Heartland 2014 Bighorn, Owner'S Manual

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38 HEARTLAND Recreational Vehicles, LLC
Tire Safety Tips
Preventing Tire Damage
• Slow down if you have to go over a pothole or other
object in the road.
• Do not run over curbs or other foreign objects in the
roadway, and try not to strike the curb when parking.
Tire Safety Checklist
• Check tire pressure (including the spare) at least
once a month and before going on any trip.
• 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.
• