elddis 2011 Xplore 302, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 13 / 88

3-2
PREPARING FOR THE ROAD
PRE-TOW CHECKLIST & HITCH-UP
Having loaded the touring caravan and secured
the lockers and main entrance door:
(i) Check touring caravan wheel bolts are
torquetightened to the required level (See
Index - Changing a Wheel).
(ii) Check tyre pressures (Refer to the Technical
Specification section) and tyre condition for
roadworthiness.
(iii) Ensure the jockey wheel is down, in good
contact with the ground, clamp tightly
secured, and the caravan handbrake is fully
on.
(iv) Wind up the corner steadies.
(v) Reverse the car close up to the caravan’s
hitch. It is advisable to seek assistance to
guide you so that the car tow ball aligns
with the caravan’s hitch. (Use of the caravan
handbrake is advised. Extreme caution
should be taken if manoeuvring the caravan
down hill or on wet, slippery surfaces).
(vi) Make sure the jockey wheel height is
sufficient for the hitch head to clear the
towing vehicles tow ball.
(v) Manoeuvre the hitch head over the tow ball
and lower the jockey wheel using the
winding handle, until the hitch head opening
sits comfortably over the tow bar ball.
COUPLING & UNCOUPLING
Note: The handle of the ball hitch and the
handbrake lever must not be used as a
manoeuvring aid. There is a risk of damage to the
internal components!
The caravan hitch (ball head hitch) on your BPW
chassis is design tested. The maximum support
load at the coupling point must not be exceeded.
When coupling your caravan to the towing
vehicle lower the jockey wheel to the ground.
Reverse the car up to the caravan or, in the case
of a small caravan, manoeuvre the caravan up to
the car’s caravan coupling.
Coupling:
Open coupling jaw by pulling lever H vigorously
upwards in the direction of the arrow until lever
locks open. Lower the opened hitch onto the ball
head vehicle coupling and the lever will
automatically release. Closing and locking are
carried out automatically. Heed the “+” (Fig 3-1)
position! Connect the breakaway cable and
electrical plug to the towing vehicle. Raise the
jockey wheel up fully and secure by firmly
clamping it. Ensure that you release parking brake
before setting off.
Visual check: the ball head should no longer be
visible in coupled condition.
Uncoupling:
Lower the jockey wheel down. Disconnect
breakaway cable and electrical plug. Pull lever ‘H’
vigorously upwards in the direction of the arrow
and hold. Wind down jockey wheel and lift the
caravan off the ball head of the towing vehicle.
Secure the caravan by means of a wheel chock
and/or by applying the parking brake.
USE OF YOUR CARAVANS
BREAKAWAY CABLE
UK LAW requires that all caravans with brakes
(e.g. caravans, horse boxes, car transporters etc),
built on or after 1st October 1982, are fitted with
a safety device to provide protection in the
unlikely event of the separation of the main
coupling while in motion. It’s also a legal
requirement to use the breakaway cable
whenever it’s provided.
The purpose of the breakaway cable is to apply
the caravan’s brakes if it becomes separated from
its towing vehicle. The cable assembly is designed
to part, allowing the caravan to come to a halt
away from the towing vehicle.
Construction - Usually a thin steel cable, possibly
plastic coated, and fitted with a means of
Fig 3-1
Raising not necessary for
versions: EM...R or EM...V