Blog - Trailer Tips Feed

Top Outdoor Destinations to Visit This Winter

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 14:22:16 +0000

This winter will be the perfect opportunity to have that staycation you’ve always dreamed about, to stick close to home and enjoy the beauty your own backyard has to offer. With snow and freezing temperatures come exciting outdoor adventures and activities the whole family can enjoy. So bundle up and make warm and lasting memories, without travelling too far from home.

We’ve put together a small list of great outdoor destinations – but there are so many to choose from! As always, please follow local health authority guidelines about travelling and check with the destination to make sure they’re open.

Prince Albert National Park
Winter is a beautiful time to visit northern Saskatchewan, especially Prince Albert National Park, a million acres of snow-covered wilderness. This winter paradise offers many family-friendly outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, skating, winter camping, wildlife photography and much more. Snowmobiles are not permitted in Prince Albert National Park but there are hundreds of kilometers of excellent, groomed trails outside the park (see below for more info).

Blue Mountain Adventure Park, North Battleford
If you’re looking for a fun and unique getaway this winter, then Blue Mountain is the place to go. This beautiful outdoor destination has everything on your list, including a tubing park, over 30 kilometers of groomed trails for skating and cross-country skiing, designated trails for snowshoeing, plus a nice chalet to warm up in when you’re cold! You can rent snowshoes and cross-country skis onsite, but you do need to bring your own skates.

Johnston Canyon Ice Walk, Banff
This is one of the most popular attractions in Banff National Park, and home to spectacular frozen waterfalls. This guided hike takes you along steel catwalks built into the canyon walls up to the iconic frozen upper falls, with beautiful views into the gorge below. Wander through a natural cave to gaze down at the frozen falls up close or continue onto the upper falls – a tower of ice that rises 30 meters above your head.

Canmore and Kananaskis
With gorgeous snowy mountains and many winter activities, Canmore and Kananaskis is fun for the whole family. Enjoy scenic snowshoeing at Chester Lake, cross-country or Alpine skiing, waterfall and ice-cave climbing, underground tours of the famous Rat’s Nest cave under Canmore’s Grotto Mountain or even SnowFlow yoga, designed specifically to elevate your season on the slopes with a mindful, proactive approach.

Local Snowmobile Trails

As of the date this blog was posted, snowmobile trails are open in Saskatchewan and Alberta. There are hundreds of kilometers of well-maintained trails in both provinces for sledders to enjoy.

Check out these articles from SnoRiders magazine for the top places to snowmobile in Saskatchewan and Alberta. For eight years, readers voted Hudson Bay their favourite spot in Saskatchewan. It offers consistently deep and fresh snow, lasting well into April, and 690 kilometers of maintained trails with 16 warm-up shelters.

Or check out one of Alberta snowmobilers’ top picks: Athabasca, on the banks of Alberta’s longest river. This outdoor-oriented town boasts 300 kilometers of groomed trails west of Baptiste Lake, with terrain and scenery including boreal forest, river valleys and rolling hills. Two staging areas allow for easy access to the trails, and there are cabins and warm-up areas with picnic tables, fire pits and firewood.

Visit the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association’s website, Snowmobilers of Manitoba’s website, or the Alberta Snowmobile Association’s website for more up-to-date information on the status of your local snowmobile trails.

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Winter Staycation Contest

Have you entered our Winter Staycation contest on our Facebook and Twitter pages yet? Until January 15th, we’re giving away some awesome prizes to make your winter vacation even better, including a brand-new ice shack. Simply by like our Facebook or Twitter page, like the pinned post/tweet and tag a friend. Visit our social media pages for more information!

Trailering 'Rules of the Road' Updated

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 14:05:00 +0000

There are a wide variety of trailer regulations imposed across Canada - these regulations cover everything from annual inspections, to dimensions, to brake requirements. Your trailer my conform to your province’s regulations, but what happens when you travel into another province?

You may be completely law-abiding in your province, then travel into the neighboring one and find-out an inspection is required the instant you enter the other jurisdiction. Or maybe your trailer is fine, but now since you have attached a trailer to your truck, the truck now requires an inspection. Or maybe the load this time is heavier than last time, so last time you were OK in the next jurisdiction but this time you are not.

Flaman Trailers has grown to become North America’s largest trailer retailer. This growth is in part due to, and brings with it a responsibility to be aware of the various provincial regulations regarding trailers.

So, Flaman Trailers VP – Steve Whittington created a “Rules of the Road” presentation to address these issues. This presentation was first conducted at NATDA (North American Trailer Dealers Association) in 2012 and has been updated to 2016 regulations

“Rules of the Road” is available for free download here

If you have any questions or concerns about trailering, we are happy to help!

