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Section 1 – Safety Information 

R6 3/30/2017 

 

 

 

           Page 6 

 

certain items, such as people, containers of 
hazardous substances or containers of flammable 
substances.    A trailer not designed with living 
quarters should only be used for transportation of its 
intended cargo. 
 

^ DANGER 

You can die or be brain damaged by 
Carbon Monoxide. 

Do not operate a generator, portable grills, 
portable heaters, portable lanterns  or 
portable stoves inside the trailer. 

 

^ WARNING 

Never transport people inside your 
Featherlite trailer, even if it has living 
quarters.  Besides putting their lives at risk, 
the transport of people may be illegal. 

 

^ WARNING 

Do not sleep in a trailer not equipped with 
living quarters. 

A trailer not designed with living quarters 
should only be used for transportation of 
its intended cargo. 

 

^ WARNING 

Your Featherlite trailer is not capable of 
safely transporting flammable, explosive, 
poisonous or other dangerous materials. 

 

^ WARNING 

Do not haul “loose” livestock in your horse 
trailer. 

Use a trailer  designed to haul “loose” 
livestock. 

 

1.2.13  Inoperable Brakes, Lights or Mirrors 

Be sure that the brakes (if equipped) and all of the 
lights on your trailer are functioning properly before 
towing your trailer.  Electric brakes and lights on a 
trailer are controlled via a connection to the tow 
vehicle, generally a multi-pin electrical connector.  

Check the trailer taillights by turning on your tow 
vehicle headlights.  Check the trailer brake lights by 
having someone step on the tow vehicle brake pedal 
while you look at trailer lights.  Check the turn 
signal lights by operating the turn signal lever in the 
tow vehicle. 
 
If your trailer has electric brakes, your tow vehicle 
will have an electric brake controller that sends 
power to the trailer brakes.  Before towing  the 
trailer on the road, you must operate the brake 
controller while trying to pull the trailer in order to 
confirm that the electric brakes operate.  While 
towing the trailer at less than 5 mph, manually 
operate the electric brake controller in the tow 
vehicle cab.  You should feel the operation of the 
trailer brakes. 

 

^ WARNING 

Failure to connect the tow vehicle lighting 
and braking to the trailer will result in 
inoperable lights and brakes, and can lead 
to collision. 

Check that all the trailer lights and brakes 
work before each tow. 

 
If your trailer has hydraulic “surge” brakes, pull the 
emergency breakaway brake lanyard to check the 
operation of the surge mechanism. 
 
Standard mirrors usually do not provide adequate 
visibility for viewing traffic to the sides and rear a 
towed trailer.  You must provide mirrors that allow 
you to safely observe approaching traffic. 
 

1.2.14  Hazards From   Modifying Your 

Trailer 

Essential safety items and structural integrity can be 
damaged by altering your trailer.  Even simply 
driving a  nail or screw can damage an electrical 
circuit, LP gas line or other feature of the trailer. 
 
Before making any alteration to your trailer, contact 
your dealer or Featherlite, Inc. at 800-800-1230 and 
describe the alteration you are contemplating.  
Alteration of the trailer structure or modification of 
mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating or other 
systems on your trailer must be performed only by 
qualified technicians who are familiar with the 
system as installed on your trailer. 

Summary of Contents for Horse Trailer

Page 1: ...OWNER S MANUAL ENCLOSED TRAILERS...

Page 2: ...you our customer put in it That is why the features of all Featherlite trailers are engineered with the customer and the cargo in mind Please know that Featherlite s dedicated dealers and employees ar...

Page 3: ...User s Manual contains safety information and instructions for your trailer You must read this manual before loading or towing your trailer You must follow all safety precautions and instructions Feat...

Page 4: ......

Page 5: ...VEHICLE 24 3 1 USE AN ADEQUATE TOW VEHICLE AND HITCH 24 3 1 1 Trailer Information 24 3 1 2 Tow Vehicle 25 3 2 COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING THE TRAILER 26 3 2 1 Trailer with Ball Hitch Coupler 27 3 2 1 a Be...

Page 6: ...a Initial Inspection 62 8 2 6 b Periodic Inspection 62 8 2 6 c Manually Adjusting Brake Shoes 62 8 2 6 d Brakes Hydraulic Vacuum Air or Electric Operated 62 8 2 7 Trailer Connection to Tow Vehicle 63...

Page 7: ...warning is ignored WARNING WARNING Hazards or unsafe practices which COULD result in severe personal injury or death if the warning is ignored CAUTION CAUTION Hazards or unsafe practices which could...

