trailer guide – Page 2 – Country Blacksmith Trailers Blog

How To Back a Trailer Like a Pro

You finally just purchased, rented, or borrowed a trailer or RV that you are planning to pull with your vehicle. You’re hitched up and ready to go, however, you realize that backing up is not as straight forward as, well, moving forward. To back a trailer into a parking spot or around a corner can be tricky at first, but with lots of practice, it can become an easy task.

Preparing To Back a Trailer

Practice:

As with anything new, practice makes perfect. Hitch your trailer to your vehicle and drive out to an empty parking lot. Give yourself plenty of room so you can get a feel for your trailer’s responsiveness. Smaller trailers are more responsive and adjust quickly to the motions of the tow vehicle, which make them more difficult than larger trailers to maneuver in reverse. Bigger trailers respond slower to the turning of the tow vehicle, which makes it easier to accommodate mistakes when backing the trailer up.

Be Mindful of Surroundings:

When hitched up, a trailer becomes an extension of your vehicle, and you have to be aware of both your vehicle and trailer’s position at all times. To give yourself better visual, adjust your mirrors so you can clearly see the rear of the trailer. If possible, have a spotter be eyes in your blind spots. These precautions will keep you from hitting obstacles that could be easily missed like low hanging tree branches, holes, or fences.

Take It Slow:

If you go off path or jackknife the vehicle and trailer, just pull forward as far as you need to straighten up the angle of the trailer and try again. And if you need to get out of your vehicle to get a better visual of what is going on behind the trailer, do it! The important thing is that you park the trailer in the right spot without causing damage. Be aware that bumps and holes may also push your trailer in an unexpected direction. Reversing uphill will require a little extra gas on the pedal as well, due to gravity, but the methods of turning the steering wheel stay the same.

How to Steer a Trailer in Reverse

Looking Out the Window:

When you back a trailer into place and you are looking out the window toward the trailer, keep one hand on the steering wheel and just turn the wheel in the direction you want the back of the trailer to go.

Using Rearview Mirror:

When you are moving forward, you turn your wheel to the right (clockwise) and both the vehicle and the trailer turn right. Turning the wheel left (counterclockwise) will turn both the vehicle and trailer left. When you back a trailer using your mirrors, you must think backwards when turning the wheel of your vehicle. Spinning the steering wheel right, will cause the back of the trailer to move left and spinning the steering wheel left will cause the back of the trailer to move right. Another way to replicate the correct motion of the steering wheel when looking forward at your mirrors is to keep one hand on the bottom of the wheel, as the bottom of the steering wheel directs the movement of the trailer.

Reversing A Trailer Around a Corner

Step 1:

Pull straight past (overshoot) your spot or lane that you need to back into and line the rear of the trailer right past the entrance. Stop, roll your window down and put your 4-way flashers on. Turn your steering wheel to the left (counterclockwise) so that your vehicle’s front tires are fully tilted to the left.

Step 2:

Begin reversing your vehicle and backing the trailer to get your turning angle. Once it looks like the trailer has the correct turn radius, start spinning your steering wheel slowly the opposite way to the right (clockwise) to accommodate the direction and ensure the angle of the trailer doesn’t get too tight. Keep straightening out your vehicle while avoiding hitting anything as you move.

Step 3:

Keep moving back and making slight adjustments until you fully straighten out and are in your spot or lane. Most movement shouldn’t be more than a quarter turn of the wheel. You can pull forward as needed to avoid the angle between the trailer and vehicle getting too tight. Just keep an eye on your surroundings as you move in each direction.

Now that you are equipped with the knowledge on how to back a trailer like a pro, check out our inventory of new and used trailers. At Country Blacksmith Trailers, we have enclosed cargo, utility, dump, livestock, tilt deck trailers and more! We also do trailer customizations to help you get exactly what you need from your trailer. Let us help you with your trailer and accessory needs for whatever job you need to complete. Fill out this contact form to get started!

