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Are You Covered?

In several past articles we have mentioned the necessary supplies of traveling while pulling a trailer.  From emergency and first aid kits to paperwork and other miscellaneous must-have items, Phoenix Coach Works’ main concern is that our customers and those who visit our site travel safely while still having a great time.

That said, even the most prepared and cautious travelers have been known to have bad experiences.  As the saying goes, “accidents happen,” and we would hate to see you left in the dark if something was ever to happen to you or your trailer.  For this reason we would like to take time this week to discuss trailer-towing regulation and insurance.

Whether you’re traveling to a horse competition, a fox-hunt gathering or a prestigious car show, the most important part of any trip is mapping your quest and preparing for the road ahead.  However, one thing that often goes overlooked while traveling interstate is the variance in towing laws.

Before we discuss these differences, let’s go over a few things that are an absolute must regardless of where you’re headed.  No matter where you travel, you WILL NEED taillights and a light for your license plate.  Though not required in every state the following items are just as important while pulling a horse trailer, toy hauler, custom trailer or recreation vehicle: safety chains, brake lights, clearance lights, turn-signals, reflectors and breakaway brakes.

While many states share similar requirements for people hauling trailers, some states may have different regulations that complicate traveling interstate.

For example, if you’re traveling from Alabama to Mississippi, you could suddenly be exceeding the maximum towing speed without even knowing (towing speed decreases by 10mph), you’re trailer may be too wide (maximum width narrows by 6 inches) and you may find yourself without trailer brakes in a state that requires them.

To avoid any of these mishaps, and the fines and penalties that go with them, be sure to always check the towing laws and regulations of the states you plan to travel through.  Doing so will not only keep you on track by avoiding any holdups, but it will also protect your pocketbook and driving record.

In the case that an accident does occur, you want to be absolutely certain that all damages to your trailer are fully covered when you bring it to Phoenix Coach Works for repair.  When you spend 10’s of thousands of dollars on a 4 horse trailer, you want the security of knowing that it is insured in the event that anything should happen. Enter…trailer insurance.

Just as individual states can complicate traveling with a trailer, auto insurance companies often do the same.  While some companies will cover liability and partial damages for a trailer accident that occurs while on the road, others will leave you to foot the entire bill for repair.  That is why you need to read your policy’s fine print and if you have any questions, call your customer service representative.

If it just so happens that there is limited or no guaranteed coverage for your trailer, it may be time to start looking for trailer insurance.  Even though some companies may cover trailer accidents that occur while towing, this does not protect you from natural disasters such as fire and flood.  Many companies that specialize in RV insurance also provide trailer insurance as well.  Not to mention that many major insurance companies offer additional coverage for trailers. Something else to consider is if something happens to your trailer while it is on your property, it may be covered by your homeowner’s insurance.

Lastly, once you have hashed out your insurance woes regarding your trailer, be sure to find out if any of your insurers have safety standards that must be followed to ensure your insurance.

As always, we hope that you have found this article both helpful and informative.  If you are currently in need of repair, custom construction or a difficult install please feel free to contact Phoenix Coach Works.  You may also contact us if you have any further questions regarding finding and obtaining trailer insurance.

And remember…in a time when it’s difficult to trust and rely on anyone, Phoenix Coach Works is here for you!

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To Our Customers

This week we’d like to express our appreciation for the people that help make Phoenix Coach Works a success.  Despite these trying times, we have been fortunate to continue providing service to a wide range of consumers.  From trailer repair to custom trailer design and new trailer construction, we do our very best to tailor the service of each job to suit the needs of our growing clientele.  Whether we’re building a 6 horse trailer for show animals or a custom trailer for cars and motorcycles, you can rest assure that all Phoenix Coach Works transportation vehicles exceed industry quality standards.

We communicate with a variety of customers with unique needs and interest in our products.  From there, we will schedule an appointment to discuss their specific needs and make an overall assessment of the job.  As you can imagine, different people need different things for a variety different reasons.  And you know what they say: “variety is the spice of life.”

Imagine there’s an equestrian whose passion is grooming and training their animals to become prizewinning show horses.  These fine creatures are also deserving of the tremendous care and attention to detail that Phoenix Coach Works pours into everything they create.  This individual may want to consider the new Phoenix Sprinter.

Built on Mercedes chassis, this two horse van is powered by an 188hp Mercedes Benz engine that stretches fuel economy to nearly 17mpg.  Not only does this unit help reduce maintenance costs compared to a truck and trailer combination, but it also comes with innovative safety gates, loading ramps, adjustable partitions, and a quick-release breast-bar.  Not to mention the aluminum lined interior is fully insulated for maximum comfort.

