iPedia Free Information Center

Information about Trailer (vehicle)

Enlarge picture
Utility trailer
A Trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials.

Sometimes recreational vehicles, travel trailers, or mobile homes with limited living facilities where people can camp or stay have been referred to as trailers. In earlier days, many such vehicles were towable trailers.

United States

Enlarge picture
A truck pulling a semi-trailer using a trailer dolly.


In the United States, the term is sometimes used interchangeably with travel trailer and mobile home, varieties of trailers and manufactured housing designed for human habitation. Their origins lay in utility trailers built in a similar fashion to horse wagons. A trailer park is an area where mobile homes are placed for habitation.

In the United States trailers ranging in size from single-axle dollies to 6-axle, 13.5 ft high, 53 ft long semi-trailers are commonplace. The latter, when towed as part of a tractor-trailer or "18-wheeler", carries a large percentage of the freight that travels over land in North America.

Types of Trailers

Enlarge picture
ACP Backtracking genset trailer
Some trailers are made for personal (or small business) use with practically any powered vehicle having an appropriate hitch, but some trailers are part of large trucks called semi-trailer trucks for transportation of cargo.

toy trailers and motorcycle trailers can be towed by commonly accessible pickup truck or van, which generally require no special permit beyond a regular driver's license. Specialized trailers like open-air motorcycle trailers, bicycle trailers are much smaller, accessible to small automobiles, as are some simple trailers, pulled by a drawbar and riding on a single set of axles. Other trailers, such as utility trailers and travel trailers or campers come in single and multiple axle varieties, to allow for varying sizes of tow vehicles.

There also exist highly specialized trailers, such as genset trailers and their ilk that are also used to power the towing vehicle. Others are custom-built to hold entire kitchens and other specialized equipment used by carnival vendors. There are also trailers for hauling boats.

Travel trailers

Enlarge picture
A popup camper
Main article: Travel trailer
Popup campers are lightweight, aerodynamic trailers that can be towed by a small car, such as the BMW Air Camper and the Coleman Bayside. They are built to be shorter than the tow vehicle, minimizing drag.

Others range from two-axle campers that can be pulled by most mid-sized pickups to trailers that are as long as the host country's law allows for drivers without special permits. Larger campers tend to be fully integrated recreational vehicles, which often are used to tow single-axle dolly trailers to allow the driver to bring small cars on their travels.

Semi-trailers

Main articles: Semi-trailer and Semi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported either by a road tractor or by a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly. A semi-trailer is normally equipped with legs, called "landing gear," which can be lowered to support it when it is uncoupled. A single trailer cannot exceed a length of 53 feet on interstate highways (unless a special permit is granted) in the United States, however it is possible to link several trailers together.

They vary considerably in design, ranging from open-topped grain haulers to normal-looking but refrigerated 13x53' enclosures. Many semi-trailers are part of semi-trailer trucks.

Motorcycle trailer

Enlarge picture
An enclosed motorcycle trailer
Main article: Motorcycle trailer
A motorcycle trailer may be a trailer designed to haul motorcycles behind an automobile or truck. Such trailers may be open or enclosed or open, ranging in size from trailers capable of carrying several motorcycles or only one. They may be designed specifically to carry motorcycles, with ramps and tie-downs, or may be a utility trailer adapted permanently or occasionally to haul one or more motorcycles.

Another type of motorcycle trailer is a wheeled frame with a hitch system designed for transporting cargo by motorcycle. Motorcycle trailers are often narrow and styled to match the appearance of the motorcycle they are intended to be towed behind. You can get either two wheeled versions or single wheeled version. The single wheeled versions, such as the Unigo (unigo.com) or Pav 40/41, are designed to allow the bike to have all the normal flexibility of a motorcycle, usually using a universal joint to enable the trailer to lean and turn with the motorcycle. No motorcycle manufacturer recommends that its motorcycles be used to tow a trailer because it creates additional safety hazards for motorcyclists.

Trailer winches

Enlarge picture
Empty boat trailer with winch
Main article: Winch
Trailer winches are designed to load (or unload) boats and other cargo to and from a trailer. The are made up of a ratchet mechanism and cable. The handle on the ratchet mechanism is turned to tighten or loosen the tension on the winch cable. There are both manual and motorized trailer winches.

