had never received any training or instruction on proper trailer attachment. Maybe if the truck driver had proper instruction, the ball and hitch attachment would have been the correct size and the deadly accident may have never occurred.

Accidents involving any kind of runaway trailer can lead to catastrophic injuries and/or death. The speed and momentum that is present at the time of collision increases the seriousness of these accidents. If a truck driver’s negligence, use of inadequate equipment, and/or lack of instruction causes a trailer to break loose, the truck driver is liable for any injuries and or deaths to motorists, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

**The purpose of this trailer safety product is to increase visibility of the outer edges of earthmoving equipment during transport on a heavy equipment trailers. This new flexible designed flags has effective countermeasure that could significantly reduce dangerous accidents and

side ways crashes, during late evening hours. How does it work? The Edge O’ lite patent pending technology creates the ability to be a flexible reflector to shape the machine tracks and loads hanging out over the side of your heavy equipment trailers. It quick connect device and flexible design enables it to attach where you need it on the extended object overhanging the heavy equipment trailers. No more flags falling off or the time it takes your driver to install them. Just snap them into place and that’s it. The product is made from washable materials for

easy cleaning . The reflective part is made from tough durable reflective material that will illuminate with oncoming lights to make sure your cargo is seen by other vehicles at night. Every

semi operator should keep a set in there cab for when they move wide loads on a trailer. This new design has a much greater increase in visibilitythen the old conventional flags. However, it is also designed to attach other safety flags if needed to it for additional exposure. Made from durable long lasting materials and comes in a set of four, yet small

enough for easy storage. Made in the USA

For more information on this new heavy equipment

trailers product

http://www.edgeolite.com/earthmoving.html

Do you own a horse trailer? If not, do you sometimes use another person’s horse trailer to transport your animals to the vet, to riding arenas, or to shows? If so, you will want to be sure the trailer is in top-notch condition before loading your horses or ponies for a trip. Although you may have to make discreet inquiries about a trailer that doesn’t belong to you, it is still important to find out whether the trailer can safely accommodate your animals, and if not, planning ahead for choosing another means of conveyance.

First, check the hook-up to be sure it is stable and secure. Does it appear rusty or loose? If so, call the owner or driver’s attention to this area and ask if it can be double-checked. While you’re at it, see if the doors close snugly and can be bolted adequately to contain a horse that may become distrait in an enclosed space. Inspect the door latch and lock to ensure that it is strong and in good condition. Also, examine any windows in the trailer to see if they can open, or will be open, during the trip. Some horses seem to enjoy the fresh air, while others don’t, so you will be the best judge of your horse’s preference.

Then check the tires of the trailer to be sure they have the right amount of air. If they have too much, they can blow while in transit. If they contain too little air, they could easily go flat. Ask about taking along a spare tire and jack if these are not already included. Other emergency equipment should include jumper cables and standard roadside items in case of a breakdown.

Next, check the interior of the trailer. Is there fresh straw? Will the van be vented in some way, depending on the length of the trip, so the urinary ammonia odor won’t build up to become a hazard? Are there crosstie hooks to help hold a horse securely? If a human will ride with one or more horses in the trailer, is there a seat of some kind? Will the animals have access to fresh water? Check to be sure the loading ramp has been stored on the vehicle if it is not built on as part of the door . If you are getting help in loading your horse, find out what the person does if an animal should balk. You will want to agree on tactics before they are needed rather than argue about them at the point of necessity. If you want to use a blindfold but the driver pulls out a whip, you may be at odds and delay the unloading task as well as possibly upset the horse.

Make sure the trailer is clean when you load your horse. Look for sharp edges due to protruding nails or rusted edges. Hopefully you will find none. Keep all of these things in mind when using your own trailer or conducting periodic maintenance.

No matter how you crack it, at some point we all need to haul a large item from one point to another. Whether it’s a homeowner cleaning out a garage and needing to get rid of some debris, or it’s a small business that needs to get equipment to a job site, hauling is a fact of life. The costs of truck purchases for some jobs are just too great, and this is where a good utility trailer can really step in and save the day.

