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Trailer

Trailer Aerodynamics

March 22, 2023March 10, 2023 by Mechanic
Aerodynamic Trailer Drag

What makes a vehicle slice through the wind easier?  How does a trailer fit in the mix?  The science is complex, but there are some good concepts of trailer aerodynamics that are important to know.  Is there anything I can do to improve my rig?

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Categories Adventures Tags Calculation, Design, Tips, Trailer Leave a comment

What Is The Best Trailer Security?

January 14, 2023January 14, 2023 by Mechanic
Trailer Security

How many trailers are stolen each year?  That’s a question worth pondering, because if you put a lot of sweat and love into building a great trailer . . . . if it disappears, it’s heartbreaking.  We don’t like to think about such things, but it puts trailer security

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Categories Solutions! Tags Best Practices, Cutting, DIY, Safety, Strength, Trailer Leave a comment

Customer Story – Teardrop Camper Build

January 13, 2023 by Mechanic
Building a Teardrop Camper

We see them around, on the highway heading for a weekend away.  They always look so cool and just beg you to find your own adventure.  Just a cute little teardrop camper set to take someone for a great vacation.

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Categories Customer Stories Tags Camper, Customer Story, Customize, DIY, Teardrop, Trailer, Welding 1 Comment

Link Lock Safety Chain Product Review

February 11, 2023October 17, 2022 by Mechanic
Link Lock Safety Chain System

A couple years ago in an article about trailer safety chains, I mentioned the “Link Lock” system.   It looked pretty interesting, and I like creativity, especially when it solves real problems.  So, I tried to connect with the company to learn more.

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Categories News, Solutions! Tags Chain, Product Review, Safety, Solutions!, Trailer Leave a comment

Adjustable Ball Mount – Practical Considerations

November 29, 2022September 22, 2022 by Mechanic
Adjustable Ball Mount Search

While studying adjustable ball mount styles I noticed nearly all have a stationary rack and a floating attachment.  Have you noticed that too?  It’s a pretty important detail when we look at which one to choose.

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Best Practices, Hitch, Safety, Towing, Trailer Leave a comment

Trailer Design – Meeting Your Goals

November 29, 2022September 17, 2022 by Mechanic
Trailer Design Sketch

It looks easy.  Trailer design is not like building a rocket, but it’s also not as easy as putting a few pieces of metal together.  Good trailer design includes meeting goals and ending up with something that will tow well, and perform to your needs.

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Categories Adventures Tags Best Practices, Customize, Design, Strength, Trailer Leave a comment

Independent Trailer Suspension – Are You Being Taken For A Ride?

March 11, 2023August 17, 2022 by Mechanic
Independent Trailer Suspension?

I see a lot of comments on websites and hear references once in a while about the wonders of independent trailer suspension.  What do you think?  Does it deliver on the hype?  Or is it a sales hoax?  We will look at some video

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Categories Adventures Tags Analysis, Axle, Force, Spring, Tandem, Torsion, Trailer, Triple 2 Comments

Building A Trailer – Critical Things To Get Right

February 11, 2023August 3, 2022 by Mechanic
Success List To Make A Trailer

There are a lot of little details that go into a trailer building project.  Some big, some small.  Overall, it’s not hard, yet, when we think about the really important things that make a trailer perform well, the list is pretty short.  Give just a little extra

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Best Practices, Build, Chain, DIY, Safety, Trailer Leave a comment

Adjustable Hitch? Or, Adjustable Ball Mount?

September 26, 2022July 21, 2022 by Mechanic
Adjustable Hitch Options

Over the past few years the Adjustable Hitch and/or Adjustable Ball Mount have become quite popular.  They are great for adapting to a wide variety of tow vehicle heights and trailer tongue heights.  But, which should you use?  Does it make any difference?

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Categories Solutions! Tags Hitch, Safety, Strength, Tips, Tongue, Trailer Leave a comment

Tips To Set A Trailer Tongue At The Frame Center

July 4, 2022July 4, 2022 by Mechanic
How To Set A Trailer Tongue Central

When building a trailer, there are a bunch of things we want to get right.   Here is one.  “How To set a trailer tongue properly, and central on the frame“.  Intrinsically this is easy to grasp, but maybe not as easy to accomplish.  Here are some tricks

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Best Practices, Build, Measurements, Tips, Tongue, Trailer Leave a comment

Improve Fuel Economy When Towing

June 11, 2022 by Mechanic
Save Money at the Pump

Gas prices are up.  Diesel prices are even higher.  Since I don’t see those prices changing soon, maybe I can DIY some things to help.  Is there any way to improve fuel economy when I’m pulling my trailer?

