Trailer and Mobile Home Safety Tips
A trailer is basically an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle towed behind another vehicle. In its simplest form a trailer can be described as something that tows a vehicle. In its most common form, a trailer is a straight piece of metal containing a bed, axle and wheels attached to it. It is most commonly employed for the transportation of materials and goods. For the most part it is used to haul heavy items.
For trailer safety, one must have on board all the necessary components required to control or stop a vehicle in case of an accident. That means you need the correct brakes, breaks, hand signals, a gvw of 3,000 lbs. or more shall be equipped on the trailer and every wheel must have an approved tire pressure system. If your trailer is to carry more than one passenger, it should also have at least two sets of wheels, each set having at least three tires of different specifications. If you trailer is to carry more cargo than what is stipulated in this paragraph, then you will need a dual axle trailer. A dual axle trailer allows the same weight to be carried on each set of wheels, thereby increasing the carrying capacity.
The maximum allowable weight of the trailer to be drawn along with the passengers when drawn behind a motor vehicle that has an adequate braking system is the unloaded weight of the trailer. This weight, plus the weight of the passengers, should not exceed the maximum trailer gross weight rating for that particular motor vehicle or class of vehicle. So, when you are buying a trailer, find out what the gross weight rating is for that particular vehicle or class of vehicle, or if you are making modifications to your vehicle, find out what the maximum gross weight rating is for that vehicle or class of vehicle before you buy your trailer. Your trailer dealer or agent can usually help you determine the weight of your new trailer. Also check out your state’s law to find out what the maximum allowed weight is in your state. Again, your trailer dealer or agent can advise you of any State or local requirements.
Travel trailers and mobile homes generally have their own weight limits. These limits might be different from state to state, as well as from model to model. So when you are determining the weight of your trailer, you must include all of these weights together, even if the weight of your travel trailer or mobile home is different from the total weight of your car. trailers or mobile homes are classified as light trailers and heavy trailers depending on how they are manufactured. For example, campers that are towed by a truck have a different rating than travel trailers that are towed behind a truck.
Travel trailers and mobile homes can only be towed by trucks that are of a certain size and that have a hitch on the back to allow the trailer to be secured to the back of the truck. Trailer manufacturers call these types of trailers “towables” and “house trailers.” The house trailer is designed to be permanently attached to a house and then can be towed anywhere.
A commonly used term for a recreational vehicle is “trailer” or “car.” A commonly used term for a travel trailer or mobile home is “home.” Both terms refer to the same type of vehicle that transports people or their belongings. The primary difference between trailer and mobile home is that a travel trailer can only be legally transported along with the owner and a mobile home can only legally be legally transported by the owner and the legal driver of that vehicle.