DOT Trailer Regulations Made Easy…Or, Why You Might Consider Moving to Wyoming

Although the regulations for a commercial tractor-trailer are far stricter than the ones that apply to the trailers those of us without a CDL tow behind the family SUV or pickup, it’s not just truck drivers and 18-wheelers getting ticketed for violations. These days, nearly anyone who fastens a trailer to their trailer hitch could find themselves getting ticketed when they least expect it. Construction workers, landscapers, farmers, ranchers, outdoorsman and sportsmen, and even the industrious Do-It-Yourselfer might see those flashing lights in their rearview mirror from time to time and be surprised to find their trailer is out of compliance.

Purchasing a registered trailer from a reputable manufacturer is the first step to avoiding that sinking feeling you're sure to experience while looking for a safe spot to pull that 16-foot trailer out of oncoming traffic so the officer can come ask for your license and registration.

 Of course, making sure that all your equipment is in working order is the second step. For example, it doesn’t make sense to have a breakaway kit with a dead battery, or have a trailer wrapped in fancy LED markers and clearance lights when your wiring harness has an electrical short or burned out lamp, or to use an insufficient trailer hitch. Not only does it not make sense to go against these common-sense rules, but you would be breaking the law in most states by towing a trailer down the road in that condition.

Even if your trailer is registered and you’ve performed an inspection before pulling the wheel chocks and backing it out of the carport, you still might be in for a surprise. Regulations are known to change from year to year. So, although you might get pulled over for exceeding the maximum towing speed, on his walk up to your window, that State Trooper may have just seen a few things that the trailer you purchased in 2001 doesn’t have, but should have, according to the law.

If your equipment is in good working order and the uniformed guy with the clipboard is in a good mood, the reality is you’re a likely to get off with just a warning for most trailer violations – especially if you can demonstrate that the trailer was in compliance when purchased. What makes regulations particularly confusing, however, is how they are written, and the fact that they tend to vary from state to state. In fact, even neighboring states can have different regulations.

If you plan to cross state lines with your trailer, you should check into the various states' Department of Transportation websites and become familiar with their regulations. Be warned though; these documents are not light reading, and it might help if you have a background in law. For example, the Federal Regulations from the Motor Carrier Safety Administration are divided into thousands of sections, subsections, and parts, and it isn’t uncommon for some sections to reference other parts, other parts to reference some sections, sections to reference subsections of other parts, and all combinations in between. You get the idea – it can be pretty confusing. Before you know it, you’ve read 15 paragraphs spread out over 20 pages just to find out if brakes are required in Arizona.

Again, what might surprise some trailer owners are the several cases where a trailer can be legal in one state, but just by crossing a state line, it becomes illegal. The most common infractions are for braking and speed issues, but the differences can be marginal. For example, when traveling from Tennessee to Kentucky or Mississippi to Alabama, a tower can find that he or she has exceeded the maximum towing speed by 10 mph, or that brakes are suddenly required because the load is 1,500 pounds too heavy, or the trailer is 1/2” too wide. The regulations really can change that much between states, depending on where you'll be traveling. Of course, it’s doubtful that motorists would be ticketed for being 1/2” out of compliance, but the law is the law, and it’s the trailer owner’s responsibility to know the law.

We sorted through all the mess and we think we have a surefire way for you to perform a 48-state tour of the United States and never break a trailer violation. But first, please be aware of something all the regulations and recommendations seem to all include: taillights, brake lights, clearance lights, turn signals, reflectors / conspicuity tape, a license plate light, safety chains, brakes (on any axle with a capacity over 3.5K lbs.), and a working breakaway kit for any trailer equipped with brakes are always required. Quality trailer parts suppliers like NueraTrailerParts.com can be easily found online to make sure you use DOT compliant repair and replacement parts.

So how can you prepare to travel the nation without worrying about the various regulations? Well, a trailer that is legal in the lower United States is a trailer no higher than 13’, no longer than 30’, and no wider than 8’. Thanks to Maryland's rules, the combined length of the tow vehicle and trailer cannot exceed 55’, but in Wyoming, you can be a freight train at 85’ (and to think…we thought everything was bigger in Texas!)

Now, throw signal flares and a fire extinguisher into a tool box and you’re almost ready to hit the road. Make sure you do not have passengers in a towable trailer such as 5th Wheel or travel camper, and don’t go faster than 55 mph. However, you can put your foot to floor and open it up to 75 mph in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and – apparently, the place to move you if you own a trailer – Wyoming.

Now get out there and enjoy the open road, and if you need parts or supplies, you know where to turn: NueraTrailerParts.com.

