2016

Wednesday 21 December 2016

Hitch up Your Trailer Fast in 3 Easy Steps Using Swift Hitch

Are you looking for a safe and reliable way to tow your trailer without all of the hassles of difficult to rig towing bars? Tired of using chains and cables? Then upgrading to Swift Hitch is one of the best ways to ensure a safe trailer hook-up and a smooth ride! Swift Hitch offers the latest technology to aid an easy tow hitch connection and gives peace of mind for those who are new to trailer towing.

The Swift Hitch system is comprised of a number of intelligently designed parts that work together to give you the best experience possible. The system includes a magnetic camera mount and separate display to monitor, and with a full Swift Hitch installation, you will save time and effort when you hook up your trailer, as well as give you greater control over safety thanks to the

Step-1: Attaching Your Swift Hitch Camera

The Swift Hitch wireless camera plays the main role in giving you access to a view of your tow hitch that was otherwise inaccessible from the driver’s seat. The camera is made for durability and ease of use, with its strong magnetic base allowing you to attach it to the rear of your vehicle.

Attach the camera to the rear of your vehicle and point it in the direction of your to hitch. This is made easy thanks to the camera’s ability to be tilted and twisted whilst secured to the vehicle until it is directly facing the tow hitch and switch the wireless camera on.

Step-2: Using the Wireless Hitch Display

Swift Hitch includes a neat wireless display so that you can monitor what is happening on the wireless camera. As soon as you have aligned your Swift Hitch wireless camera to the rear of your vehicle and pointed it toward the hitch, switch it and the wireless display on.

Source: https://www.amazon.com/Swift-Hitch-SH01-Portable-Wireless

Before you enter your vehicle, view the position of the camera on the display to ensure you have a good view of your hitch and space where the trailer coupler will arrive in view. Reposition the wireless camera if necessary and continue to the next step.

Step-3: Using the Swift Hitch Wireless Camera System

Enter your vehicle and place the Swift Hitch display in a safe place so that you can see the screen whilst safely reversing your vehicle. Use the display as an aid to slowly back up to your trailer coupler and make any necessary repositioning of your vehicle to line up the hitch and the coupler.

The Swift Hitch display features a simple button you can press to mirror-image the display from left to right in order to avoid any disorientation caused by frequent glances at the camera and your vehicle's mirrors.

Swift Hitch is one of many different systems in use to ensure that your trailer towing is performing safely and securely to perform your daily routines. Working in parallel with the air safe hitch is one way to enhance your road safety, improve vehicle handling when towing a trailer, as well as saving you time and effort for your work and leisure.

The Swift Hitch system is a great way to avoid the permanent installation of expensive monitors and sensors, and gives you a handy, wireless and cost-effective way of ensuring your trailer is lined up and hooked up every time. Upgrade your hitch experience today with Swift Hitch.

Sunday 6 November 2016

Is It Worth Investing In An Air Ride Hitch for Towing?

airsafe hitch, tow hitch, trailer tow hitch

Trailer tow or air ride hitches are becoming more popular for drivers all over Australia, and for good reason. Road safety for all motorists has always been a major concern, and improvements in technologies and greater awareness have succeeded in reducing the road toll.

This is one such technology which despite being a little pricey, is usually worth the investment. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why and how tow hitches work.

What is an Air Ride Hitch?

Air Safe Hitch

When towing a trailer, there is always the risk of losing control due to the significantly greater weight. In addition, bumps in the road can be problematic and cause the trailer to bounce around, making it more difficult to control. Part of the reason for this is that without a good hitch, there is a tight, rigid connection between the vehicle and the trailer; when the former hits a bump, the shock is passed to the latter.

An AirSafe Hitch is designed specifically to counter this problem by reducing shock transfer and releasing the tension of the connection between the trailer and vehicle. Where otherwise the trailer would jolt and bounce when a tire hits a bump or pothole in the road, the hitch acts as a ‘ball’ of air that absorbs and spreads the impact of the shock, making it essentially glide over bumps with minimal jolt effect.