Lastly I’d like you to picture a different kind of showman.  This person has a nostalgia for restoring things that have been forgotten, a collector of the extremely rare and a creator of something entirely unique.  Whether it is classic cars, custom hot-rods or a collection of chromed-out motorcycles, this person needs a safe way to transport his ‘babies.’  Again, Phoenix Coach Works comes to the rescue.  Our line of motorcycle and toy hauler RV-style trailers is available in 8’ and 8.5’ widths and 16’, 18’, 20’ and 24’ lengths.  Again, please feel free to contact Phoenix Coach Works so we can discuss your specific needs and begin the creation of your toys’ home away from home.

This is just a peek at the kind of service we provide our customers.  As stated above, everyone’s trailer and hauler needs are different and we take that into full account throughout our consultation and assessment. We’re there for you every step of the way.  Designing and purchasing a large trailer such as these can be an expensive and often difficult thing to do, especially in today’s economy.  But don’t let this deter you from moving forward with your dream.  Here at Phoenix Coach Works, you envision the dream, and we make it a reality.

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Dream the Possible Dream

After months (or years) of shopping, you’ve decided to go with Phoenix Coach Works for your custom-built 2, 4, 6, or 9 horse van body or 15 horse trailer.  The color detail is not an issue since you’ve seen this trailer many times in your dreams streamlining down the interstate so you know exactly what it’s going to look like on the exterior.  What you haven’t quite figured out yet, is how you plan to optimize the use of space and guarantee that all horse-trailer necessities are accounted for.

As far as custom interiors, the most important thing to consider is the intended use of your trailer.  If you use a trailer for short trips between neighboring barns, a simple setup trailer with adjustable stalls will easily suffice.  However, if you travel long distances for shows or take your animals trail riding for days or weeks at a time, you’d likely want to consider a larger trailer with a tack-room.

Once you have decided the size and configuration needs of your trailer, it’s time to load up and hit the road/trail.  We understand that as you’re making the investment to purchase a horse van or horse trailer, you have likely been at this for many years, if not decades.  However, it is always nice to have a checklist to reference when packing in case you have forgotten or overlooked something important.

You will need the following:

Safety Items

–          Horse & Human First Aid kit (including a sedative, God forbid, in case of an accident)

–          Trailer Aid

–          Air Compressor

–          Dielectric grease

–          Gloves

–          Duct Tape

–          Cross-jack

–          Trailer chocks (anything from bricks to pieces of 2×4 will work)

–          WD-40

–          Heavy duty Coupler Lock

–          Tool Box

–          Warning Triangle and Flares

Misc. Items:

–          Large, durable tote

–          The Clip

–          Grooming Supplies

–          Fly Spray

–          Muck Bucket, Broom and Pitchfork

–          Treats

–          Extra halter & lead rope.

–          Extra Clothes

–          Twine

–          Tarps

Although this list is quite obvious, we can all agree that in the midst of both excitement and haste, it’s sometimes easy to overlook the most obvious items only to swat your forehead and curse yourself 40 miles into your trip.

Whether you’re the proud new owner of a custom trailer, merely shopping around and considering options, or looking to make changes to your existing trailer, please feel free to contact Phoenix Coach Works with any and all questions or comments regarding your horse trailer needs.  We offer a range of services from new construction to repair and customization.  If you can dream it, we can build it.

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Why Go Custom When It Comes To Trailers?

Phoenix Coach Works Inc. is a custom manufacturer of horse trailers, horse vans, toy haulers, and enclosed trailers. A lot of people hear the word “custom” and think “expensive” but that could not be farther from the truth. Here is what custom trailer manufacturing means to us at PCW:

  1. No two customers have the exact same needs and budget. By building our trailers custom we can create the perfect product to fit your needs.
  2. We are not mass producing cookie cutter trailers. Every custom trailer we build is a unique piece of quality construction that nobody else will have.  Since our trailers are so long lasting (90% of them are still on the road today after 25 years in business), we thought you would want to have a unique trailer you can call your own.
  3. If you already have a truck chassis we can build your new trailer or van to fit it.
  4. We offer full service repairs for your trucks and trailers so if you don’t need a new trailer yet and just want to repair your old one, we can help you out with RV painting, fabricating, upgrading, and much more. No repair job is too big or too small!

If you are in need of a new trailer or any type of trailer repair services, give us a call, we are happy to have your business and will treat you like family. At Phoenix Coach Works we want to be the partner that you turn to for all things trailer related, which is why we custom manufacture our products…to provide the ultimate flexibility and service for your needs.

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