How Service Body Truck Beds Make Your Job Easier

A service body truck bed, also known as a pickup service body or utility truck bed, is any kind of modification to the bed of a truck (usually pickup trucks) that accommodates the compartmentalization of tools, equipment and storage needed to carry out a particular job. This kind of body style is common among contractors, plumbers, locksmiths, electricians, and more. However, is it worth the extra weight and cost to have these installed on your fleet of service vehicles? Here we’ll discuss why any job that requires various tasks and tools to complete needs a service body style truck bed and what to consider when picking one out.

The Benefits of Service Body Truck Beds

The easiest way to explain why to have a service body on your work truck is to avoid looking like the image above. Unless you are running a dump pick up service, you want your service trucks to appear clean and organized when they arrive to their location. Often customers are in messy and disorganized situations when making service calls, so having a professional, neat image on arrival, brings some assurance with your first impressions. Otherwise, the customer may be questioning why they didn’t choose your competition.

Clean and Organized Mobile Workspace

Being clean and organized is not only good for the customer, but helpful for the technicians themselves. With a service body, technicians know on arrival exactly where all their tools are located and they have the ability to simply open a panel door and grab them. This saves time on the service call and spares frustration from having to dig through the truck or trailer. The majority of the work can now be focused on fixing the issue at hand instead of searching through a pile of wires and tools to find that screwdriver. And when the job is done, it’s easier to pack up and notice if anything important is missing.

Protection of Tools and Equipment

In addition to better organization, having a service body on your truck will provide extra padding to prevent tools and equipment clanking against each other. Having work materials in covered containers also provides protection from the outdoor elements like the rain, snow, and sun. If properly locked, service bodies provide protection from theft as well. Being made from steel or tough aluminum, your tools and equipment won’t be visible and accessible to any curious person walking past your truck.

Efficient Space Usage

With a service body installed on your truck, you utilize every inch of the trucks body for storage. Adding customizations like frames or overhead racks adds a third dimension that you didn’t have with just the pickup truck bed before. Now you can hang materials, pipes, ladders, and more without sacrificing storage space in the main bed or compartments. Even without the frames and racks, the shelves and compartments make better use of space then just throwing everything in one big heap in a toolbox or in the pickup bed itself.

Truck Bed Customizations to Consider

The benefits of having a service body on your pickup truck can be clearly understood when you’re doing more than just transporting items or performing simple tasks. In a garage or service station, technicians have space for neatly laid out tools and equipment. They must be able to find what they need to do their job with speed and efficiency. However, when the technician needs to perform similar services on the go, truck service bodies are a crucial part of creating a mobile workshop.

Open vs Closed Design

Every job has different storage needs. You may want an open service body truck bed if you haul equipment or materials that are oddly shaped or heavier. An enclosed body style might be better for creating a dry workspace or additional rain protection for certain equipment.

Steel vs Aluminum Material

Steel service body truck beds are stronger and more cost effective overall. The downside of steel is that it is also much heavier by a few hundred pounds and corrodes faster than aluminum. Aluminum service bodies, along with their alloy variants, provide a lighter weight and are more resistant to corrosion. However, aluminum itself is not as strong as steel and tends to be pricier.

Overall Storage Space

Remember, the service body truck bed is used to bring critical items from the shop to the location of service. That means you will need to know your inventory and how much of it you’ll need to carry on board. Picking the correct size compartments is important so that you have enough space to place not just tools, but equipment and parts. Pick designs that work well with what you use on a daily basis.

At Country Blacksmith, we sell many different styles of service bodies to turn your pickup truck into the ultimate mobile workshop. We also modify existing truck beds and offer many useful accessories to keep you both organized and efficient. Call us today to check our stock, parts, and accessories for your service vehicle today!

Picking, Maintaining & Replacing Trailer Tires

When researching tires, there are three essential questions: What tires should I buy? How do I make my tires last? And when should I replace them? Whether you are a first-time buyer of trailer tires or have experience, it’s good to be reminded of the basics.

HOW DO I PICK THE RIGHT TRAILER TIRES?

Picking the correct trailer tires comes down to a matter of preference and how much weight you plan to pull. No matter what you choose, we have some helpful pointers listed below.

