by Tom Sample

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.

#1 Resource

Utility trailers.

http://www.utilitytrailersite.com
Truck rental and leasing.

http://www.truckrentalinc.com

By Gray Rollins

If you love to camp, hike, fish, water ski and enjoy the great outdoors; chances are there will come a time when you want to tow a boat or camping trailer. Know before you tow with this guide to towing.

Here are some terms you should be familiar with and what you need to check. The Base Curb Weight + Cargo Weight + Passenger Weight = GVW or Gross Vehicle Weight. The GVW + Loaded Trailer Weight = GCW or Gross Combination Weight.

The GVW must not exceed the GVWR which can be found on the safety Compliance Certification label. The GVWR is the maximum weight allowed on a fully loaded vehicle. This includes passengers and cargo. Once you have this information, you will be able to figure out what size trailer a vehicle can tow.

There are two different types of hitches on the market. A weight carrying hitch is common for small to medium size trailers. Use a good weight carrying hitch that properly distributes the weight. You’ll find a label on the hitch that provides the weight carrying and weight distributing capacity of the hitch. Don’t exceed the rating.

The weight distributing hitch uses a hitch platform to distribute the tongue load to all the wheels of the towing vehicle and trailer. It is the required type of hitch for most Class III and IV trailers. This type of hitch is welded or bolted to the frame of the vehicle and it has equalizing arms that are connected from the hitch to the trailer’s frame.

Besides the GVWR and the correct type of hitch, you also need to make sure your braking system is adequate. If your load is more than 1500 pounds, the law requires a separate braking system. There are two types on the market.

Electronically controlled brakes provide both automatic and manual control of the trailer brakes. The tow vehicle needs to be equipped with a controlling device and requires some wiring. Surge brakes are independent and are activated by a master cylinder that is located at the junction of the trailer tongue and hitch. Make sure your braking system conforms with all legal requirements.

The trailer will also need to be equipped with trailer lights that meet government regulations. Do not connect the trailer lights directly to the vehicle’s lighting system. They need to be installed with a proper wiring harness. See your dealer to ensure you have the correct wiring harness for your vehicle.

Safety chains should always be used when towing. They provide a connection between the trailer and the vehicle should the hitch fail. Cross the chains under the trailer tongue to stop the tongue from connecting with the ground if the hitch fails, and leave only enough slack to allow for a full turn.

A trailer is a great investment. It will take you from the mountains to the valleys and from the river to the lakes. If you haven’t towed before it’s natural to feel overwhelmed about choosing a vehicle and trailer to tow safely. This guide to towing will have you confidently towing in no time!

About the Author: Gray Rollins is a featured writer for UpTowing.com. To read our entire towing guide and to learn more about towing hitches, visit us.

By W. H. Ingle

You have bought a new trailer and have your first trip all planned out. Are you ready to start out on your trip? Assuming you have done all inspections for your trailer and cargo, then here are a few tips for being on the road and towing your trailer safely. Remember, there is a big difference between just driving your vehicle and hauling a load behind it. Handling characteristics will be startlingly different. Practicing on roads with little traffic or even in empty parking lots will help to give you a feel for how your vehicle will handle in different situations. And while in a deserted parking lot, it is a good time to practice backing and parking.

To back a trailer, turn your wheel right to back right and turn your wheel left to back left. Oversteering can cause the trailer to turn sharply, so do gradual movements. If you get in a bind, just pull forward and straighten everything out and try again.

Don't forget to consult your vehicles's owners manual for information on the correct driving gear when towing. If your manual is unavailable, call the dealer for your make of vehicle. Usually the service department has all the information you need and may have a few tips on the do's and don'ts that may be useful to you.

Always drive at moderate speeds when towing. Some states even have laws and regulations for driving a certain speed below the posted limit when towing a trailer. Just be sure to leave plenty of time for your trip and don't get in a hurry. This will also put less strain on your towing vehicle and may help in avoiding breakdowns. Also, driving at moderate speeds can avoid trailer sway .

While driving, it is essential you stay alert for potential problems ahead. Lane changes and braking are best when planned. Heavy braking can cause great problems such as sliding or even jack knifing, not to mention the extreme strain on your trailer, cargo or animals. A good rule of thumb on following distance of the vehicle in front of you is one and a half to two car lengths for every ten miles an hour of speed when towing. If people pull in front of you, drop back. Better safe than sorry. Try to anticipate having to stop for lights or traffic and begin slowing ahead of time. Remember, your braking time and distance are going to increase with a heavy load behind you. Try to avoid sudden steering maneuvers that could put you out of control when towing a load.

If the road you are traveling is bumpy or even gravel, you will need to travel at much slower speeds to maintain control. Gravel or "rutty" roads can even cause your vehicle and/or trailer to "float" and cause you to face disaster. Road and weather conditions will have an even greater effect on how you drive when towing.

When you make your first turn towing a trailer, you must remember to compensate for a much wider turn. The trailer's wheels will be much further to the inside of a turn than the towing vehicle's. The trailer will ride up on the curb, or into a ditch or, on left turns, even sideswipe vehicles.

