Auto Parts and Systems

Auto parts and systems are the building blocks that come together to make automobiles function. Understanding how auto parts work together to form automotive systems allows drivers to confidently discuss automotive problems with their mechanics.

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You're finally heading out on that long-awaited vacation. You've got your RV and your car packed up. All you need is your rigid A-frame tow bar to connect the two, and you're ready to go.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

You have a lot to options to consider when you're towing your car. Do you need an aftermarket braking system or breakaway brakes? What kind of towing suits me best? Do I need practice?

By Josh Clark

It's easy to see horse towing as simply hauling another type of heavy cargo. You'll see just as easily that you must take many factors into consideration when hauling horses to avoid injury.

By Josh Briggs

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Flatbed trailers are specially designed to haul extremely large cargo, particularly vehicles. But you could find yourself in trouble if you drive recklessly with badly secured cargo.

By Josh Briggs

It's taken some time, but you've finally learned the ins and outs of towing. Now that you're towing a motorcycle, forget all of them. Motorcycle and ATV towing come with a unique set of regulations and risks.

By Josh Clark

You can't wait to head out on that fishing trip in your RV, but you need to figure out some things first. Do you have enough insurance? Do you know the towing laws in each state you'll be driving through?

By Josh Clark

Safety systems for fifth wheel trailer setups are simple to install and easy to use.

By Jamie Page Deaton

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If your trailer is losing air in its tires, you need to know right away -- that's where towing monitoring systems come in.

By Christopher Lampton

Maneuvering a fifth wheel trailer can be tricky. Here's how to do it right.

By Josh Briggs

When you tow a car, you have to consider a few things. How much does my cargo weigh? Do I have the proper insurance? Am I aware of the towing regulations in each state I'll be passing through?

By Josh Clark

It's generally illegal (and unsafe) to ride an ATV on the street, so you'll have to tow it to the trail. Here's how.

By Akweli Parker

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The cheapest and easiest way to move a race car to the track is to put it in a trailer and tow it.

By Christopher Lampton

If your trailer's wheel bearings have failed, then you probably need new spindles, too. Spindles are a critical part of the axle assembly. In fact, every trailer needs at least two. But what are spindles, anyway?

By Scott C. Benjamin

Consider hitch safety chains your insurance policy against losing your cargo during transport. Make sure your hitch safety chains are properly installed, or you could find yourself involved in a deadly accident.

By Patrick E. George

Drop hitch receivers help match the heights of a vehicle and its trailer to keep it balanced and upright on the road.

By Akweli Parker

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Hitch locks help protect your vehicle and your cargo from thieves by fusing your trailer hitch and receiver to each other.

By Patrick E. George

You're driving in a downpour when you roll into a muddy ditch and your trailer hitch is too weak to pull your car out. Hitch hooks and anchors, however, can haul large items easily.

By Patrick E. George

Unlike most car jacks, hitch jacks make it possible to hoist large items over the trailer hitch for towing. They can be unsafe if used improperly, so make sure you know what you're towing before you use one.

By Patrick E. George

Trailer balls and switch balls are mounted on your receiver hitch's ball mount, coupling the trailer to your towing vehicle and bearing the load of your trailer's weight.

By Patrick E. George

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Have you ever followed a tractor-trailer over a bridge and worried the bridge would break? What you're tailing is an overweight load, and you're right to be concerned about the damage it's doing.

By Charles W. Bryant

When you're towing your boat, you'll want the other drivers to see your turn signal when you veer down Lake Road. So get those taillights on your trailer working.

By Charles W. Bryant

You can be forgiven if you've never noticed the axle spring seats in your trailer. They're small, inconspicuous and are usually hidden beneath the axle. But the job they do in maintaining your trailer's alignment is necessary.

By Christopher Lampton

The right hitch accessories can make or break a towing experience. What do experienced drivers rely on to keep their tow vehicles and trailers free of, you know, hitches?

By William Harris

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It's hard to drive across the country towing thousands of pounds while cars are whizzing past you at breakneck speed. These 10 towing accessories may turn a harrowing ride into the trip of a lifetime.

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

We've all got dreams. Yours is to move your double-wide trailer to a plot of land in the desert. How will you truck your oversize load from the trailer park to the Mojave?

By Charles W. Bryant