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A Toy Story

‘To serve as a diversion rather than for serious or practical use’, that’s the definition of “toy”.

The notion of what a toy is has a tendency to change over time.  Children play with toys in the form of action figures, dolls or building blocks.  As they become teenagers, the thought of playing with toys becomes ‘uncool’ but teens play board games, video games and on their smart phones and computers just the same.  But when teenagers cross that dreaded threshold into adulthood, something strange happens; the idea of owning and playing with toys begins to surface again.  Only now, the toys are larger, more expensive and require time and maintenance to keep them functional.

These toys range from classic cars and motorcycles to any variety of off-road vehicles.  Adult toys are fast, shiny and fun to ride or drive.  And just as a child takes his/her favorite toy to school for show- and-tell, adults like to show their toys to their friends and tell about the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into them.  But toys this size can’t be shoved into a pocket or a backpack.  These toys need their own kind of special transportation.  These toys need toy haulers.

Lucky for you Phoenix Coach Works also builds toy-haulers and enclosed trailers as well as custom horse trailers.  All designs are fully customizable but rest assured that everything we build is done to the following standards:

  •  seamless aluminum roofs to withstand leaks
  • axle/tire combination specifically designed to your needs
  • pressure treated plywood floor with undercoat to prevent rotting
  • all-steel frame with aluminum exterior
  • full unit insulation

With this in mind, let us we take a moment to showcase the Phoenix Bike and Car RV.  This home away from home can fit two motorcycles in the 8’ width or a car in the 8.5’ version.  You find all the amenities you desire in the bathroom complete with a shower, vanity, toilet and remote electric fan.  The kitchen boasts a 2-burner cook-top with a fan, microwave, sink and a 2.5 cubic foot refrigerator/freezer.  And after a long day on the trail or in basking in the sun, you can relax and replenish yourself using the fold-down couch and dinette that easily converts into a bed.  The Phoenix Bike and Car RV is available in lengths ranging from 16’ to 24.’

It’s very important to choose the correct design for your needs so if you have any questions at all regarding our toy haulers and enclosed trailers (including 4, 6 or 8 horse trailers or a Phoenix Coach Works series van) please contact our staff and schedule a consultation.  With over 25 years of experience in over the road hauling and custom fabrication, we’ll hook you up!

We are proud to provide quality service and satisfaction to our customers.  Even more, we are happy to do it.

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A Rose Is A Rose Is a Rose

A rose is a rose is a rose, this is true.  But the same is not true when concerning tires.  Unlike men, all tires are not created equal.  This week we’re going to expand our knowledge around the topic of tires.  Whether you’re replacing the tires on your truck, horse trailer or horse van, there are specific characteristics about tires that make them applicable to a variety of functions.

If you haul using a truck and trailer combination or a self-driven horse van such as our Phoenix Sprinter, you may be surprised to find that you will need different tires for your trailer.  Trailer tires are not designed to handle the loads applied to, or the traction required by drive or steering axles.

Unfortunately some folks choose to disregard all precaution and throw on whatever tires fit their rims.  However, when you’re pulling a 6 horse trailer full of your prized companions down the interstate at 65mph, you’d better hope that your tires are qualified for the job.

For that reason, consider the following when selecting and maintaining tires for you horse trailer or toy hauler.

Application: The LT and ST designation on a trailer tire specifies load range only.  It does not mean the tire is suitable for use on small or light duty trucks.  DO NOT mount ST or LT trailer tires on passenger cars or light trucks

Inflation: Underinflating trailer tires is the number one cause of failure.  Always inflate trailer tires to the maximum psi indicated on the sidewall.  Check inflation when tires are cool and have not been exposed to the sun.  If your tires are hot to the touch following operation, add three psi to the max inflation.