A utility trailer is simply a platform for hauling items. It can be an elaborate add on to a vehicle that includes safety walls and other features, or it can just be a wheeled slab on which to secure a piece of machinery or item for hauling. There are a number of things to consider, however, when adding a trailer onto a vehicle. They include:

* Local laws. Many states require even simple trailers to have their own license plates. They also require lighting systems that include break lights and hazards. This is for the safety of everyone on the road, the hauler included.

* Proper hook up. Trailers are wonderful for homeowners who occasionally need to pick up big items, but don’t own trucks. Easy to add to a car or a small, personal use pickup truck, trailers free their owners up from having to rent a big hauler or hire someone else to do the work for them. They must, however, be hooked up safely. This means the attachment to the towing vehicle must be safe and secure and the lighting system needs to be in place correctly. Doing otherwise might not only result in an accident, but also the loss of the load being hauled.

* Weight considerations. A small, wooden trailer with a wheel system that’s meant to hold only 500 pounds, cannot and should not be loaded up with a ton of debris or lawn equipment. Make sure you know what your trailer is rated for and follow all safety precautions.

Businesses, too, often use trailer systems to help them get their work done. Plumbers, electricians, other construction trades and especially lawn maintenance companies rely on trailers to help them get from jobsite to jobsite with their equipment intact. The benefits of trailers over much larger trucks for hauling equipment and supplies are many. They include:

* Increasing the capacity of a regular work truck without having to purchase more expensive vehicles.

* Ease of access of equipment. Open trailers or even enclosed ones make it much easier for employees to get at the equipment they need when they need it. Ramps on lawn equipment trailers, for example, are ideal for rolling equipment out when it’s needed. Plus, it makes it even easier to put equipment away after a long, hot day. After all, who wants to lift a heavy lawn mower onto a truck?

Utility trailers are oftentimes much more affordable and economical to keep up with than a full-sized truck or even a larger commercial truck. They are perfect for homeowners who need to do occasional hauling, great for businesses and simply irreplaceable to lawn maintenance crews.

Maneuverability and safety should be of prime consideration when towing any non-powered vehicle or trailer. Whether you choose a fixed hitch or one that pivots to enhance enhance or unloading material, special care must be taken to ensure the trailer is attached safely and securely to the vehicle that is towing it. All utility trailers should be attached by a backup security chain in case the hitch and ball fail.

Nearly all utility trailers have a floating axle construction to allow adjustments to various load requirements. A few come in single axle for smaller, shorter trips, but for longer hauls and larger loads tandem axles offer greater security and ease of towing.

Other safety features include heavy-duty spring suspension, adequate tires engineered to hold the manufacturers suggested weight requirements and side and rear LED trailer light mechanisms that can be wired to the controlling vehicle. An aluminum utility trailer must also be equipped with a secure bumper, reliable tow bar and larger trailers must have a competent braking system.

An aluminum utility trailer that is welded together far surpasses one that is designed to stay together with bolts. The constant jarring a aluminum utility trailer receives during transport could easily loosen bolted parts, thus making the vehicle unstable and a safety risk; a utility trailer that is welded together can tremendously decrease chances of this happening. Make sure to inspect welded joints on a regular basis with particular attention being paid to small, undersized welds, which can sometimes compromise the safety and durability of the trailer.

Another huge factor to consider before loading a utility trailer is to pay particular attention to its recommended load capacity. All utility trailers are engineered with a maximum load in mind and its construction should be relative to the intended weight - that is, the heavier the anticipated load, the stronger its construction should be.

Really, load distribution should be of the utmost importance. Materials that are not evenly distributed can result in risky damage to the trailer not to mention the auto towing it. Trailers that are overloaded or those with weight not evenly distributed can also lead to instability on the road, and has the potential to become a very costly safety hazard.

In short, utility trailers offer a versatile and economical way of transporting a wide diversity of goods; nonetheless, care must be taken not only in the choosing of the utility trailer, but also in its safe operation. Making sensible choices and adhering to standard safety practices can go a long way in making sure all your towing experiences are successful.

ELC asked:

Trying to see how the temperature outside a trailer relates to the temperature inside the trailer. For example, if it is 80 degrees outside, will it be 100 degrees inside the trailer?