One of the downsides of having fun on a lake with a boat is getting it out of the water and into storage. There’s a difficult way to do it — and that’s using a hand crank and a pulley to drag it out of the water. Or a winch, which won’t always do it the right way. The best way available now is a self-aligning dolly which brings your boat up on a track.
The boat track system you need is what Wickcraft has designed. It has a boat track rail system which sits right above the ground and can be used wherever you need it, including on an incline. It can run from the top of the ramp, down to a boat dock and into the water, where the boat will sit on the dolly. The rail system also works just as effectively on level ground.
And that’s where the uniqueness of the entire system lies. Wickcraft has made it possible for you to adjust your track to any type of surface. The track is made up of steel pieces that will allow you to make it any length. You can also decide whether you want to make this permanent or a temporary set up that can be disassembled when you want.
Because of the flexibility of its design, the boat track is usable on any kind of ground, no matter if it is flat or rugged. The tracks sit on adjustable legs that can be changed depending on the terrain. The legs can sit on an angle or just flat. The dolly that pulls up your boat will sit on the track and be able to haul up a 5,000-pound boat.
All types of storage can work with the boat track systems. For instance, there is covered boat storage or boathouses. With either, the track will run from the water right to where you want the boat to go. The dolly has adjustable bunks and aligning arms to make it easy to get the boat out of the water.
The boat is then pulled up by a quiet motor. This motor pulls the boat up gently and doesn’t jostle it like you may get on a trailer winch. The boat track system will adjust to the water level. Because of Wickcraft’s posi-lock system, you will be able to add pieces to the track or take pieces away, depending on what makes the system work the easiest. That’s the beauty of the posi-lock system.
There are so many good reasons for pulling your boat out of the water. You can keep it from being damaged by the weather and wear or even keep it from being stolen. In the end, the Wickcraft system gives you a boat you can keep enjoying for years.
Trailer Hitches and Hitch Accessories
Trailer hitches are an absolute must for towing and hauling. The devices themselves are relatively simple, but they are truly unsung heroes, allowing for a secure hold as well as the maneuverability and safety required when dealing with heavy loads.
Hitches are often classified by the amount they are able to carry. Class I hitches are for relatively lightweight loads of 2000 lbs. and under, while class II is used for weights of up to 3,500 lbs. Class III and IV hitches raise these limits to 5,000 and 10,000 lbs. respectively, and are often used when hauling boats and other large items. These numbers are largely dependent on the particular vehicle involved.
One of the most common hitch types is the receiver hitch, a device which mounts directly to the vehicle's frame and faces outwards where it can receive a coupling device, most often a hitch ball and mount. Ball mounts are classified with the same I-IV designation as the corresponding hitch, and the relatively inexpensive hitch balls can be welded on or easily attached. Receiver hitches are custom made and available from a number of reputable manufacturers (Hidden Hitch, Curt Hitches, etc.) Curt receiver hitches offer a great selection of receiver hitches for you to choose from.
Other hitch types include fifth wheel hitches and gooseneck hitches, which allow for greater maneuverability for very heavy loads such as full sized trailers.
When more performance is required, a range of hitch accessories are available which utilize cutting-edge techniques to keep a rig stable. For example, brake controllers are auto parts commonly used to coordinate between the brakes of a trailer and the towing vehicle. This synchronization allows for a smoother stop and less wear and tear on both sets of brakes. Weight distribution systems and sway control kits are used to promote an even ride while leveling kits can ease the lean put on a truck from the added weight.
Choosing the right trailer hitch and accessories can make the difference between arriving safely and having your precious cargo and vehicle severely damaged.
Trailer Hitches-a Need of the Modern Industrial Age
Trailers have assumed a lot of importance in industrial application these days for carrying loads from one place to another place in factories and industrial sheds. Industrial applications have evolved tremendously necessitating the need for large automated vehicles like the trailer hitches for a simple transfer of industrial objects within the factory.
With the development of technology, things have considerably changed with the passing of time and many advanced kind of trailers are available now like the gooseneck trailer, the car hauler used in SUV’s , the dump trailers, the equipment trailer and the utility trailer. The dump trailer are used for carrying trash from the one recycle bin to the other and the transferred to the garbage disposal pit. The equipment trailer and the utility trailer are also used for transferring objects from one place to the other. Industrial applications have evolved to a considerable extent today and objects need to be transported to places so that can be processed in time for manufacture and shipment. Industrial trailer hitches like as they are more often called can be used for a raft of purposes ranging from transfer of raw material within the factory for processing purposes.