There are other problems on the highway in dealing with other traffic and wind conditions. Large vehicles can cause wind shifts as they pass you. Just keep your hands on the wheel firmly and avoid over compensating. If the winds start your trailer swaying, do not hit the brakes. Instead, use the trailer brake activator to lightly apply the brakes on your trailer. Try shifting into a lower gear and decreasing the speed of your vehicle. Just hitting the brakes on the tow vehicle can make the sway worse as centrifugal force pushes the trailer forward.

If you have to pass another vehicle by changing lanes, please anticipate the much longer time needed for most vehicles when towing. Signal well in advance. Avoid passing on steep grades.You will need to start acceleration earlier and realize your tow vehicle will need much more time to pass when carrying a load. Make sure there is plenty of time to avoid oncoming traffic and leave plenty of clearance before moving back into your lane. You don't want to hit the vehicle your passing with your trailer.

When traveling on roads with soft shoulders, avoid getting the trailer wheels off the pavement. Contacting the soft shoulder can cause the trailer to start to sway. If it happens, don't panic. Do not try to steer right back onto the pavement or hard surface. Take your foot off the gas pedal but don't hit the tow vehicles brakes. Activate the trailer brakes by hand and easily tap your vehicle brakes. Downshift if possible. When you have reached a much slower speed and your trailer is under control, gradually ease the wheels back onto the road.

When encountering steep grades you will notice different handling characteristics when towing. On a steep downhill grade the trailer can actually push your vehicle. Anticipate this and downshift and let off the gas a little. You may have to use your trailer brakes hand control to slow you but don't ride them. Only tap them intermittently to avoid overheating of the brakes and ultimately, brake failure.. When facing a steep upgrade you should start accelerating early if possible. Again, you may have to downshift and keep increasing your gas pedal to compensate for the drag on you going uphill. As you reach the crest of the grade start backing off the pedal. A steep grade will test your tow vehicles limits.

Once you have reached your destination you have to find a place to park your "rig". It's best to avoid parking on a grade. The more level the parking area the better. If you have to park on a grade, it is best to chock the wheels. Hopefully, you have some with you. If you have someone to help, have them guide you into the spot. You can't always rely on the mirrors as the trailer may block your view. Once stopped, keep your foot on the brake, turn your wheels toward the curb (pointed in on a down hill, out on an uphill), apply the parking brake and then shift into park, or with a manual, your lowest gear. This method helps avoid locking your transmission due to the extra load.

If you are on even a small grade and you plan to unhitch your trailer, you must apply chocks to the trailers wheels to avoid the trailer from rolling away when uncoupled. Just having the lift down will not make it stable. Jack stands also come in handy to level your load.I hope this article has provided you with useful information but it is not intended to be the " be all and end all" of trailering safety. Read everything you can and talk to other more experienced trailer owners for tips on do's and don'ts. Contact your state governments transportation department and familiarize yourself with laws, regulations and even local ordinances regarding trailers and towing.

About the Author: W. H. Ingle is the webmaster for http://www.longhornsales.com and a published author specializing in articles on the subject of trailering and transporting cargo and livestock.

There is no denying that maneuvering an rv is indeed serious and difficult work. Towing an rv takes a lot of towing training. A difficult maneuver that involves an rv is rv towing backing.

Towing backing for an rv is essentially the process of backing up an rv, or moving in reverse. There are many elements to take into consideration when dealing with the backing up process of an rv. For example, an individual should be highly familiar with the rv before even trying to back it up. There is a lot of variables that come into play with the rv itself, from its weight to the even distribution of the weight that is inside of the rv. Elements that can play a role in the towing backing of an rv are such items the variances in the road beneath the tires, such as uneven pavement, as well as trees and brush that might get in the way. As much, tight spaces that are trying to be utilized to park the rv can lead to difficulties in the towing backing of the motorhome.

One of the best ways to maneuver with towing backing of an rv is to have a spotter outside of the vehicle. It is best to have the spotter visible at all times. As much, having a radio for both the driver and the spotter for communication is the key. The spotter can tell the driver which way to back up, as well as if there is enough clearance for the rv. The driver can relay questions and concerns about the rv to the spotter, and whether or not the spotter can be of any help to the situation. If the driver can not see the spotter while backing up, the driver is to stop immediately until the spotter can be seen again. There are terrible blind spots that exist with an rv. It is indeed a good idea for the driver to never drive alone, let alone be without a spotter.

Many drivers can take towing backing lessons from a DMV or other rv training courses. This is often beneficial, and a driver of a tow vehicle can gain the most experience from such practice. RV towing backing is indeed a hard task to master, and can easily be mastered with a lot of practice from a trained professional. Furthermore, there are safer driving conditions for an individual to train in when they are practicing at a licensed facility. Many RV dealerships will offer or refer individuals to rv towing backing and driving classes, many of which only ask for a minimal fee. It is important to keep in mind as well that individuals must pass the towing backing section of a driving exam in order for them to be certified to haul an rv in many states.

RV towing backing does not have to be as difficult as is thought to believe with the adequate amount of training. RV towing backing is indeed a skill that needs to be mastered before an individual handles an rv. With the right towing backing skills under ones belt, an individual can venture on and come upon new destinations that have yet to be discovered.