Livestock trailer

See also: Horse trailer
Enlarge picture
A horse trailer
There are a number of different styles of trailers used to haul livestock such as cattle and horses. The most common is the stock trailer, a trailer that is enclosed on the bottom, but has openings at approximately the eye level of the animals to allow ventilation. The horse trailer is a more elaborate form of stock trailer. Because horses are usually hauled for the purpose of competition or work, where they must be in peak physical condition, horse trailers are designed for the comfort and safety of the animals. They usually have adjustable vents and windows as well as suspension designed to provide a smooth ride and less stress on the animals. Both stock trailers and horse trailers range in size from small units capable of holding two or three animals, able to be pulled by a pickup truck or even a SUV; to large semi-trailers that can haul a significant number of animals.

Hitching a trailer

Main articles: Tow hitch and Fifth wheel coupling
Enlarge picture
Trailer-hitch on a large vehicle


A trailer coupler is used to secure the trailer to the towing vechicle. The trailer coupler attaches to the trailer ball. This forms a ball and socket connection to allow for relative movement between the towing vehicle and trailer while towing over uneven road surfaces. The trailer ball is mounted to the draw bar, which is usually removable. The draw bar is secured to the trailer hitch by inserting it into the hitch receiver and pinning it. The three most common types of couplers are Straight Couplers, A-Frame Couplers, and Adjustable Couplers.

Enlarge picture
A gooseneck trailer attached to a pickup truck with fifth wheel coupling.
Another type of hitch is known as a "fifth" wheel. Fifth wheel coupling is used with gooseneck style trailers to attach the trailer to the bed of the towing vehicle, ahead of the rear wheels. This type of hitch is used for larger trailers and provides considerably more stability than does a traditional bumper-pull hitch.

A trailer hitch, fifth wheel coupling or other type of tow hitch is needed to draw a trailer with a car, truck or other traction engine.

The basic function of a trailer jack is to lift the trailer to a height that allows the trailer to be hitched or unhitched to and from the towing vehicle. Trailer jacks are also used for leveling the trailer during storage. The most common types of trailer jacks are A-Frame Jacks, Swivel Jacks, and Drop-Leg Jacks. Some trailers, such as horse trailers, have a built-in jack at the tongue for this purpose.

Electrical Components

Trailer taillights are generally connected to the towing vehicle's electrical system. The electrical wiring for such a set-up may consists of using a Trailer Light Converter, hosted on the towing vehicle, and a 4-way flat wiring connection. In 2007 Uhaul Int'l, for example, used a 4-way flat wiring connection for the lighting on its trailers.[1][2] The taillights from the towing vehicle, or electrical system, provide the trailer's taillights with appropriate signals and electrical power needed for their operation.

References

1. ^ "Trailer User Instructions." Uhaul. June 2005. Uhaul Int'l. 13 July 2007 ([1] pp.8-9.
2. ^ "U-Haul." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Jul 2007, 06:50 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 13 Jul 2007 (

See also

Enlarge picture
A boat on a single-axle trailer

Types of Trailers

External links

Towing is the process of pulling or drawing behind a chain, line, bar or some other form of coupling. Commonly, towing is done by road vehicles, but anything from boats to tractors to people can tow cargo.
..... Click the link for more information.
recreational vehicle, and its acronym RV, are generally used to refer to an enclosed piece of equipment dually used as both a vehicle and a temporary travel home.
..... Click the link for more information.
A travel trailer or caravan is a trailer towed behind a road vehicle (or even a horse) to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable, sheltered and protected than a tent (although there are fold-down tent trailers [1]) .
..... Click the link for more information.
single-wides and double-wides. Single-wides are sixteen feet or less in width and can be towed to their site as a single unit. Double-wides are twenty feet or more wide and are towed to their site in two separate units, which are then joined together.
..... Click the link for more information.
Towing is the process of pulling or drawing behind a chain, line, bar or some other form of coupling. Commonly, towing is done by road vehicles, but anything from boats to tractors to people can tow cargo.
..... Click the link for more information.
A travel trailer or caravan is a trailer towed behind a road vehicle (or even a horse) to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable, sheltered and protected than a tent (although there are fold-down tent trailers [1]) .
..... Click the link for more information.
single-wides and double-wides. Single-wides are sixteen feet or less in width and can be towed to their site as a single unit. Double-wides are twenty feet or more wide and are towed to their site in two separate units, which are then joined together.
..... Click the link for more information.
The term habitat comes from ecology, and includes many interrelated features, especially the immediate physical environment, the urban environment or the social environment.
..... Click the link for more information.
H.O.R.S.E. is a form of poker commonly played at the high stakes tables of casinos. It consists of rounds of play cycling among:
  • Texas Hold 'em,
  • Omaha eight or better,
  • Razz,
  • Seven card Stud, and
  • Seven card stud E