Pickup industrial trucks and advanced SUVs which make use of trailer hitches have a wide variety of uses. They can easily pull equipments like cargo trailers, dump trailers, gooseneck trailer, boats, and campers, car haulers, and equipment trailer a large number of industrial items. There are many types of trailer hitches available now which are used for carrying weights in the field of industrial applications. Most pickup industrial trucks make use of equipment called the ball trailer hitch. Other popular types of industrial trailer hitches that are capable of carrying a large amount of industrial loads are the fifth wheel hitches and the gooseneck trailer hitches.
It is very important to have a burly truck to haul whatever kind of a load is linked to the industrial trailer hitch. The industrial truck must have a high amount of engine strength to build up a strong impetus for pulling up the trailer. That is the reason why a large number of cars do not have trailer hitches because they cannot withstand of a trailer hitch. Trailer hitches have to be installed quite correctly to the industrial vehicle like the truck so that the complete hitch fix can approach off quite easily , leaving the industrial cargo quite far behind. Generally, the hitch is installed on a kind of a bumper that must be mounted under the equipment called a tailgate. The capacity of this rig decides how much kind of an industrial load the hitch will be able to handle. Different classes of hitches can take up different kinds and types of weight. Class-1 kind of trailer hitches likes car haulers not able to carry heavy capacity of industrial load and they can generally carry a load only up to an amount of 2000 pounds making them perfect for use in minor industrial applications. The Class-5 kind of trailer hitches is the most durable kind of a trailer hitch, which has a load carrying capacity of more than 10,000 pounds.
Most kinds of pickup trucks and heavy sport utility vehicles make use of ball trailer hitches for carrying loads.
Take a Vacation With Your Trailerable Small Trimaran
One huge advantage of small trimarans is their "trailerability" aspect. A small tri can usually be set on a trailer and easily pulled to new sailing venues without much cost or effort. This just isn't an option for most mono-hulls because their keels don't permit easy trailering.
Aside from the price of gas these days - which you're going to have to pay for in some way, shape, or form if going away anyhow - a trimaran sailboat with a cabin is an ideal camp/cruiser/family adventure craft. And this will be true if the cabin isn't even very large ... which it surely won't be within a small trimaran.
You can find cabin plans for smaller trimarans that are practical and roomy enough for a family of 4. I've also seen small tris at anchor in the middle of a beautiful setting with a huge tarp draped over the sail rigging. This offers cover from rain or sun on the boat for everybody outside. And if you take a tent along, then anyone who wishes can sleep in comfort on one of the boat's trampolines at night.
Imagine driving your small trimaran to some beautiful lake, river or ocean destination just a few hours away. With a little preparation, you could easily combine fast sailing, good eating and sightseeing all-in-one.
You could also go on a road trip to some exotic place. If your drive consisted of several days, you might not even have to stay at a motel along the way. Exceptional frugality will permit a family to snooze at night inside the trimaran's cabin when parked at rest stops.
For example, a real adventure might be driving to south Florida for an extreme vacation. Instead of just sailing in your home state, or one nearby, you could take a trailerable trimaran down to the Gulf of Mexico and sail through the Florida Keys ... or perhaps even the Bahamas.
After arriving at your Florida destination, a well-designed tri allows you to be sailing within about an hour because it'll be easy to set up ... including its outriggers (amas). Reputable designers have created either folding or sliding systems that allow amas to easily move from a trailerable position to full sailing position without much hassle at all.
This possible scenario is very appealing to many would-be sailors. Which is why small trimarans are attracting an ever increasing number of fans.
There may be one disadvantage to trailering a small tri down to southern Florida for a week or more of sailing. You'll want to be careful about cruising around in crystal clear, aqua-blue waters for very long. I've heard this can make it difficult for participants to willingly end the vacation.
Improve your Truck Faster Than a Witch – With a New Trailer Hich
I am 31 and father of three kids: Mike, Andrew and Trevor. I love them more than everything else so I want to spend my time with them as often as possible. I am a Finance Manger at a very big company in California, so it is not easy for me to get free time. That means that each second with them is very precious and I want to do something special in this few days we have. Last spring we went on vacation to Colorado to go skiing and snowboarding and the kids loved it.
