Archive for the ‘trailers’ Category
Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 |
Are you planning a long haul trip or moving house with your family to another city? And are you a bit worried about the management of your furniture and possessions? How will you carry items like beds, cupboards, your play station, clothes, and all the other things? How would you manage? Well the answer is simple, get yourself a utility trailer.
A utility trailer is an engine-less and a motor-less trailer used to carry items. It is pulled by a powered vehicle with engine. It might be your car or might be a truck. . Utility trailers are used all over the world for transportation of heavy goods for long distances. Trailers can carry large number of goods at a time. Utility trailers are used for transporting almost anything. They can be used as bike trailers, car trailers, Utility truck or snowmobile trailers. Let’s discuss some aspects of utility trailers here.
Types of Utility trailers
Utility trailers are basically available as enclosed and open utility trailers. Open utility trailers are the one which do not provide coverage to the cargo from external elements. If weather is not a problem for you, buying an open utility trailer would be a wise and economical choice. These open trailers usually range from about $900 to $2500.
You can buy a utility trailer if you are planning to start a small landscaping business. You can carry your essential equipments quite easily in this trailer. Open utility trailers are also lighter as compared to enclosed trailers. On the other hand enclosed utility trailers provide security to your cargo. They combine essential features of weather protection and theft protection. These trailers are lockable to give your cargo maximum protection. These trailers cost around $1600-$5000. There are several other types of utility trailers available to you.
Boat Trailers
Small Box Trailers
Flat Bed Trailers
Stock Trailers
Van Trailers
Semi Trailers–
Pole Trailers–
Horse Trailers
Utility trailers are made, keeping in mind some basic things like strength, towing stability, versatility and flexibility. By versatility of a utility trailer we mean that it should be able to accommodate various load equipments like snowmobile, automobiles and much more. By flexibility we mean that it should be adjustable to varying hauling requirements. Basically a trailer should have enough strength and durability to carry the requisite amount of load which is required, without too many hassles.
Utility Trailer- sizes and elements
Utility trailers are available in different sizes and shapes as per your needs. The sizes of utility trailers vary extensively such as 5 x 8/10, 5.3 x 8, 6.4 x 16 and many more. Manufacturers from all over the world make 5x 10 utility trailers for general usage.
The size of the trailer bed is 5 ft. x 8/10 ft long. Maximum capacities of trailer beds vary. A general capacity of a 5 x 10 utility trailer is 3500 pounds. The capacities of trailers vary as they differ in size. It could go up to 24,000 pounds. This weight is inclusive of the trailer weight.
Before Buying a Utility Trailer
Buying a utility trailer certainly fulfills your needs, but what exactly is your need. The first thing before buying a utility trailer is discovering your need— why you want to buy it.
You should consider the type of braking system you want for your utility trailer. You can choose from the electric braking and surge braking.
You should carefully check the trailer for bolts. If a trailer is joined by a good number of bolts, you should not consider buying it; instead consider buying a trailer for sale which is welded together.
Further ask a lot of question on various aspects of utility trailers from the dealer. Clarify any concerns with your dealer to ensure that you are buying the right trailers for you. And enjoy hassle-free load transportation.
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Friday, July 25th, 2008 |
If you ever plan to involve yourself in activities such as boating, camping or some sort of automotive pastime, such as auto crossing or drag racing, then chances are you’ll need to do some towing. While it may seem scary, towing an average-sized trailer is really easier than it looks.
Two of the most important things to have when you tow are basic common sense and the ability to adjust your driving. In other words, when towing, everything you do while driving needs to be done at about half the speed when compared to driving without a trailer. When you turn, go much slower. When you accelerate, do it much easier. When you brake, allow yourself a great deal more space to stop. And when you change lanes, allow room for your vehicle and the trailer.
The types of things you are likely going to tow are a boat, a camper of some sort, or a car trailer that’s usually home to a race or show car. The following information on towing basics applies to just about any type of towing application whether the trailer is carrying a boat, a car, or any other item that needs a lift from point A to point B. The universal nature of this information is due to the fact that how much you can tow and what you tow with are mainly based on weights and capacities.
For purposes of discussion, let’s suppose you bought a boat and want to tow it to a lake. As the photos illustrate, towing a boat with a pickup truck is a very common way to go. As such, the tow vehicle is a major consideration when pulling a trailer, making that vehicle as important as what you’re pulling.
