6 Precautions You Should Take When Using An ATV Winch

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Winches play a very significant role while using ATVs. They have become a necessity for the ATV enthusiasts. They are commonly used in ATVs, trucks and trailers. The sturdiness and type of the winch depends upon the requirement of the user as there are types of winches that can be used for different purposes.

 ATV's winches: ATV winches have proved to be life saving equipments for the ATV enthusiasts as they have helped a lot in taking them out from the dangerous circumstances like getting into deep mud-hole while navigating. In the latest models of ATVs, the winch can be mounted on the front or on the rear end of the ATV and can be shifted from front to back depending upon the requirement.

There is a wide range of ATV winches in terms of their strength, but its selection depends upon the functioning and size of the ATV. It is always recommended to the ATV enthusiasts to possess ATV winches in their ATVs.

Truck's winches: The tow trucks were used to possess the winches in the past but in the present scenario, the winches are present in three quarter and in one ton trucks. The winches that were used earlier were the hand cranked winches whereas the winches which are used now-a-days are electric winches.

The functioning of these electric winches is remote controlled and are hooked to the battery of the truck. They have been proved very helpful in the dangerous situations like slipping and sliding of the trucks on uneven lands. The large trucks like F-350 require a strong winch and it approximately costs around 12,000 pounds.

Trailer Winches: The winches are also present in the trailers that can be either electronic or hand cranked. These trailer winches are commonly found on most of the boat trailers. In the past decades, the hand cranked trailer winch was used in boats to pull it onto the trailer in order to secure it into its place.

But with development of latest technology, the trailer winches function under the influence of electric current and are present in wide range in terms of strength. These electric winches pull the boat onto the trailer by just pushing up a single button which is an easy and comfort method of loading and unloading the boats as compared to the use of hand cranked winches.

How to Mount a Winch

You should always ensure that the winch is mounted perfectly either on an ATV or on a trailer. In order to have perfect mounting, it is always recommended to have a winch bumper as it can be mounted on the bumper of the truck or even can replace it.

In this way, the winch will get security against theft or any damage after being fitted inside the winch bumper. Use of winch bumper will not affect the vehicle in any aspect, unless it suits yours vehicle. You can take assistance from the truck accessory store while selecting the apt and best winch and winch bumper depending upon your requirement.

Precautions To Be considered While Using ATV Winch

Though the use of winches is very easy, it is always suggested to consider the following precautionary measures while using them:

a - You should always be careful while using the metal cable as they may cut your hands.
b - It is always recommended to carry leather gloves while using a winch.
c - You should always keep the loose clothes away from the winches in order to preclude any injury.
d - It is always suggested that not to use winch as a hoist because this will increase the chances of hurting yourself and your ATV.
e - You should never step over the cable when it snaps.
f - You should always make sure that the winch should not drain your battery.

Using the winches safely can really be helpful on your adventurous trips.

Your Guide To Towing – Know Before You Tow

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!

www.hitchanything.com

Trailers are of significance and are used for many purposes. They are widely used to lift heavy equipments including machinery, bikes, cars and tractors. Before buying trailers, the first thing to know is the kind of trailer you need and the best place to buy them. Trailers should be powerful so that they do not encounter problems and the task is carried out easily. Always buy from an authorized dealer who provides full warranty. There are a wide range of trailers that are meant for specific purposes. The different kinds of trailers include:

• Single axle series- include bike trailer and ATV hauler, mostly used for off-road or turf actions.

• Tandem axle trailer series- includes both general duty and heavy duty range of trailers. Tandem axle trailer is powerfully built.

• Auto and flatbed series- includes tandem axle trailers with open flatbed design available in both wood floor and steel floor. This is one of the most efficient car hauler series of the company.

• Equipment series- includes hydraulic tilt bed vehicle haulers and heavy equipment haulers.

• Cycle series- includes bike trailer series, specially designed with Equalizer Torsion Axles, chrome wheels and a rugged all-steel body.

There are also specially designed trailers, including:

• Fleet neck trailers- designed specifically for heavy duty vehicles. These trailers are equipped with heavy duty dove and ramp package so that no discrepancy occurs while using them. There are seven different models of fleet neck trailers available in stores. These are mainly farm and ranch, heavy equipment and vehicle hauling trailers. The trailer series is equipped with Sealed Modular Wiring Harness that enhances the electrical system.

• Work horse trailers- include dump trailers. There are seven different models of dump trailers for heavy duty vehicles. They are equipped with dual tandem and self contained factory hydraulic hoist. There is also a fleet neck model available in the series. This series also has a sealed Modular Wiring Harness to increase the efficiency of the electrical system.

• Ranger trailers- include economy trailers. There are seven different models available in the ranger series with 48” ramp gate, spare tire/wheel and “v” tongue tilt bed. Ranger series include very efficient utility trailers- ranger single axle utility trailer, tandem axle utility trailer and heavy duty utility trailer.