..... Click the link for more information.
A wagon (in British English, sometimes waggon) or dray is a wooden cart usually pulled by an animal, or animals, such as horses, mules or oxen and used for transportation of people or goods. Wagons usually have four wheels.
..... Click the link for more information.
trailer park is a neighbourhood consisting of an area of land where travel trailers rest. The term may also be used in a derogatory manner to refer to mobile home parks or manufactured home communities.
..... Click the link for more information.
Motto
"In God We Trust"   (since 1956)
"E Pluribus Unum"   ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional)
Anthem
..... Click the link for more information.
Dolly may refer to:
  • Dolly (sheep), the first mammal cloned from differentiated cells
  • Dolly (tool), either a portable anvil or wheeled platform
  • Dolly (trailer), for towing behind a vehicle
  • Dolly (band), a musical group
  • Dolly!

..... Click the link for more information.
Dolly may refer to:
  • Dolly (sheep), the first mammal cloned from differentiated cells
  • Dolly (tool), either a portable anvil or wheeled platform
  • Dolly (trailer), for towing behind a vehicle
  • Dolly (band), a musical group
  • Dolly!

..... Click the link for more information.
semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported either by a road tractor or by a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly. A semi-trailer is normally equipped with legs which can be lowered to support it when it is uncoupled.
..... Click the link for more information.
semi-trailer truck or tractor-trailer (colloquially known as a transfer truck, 18-wheeler, semi, or big rig in the U.S., and Canada; as a semi in Australia; and as an articulated lorry (artic), or truck and trailer
..... Click the link for more information.


North America is a continent [1] in the Earth's northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west
..... Click the link for more information.
This article lacks historical information.
Please [ add it] if you can.
For more information, see Wikipedia:WikiProject Historical information.
Please remove this message once the article has been expanded.
..... Click the link for more information.
semi-trailer truck or tractor-trailer (colloquially known as a transfer truck, 18-wheeler, semi, or big rig in the U.S., and Canada; as a semi in Australia; and as an articulated lorry (artic), or truck and trailer
..... Click the link for more information.
Cargo is a term used to denote goods or produce being transported generally for commercial gain, usually on a ship, plane, train, van or truck. Nowadays containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.

Cargo represents a concern to U.S. national security.
..... Click the link for more information.
Motorcycle trailer is a term used to describe a trailer used either to carry motorcycles or to be pulled behind a motorcycle in order to carry additional gear.

For carrying motorcycles

Motorcycle carrying trailers may be open or enclosed.
..... Click the link for more information.
pickup truck or ute is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area.

In North America, the word pickup generally refers to a small or medium sized truck, rather than vehicles based on passenger cars.
..... Click the link for more information.
van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people. It is usually a rather box-shaped vehicle on four wheels, about the same width and length as a large automobile, but taller and usually higher off the ground, also referred to as a Light Commercial Vehicle or
..... Click the link for more information.
A driver's license or driver license (U.S.), driving licence (UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Pakistan, India, Singapore, Malta), driver's licence or driver licence (Canada, Australia†
..... Click the link for more information.
bicycle trailer is a motorless wheeled frame with a hitch system designed for transporting cargo by bicycle. A bicycle trailer expands the cargo-carrying capacity of a bicycle greatly, allowing point-to-point transport of objects up to 4 cubic yards (3 cubic meters) in volume and
..... Click the link for more information.
axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. In some cases the axle may be fixed in position with a bearing or bushing sitting inside the hole in the wheel or gear to allow the wheel or gear to rotate around the axle.
..... Click the link for more information.
A travel trailer or caravan is a trailer towed behind a road vehicle (or even a horse) to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable, sheltered and protected than a tent (although there are fold-down tent trailers [1]) .
..... Click the link for more information.
Camper can be one of several things:
  • A trailer or vehicle accessory used for camping, see recreational vehicle, travel trailer or camper shell.
  • A Campervan - a self-powered van converted for camping.
  • a person who engages in camping.

..... Click the link for more information.
genset trailer is a range extending device for use with battery electric vehicles consisting of an internal combustion engine and an electrical generator (collectively called a genset).
..... Click the link for more information.
A boat is a watercraft designed to float or plane on, and provide transport over, water. Usually this water will be inland (lakes) or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were historically designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment.
..... Click the link for more information.


This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.
Herod_Archelaus


page counter