FEATHERLITE TRAILERS Horse Trailer, Owner'S Manual

Page: 35 / 78

Section 3 - Coupling To The Tow Vehicle
R6 3/30/2017 Page 29
3.2.1.b Prepare the Coupler and Hitch
•
Lubricate the hitch ball and the inside of the
coupler with a thin layer of automotive bearing
grease. Using the jack, raise the coupler above
the ball height.
•
The trailer can be equipped with two different
types of couplers. See figures 3-4, 3-5 and 3-6
to determine the type of coupler on your trailer.
•
Open the coupler locking mechanism. Ball
couplers have a locking mechanism with an
internal moving piece (ball clamp) and an
outside handle, wheel, or latch. See figures 3-
4, 3-5 and 3-6.
•
In the open or unlatched position, the
coupler is able to drop fully onto the hitch
ball.
•
See the coupler instructions for details of
placing the coupler in the open or
unlatched position.
•
Slowly back up the tow vehicle so that the hitch
ball is near or aligned under the coupler, if the
trailer jack has raised the coupler.
Latched and Unlatched Position (Cequent) –
Figure 3-4
Latched and Unlatched Position (Demco) –
Figure 3-5
3.2.1.c Couple the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle
(Cequent Coupler)
•
Using the jack, lower the trailer tongue until the
coupler fully engages the hitch ball. If the
coupler does not line up 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 pin or lock through the hole in the
locking mechanism.
•
Be sure the coupler is all the way on the hitch
ball and the locking mechanism is engaged. A
properly engaged locking mechanism will allow
the coupler to raise the rear of the tow vehicle.
Using the trailer jack, test to see that you can
raise the rear of the tow vehicle by 1 inch, after
the coupler is locked to the hitch.
NOTICE
The tongue jack can be damaged by
overloading. Do not use the tongue jack to
raise the tow vehicle more than 1 inch.
If the coupler cannot be secured to the hitch
ball, 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 its fully retracted position.
3.2.1.d Couple the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle
(Demco Coupler)
•
Using the jack, lower the trailer tongue until the
coupler fully engages the hitch ball. If the
coupler does not line up with the hitch ball,
adjust the position of the tow vehicle.
•
Lower the trailer to the ball (do not lift handle),
while the coupler is going over the ball the
handle will lift up automatically and lock over
ball as it is lowered.