B - 2
TOWING
B - 3
B
wire loop from the frame. DO NOT REMOVE THE PIN FROM THE SWITCH
BECAUSE THIS WILL APPLY THE TRAILER BRAKES.
NOTICE
: Do not use breakaway switch for parking brake.
LOADING
When you tow a trailer, you are subject to new and different challenges on
the highway than you may have previously encountered. Towing a trailer is
no small responsibility and should be undertaken with great care and an eye
toward safety first. An accident with a tow vehicle and trailer can have much
greater consequences than carelessness with a small car. Like an airline pilot
who is responsible for expensive equipment and many lives, you should take
your responsibilities as a tow vehicle driver very seriously and learn all you can
about doing the job safely and well. Balancing the load and preparing the trailer
and tow vehicle are critical to safe handling.
One of the most critical aspects of safely operating a trailer is knowing the
weights involved and where they are placed. The first thing to determine is
how much is being towed and confirming that it is within the capacities of the
equipment being used. Determining WHERE that load is placed is critical to the
way your rig will handle on the road.
Do not try to guess what your recreational vehicle weighs loaded. Load your
RV including water, propane, etc and take it to a public scales. Weigh each axle
of your vehicle. Refer to your axle weight and tire limits to see if your within
a safe range. Total all axle weights and make sure you are below the GVWR.
If you are not overloaded make sure your load is balanced. Do not load too
much on one side. A balanced load is much easier to tow or drive. Also, front
to back balance is also important. Step back and look at your recreational
vehicle. Make sure that there is not too much weight on the hitch or on the rear
of the RV. Be sure to secure all items. Loose items can cause damage and be
a safety issue if not properly secured.The Cargo Carrying capacity tag shown
below is installed on every trailer and can be found on the inside of the screen
door on your vehicle.
Airstream weighs the vehicle as finished to arrive at the Vehicle Weight. That
number is subtracted from the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the
trailer and listed under THE WEIGHT OF CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED on
the tag, The total weight of any and all cargo, including dealer modifications or
additions, water, and propane should never exceed the number listed.
When loading the vehicle it is important to keep the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating, Gross Axle Weight Ratings, Tire Weight Ratings (listed on the vehicle
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE TRAILER CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY
VIN #################
THE WEIGHT OF CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED
XXX kg or XXX lbs
CAUTION
A full load of water equals XXX kg or XXX lbs of cargo @ 1 kg/L (8.3 lb/gal)