Page 8: ...the pressure wave created by passing trucks and busses When encountering trailer sway take your foot off the accelerator and steer as little as possible in order to stay on the road Use small trim lik...

Page 9: ...e maintained if the trailer comes loose from the tow vehicle for any reason WARNING Incorrect rigging of the safety chains can result in loss of control of the trailer and tow vehicle leading to death...

Page 10: ...control may occur Death or serious injury can result Make sure of proper tire pressure before towing trailer Inflate tires to pressure indicated on Certification VIN label The tightness of the lug nut...

Page 11: ...or structural failure Be sure your trailer is evenly loaded left right Towing stability also depends on keeping the center of gravity as low as possible WARNING An improperly distributed load can resu...

Page 12: ...e turn signal lights by operating the turn signal lever in the tow vehicle If your trailer has electric brakes your tow vehicle will have an electric brake controller that sends power to the trailer b...

Page 13: ...ailer All saddles tack and equipment as well as horse s must be prevented from being thrown about before towing trailer CAUTION Hauling a horse in a livestock trailer may result in its serious injury...

Page 14: ...ING Shore power poses a risk of death due to electrocution Always use a grounded connection Never connect to an ungrounded source of shore power Never remove the third prong from the shore power plug...

Page 15: ...few times from speeds no greater than 10 m p h If your trailer is equipped with brakes try using different combinations of trailer electric brake and tow vehicle brake Note the effect that the trailer...

Page 16: ...bump Do not brake while in a curve unless absolutely necessary Instead slow down before you enter the curve and power through the curve This way the towing vehicle remains n charge Do not apply the b...

Page 17: ...er Figure 1 3 WARNING To protect you and others against death or serious injury all of the labels shown above must be on the trailer and must be legible If any of these safety labels are missing or ca...

Page 18: ...tigation and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles it may order a recall and remedy campaign However NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you your deale...

Page 19: ...on handling and stopping on tires 2 1 TRAILER TIRE INFORMATION Trailer tires may be worn out even though they still have plenty of tread left This is because trailer tires have to carry a lot of weigh...

Page 20: ...ing information In addition this placard will show a statement regarding maximum cargo capacity Cargo can be added to the trailer up to the maximum weight specified on the placard The combined weight...

Page 21: ...s who will be riding in your vehicle 3 Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds 4 The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggag...

Page 22: ...public scale without being attached to the towing vehicle Hitch Weight The downward force exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer coupler Innerliner The layer s forming the inside surface of a tubel...

Page 23: ...Weight The downward force applied to the 5th wheel or gooseneck ball by the trailer kingpin or gooseneck coupler Ply A layer of rubber coated parallel cords Ply separation A parting of rubber compound...

Page 24: ...not covered by the inflated tire Wheel center member In the case of a non pneumatic tire assembly incorporating a wheel a mechanical device which attaches either integrally or separably to the non pne...

Page 25: ...which is the metric measure used internationally Manufacturers of passenger vehicles and light trucks determine this number based on the vehicle s design load limit that is the greatest amount of weig...

Page 26: ...sliding especially when the road is wet or icy In general tires are not safe and should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1 16 of an inch Tires have built in treadwear indicators that let yo...

Page 27: ...ufactured and the last four numbers represent the week and year the tire was built For example the numbers 3197 means the 31st week of 1997 The other numbers are marketing codes used at the manufactur...

Page 28: ...sides those found on the sidewalls of passenger tires ST An ST is an indication the tire is for trailer use only ST tires are design for carrying heavy loads at lower speeds The Tire and Rim Associati...

Page 29: ...nce a month including the spare Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns on the tread cracks foreign objects or other signs of wear or trauma Remove bits of glass and foreign objects wedged in the tread...

Page 30: ...to an external source of electrical power LP Liquid Petroleum Gas facilities for heating or other uses Electric powered hydraulic landing gear Vending or Accessory Doors Your Featherlite trailer has...

Page 31: ...tion Statement This trailer meets all the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect on the date of manufacture shown above There are two additional weights that are not provided on the Certific...

Page 32: ...n the trailer to the light and brake controls on the towing vehicle Heavy Duty Engine Oil Cooling System The tow vehicle engine works harder when a trailer is being towed Depending on the size of the...

Page 33: ...activate pin pulls out if the coupler connection comes loose Jack A device on the trailer that is used to raise and lower the trailer tongue On larger trailers the jack is sometimes called the landing...