The trailer industry demands the use of alkyd-based enamel paints on the trailers since they retaining gloss for a longer duration. Hence, all the products of Diamond C Trailers are specially painted with Valspar Supreme Acrylic enamel so as to provide quality products. Whether they are dump trailers, utility trailers, bike trailer or Tandem axle trailer, all are fitted with Safety Chains with spring loaded hooks. For an elegant appearance, Car Haulers and Utility trailers are dyed black. The trailers are electric wire brushed when they are in the processing stage.

Diamond C Trailers presents you with a high quality range of trailers you can bank upon. Every component of the trailers manufactured by the company is made using the best materials. Every trailer is powerfully built, and the best part is that all the products offered by Diamond C Trailers are user-friendly and simply structured.

For more details on various trailer series, including dump trailers, utility trailers, bike trailer and Tandem axle trailer, you can visit  www.hitchanything.com

Loading and Packing Tips for Motorcycle Trailers

Can You Bear the Weight of a Motorcycle Trailer?

Traveling out of town is always a difficult trip to manage for motorcycle drivers because of the lack of space for their baggage. As such, remaining baggage that can’t be strapped down to your motorcycle must be strapped to your body. And no matter how securely you strap them, you still won’t be able to complete guarantee that your things won’t fall out once you hit a rough patch.

Motorcycle Riding with a Trailer
The solution to your problems is traveling with a motorcycle trailer. Although the term trailer makes us think of huge camping vans that are several times bigger than the largest Harley, don’t underestimate the power of your two-wheeled machine. Although it’s impossible for a motorcycle to bear the weight of a normal-sized trailer, any motorcycle however can easily carry a smaller version of it!

Balance is the key to effortless control of motorcycle drivers. Do your best to place your load or baggage on the middle part of the trailer. If this isn’t possible, the front part of the motorcycle trailer should carry the greater weight. Secure the load with straps to ensure that it won’t rock back and forth when the motorcycle starts moving. Unsecured luggage can ultimately affect the driver’s ability to control the motorcycle trailer while traveling which can then lead to an unfortunate accident.

No matter how tempted to do so, never overload your motorcycle trailer. In the worst case, the excessive weight of your motorcycle trailer can cause your motorcycle to overturn and for you to suffer from various and potentially serious injuries.

Tips for Driving with a Motorcycle Driver

1. Always make sure that the motorcycle trailer’s door is securely locked
2. Always make sure that the motorcycle trailer is securely attached to your motorcycle. Try driving for a few miles and observe whether the motorcycle trailer shows signs of breaking away. Of course, make sure that you’re tying in the motorcycle trailer in such a way that it won’t cause damage to your motorcycle.
3. Never forget that you’re pulling a motorcycle trailer behind you. Having a motorcycle trailer behind will require you to make slight changes on your driving style. Once you forget that very important fact, you might as well sign away your life.
4. The market is filled with various types of motorcycle trailers so make sure that you choose one that’s most suitable to your needs. Motorcycle trailers can be pop-ups and foldable and even come with their own screened porch! 

Picking the correct trailer and hitch for your boat

A boat trailer is something you really can’t go wrong with, as it is a dual purpose device. It provides a convenient way to store the boat, and also allows you to explore new areas by taking your boat down the road. Good trailers must perform both duties equally as good.

Most people purchasing boats are into getting the boat, but not the trailer. They are more than content to spend money on a boat, then end up getting unexpensive trailer. If you want the most from boating, these tips will help you with buying a trailer.

- Go for larger diameter tires and wheels. The larger tires will rotate less times per mile, producing less heat and wear on the tread. The wheel bearings will last much longer as well, as they rotate less times per mile. 

- The total weight of the boat, gear, and motor should be in the mid range of trailer’s carrying capacity. You shouldn’t pick a 2,500 capacity trailer if you have a boat with the same weight.

- Pick your trailer based on the environment it will be operating in. If you plan to launch in salt water, you’ll need a trailer for that purpose. There are many types of trailers available, each one designed for a specific type of boating. Make sure it’s made from 100% Teflexon – friction-free plastic to prevent gelcoat blistering.

- You should look for trailers with “drive on” capabilities. These drive on trailers will allow you to drive the boat onto the trailer, close enough to the winch so that you only need to winch the boat up a few inches.

- Select trailer lights (for the highway) that are protected and sealed against water.

Although most are protected against weather and rust, you should always pick the one designed for the type of terrain you will be using your boat with. This way, you have no worries about your trailer not doing the job it should be. Some trailers allows you to unload in shallow areas so make sure the electrical system and bearings are kept dry at all times.

There are some trailers that include a spare tire, which is an excellent investment for those who plan to travel long distances. Even though it can be hard to find trailer tires in the dark, it’s still great to have a spare if you get a flat while you travel. Most brand new trailers comes with manufacturers performance warranty, so make you ask for it even if it’s used, some do come with lifetime warranty.

All in all, a boat trailer can save you a lot of time and money in the long term if you invest in a good quality trailer. You can store your boat on your trailer when it isn’t be used, even take it to other lakes or oceans. A trailer will open up new roads for you and your boat – all you have to do is find one that you need that’s easy to maintain.