What is the NATM?

Mon, 23 Feb 2015 15:40:00 +0000

Before I started working at Flaman, I had never given much thought to trailer safety. I certainly had never heard of the NATM or what they did. I assumed that all trailers were built properly and that manufacturers legally had to follow a list of safety guidelines for each trailer they manufacture. Now that I have done a bit of research, I have learnt that this wasn’t always the case and that only recently NATM has implemented these guidelines. Before 1987, consumers had no way of ensuring that their trailer was safe enough to travel on the roads. Can you imagine if other industries didn’t have safety guidelines? What if car manufacturers weren’t regularly screened for safety? Trailers need to be built properly to ensure no one on the road or the loads that they carry get injured or damaged.

Trailers and safety are two words that should go hand in hand. The National Association of Trailer Manufacturing (NATM) is an organization that takes trailer safety to a new level. “NATM seeks to promote awareness of safety and best industry practices and provide a voice for trailer manufacturers and their suppliers when issues of trailer safety and regulation are considered by relevant government agencies.” As stated on their website. This has to have everyone shopping in the trailer market breathing a sigh of relief.

As a manufacturer, being a member of the NATM and producing NATM approved trailers will benefit you because it helps you maintain a degree of control over your production process. By following the guidelines that are compiled from FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) and industry best practices, you know you are making safe trailers. The inspection process involves an 80-point checklist that is filled out by NATM consultants during their initial visit. After the manufacturer is deemed successful applicants to the NATM program, they are granted a 2-year membership.

As a consumer, buying a trailer from a manufacturer who is an NATM member ensures that the trailer you are purchasing adheres to a strict set of safety guidelines. This gives you peace of mind in knowing that you are buying something that has gone through multiple safety inspections.

So if you’re looking for a new or used trailer, keep this in mind. Look for NATM dealer associate marked trailers and do your research. It’s worth it.

Picking a Sled Trailer part 2

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 10:58:00 +0000

Part 2 of Steve's Sled Trailer guide. To see part 1 which focuses on steel vs. aluminum click here

Picking an Enclosed Sled Trailer: You decided you did not want to clean off your sleds every time you reach your destination. Or you need somewhere to store your machines in the summer, or you want to work on your sleds out of the wind in the staging area. Whatever your reasons, you’re going to buy an enclosed trailer; now which type? Your options are many.

To help you understand your options here are how they’re generally classified:

The first way enclosed sled trailers are classified is by how many sleds they carry: 2 place, 3 place or 4 place.

The second way they are classified is by deck height: lowboy (deck is as low to the ground as possible) mid-deck (the deck is raised for some clearance but not too high, keeping the ramp angle down) and highboy (the deck is above the wheels so the platform is a full 8’ wide).

The third way the trailers are classified by is width, which tends to fall into two broad categories 7’ or 8’ wide (which is really 8’6” wide).

Lastly, the frames will either be steel or aluminum.

When it comes to deciding which class of trailer is right for you, it really comes down to your specific needs, but I will give you some things to consider with the most popular classes that may help your decision making.

2 place, highboy, 8’ 6” wide: This class of enclosed sled trailer tends to be the most economical. It is usually single axle without brakes, so a half tonne truck can pull it with no problem. They are often aluminum so they are quite light, which makes them even easier to move around. It is a great starter enclosed trailer. The down side of this trailer is that unless you bump up to tandem axles you do not have a drive off front ramp, and if you add another axle and a front ramp your costs sky rocket. That said, with a reverse option on today’s sleds, is the front drive-off ramp really needed?

2 or 3 place, lowboy, 7 wide: This trailer with a steel frame is also very economical. Being 7’ wide and lower to the ground means they pull well behind a truck. Plus, they are tandem axles so their ride is smoother than a bouncy single axle trailer. They also have a front ramp so you can drive your sleds in and out with ease. Beyond those points this trailer is also being used year round as a traditional cargo trailer because it is just the right size – not too big, not too small. Contractors love the access to the trailer with two ramps. The downside of these trailers is that the loading of three sleds can be difficult, but once you figure out the configuration needed it is not an issue. As well, being only 7’ wide there is not a lot of room on the inside for cabinets and racking.

3 or 4 place, lowboy, 8 wide: These enclosed units have become more popular as a multi-use unit or toy haulers. Instead of just sled trailers the ramp can be reinforced and you can haul a car or side by side MUV if you make the rear door opening high enough. If you have a lot of different toys this becomes a really economical option. Instead of two trailers you can get one built for all your toys. The down side is that you have full size fender boxes inside the trailer to maneuver around when loading your sleds, but trust me that is not a difficult issue, and if it is, are you sure you want to chase powder between the trees? The other issue with the lowboys is adding a heater. Generally the propane tanks will have to go on an extended hitch so your trailer gets a little longer overall.

