Heartland 2014 Bighorn, Owner'S Manual

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33 Home is where your heart is...
An under-inflated tire will build up excessive heat that
may go beyond the limits of the tire materials. This
could result in sudden tire failure. An under-inflated
tire will also cause poor vehicle handling, rapid and/or
irregular tire wear, and an increase in rolling resistance
which results in decreased tow vehicle fuel economy.
The maximum cold inflation pressure for your tires is
stated on the tire sidewalls. Keep your tires inflated to
the maximum cold pressure. This reduces the chance
of a failure and improves towing stability. Maintaining
correct tire inflation pressure for your trailer is of the
utmost importance and must be a part of regular vehicle
maintenance.
You must weigh your trailer when it is fully loaded
as you expect to use it . You need to weigh all axles
together and calculate the hitch weight. You may find
that even thought the total weight is within the GVWR,
one side may be overloaded. For this reason, you
must know the weight of each side of the trailer. When
you know the weight on each side of the trailer, the
combined axle assembly, and the hitch weight, you will
be able to manage your loading to be able to maintain
good balance and assure good and safe handling on the
road. Here are some tips to help you plan your loading:
• Do not overload. Experiment with various loads
starting with light loads and working up to heavier
loads. Take into consideration the load of the fresh
water system. The tow vehicle and the terrain will
affect the true weight you should carry.
• Distribute the load evenly over the axles as much
as possible. Keep heavy items low and forward,
preferably in the lower storage areas. This will
produce a lower center of gravity, and improve road
stability.
• Distribute the load evenly on each side of the
trailer. Place heavier object opposite the heavier
appliances, cabinets, furniture, etc. when possible.
Experiment with various load positions until you find
the best distribution.
• Avoid loading heavy items in or on the rear of the
trailer. This can cause both total weight problems
and hitch weight distribution problems.
• Secure items so they won’t move around while
traveling. Make sure all items and materials are
properly stored. Close and latch all drawers, cabinet
doors, and closet doors. Pull all loose furniture
away from cabinets and walls, and lie on their side
or secure to prevent rubbing during travel.
• Carry only as much water as you think you will need
while traveling. Water weighs over eight pounds per
gallon. Whenever possible, empty the holding tanks
before going on the road.
• If you are heading for rough terrain, use heavy
packing material in the cupboards to hold plates,
glasses, etc. Put a nonskid material beneath heavier
items to prevent shifting. Expensive and breakable
belongings should be well packed and placed on the
floor in the center of the trailer, as the center rides
best.
• Store emergency items, such as fire extinguisher,
first-aid kit, highway warning devices, gloves, etc. in
a readily accessible place. Do not bury these items
beneath other cargo.
• When you have properly loaded your trailer with the
things you need for your trip, make a diagram that
outlines where things are stored. With this diagram,
your list of items and the weight of the items, you will
be able to find specific items easily and have a hand
reference for determining proper weights.
• Weigh your trailer after you have loaded it. You
have to do this several times to get it right.
CAUTION
TIRE LOAD RATINGS ARE DEPENDENT ON TIRE INFLATION
PRESSURES. UNDER-INFLATED TIRES CAN BE DAMAGED AND
RESULT IN A LOSS OF INFLATION PRESSURE.
Check the trailer tires frequently. Tires can lose air
over a period of time. In fact, tires can lose 1 to 3 PSI
per month. This is because molecules of air, under
pressure, migrate through the rubber from the inside
to the outside. A drop in tire pressure could cause the
tired to become overloaded, leading to excessive heat
buildup. If a trailer tire is under-inflated, even for a short
period of time, the tire could suffer internal damage. A
flat can go unnoticed on a multiple axle trailer while it is
being towed. Running with a flat can cause it to catch
fire and burn up your rig. With multiple axles or tandem
wheels it is hard sometimes to see a flat tire as the
other tires are supporting the weight of the rig and the
flat tire is less noticeable. A quick check can be made
by “thumping” each tire with a tire iron or rod to make
sure they all sound the same. Each time you gas up,
walk around the trailer and give a quick check by feeling
each tire with your hand. A tire that is getting low will be
hotter than the rest. There is no substitute, however, for
actually measuring tire pressures to make sure they are
all within safe limits. Always check the cold tire inflation
pressures before each trip and at least once a week
during the trip for proper inflation levels.