Airstream 2019 International, Owner'S Manual

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Safety
2-2
2019 International
Safety Precautions
Many things can be construed as safety related, but
the most important is your common sense� If you are
careless with matches, cigarettes, flammable material,
or any other hazardous material, you surely realize
your potential for accidents is greatly increased�
You will find many safety recommendations in this
section and throughout the manual� The following
recommendations are the ones we consider to be the
most important�
Transporting of Passengers
The transporting of people in the trailer puts their
lives at risk and may be illegal� The trailer does not
have seat belts, therefore, it is not designed to carry
passengers�
Towing and Weight Distribution
Weight distribution is an important factor when loading
your travel trailer� A recreational vehicle with the cargo
distributed properly will result in efficient, trouble-
free towing� Refer to Section 7 - Towing for more
information�
Controlling Sway
Sway or fishtailing is the sideways action of a trailer
caused by external forces� Excessive sway of your
travel trailer can lead to the rollover of the trailer and
tow vehicle, resulting in serious injury or death� Refer
to Section 7 - Towing for more information�
Lug Nut Torquing
Making sure wheel mounting nuts (lug nuts) on
trailer wheels are tight and properly torqued is an
important responsibility that trailer owners and users
need to understand and practice� Inadequate and/or
inappropriate wheel nut torque (tightness) is a major
cause of lug nuts loosening in service� Loose lug nuts
can rapidly lead to a wheel separation, resulting in
potentially serious safety consequences� See torque
pattern in Section 8 - Maintenance for tightening
sequence, and follow torque specifications in Section
4 - Floor Plans and Specifications.
NOTE
Torque Aluminum Wheels to 110 ft. lbs and Steel
Wheels to 100 ft. lbs.
Tire Safety
Properly maintained tires improve the steering,
stopping, traction, and load-carrying capability of your
vehicle� Refer to Section 8 - Maintenance for tire care
and safety information� Also, be sure to read the Tire
Safety Manual Addendum included with your owner’s
packet�
Appliances and Equipment
The appliances (stove, refrigerator, etc�) and equipment
(hot water heater, furnace, etc�) typically operate on
liquefied petroleum LP gas. LP gas is flammable and
is contained under high pressure� Improper use may
result in a fire and/or explosion. Make sure to follow
all instructions and warnings in this manual as well as
those in the specific owner’s manuals of the appliances
and equipment�
Mold
Mold and mold spores exist throughout indoor and
outdoor environments� There is no practical way
to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor
environment; however, the way to control indoor
mold growth is to control moisture� Refer to Section
3 - General Information for information on controlling
condensation and molds�
Chemical Sensitivity and Ventilation
Chemical Sensitivity
Immediately after the purchase of your new
recreational vehicle, and sometimes, after it has been
closed up for an extended period of time, you may
notice a strong odor and/or experience a chemical
sensitivity� This is not a defect in your recreational
vehicle� Like your home, there are many different
products used in the construction of recreational
vehicles, such as carpet, linoleum, plywood, insulation,
upholstery, etc� Formaldehyde is also the by-product of
combustion and numerous household products, such
as some paints, coatings, and cosmetics� However,
recreational vehicles are much smaller than your home
and therefore, the exchange of air inside a recreational
vehicle is significantly less than in a home. These
products, when new or when exposed to elevated
temperatures and/or humidity, may off-gas different
chemicals, including formaldehyde� This off-gassing,
in combination with the minimal air exchange, may
cause you to experience irritation of the eyes, nose,
and throat, as well as sometimes headache, nausea,
and a variety of asthma-like symptoms� Elderly persons
and young children, as well as anyone with a history
of asthma, allergies, or lung problems, may be more
susceptible to the effects of off-gassing