3 or 4 place, mid-deck, 8 wide: These units are another popular class of toy hauler, but with a little bit more clearance. The extra clearance comes in handy for added features such an underbelly mounted fuel tank and propane tanks. The fender boxes inside the units are not as high and can be easily driven over. The disadvantage of these units is the extra clearance; if it is going to be a toy hauler trailer a lot of cars will not be able to make it up the higher angled ramp.

3 or 4 place, highboy, 8 wide: If there is a traditional enclosed sled trailer, this is it. It is still the most popular option for an enclosed sled trailer. They have a full width deck so it is very easy to drive and position your sleds for travel. The full width provides lots of room for cabinets and racking on the walls. They have lots of clearance, they track well behind a vehicle on snowy roads, plus with all the deck clearance there are no problems adding options such as on board fueling stations or under deck mounted propane tanks. Quite simply, they are specifically designed to load sleds and all their accessories the easiest out of all the trailers on the market and as a result, people buy them the most. The downside of the units is the fact that they are specifically designed for hauling sleds, being so high up you have a hard time loading cargo or recreational power sport vehicles. Lastly, again being so high up in a cross wind they act as a big sail and they push the tow vehicle around a lot.

There many other options to consider when buying a sled trailer such as adding heat or cabinets, the type of interior walls, little features such as kick plates and floor drains...the list is endless. I was talking to a manufacturer about his enclosed sled trailer production run this year and he estimated that 90% of the trailers will be unique coming down the line. The point is, there are a lot of choices in the market place. Make sure that when you are looking for a trailer you talk with someone that can educate you and provide you with all the options so you can get your trailer, your way.

Picking a Sled Trailer part 1

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:07:00 +0000

I grew up in the small northern mining town of Thompson, Manitoba. We were a family of sledders, four of us, but at times we had upwards of six sleds. For my brother and I we had a red Yamaha Bravo, an orange Élan and a yellow Tundra. Mom and dad had bigger machines, both Polaris, a Cutlass SS and Indie Trail. The Cutlass was eventually upgraded to a liquid cooled Indie 400, and when we got older we could take it for a rip. It was fast.

Despite having all those sleds we never had a trailer. We transported our sleds by loading them in the back of our truck by running up a snow bank or a ¾” sheet of plywood as a ramp. Usually we took one sled but sometimes we needed to transport two. That was a chore, turning the sleds perpendicular to the truck and hanging the tracks over the side of the box. Those were the days.

I am sure the struggles of loading sleds in the back of trucks helped bring about the evolution of the recreational sled trailer; much as loading horses and cattle in pickups prompted the building and selling of horse and stock trailers. Either way, the expensive cargo moved from the back of the truck to behind the truck and the differentiation started there.

I won’t bore you with all the bumps and steps along the way, but fast forward to today and there are a lot of choices out there. Here are some points to consider:

Picking an open deck or an enclosed trailer: An open deck trailer is significantly less cost than an enclosed sled trailer, and easier to tow than a large enclosed trailer. If you do not mind some road slush on your sleds (salt shields/rock guards mitigate this some) and you want something easy to move around, this is the choice for you. Now you just need to decide between steel and aluminum.

Steel vs aluminum: Aluminum will last longer and does not suffer as badly from weathering or mechanical road chip damage. The trailers tend to have the same capacity, but if you go with a well-built steel trailer they will be stronger and will be able to do more than just haul your sleds or recreational vehicles. That tends to be the deciding factor between buying aluminum open deck sled trailers or steel open deck sled trailer. If you think you’re going to use it for more than just sleds, buy a steel open sled deck trailer, it will handle the abuse better. Otherwise buy the aluminum, it pulls way easier and if you are putting on some miles you will appreciate that fact.

Stay tuned for part 2 which will look at how to choose the right enclosed trailer for you.

Trailtech Multideck: The solution to almost all of your problems.

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 09:26:00 +0000

So imagine this. You've got a weekend warrior that you run at the track, and you need a lowboy trailer to throw your high horsepower car on top of. You've subsequently purchased a garden shed that measures eight feet by twelve, and you need a highboy to haul it up to the lake so that you don't have to worry about fitting it in between the fender wells. You need something that can tilt in either configuration so that you don't have to mess around with heavy ramps. Well fortunately for those of you who need this kind of versatility, we have an option that you may want to look further into.