To handle the travel with three kids and a lovely wife you need a big car. Therefore I purchased a Chevy Silverado last year but even if you have such a big car, you won’t have enough space to store all your stuff. Mike wants to get all his sport stuff; Andrew needs his guitar and Trevor his new toys. Beside that we bought everyone snowboards last spring, so there is no way to carry them all without a hitch. So I bought a hitch, but what is a hitch without a trailer hitch. And there begins the problem. I am not an expert on cars so how can I get a good trailer hitch that is easy to install and fits my car? After a little research I recognized that there is no reason to worry about this problem. On the internet there are so many offers it is unbelievable. From the Hidden Hitch products to the Draw Tite Hitches, you will find everything you need. After a short discussion with my boys, who want to be involved in each matter, I decided to buy the Draw Tite fifth wheel. And seriously it works:
You can draw up to 24,000 lbs safely, securely and stably on your Draw Tite Fifth-Wheel Hitch without any problems. Another benefit from Draw Tite Fifth-Wheel Hitch is that it handles the heaviest hauls with ease like gigantic RVs or colossal boats to horse trailers. So if I want to surprise the boys with a small boat trip, no problems will result. Or I can buy little horses for me and my wife to show the world that Clint Eastwood is a joke in comparison to me. I think these are enough advantages to convince you of the necessity to purchase a trailer hitch, when you have a big family and want to go on vacation often with all of your toys. So listen to my advice, buy a trailer in combination with a very good trailer hitch and make your life easy.
8 Ways to Make the Most of Your Trailer Hitch
So, you have a receiver hitch. Have you ever used it? Do you know how handy your trailer hitch can be, even if you don't have a trailer to haul? What do you need to get the most out of your trailer hitch?
First. let's talk about the receiver. It's a square hole located below your bumper. it's called a receiver because it "receives" the stuff you stick into it. Makes sense, right?
Your receiver is either 1.25 or 2 inches square. The smaller receivers are either class I or class II hitches depending on how much weight they can handle. The 2 inch receivers are class III, or IV; as the class number increases so do the weight limits. For example, a class I hitch can tow up to 2000 lbs. and handle up to 200 lbs. downward pressure on the actual hitch (that's called tongue weight), while a class IV hitch can tow up to 10,000 lbs. and handle 1,000 to 1,200 lbs. tongue weight.
Equally important to the trailer hitch's weight specifications are the towing specs for your vehicle. You can find these in your owner's manual and they should always be respected. Overloading your trailer hitch will not only risk damage to your vehicle, but it will also make steering and braking more difficult, making you a danger on the road.
So, what can you do with your receiver hitch? Obviously, you can tow a trailer. If it falls under the weight specs for your hitch and vehicle, you'll just need a ball mount and a hitch ball. The ball mount is the square metal shaft that slides into the receiver. The hitch ball mounts onto the ball mount and sticks out behind your vehicle when properly installed. You can tow cargo trailers, camping trailers, utility trailers, just about anything that you want.
Beyond towing, you can use your receiver hitch for cargo carriers, bike racks, boat carriers, ATV ramps, ski racks, hitch mounted grills, hitch steps, and to display your personality with a custom hitch cover.
The bike racks, cargo carriers, and ski racks are all generally mounted to a shaft that slides into your receiver. These racks offer great convenience as they allow you to safely carry bulky and/or dirty items outside your car. Many of them fold for easier access to the rear of your vehicle and to require less storage space. Sports racks and cargo carriers are a great use for your receiver hitch.
You can also get bed extenders and hitch mounted boat racks that allow you to put one end of a ladder or canoe on top of your pickup cab and support the other end with a rack that mounts to your hitch. Similarly, hitch mounted ramp supports are available to allow you to attach ramps to the back of your pickup so you can drive what ever you need to right into the bed without fear of damaging the tailgate.
A hitch mounted step is a great way to access the rear of your vehicle; they are simple to install and fold to be out of the way when you're not using them. They often double as hitch covers which keep your receiver clean.
If you're a tailgater, you will love a hitch mounted grill. Forget hauling the mess of a charcoal grill or dealing with the small rack on a portable grill; with a hitch mounted grill you can bring the comforts of your back patio with you--it's easy and awesome. Even if you don't go with a hitch grill, you'll want a tailgater hitch cover. It displays the logo of your favorite team and has a built in bottle opener for your convenience.