Page 34: ...ailer to the Tow Vehicle Be sure the size and rating of hitch ball match the size and rating of the coupler Hitch balls and couplers are marked with their size and rating WARNING Coupler to hitch mism...

Page 35: ...p with the hitch ball adjust the position of the tow vehicle Engage the coupler locking mechanism In the engaged position the locking mechanism securely holds the coupler to the hitch ball Insert a pi...

Page 36: ...l do not tow the trailer Call Featherlite Inc at 800 800 1230 or your dealer for assistance Lower the trailer so that its entire tongue weight is held by the hitch and continue retracting the jack to...

Page 37: ...akaway system for broken or missing parts Repair or replace worn damaged or missing parts before towing trailer Connect the pullpin lanyard to the tow vehicle so that the pullpin will be pulled out be...

Page 38: ...uple your ball hitch trailer from the tow vehicle Block trailer tires to prevent the trailer from rolling before jacking the trailer up Disconnect the electrical connector Disconnect the breakaway bra...

Page 39: ...pler height adjustment to match the trailer to your towing vehicle Coupler With Two Set Screws Loosen the jam nuts and set screws A on the rear side of the coupler See figure 3 10 Extend or retract th...

Page 40: ...op Leg Jack Arrangement Figure 3 13 3 2 2 c Before Coupling the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle Be sure the size and rating of the gooseneck ball match the size and rating of the receiver Gooseneck balls a...

Page 41: ...eceiver does not line up with the ball raise the receiver again and adjust the position of the tow vehicle Then lower the receiver over the ball When the drop leg base is no longer resting on the grou...

Page 42: ...trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle Fasten chains to safety chain receivers on the hitch not to ball Have sufficient slack to permit turning and to keep gooseneck on bed of tow vehicle if the trail...

Page 43: ...trailer if the breakaway brake system is not working Have it serviced or repaired Do not tow the trailer with the breakaway brake system ON because the brakes will overheat which can result in perman...

Page 44: ...drop legs Be sure the plunger pin is fully engaged Push it in by hand if necessary The bent part of the plunger pin handle must be touching the plunger pin housing If your trailer has two drop leg ja...

Page 45: ...l mechanism operates freely Lubricate the fifth wheel plate surface with a light coat of Lithium base waterproof grease Be sure the fifth wheel and kingpin fasteners are tight and any welds are solid...

Page 46: ...back up the tow vehicle keeping the kingpin centered in the slot of the fifth wheel Continue backing up until the fifth wheel locks firmly on the kingpin Visually check to confirm that the fifth wheel...

Page 47: ...Keep your feet shins and hands well clear of the drop legs and drop leg bases when releasing the drop legs 3 2 3 e Attach and Test the Breakaway Brake System If the coupler fails a properly connected...

Page 48: ...ic brake controller in the tow vehicle cab You should feel the operation of the trailer brakes WARNING Failure to connect the tow vehicle lighting and braking to the trailer will result in inoperable...

Page 49: ...the handle shaft until it locks into low gear NOTICE Do not use high speed to lift the trailer the drop leg jack mechanism can be damaged High speed is used only to rapidly move the drop leg base into...

Page 50: ...WR WARNING An overloaded trailer can result in failure or in loss of control of the trailer leading to death or serious injury Never load a trailer so that the weight on any tire exceeds its rating Ne...

Page 51: ...or assistance WARNING An unrestrained trailer can fall off its support resulting in serious injury or death Block trailer wheels front and rear before checking tongue weight For most trailers it is ea...

Page 52: ...ess or signs of bending before loading the cargo onto the trailer WARNING Damaged or loose D rings can break allowing cargo to become loose inside the trailer Loose cargo can shift the center of gravi...

Page 53: ...ove about and startle or injure the horse Check the walls floor dividers etc for loose and broken parts welds hinges etc 4 3 1 Preparing the Horse Trailer for Loading Open windows and vents to provide...

Page 54: ...he horse shows any signs of distress stop loading and calm the horse WARNING An unstable trailer will result if the weight of the horses is not properly distributed in the trailer Always load the firs...

Page 55: ...rubber floor mat Do not transport people containers of hazardous substances or containers of flammable substances WARNING Always secure the door latch after closing Place a linchpin in the catch If th...

Page 56: ...ler is fitted with a drop ramp carefully lower it to the ground 2 Open and secure the loading door either swinging or roll up 3 Open and secure the interior gates as necessary 4 Guide the livestock in...