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Categories Adventures Tags Best Practices, Cost, DIY, Trailer 3 Comments

Trailer Suspension Mounting – Misdirection !!

October 3, 2022May 14, 2022 by Mechanic
Suspension Mounting Too Close

Shopping online is both a boon and a bust.  It’s great access to a wide variety of components, but it’s a bummer when misleading info causes extra work and frustration.  That brings us to this Customer Story of misguided

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Categories Customer Stories Tags Customer Story, Customize, Measurements, Steel, Strength, Trailer, Welding 1 Comment

Trailer Towing Tips

October 4, 2022April 15, 2022 by Mechanic
Trailer Towing Tips

As we plan and eventually set out for the many adventures this year, let’s plan for a great trip.  Here are some good towing tips to make it all go much smoother.

For RV’s or any other trailer, the tips are

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Categories Adventures Tags Safety, Stability, Tips, Trailer Leave a comment

Car Hauler Trailers — New Trailer Plans

February 22, 2023March 5, 2022 by Mechanic
Looking At Car Hauler Trailers

Where do you get plans for true, tough, Car Hauler trailers.  After a ton of market and product study, we are stepping in and stepping up.  Our niche is engineering better plans for DIY, so read on to learn about our approach to Equipment Transport

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Categories News Tags Build, Calculation, Car Hauler, DIY, Plans, Strength, Trailer 2 Comments

Car Hauler Design – Trailer Research

October 4, 2022February 25, 2022 by Mechanic
Car Hauler Design Research

Prior to starting new plans, we do research to understand the landscape, then look for opportunity to improve and make a better product.  That is certainly the case with our upcoming Car Hauler & Equipment Transport Trailer design.  New plans are coming soon.

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Categories Adventures Tags Analysis, Calculation, Car Hauler, Strength, Trailer Leave a comment

Torsion Axle Conversion Plans

February 19, 2022February 19, 2022 by Mechanic
Torsion Axle Conversion Plans

By far, the most common trailer suspension is leaf springs.  They’re cheap, straightforward, easy to repair and a bunch of other things.  That said, there are definitely benefits in other suspension styles, too.  Torsion is the 2nd most common

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Categories News, Plans Info Tags Axle, Conversion, Engineering, Torsion, Trailer Leave a comment

Tilt Top Trailer Conversion Plans

October 10, 2022January 4, 2022 by Mechanic
Trailer Conversion to Tilt Top

It’s time to welcome the tilt top trailer.  You, as customers and readers, request this a lot, for a while.  So, now we have it.  Rather than revisiting the design for all our trailers in all the sizes, we now offer conversion plans.  These are an added option

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Categories News, Plans Info Tags Build, Customize, Plans, Tilt Top, Tongue, Trailer Leave a comment

Are Your Trailer Plans Certified?

April 6, 2022December 22, 2021 by Mechanic
DOT Approved or Certified Plans

This is a great question we get a lot, in many variations.  Are your plans DOT approved?  Are the plans Stamped?  We think it’s great to know the level of plans you get when you buy, so asking about certified plans is a great place to start.  However, this question

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Categories Plans Info Tags Best Practices, Build, Safety, Testing, Tips, Trailer, Wires Leave a comment

When Does My Trailer Need Brakes?

March 18, 2023November 13, 2021 by Mechanic
Trailer Axles with Brakes

There are laws that say when a trailer must have brakes.  In most places within the USA, when the trailer total capacity is over 3000 lbs, trailer brakes are required.  That’s all well and good, but we all know that laws are an ignorant way of covering the least

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Best Practices, Safety, Stability, Trailer 2 Comments

Small Trailer Instead Of A Truck?

October 11, 2022October 6, 2021 by Mechanic
Trailer Instead of a Truck

That sounds like a good idea.  Right?  There are a million good reasons to need the capacity of a pickup truck, but actually, very few people use a Truck as a Truck that often.  Can we get the function we need without all the weight and wasting fuel?

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Categories Solutions! Tags Analysis, Cost, DIY, Trailer 1 Comment
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