Whatever trailer accessories you choose, make sure you get a hitch lock to keep your stuff safe. This handy little lock replaces the tow pin you use to keep the ball mount in your receiver hitch and will give you peace of mind as you make the most of your trailer hitch.
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Introducing the Trailer Hitches
Trailer hitches enable most types of trucks to haul cargo. Without having the proper kind of hitch, it is impossible for a truck to attach and pull trailers.
SUVs and pickup trucks that have trailer hitches can be used for a wide range of purposes. You use them in pulling boats, cargo trailers, campers and many other items. You can find several kinds of trailer hitches. In pick up trucks, they have what is usually considered as “ball trailer hitch.” On the other hand, there are also, what is called “fifth wheel hitches” and the “gooseneck trailer hitches”.
It is also vital that you have a truck that is strong enough to haul whatever it is that is attached to the trailer hitch. Your truck need to have engine strength that is enough to build up the proper momentum necessary to pull the trailer. If you rarely see cars that are equipped with trailer hitches, this is the main reason why.
Furthermore, the trailer hitches need to be installed correctly to the truck. This is important or else, all of the hitch rig may come off and leave your cargo behind. Usually, a certain kind of bumper that is installed under the truck’s tailgate is where the hitch must be mounted. This rig’s strength is the determinant on how much weight your hitch could handle. Different classes of trailer hitches can pull different amounts of weight. The weakest are the Class 1 trailer hitches, since they can only pull up to 2000 lbs. the strongest are the Class 5 trailers since their pulling capacity reach more than 10,000 lbs.
Most sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks have ball trailer hitches. Their hitches consist of metal balls attached to a socket on the cargo area. Larger trailer hitch balls can usually support more weight than the smaller ones. The ball trailer hitches can be used for several purposes than other trailer hitches types. They can even be used in hauling campers, small cargo trailers and boats.
Balls are also used in gooseneck trailer hitches but are attached differently onto the truck. They are attached at the truck bed’s top rather than at the truck’s bumper.
The strongest type of trailer hitch is the fifth wheel trailer hitches. They are used in carrying heavy cargo and the most heavy-duty cargo trucks usually employ fifth wheel hitches.
The Top 10 Uses of Utility Trailers
There are many reasons why it is a good idea to invest in a well constructed utility trailer. While you may think that you will only use a utility trailer a handful of times, the truth is that once you have a trailer, you will find more uses for it than you can imagine.
Simply put, a utility trailer is any type of non motorized trailer that attaches to your vehicle so that you can haul whatever you need to. Utility trailers can be either enclosed or open; they can be large or small; and they can be simple or elaborately styled to match your towing vehicle.
Utility Trailer Uses
There are several uses for a utility trailer. Here is a glimpse at just the top ten uses of utility trailers:
1. Automobiles: From time to time it becomes necessary to haul an inoperable car or truck. Tow trucks are expensive, especially if the distance is great. A utility trailer is a great way to haul vehicles and a good investment if you need to do so regularly.
2. Boats: If you have a boat, you will need a utility trailer to get it to and from the water.
3. Lawn Care Equipment: If you live in a rural area, you may find that you need to haul your mowing equipment from one piece of your property to another. Packing equipment and loading it into a pickup truck bed can get old very quickly. A utility trailer will allow you to drive your equipment right up onto the trailer without the aid of ramps or two strong men.
4. Furniture: Moving furniture is a breeze with a utility trailer. Furniture dollies roll right up onto the trailer and you can haul more than you can with a pickup.
5. Building Supplies: Do you have projects that need to be done around the house? Pick up your own building supplies and save on delivery fees.
6. Bikes, Motorcycles, and ATVs: Recreational vehicles are best hauled on a utility trailer.
7. Livestock: An enclosed utility trailer is most often used to haul livestock.
8. Auction and Flea Markets: If you frequent auctions and flea markets, you will need the hauling capability to bring home your inexpensive and rare finds.
9. Appliances: Utility trailers are ideal for hauling appliances.
10. Debris and Trash: Loading trash in and out of your pickup bed can be cumbersome and clean up can be messy, but it would be worse to have to haul trash in your SUV. Clean up after a big job is a lot easier with a utility trailer.
As you can see, there are many reasons why an investment in a utility trailer is a smart move. I'm sure that with a little time, and its easy availability, you will come up with even more ways to use a trailer.