There is also a slight reduction in the amount of fuel used given that it improves suspension significantly.

What Are The Benefits?

tow hitch, airsafe hitch, trailer tow hitch

Without Hitch

With Hitch

Often the decision on whether to use an air ride or a standard hitch depends on -

Driver preference

What it is you’re towing

Generally speaking, the improvements in smoothness and stability are noticed a lot more when towing larger trailers and more often than not, drivers with heavier loads will see the return on investment. Many people that use air ride hitches will not use anything else, and indeed once you’ve experienced the benefits it is difficult to go back.

The simple fact is that constant bumps along the road can do costly damage to a trailer, whether it is over a long period of time or one particularly nasty road bump that breaks something. Not to mention the fact that this technology greatly reduces the likelihood that you’ll lose control of the vehicle while on the road, making you safer. Further, there are benefits when you consider that the contents stored in the trailer are significantly safer as well.

There are also often legal benefits that come from the fact that certain trailer manufacturers have in their fine print that damage can only be held under warranty provided you are using certain hitches. Using the state of the art, safest and most reliable trailer tow hitch will ensure you’re looked after in the very unlikely event of damage.

Are They Worth It?

airsafe hitch, trailer tow hitch, tow hitch

Air ride hitches are an investment and represent an extra cost, but when you consider how much a vehicle and trailer are worth to you, it makes sense to put aside a little more to ensure they are protected.

That said, the value of this technology varies from case to case. As mentioned, the benefits are maximised when you are dealing with a heavier load and thus a more rigid pin area.

Some find that there are ways to reinforce their trailer such that the potential damages are minimised, others find that nothing compares to air ride hitch. It really comes down to your specific circumstances and it’s worth having a chat to an expert about your needs. Here are some important trailer towing tips everyone should know.

Contact Advantec Australasia Pty Ltd today for more information by calling 1800121611.

Tuesday 2 August 2016

Grain Storage Tips for Winter

When it comes to long-term grain storage, it’s no secret that maintaining the ideal temperature throughout the year is of paramount importance. With global warming causing more unpredictable weather patterns, being prepared is very necessary to maintain a high quality of grain. This article will discuss a few of the issues.

Overcoming Problems of Grain Storage

Most types of grain need to be kept in cool, dry environments, which is why silos and grain storage rings are so widely used. Studies suggest that dry grain should be cooled to between -5 to 0 degrees prior to harvest in the winter time. As the climate becomes colder, grain needs to be stored in an even cooler environment, so while it’s arguably more favorable to store grain under colder weather conditions, precautions still do need to be taken.

Hotter conditions present problems of their own. For one, grains need to be kept moisture-free, so poor management of grain in humid weather can lead to mold growth, which obviously reduces quality. This is a problem particularly with grain that has just been harvested. Modern processes of grain drying, including aeration (using airflow to dry and cool grain), are the obvious solution in these cases.

In the winter time, keeping grain at lower temperatures can reduce the likelihood of insects getting involved, as they are usually at a different state than normal at sub 10 degree Celsius. However, there are problems with grain drying under these circumstances for certain grains, given that condensation can form as a result.

Furthermore, while the air temperature outside can be cold, studies indicate that on sunny days the solar factor can come into effect. When exposed to the sun for long periods, grain on the inner outer walls of the bin can be heated and end considerably warmer than is ideal.

Precautions

As mentioned, the main problems that can affect grain storage are related to moisture levels, temperature and insects/birds that may get inside. Here are a few ways of overcoming these issues.

Check grains and temperature levels weekly

Image Source: www.ohioinsurance.org

The main means of overcoming these is proper monitoring on your part to ensure that the temperature is at the appropriate level. Inspect the bin and the temperature gauge, start the fans - if the air feels humid, which is possible under these conditions, running the fans may be an option. Most importantly, you should check humidity and temperature at various locations as this can differ from one spot to another.

Do Not Use Fans During Rain or Fog

It's recommended to refrain from using fans when weather conditions are poor, mainly because there is a high risk of blowing more moisture into the bin, which is exactly the opposite of what you’re trying to do.