USE ST TIRES ON TRAILERS

It is best practice to use special trailer (ST) tires on your trailer. Being constructed with thicker walls and center-focused tread, ST tires are built to stabilize and pull heavy loads. Don’t be tempted to replace your trailer with passenger car (P) or light truck (LT) tires. Passenger car and light truck tires have thinner walls and could cause your trailer to sway if installed, not to mention risking other catastrophic disasters.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RADIAL & BIAS PLY TIRES

There are two types of special trailer tires: radial and bias ply. Radial tires can perform well at highway speeds, give a smoother ride, and tend to last longer over time. Bias ply tires have shorter tread life but can handle heavier loads and provide increased stability on the road.

HOW DO I MAKE MY TRAILER TIRES LAST?

Although you cannot make your trailer tires last forever, you can do some things to help extend their life and give you the best ride possible.

PROPERLY INFLATE TIRES & CHECK PRESSURE OFTEN

Improper tire inflation is one of the leading causes of tire problems. This is something that needs to be checked regularly, especially if there are temperature changes due to location or season. Tire pressure goes up or down 1 pound per square inch (PSI) for every 10 degree change in temperature. Always check tire pressure before your trip or when tires have been at rest for at least three hours. Tires heat up from road friction, so PSI readings on warm tires will be inaccurate. It is best to keep tires inflated at the maximum PSI recommendation printed on the tire wall. This will give you the smoothest ride on the road. Underinflating or overinflating your tires gives no benefit to your tires or trailer. In fact, if tires are not inflated properly, it will only damage your tires and make the ride harder for both your vehicle and trailer.

FOLLOW WEIGHT LIMITS AND GWVR FOR TRAILERS & TIRES

Check the sidewall of your trailer tires to verify the maximum load capabilities. If the tire is rated for 2,200 lbs. for a single axle, that means the trailer tires can handle a maximum load of 4,400 lbs. With the same tires, that would be a maximum of 8,800 lbs. on a double axle. Regardless of the combined maximum load of your tires, never exceed the trailer’s GWVR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) provided by the manufacturer. Even if the trailer tires combined load capacity can handle 8,800 lbs., your trailer itself may only have a maximum of 8,000 lbs. Although it is a good idea to get tires that can handle more than the GWVR, it is dangerous to have your load exceed the GWVR.

HAVE A SPARE TIRE ON-HAND – TAKE OUT?

When experiencing a flat on the road, there is no greater relief than knowing you have a spare tire. If you don’t carry a spare, you will have to leave your trailer behind to search for the nearest tire shop or be forced to wait on assistance. Always ensure your spare tires are ready for action by checking the air pressure along with your mounted tires each time.

WHEN DO I REPLACE MY TRAILER TIRES?

WHEN YOUR TIRE IS 3 – 5 YEARS OLD

Even if there is plenty of tread, tire rubber breaks down naturally over time. According to rubber industry research, oxidation caused from UV rays via sunlight and ozone from exhaust can cause exterior damage to the sidewalls, while oxygen from pressurized air creates unseen internal damage. Store your tires in a cool, dry place to minimize the damaging effects of nature and time.

WHEN TREAD IS DOWN TO 3/32 OF AN INCH OR LESS

To easily determine if the tread is too low, place a penny upside down facing you and if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace that trailer tire.

WHEN THE TIRE IS PUNCTURED OR SHOWS DEFORMITIES

If any holes in the tire are not repaired immediately, the structural integrity of the tire could be compromised and render it unsafe for use. Tires deformities like the appearance of bulges or bubbles on the outside are a sign that the interior of the tire has failed and it needs to be replaced as soon as possible.

WHEN THE VALVE STEM IS DAMAGED

If the valve stem is damaged or cracked, it will leak air causing unsafe tire pressure levels for carrying loads and tire damage when rolling deflated.

COUNTRY BLACKSMITH TRAILERS – A RELIABLE RESOURCE FOR TRAILER TIRES

If you’re looking for help with purchasing anything from trailers to tires, Country Blacksmith is here to assist you. We have a large variety of trailers, tires, trailer parts, on-site service mechanics, and more to meet all of your trailer and towing needs. We can quote you new trailer tire prices or evaluate your current tires, check the alignment of your axle, and even rotate your tires to optimize your trailer and tire performance on the road. Contact us anytime and we’ll connect you to the right person to answer all of your questions!