In 2012, we started carrying the Multideck built by Trailtech in Gravelbourg SK, and saw that the optional towing configurations of this trailer are the closest thing to endless we've seen yet. You can order them with a stationary deck on the front in case you've got a skid steer and you need a place to store a bucket that doesn't move. It features a four way lift system that not only elevates from a lowboy up to a highboy and back down, but also a two-way tilt feature to get the back of the deck on the ground for ease of loading. The trailer uses an electric / hydraulic pump to actuate the lift systems, and has an optional fast-charge kit so that you can plug the trailer right into the truck to charge it.

Like the idea, but concerned about the weight on the hitch? No problem. We offer the Multideck in a gooseneck option as well. Some models come with hinged dovetails. It would be nice to one day see a charge kit built in so that you could simply plug it into a 110V receptacle, but I don't think it'll be too far down the road, as we're starting to see manufacturers implement this technology into trailers that feature electric components. Either way, you're sure to be hassled by your friends to use it on a constant basis.

How to Choose Which Trailer to Buy

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:15:00 +0000

I have been in the trailer industry for a long time: 3 years as a marketing consultant to the industry, 6 years as General Manager of a trailer manufacturer and 4 years running retail dealerships. Despite all this experience, I still get overwhelmed by the diversity of choice offered to a customer in today’s market place.

Unlike the auto industry, there are hundreds of large trailer manufacturers and thousands of small players. The dealerships to buy from range from a small, one-man band to professional, fully staffed dealerships that emulate the auto dealership model.

So how does a customer choose what and where to buy?

Some of you reading this may not be close to a Flaman Trailer Dealership. (If you are in Western Canada you are never far, as there are ten locations.) Either way, when choosing a dealership to deal with, think about the following: How long has the dealership been in business? Do they carry brand name manufacturers? Do they offer service and parts? What are my product choices? Is there a range from good to best? Why does any of this matter?

How long has a dealership been in business? As a consumer you may think this does not matter anymore, as many old companies have been swept under the rug lately. Fair enough, but do consider this; a company that has been around for a while is doing something right. That something is always about the how the customer is treated.

Brand Names: For trailers, let's compare two brands: Trailtech and Blue Hill trailers. If you live in Western Canada, you know the quality of build that Trailtech represents and you know that brand will take care of its retailers and by default you, the customer. Who is Blue Hill? Well, they are in Texas. I honestly do not know much more. Would you buy a car you have never heard of? Then why buy a trailer that you have never heard of?

Service and Parts: Would you buy a car from a dealership that cannot perform a service check? Not a new car anyway. Not all trailer dealerships provide this commitment to their customers. I personally believe there is duty of care that a responsible dealer should be able to provide to its customer.

Product Range Choices: As a consumer you want to be able to choose the best fit for you. If you are a four times a year user, you will need a certain grade of trailer with the appropriate price for that use. If you are a construction company owner, you want a certain grade of trailer to take the work stress you will put on the trailer. The point is, when you come to the lot you want to be able to make these choices and buy what you need, not what a sales person pressures you to buy because that is what the dealership offers. At Flaman Trailers we believe in providing choice: good, better, best. You pick.

Does it always come down to price? Well I hope not – as a retailer the fight for the lowest price is a race to the bottom. You never win and never create a sustainable customer orientated business, unless you cut all services, amenities and after sale care. That is not the Flaman Trailer customer-focused business model. That said, at Flaman we do often have the lowest prices due to our buying power, and we often have the highest prices due to our product offering. Our sales team will consult you as to which grade (good, better, best) of trailer you need and then you pick.

I hope this has been helpful. It is difficult to choose sometimes in this congested marketplace.

So many Sled Trailers but what should you choose?

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:27:00 +0000

This season the diversity of choice for a sled trailer can be daunting. There are many brands, different dealers, options and types to choose from.

Let me try to take you through the choices with a bunch of comparison points as follows: Canadian versus American, steel versus aluminum, open versus enclosed, enclosed 7 wide versus 8.5 ft wide deck over, heated versus not heated and dealer versus dealer.

1) Canadian versus American. Let me start by writing “buy Canadian eh” whenever possible. There, I put it in writing. Not to get political but come on, if you can, support a Canadian company. That said, of the Canadian brands that provide sled trailers, the two leading players are Southland Trailers with their XR Series and Trailtech with their heavy duty steel trailers. There are others in the West notably Rainbow Trailers, Agassiz Trailers and CJay Trailers; however, their choice offering is less than the leading two. That said, the American companies do a good job, the problem is how fluid the industry is. Many companies rise and fall quite quickly (such as Pace American which recently shut its doors). Despite this, competition in the US is thick and there are all kinds of options to choose from, but beware of what you are buying and from whom. At Flaman Trailers we partner with the two leading Canadian companies and several American companies to round out our offering.