As far as cars go, a full-size body-on-frame, rear-wheel-drive car like a Ford Crown Victoria (rated to tow 2,000 pounds) or Chevy Caprice is a basic minimum for towing anything approaching the weight of a 2,000-pound trailer. For smaller trailers, a smaller car can work, but for hauling anything more than 2,000 pounds you’re going to need a truly tow-friendly vehicle.
Ideally, a truck or an SUV is always a smart choice for towing that boat or camper. Even a compact pickup like a Ford Ranger or Chevy Colorado is going to be better than just about any car. For heavier loads (say more than 4,000 pounds) a half-ton truck like a Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado will meet the needs of just about any of the trailer-towing basics we’re discussing here. But even among half-ton trucks, towing ability can vary. For example, an F-150 with a 5.4-liter V8 will have a much easier time towing a 5,000-pound load than one with a 4.6-liter V8 because it simply has more horsepower and torque. Furthermore, the engine isn’t the only thing that can handle a heavier load. The transmission, brakes and rear axle are also upgraded, along with the larger engine. Beyond a typical half-ton truck, a three-quarter (such as an F-250) or one-ton (F-350) can handle loads well beyond 5,000 pounds. For example, an F-250 with a 5.4-liter V8 and 3.73 gears is rated to tow 12,500 pounds. Properly equipped, an F-150 is rated to tow 8,000 pounds with a 5.4-liter V8, an automatic transmission and 3.55 gears.
Besides the tow vehicle and the trailer, the other critical element is, of course, the hitch. Trailer hitches are rated according to capacity of the load weight and tongue weight. Load weight is referenced in terms of Gross Trailer Weight (GTW, see chart at the end of article). Tongue weight is the downward force exerted on the hitch ball. This is usually calculated at 10-15 percent of the maximum rated GTW. The tongue is usually formed from the V-shaped merging of the trailer framerails at the front of the trailer. The coupler of the trailer is what accepts the hitch ball.
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2008 |
Land Rover showed off its new Range Stormer concept at the 2004 NAIAS in Detroit, and again a month later at the Chicago Auto Show. Land Rover calls the vehicle a high performance, sports tourer SUV, and tells us that it’s a good representation of the company’s future design direction. The Range Stormer is the first Land Rover concept vehicle to preview an upcoming production model—a model that will add a new segment to the manufacturer’s lineup.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Terrain Response
This feature allows the driver to select a suspension and handling setup with the turn of a switch. There are six pre-set terrain handling setups:
- Dynamic, for high speed or winding paved roads
- Normal, for day-to-day driving
- Grass, gravel, and snow, for slippery conditions
- Sand
- Deep ruts
- Rocks
Terrain Response kicks in to control the engine, gearbox, air suspension, driveline, traction, and brakes. It selects the
optimal settings to tackle the chosen terrain.
Two Piece Power Doors
The upper door section hinges up and forward, while the lower section drops down to provide an entry step into the cabin. Land Rover provides a nice video of this on their Range Stormer Web site.
Two Piece Power Tailgate
The upper half of the power tailgate lifts upward. The lower half drops behind the bumper, taking it out of your way for easier loading.
All-New Platform
The Range Stormer features a new Land Rover platform. It will be used for the production version of the Range Stormer and in future full-size Land Rovers. The platform’s design combines the torsional rigidity and strength of a monocoque (a type of unibody) with the advantages and versatility of a body-on-frame chassis.
Range Stormer Powertrain
The Range Stormer has a Jaguar based, supercharged V8 engine designed to meet Land Rover’s specific requirements for on and off-road driving. Like all Land Rovers, the vehicle has a permanent four wheel drive system, and offers a selectable low range for tough off-road driving conditions.
Suspension
The Range Stormer rides on a fully independent, height adjustable, air spring suspension.
Additional Features
Enhanced visibility due to Land Rover’s slim pillar design
A glass roof gives the cabin a light and airy feel
Headlamps with crushed ice glass lenses swivel in the direction of your turn
Side-mounted LEDs to aid visibility on turns
22-inch forged alloy wheels Interior Design
There are four distinct seats in the Range Stormer. The vehicle maintains the traditional Land Rover high-seat, high-visibility command driving position. Leather, oak wood, and aluminum accent the Range Stormer’s interior. Instruments are back-lit, with aluminum faces. Instead of a conventional fuel gauge, the vehicle uses a novel liquid-filled indicator. As the fuel level drops, so does the liquid.
DVD units are used for information and entertainment systems. There are two DVD screens in the rear, and one in the front that swivels away when not in use.
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