NuEra: Blazing a Trail of Excellence

NuEra has built a solid reputation over the past 30 years by providing the hardest-working products to hardest-working people in the trailer and towing industry.

We're not interested in chrome skull-shaped hitch covers or cheap novelty items. We sell to real, working professionals, professionals whose equipment is their livelihood, professionals that consider light-duty anywhere between 5 to 15 tons. As a result, we only provide the highest-quality products from leading brands such as Curt, B&W Hitches, Holland, Buyers Products, and more.

NuEra provides vehicle-specific trailer hitches from Class I through Class V for general bumper pull applications, 5^th Wheel Hitches and 5^th Wheel Ball Plates for increased stability, and, for more industrial-grade towing and hauling, we offer some of the toughest draw bars, pintle hooks and rings for a higher towing capacity.

Everything you order from NuEra comes in a plain brown cardboard box. No fluff, no fancy packaging: No extra costs.  

The Many Different Types of Trailer Jacks

Whether you are hauling a horse with your trailer or moving lawn equipment to the next job, you need to have a reliable and safe trailer jack. There are a number of different styles of trailer jacks which you need to take into consideration when choosing the best one for you. Some of the typical choices in trailer jacks are the A-frame trailer jack, swivel trailer jack, drop leg trailer jack and the stabilizer jack.

One of the most popular types of trailer jacks is the A-frame trailer jack. The A-frame trailer jack is your traditional hand crank jack which supports the front end of your load. The A-frame trailer jack is easy to use and maintain. The A-frame jack is composed of an inner tube, which allows for the jack to raise and lower by cranking on a lever. The A-frame trailer jack is an efficient and safe solution to your needs. The A-frame jacks are designed to be used with a caster foot as well for easy movement.

Another option for a trailer jack is the swivel jack. The swivel jacks are ideal for a number of different applications which allows the jack to swing away during travel. With easy assembly, the swivel jack is optimal for hauling a load over uncertain or uneven terrain with the ability to swivel away. This may become important in areas with an uneven terrain. The last thing you want is for your jack to bottom out due to uneven terrain.

Your choices in trailer jacks expand when you include the drop leg jack. The drop leg action allows for stability and versatility which is key in hauling and storing your loads. The drop leg jack can be adjusted to a number of different positions, which provides you with the flexibility that other jacks may not provide.

When looking at options for trailer jacks, there are a number of different types. Each jack is built different, but all of them offer you the safety and security for your hauling needs.

Managing Business Breakdowns with Trailer Parts and More

When companies frequently use top-end machinery in their daily operations, it only makes sense that they'll want to keep these valuable tools up and running for years and years. Due to the considerable amount of capital that construction and freight-based organizations must invest into their equipment, more businesses are being increasingly mindful of the wear and tear their machinery takes. As a result, regularly-scheduled maintenance has become an important process for those companies that want to push their equipment to its limit without seeing quarterly budgets going into the red.

Of course, keeping aging machinery from breaking down always comes down to using the right parts. No matter how well a company may take care of its equipment, inevitably something is going to break down sooner or later. This is why it's important that a business always carries the parts it will need for repairs. From shipping companies that may need cargo trailer parts to businesses that frequently use hitches, there will always be a demand for premium parts.

Beyond repairs, top-of-the-line trailer parts  also play a vital role in significantly extending the lifespan of a company's equipment. These days, many businesses swear by the level of craftsmanship that goes into replacement hitches, axles, and brakes. By choosing to rebuild their own vehicles with these sorts of quality parts, a company is able to affordably maintain its most expensive machinery and equipment with very little outside consultation.

With significantly little downtime and enough parts available for repairs, a company can use components such as couplers, wiring and trailer parts to improve all their operations. And every step along the way, Nuera Transport is there to help.

Maximizing Functionality: Getting the Most from Your Trailer

In any situation, it's important to have the right tools for the job.  No matter what you're hauling, it is absolutely crucial to utilize trailers, hitches and accessories that are ideal for the task.  For instance, while a bike trailer hitch may be the perfect choice for towing a baby through the park it simply will not suffice for towing an excavator to a construction job site. When searching for the perfect components, it is essential to keep functionality in mind.

Today, the number of options for trailer owners has increased exponentially.  With a wide variety of trailer hitches and other accessories available, it has become necessary to select the most durable and reliable equipment.  Factors such as towing capacity and the type of cargo should be considered when selecting a trailer and accessories.  Quality is key and the most reliable and durable parts should be used to create and maintain the most functional trailers.

The Internet has become a useful tool to those who are searching for the right equipment and service offerings.  Many trailer owners research and purchase their parts, accessories and even services online.  Not only has the Web made it easier for owners to locate high-quality equipment, customized trailers and hitches and exceptional service, it has also given owners a platform to interact with experts.   Consulting with knowledgeable and experienced professionals who can offer advice and insights to owners can help to maximize the functionality of a particular trailer and even save money.