2) Steel versus aluminum. The debate rages, but there are some simple facts. Aluminum is lighter and does not rust, but it costs about a 1/3 more. Steel is stronger and on an enclosed unit it is only the tip of the trailer and the tail that is really going to show any rust. On an open deck there is a little more exposure. With the weight factor, several hundred pounds with a regular pick up makes a heck of a difference for hauling. For instance a two place aluminum open can weigh as little as 480 lb., while a two place steel open can weigh as much as 1345 lb.

3) Open versus enclosed. To be honest, it comes down to available storage, usage and budget. If you have lots of room to store your trailers in for the summer, there’s no need for an enclosed trailer otherwise. As for usage, how many a times a year will you be trailering and how far? Do you need an enclosed staging area? The amount of time you have to spend cleaning grime off your sled gets older every time. That being said, if you are hauling only a few times or short distances, get an open deck trailer, save some money and put it into your sled.

4) Enclosed lowboy/7 ft wide versus enclosed 8.5 ft wide deck over. Traditionally, if you wanted to haul sleds in Canada you purchased an 8.5’ wide deck over trailer. Your sleds parked side by side and loading and unloading was easy through the rear and front ramp. The 8.5’ wide deck over trailers, while convenient for loading, are big and if you have a steel frame trailer you need a big truck to haul your big trailer. Lowboy and 7 ft wide trailers are easier to pull and the 7 ft wide is a more convenient multi-use trailer in the off season than the 8.5 ft deck over. You can also see around the 7 wide and 8 wide lowboys with your mirrors when hauling. But loading is tricky, and you will not be walking in your trailer when loaded, there simply is no room.

5) Heated versus not heated. To heat or not to heat is a question many a customer has. The benefits of heat are obvious, but are you going to use it enough to justify the added expense? Only you can be the judge of that.

6) Dealer versus dealer. There are many dealers selling sled trailers. Your choices are many but should be made based on product knowledge, service and after sales support – not price! The trailers are all priced differently for a reason. If something is less or more at different dealers it is due to features, product quality and support the dealership offers. Educate yourself and purchase from a professional that will help you choose the best sled trailer for you.

Hope this helps!

First time buying a trailer?

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:21:00 +0000

The first thing you need to do is qualify what your intended use is:

Often (2- 5 times a week)
Frequent (2 -5 times a month)
Infrequent (2 -5 times a year)

Next set of basic questions you need to answer are as follows:

Size required
Payload to be hauled
Any special requirements (i.e. extra tie downs)

Armed with this information you should have an idea of the amount and type of use required from your future trailer. This will help you pick a unit in the quality class you need.

The trailer world is divided much like the car world into classes of trailers of different quality, for simplicity at Flaman Trailers we simply say:

Good
Better
Best

The differences between the classes depend on the type of trailer, enclosed, flat deck or utility: However some generalities are as follows:

As you move towards best the strength of the frame increases, for instance a good trailer may have all light channel construction, a better many combine tubing steel with heavier channel steel with the best unit being built entirely with HSS (High Structural Steel) tubing.

The same sequence will occur with the features on the units.Good trailers will have a straight springaxle, Better a torsion while Best may have an adjustable torsion.

So knowing the quality of the unit you require will help you and a trailer product specialist pick your required unit.

Another major item to consider is who are you buying from? There are so many manufacturers and dealers popping up that have only been in business for a few years one must question whether they will be present down the road to service your unit, or provide warranty.

Flaman Trailers has been in business for over 50 years as have several other dealers, but not many so be aware! Buy from accredited dealerships that can support you and the product you have purchased. Your trailer needs to be serviced at least annually and you want a dealership that cantake care of you. The final and a very important consideration is the trailer brand which you are purchasing. Flaman has partner manufacturers that have been in business for many years, known in the industry, and stand behind their products. As well Flaman Trailers support Canadian manufacturers. Trailtech Inc and Southland Trailer Corp are the two largest and oldest Canadian manufacturers that build for Canadian conditions. Do you think a trailer built in Texas has the heavy gauge wire to stand up to a Canadian winter?

So there are a lot of things to consider but to summarize

Determine the amount of use and what you need to haul
Determine the class of trailer that will work for you
Chose a dealer that has a proven track record in the industry
Pick a quality brand of trailer. (I would pick Canadian)

All the other details in between a professional trailer product specialist will be able to guide you through… have fun!