Cover Fans And Ducts Once Grain is Cooled

Winter is unpredictable at the best of times, and even more so in certain parts of Australia. Once the grain is cooled and is ready for long term storage, you need to ensure that the bin is well sealed and weather-tight. If you fail to do so, heavy rains, hail, or even snow could enter the bin and cause huge problems. This also ensures rodents and other small animals don’t find their way in (they tend to be more likely to do so when food is harder to find during winter).

As mentioned, careful monitoring on your part is hugely important and should not be overlooked. For more information, feel free to contact the team at Advantec, who provide a range of grain storage solutions, handling equipment and advice to those in need.

Thursday 28 January 2016

Here’s Why Precision Farming Technology will Shape the Future of Agriculture

A bright future for humanity lies ahead

Agriculture has gone through many different ages over the years in terms of technological breakthroughs such as improved efficiency and crop management. These improvements have been based on improving farming standards and minimizing losses. But a new age is about to begin, the popular agricultural buzzword of our time, the age of Precision Farming.

Precision farming is mostly about using the latest technologies in maximising your potential crop based on land size, harvesting times, crop management, as well as transportation. For a few years now, drone-like farm machinery has been the dream that would allow farmers to prepare their land and make a harvest with vehicles that have been programmed to autonomously work around the clock. In this article we will focus on some of these hi-tech developments.

Advanced Surveillance System to Boost Efficiency

This new level of detail means that the most advanced technology can be used to incorporate satellite information on your land in terms of satellite images of crop which can be used to observe, measure and make decisions on crop management using an array of imaging processes.

This sort of farming works best on large scale farms where huge numbers of fields are used to grow crops. Satellite images can be used to create photographs of a specific field over a specific amount of time to give you information about the best place to sew your crop, as well as the potential yield of a particular crop planted in a particular area.

Image Credit: Earth Observatory/NASA

Drones are making a huge mark in farming in recent years for observation and inspection work for farmers, but are now being touted as one of the best tools for precision farming on a mid to large scale. Farming drones are also a much cheaper alternative to using satellite imagery services, as you will be able to purchase outright the complete system.

Agricultural UAV Drones at Your Service!

These latest agricultural drones have the ability to map your land and give you all the necessary data you require to get the best out of your land. Sensors such as visual aids that give you aerial mapping and 3D imaging allow you to create surveys, view your land use, as well as counting your plants, crops and give you an emergency response system for sustainable agriculture harvesting.

Drones will change the whole game in future

Other visual inspections allow you to use infrared as well as other narrow band frequencies to visualise your plant and crop health, assess water quality as well as create a vegetation index calculation. With thermal and LiDAR sensors you will be able to have an in-depth view and record of your crop to give you information that has never been accessible before to maximise crop management on the largest of scales.

Keeping on tabs with your crop is the best way to maximise the precise Australian harvest time for your crop, giving you the best possible chance of minimising crop loss and maximising crop profit. With agricultural drones able to measure plant height, number and health you have the perfect opportunity to create the most efficient farm possible.

How Cost-Effective and Future Proof are These?

In Queensland a trial had taken place to find the cost effectiveness of drone use in the Australian agriculture industry, trialed through a federal government funded pilot scheme. In combination with LandCare and the Australian Controlled Traffic Farming Association, the trial used a number of tools such as photo imaging to view crop health, as well as the presence of weeds and pests in the fields. As more trials take place, it is believed more farmers will want to try out the automated drone systems and allow them to get more data on their crops and land.

The future looks bright for agricultural UAV drones in Australia, with a number of technological breakthroughs which will make the farming industry more efficient and productive. With precision farming leading the way in terms of technology, we will just have to wait and see how long it will be before every farmer employs one of the latest future farming tech drones to grab data from their crops, come harvest time.

This link might help to you to better understand the use of precision farming technique in the crop growth cycle. And of course stay with Advantec's blog as we will be discussing more important stuff about grain management and farming industry.

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