Page 57: ...this manual Test Tail Stop and Turn Lights Test trailer brakes Safety breakaway switch lanyard fastened to tow vehicle not to safety chains see the Coupling to the Tow Vehicle section of this manual...

Page 58: ...must be adjusted after the first 200 miles of use and each 3 000 miles thereafter Most axles are fitted with brake shoes that must be manually adjusted Read your axle and brake manual to see if your...

Page 59: ...t from any running engine or burning fuels can not accumulate in areas where people or animals are likely to be present Conditions that can redirect exhaust fumes are for example Being drawn in by fan...

Page 60: ...e an extension cord to connect to shore power Replace fuses with like rating 7 4 LP GAS FUEL SYSTEM LP gas systems are installed to operate a variety of appliances such as stoves refrigerators heating...

Page 61: ...gas must be completely vaporized before being burned Butane gas will not operate if the outside temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit NOTICE Use Butane only when the temperature is above freezin...

Page 62: ...lace Always use prop rods to hold vending or accessory doors open Be prepared to hold the weight of the door when removing prop rods 7 6 ELECTRIC POWERED LANDING GEAR The landing gear also known as th...

Page 63: ...nd Drums Air Pressure Actuated Adjust 8 2 6 c First 200 mi ea 3 000 miles Check for scoring and wear Brakes Electric Magnets Inspect for wear and current draw Manufacturer 6 months or 6 000 miles Cont...

Page 64: ...dirt buildup Lubricate hinges Roof Inspect roof sealer Reseal as needed Windows Clean dirt buildup Lubricate window slides Feed Door Latches Clean and lubricate latch mechanism 8 2 10 Tires Check tire...

Page 65: ...orse and livestock trailers having floors subjected to urine and manure The urine and manure are corrosive to the aluminum flooring and other structural parts of the trailer Remove the rubber mats fro...

Page 66: ...he counterbalance does not work WARNING A spring and cable counterbalance can inflict serious injury if it breaks or if incorrectly adjusted Inspect the cable and cable ends each time the door is oper...

Page 67: ...by trying to pull the trailer with the tow vehicle after pulling the pin The trailer brakes may not lock but you will notice that a greater force is needed to pull the trailer WARNING If electric brea...

Page 68: ...Featherlite Inc at 800 800 1230 or your dealer for assistance The following steps apply to adjust most manually adjustable brakes If you are unsure or do not understand how to adjust your brakes have...

Page 69: ...em to determine the proper action to prevent possible failure of the ball and coupler system All bent or broken coupler parts must be replaced before towing the trailer The coupler handle lever must b...

Page 70: ...res Before each tow be sure the tire pressure is at the value indicated on the Certification VIN label Tire pressure must be checked while the tire is cold Do not check the tire pressure immediately a...

Page 71: ...ack the wheel bearings every 12 months or 12 000 miles whichever occurs first If a trailer wheel bearing is immersed in water it must be repacked after each immersion If your trailer has not been used...

Page 72: ...rmation on checking wheel end play and clearance See figure 8 6 Nev R Lube Bearing Shown Figure 8 6 8 2 16 Lug Nuts Bolts Lug nuts are prone to loosen right after a wheel is mounted to a hub When driv...

Page 73: ...er and after re mounting a wheel at 10 25 and 50 miles WARNING Metal creep between the wheel rim and lug nuts bolts will cause rim to loosen Death or injury can occur if wheel comes off Tighten lug nu...

Page 74: ...8 Lug nuts are prone to loosen right after a wheel is mounted to a hub When driving on a remounted wheel check to see if the lug nuts are tight after the first 10 25 and 50 miles of driving and befor...

Page 75: ...as been designed and built in accordance with all the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that were in effect when the trailer was produced The figure below illustrates the wiring code that has bee...

Page 76: ...or hitch ball may carry a class rating instead of a pound rating This chart may be used to cross reference hitch ball classification with trailer weight and tongue weight Hitch Classification Class Ty...

Page 77: ...ct to change Repair Parts Accessories LOCAL DEALERS LOCAL SALES LOCAL SERVICE Repair Parts can be obtained from the Featherlite dealer serving your area Call your local dealer for parts accessories fo...

Page 78: ...ilers Display Trailers Semi Livestock Trailers Vending Trailers Hospitality Trailers Kitchen Trailers Utility Trailers Truck Beds Transporters Living Quarters Dry Freight Trailers Specialty Trailers D...

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