How It Works
Overview Of Our Process | Paragon Trailer Manufacturers Bryan TX
Widespread Use Across Industries
Trailers are a very common product, and they are widely used across multiple industries. A trailer by definition, is a nonautomotive vehicle designed to be hauled down the road or a vehicle for transporting something. A trailer is made up of certain components that are common among most. Some of these components are: axles, rims, tires, safety chains, coupler, wood, electrical, and lights.
GVWR: The Foundation of Trailer Design
What GVWR Means and Why It Matters
In the trailer manufacturing world, there is a acronym, GVWR, that is commonly used. GVWR stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating will determine how many axles are used in order to safely haul a trailer down the road. Trailers are designed around their GVWR/Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. When choosing trailer manufacturers Bryan TX, look for companies that prioritize GVWR-based design to ensure your trailer is built to meet your exact hauling needs. A trailer’s axles must be rated to handle the designed GVWR. For example, if the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 7,000 lbs, then each axle would need to be rated for 3500 lbs each, if the trailer was a tandem(Two Axles) axle setup. Some trailers could have up to three axles, depending on how high the GVWR is.
The Trailer Coupler
Connecting the Vehicle and Trailer
Like the axles, the coupler is rated based off of the trailer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating as well. A coupler is a part of the trailer that mates the trailer to the automotive vehicle. Typically, this mate is done by the coupler engaging with a two inch receiver ball that is located on the back of the automotive’s rear bumper. The coupler can be bolted or welded on to the very front of the trailer. If you’re searching for reliable trailer manufacturers Bryan TX, Paragon ensures every component, from couplers to safety chains, is precisely rated to match your trailer’s GVWR. Where this coupler is bolted or welded, is called the tongue of the trailer. This part is critical in the fact that it fastens/couples your automotive vehicle to the trailer. The coupler allows you to connect to the trailer. Some trailers have different style couplers, but most couplers connect to a “ball” type receive hitch. The receiver hitch is connected to the vehicle side, and the coupler will mate on to the receiver ball hitch.
Safety Chains
The Backup That Keeps You Attached
Another key component of the trailer are the safety chains, they are located at the very front of the trailer on the tongue near the coupler. The safety chains are used to connect the trailer to the automotive vehicle, in a loose type connection. The safety chains provide a secondary backup plan, if for some reason the trailer becomes disconnected from the coupler. In an accident, if a trailer becomes out of control behind the automotive vehicle and the coupler disengages, the trailer will still be attached to the vehicle by these safety chains. This prevents the trailer from disconnecting and becoming a hazard traveling down the road with no vehicle steering it to safety. Safety chains are selected based on the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. For top-tier trailer manufacturers Bryan TX, Paragon Trailers stands out by offering superior safety features, such as robust safety chains rated to your trailer’s GVWR. For example, if a trailer is rated for 7000 GVWR, then each safety chain has a break strength of 7,000 lbs. The two chains connected to the trailer, will have a combined break strength of 14,000 lbs.
Trailer Axles and Suspension
Axle Ratings and Brake Types
Axles are a very key component on a trailer, and they are specified by the trailer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. If a trailer has two axles, tandem axle trailer, and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 7000 lbs, then each axle would need to be rated for 3500 lbs. Some axles have electric or hydraulic type brakes on them. Not all trailers will have brakes on them, just depends on the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
Suspension Types
The axles are mounted to the frame of the trailer by different suspension types. Some trailers have a suspension that is called a leaf spring or torsional type setup.
Tires and Rims
Weight Ratings Per Axle
All trailer axles have tires and rims that are chosen based off of the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. When it comes to choosing trailer manufacturers Bryan TX, Paragon leads the way in providing axles, rims, and tires all rated according to your trailer’s GVWR for optimal performance. If a trailer is rated for 7000 lbs, and there are two 3500 lb axles, then each tire and rim on the axle would be rated for 1750 lbs. On a single axle setup, if the axle was rated for 3000 lbs, then each rim and tire would need to be rated for 1500 lbs.
Lighting Systems
Placement and Purpose of Lights
Each trailer will have some lights on it. Some trailers will have less, again, where the lights and what type of lights are used, is based off of the trailers Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Typically at the front of the trailer, you will have amber lights. The amber lights are orange in color and they are used for marking or showing you the front of the trailer. These are placed on the driver and passenger sides of the trailer, at the front. At the rear of the trailer, there will be red lights, marking the rear of the trailer. Just like the amber lights, the red lights are placed on the driver and passenger slides of the trailer. The amber and red lights are used for showing other vehicles on the road where the trailer is located and how it is going down the road. For high-quality trailer manufacturers Bryan TX who understand the importance of lighting systems based on GVWR, look no further than Paragon for your next trailer. The amber and red marking lights are designed and located on the trailer based off of the trailer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
Comparing Light Requirements by GVWR
Some lighter duty trailers may not have as many marking lights as other trailers do. An example of this would, a tractor trailer that is rated for 80,000 lbs, has multiple lights installed down the trailer. Whereas a trailer rated for 7000 lbs, may only have one amber and one red on it.
Rear Lighting Functions
License Plate and Brake Lights
On the rear of the trailer there is a white light that lights up the license plate. The license plate light may be mounted on the fender or on the bumper, just depending on where the trailer manufacturer wants to put it. On the rear of the trailer, there are typically two red lights that may be oval or circular in their design. These lights are the trailer braking lights, and are also the turn signal lights. If you’re looking for trusted trailer manufacturers Bryan TX, Paragon ensures that all rear lighting functions, including brake lights and license plate lights, meet the necessary GVWR standards. These are probably the most important lights on the trailer. These lights may be mounted to the rear of the fender, bolted to the rear frame of the trailer, or integrated into the bumper of the trailer. These lights will be used for signaling a turn, braking, running lights when it is dark outside, and hazards if the vehicle operator needs to pull over on the side of the road.
Why GVWR Guides All Trailer Specs
In summary, trailer manufacturers specify their components based around what the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is.