Every trailer owner wants to get the most from their equipment and increase functionality and efficiency while simultaneously reducing cost.  Whether searching for a heavy-duty trailer axle or just great service for trailers or parts; the Internet has definitely become one of the most beneficial resources to owners who are looking to maximize their functionality.

Life Lessons: The Importance of Spare Cargo Trailer Parts

When teaching a person why something is important, it's usually better to show than tell.  Sure, we could preach to you about how helpful it is to have spare parts around, but until you're stuck on the side of the road with a busted trailer and nothing to fix it with, you might not appreciate how important they are.  Of course, we never want you to be in that position, so we thought we'd do a little "showing" with a story we recently heard.

The Story

A father and his two boys owned a collection of cars, including a 1936 Oldsmobile three-window business coupe that they showed and earned trophies with. Their father was extremely adamant about carrying spare parts when showing cars cross country and even though he always had his two sons perform regular maintenance on his trailers, he simply wasn't comfortable hitting the road without a backup plan and spare parts. He insisted that the boys load an extra hub pre-packed with grease, as well as extra straps, channel locks, and a tire iron. While the boys didn't understand the need, they usually did it without further ado.

One particular show required the father and his two boys to travel from Houston, Texas to Oklahoma City. With plans to hit the road by 3:30 am, the boys were slow to get up and had not finished packing or prepping the trailer. About three hours into the trip, they noticed a wheel wobbling violently and as fate would have it, it was caused by bearings lacking grease and the boys had failed to load the hub the one time they needed it. While it's true that you never know what can happen, you can still prepare for it.

The Moral of the Story

Whether you manufacture, repair, or maintain trailers, you should always carry a few spare parts. If you're going to use a trailer for work, you should be as familiar as possible with the basic parts so that you can perform basic repair work. This is especially important for any jobs that include transporting goods via cargo trailer. Even if you're trailering for hobbies, such as transporting a car to a show, or transporting a horse, you should always keep basic replacement parts handy in case of a minor emergency. Surprisingly, little is needed in order to perform repairs on your equipment.

Here are a few common spare cargo trailer parts to think about keeping with you:

1 Spare Wheel & Tire Assembly Ready to Mount

2 Extra Ratchet Straps

Assorted Tarp Straps or Bungee Cords

Work Gloves

Channel Locks

Tire Tool

Replacement Hub Bearings Packed

Aside from carrying these few spare parts, you should inspect your trailer regularly and replace or repair and damaged or loose parts before hitting the road to avoid a potential emergency. However, to avoid any problems on the road, it's important to maintain your trailer by getting it checked out by professional repair shops and welders every few years. NuEra Trailer Parts "goes the extra mile" to please our customers who manufacture, repair and maintain trailers. We offer a variety of different brands and parts at affordable prices. Get all your cargo trailer parts at once with a click of a mouse.

Choosing a Quality Trailer Jack

While choosing a trailer jack may seem to be a daunting task to some, it is worth the peace of mind to choose a safe and high-quality trailer jack. Bulldog Trailer Parts have been the go-to brand for those seeking a superior trailer jack, whether it be for a horse trailer, general utility, cargo, heavy equipment hauler or any other application where a jack is needed. Bulldog Trailer Parts are known for their long-lasting quality, toughness, and reliability. While these jacks get very specific to the needs and preference of the customer, it is well worth the extra time to get the quality of Bulldog trailer jacks.

With the Bulldog brand offering so many options, how do you know where to start? You must first determine the weight-rating of the trailer. After this is determined, you may start browsing jacks by selecting either a round or square tube.

Round Tube Route

Round jacks are ideal for lighter loads. Within the round tube category, Bulldog offers over 50 different bumper-pull options that support between 2,000lbs and 7,000lbs. After you determine to go through the round tube route, you must choose between an a-frame jack or swivel jack. This narrows your mounting options to either a direct-weld or bracket-mount which is welded directly to the trailer, coupler, or chassis, and provides rigid and stable support, or a swivel-mount, which allows the jack to be raised and stowed out of the way while towing.

Square Tube Route
With the square tube option, Bulldog offers over 30 different bumper-pull options that support between 5,000lbs and 10,000lbs! Unlike round tube jacks, square tubes are used to support heavier weights. Besides the bumper-pull category, Bulldog offers a trailer "drog leg" jack category, which is also referred to as landing gear. Bulldog is one of the few brands that produce powered jacks and electric motors to retro-fit drop legs to help ease lowering and raising.