Load Carrying Capacity:  The combined carrying capacity of all the tires should exceed the loaded trailer weight by 20%.  All tires must be identical in size to properly manage the weight of the trailer.  If one tire fails on a tandem axle trailer, you should replace both tires on that side.  It is likely that the remaining tire has been subjected to excessive loading and uneven wear.  If a trailer’s original tires are replaced with tires of a larger diameter, the tongue height may need adjusted to maintain proper weight distribution.

Time, Mileage and Wear:  Be sure to abide by your tires’ maximum speed rating as higher speeds generate more heat and overall stress that will decrease your carrying capacity.  As with all things, time and the elements weaken your tires.  The projected life of a trailer tire is between three and five years or 5,000 to 12,000 miles.  It is recommended that trailer tires be replaced every three to four years regardless of treat depth or tire appearance.

Storage & Maintenance:  The ideal storage for your trailer is in a cool, dark garage with tires at maximum inflation.  For extended storage, put the trailer on blocks to take the weight off the tires and use tire covers to protect them from direct sunlight.  Clean tires using mild soap and water.  Try to avoid tire care products containing alcohol or petroleum distillates.  Inspect tires for cuts, snags, bulges or punctures.

Phoenix Coach Works can help you choose and supply the tires that will fit you needs Here at Phoenix Coach Works we like to touch on a broad range of topics that our customers might find useful and informative.  And if you happen to discover any undisclosed damages in need of repair while performing your tire maintenance, repair or replacement, you know who to call.

Phoenix Coach Works is proud to provide a full line of custom built 4 horse, 6 horse, 8 horse and 9 horse trailers as well as motorcycle haulers, RVs and enclosed trailers.  For commercial haulers we also provide a 15 horse trailer.  Our trailers are fully customizable; by placing you in the director’s chair, you dream the dream and we make it a reality.

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Small Trailers

At Phoenix Coach Works we have seen small trailers rise in popularity over the past few years. More and more of our customers are asking for small horse trailers as well as small toy haulers and enclosed trailers. Here are some of the benefits of going small when comparing your trailer options:

  • Lower cost. If you need to buy a new trailer or possibly even your first trailer but are trying to be frugal in a tough economy like the one we are facing, a small trailer can dramatically lower the investment needed.

  • Lower towing power. The bigger the trailer, the more it weighs, and the more horse power you will need to tow it. Getting a truck or chassis adequate to handle large size trailers will contribute to a bigger bottom line.

  • More maneuverability. Small trailers are the perfect solution for attending events where space is limited. Our smallest size toy hauler camper will have you fitting into the tightest of spaces at motorcycle rallies.

Getting a small trailer does not have to mean that you aren’t going to get everything you want. At Phoenix Coach Works, our trailers (large and small) are built custom to your needs, so chances are we can help you figure out how to get just what you want out of your trailer, no matter what size you decide upon.

The first step to finding a trailer solution that will fit your needs and budget is to give us a call at (610) 495-2266. With over 25 years in the business, we are happy to give you our time and expertise to answer any questions you may have.

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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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A Better Trailer Configuration for Horse Shows

Transporting horses to shows can add up to become an expensive endeavor. Horse trailers with living quarters will cost you approximately $40-50K. These trailers often end up being 30-40 feet long and are quite heavy to pull so you will also need to invest in a pickup that can tow this load which is going to cost you another $50K.

Instead of spending $100K on a truck and a trailer and then having no place to get out of the sun, you can buy a 2 horse van, also known as a horsebox, which can then tow a living quarter trailer with all of the conveniences of home behind it for a lot less. This configuration has a lot of advantages to the more traditional truck and trailer. Our new 2 horse van is only as long as a pickup truck and has the same towing capacity so you can easily tow an enclosed trailer with living quarters and have a place to store an alternate method of transportation such as a golf cart for use while at the show.

At Phoenix Coach Works all of our horse vans and enclosed trailers are completely customizable so we can build the best configuration to suit your needs. Just tell us what you want and we can make it happen!

It is a good time to save money and make sound financial investments. If you are looking to decrease your horse transportation expenses while increasing your comfort level, Phoenix Coach Works can help.

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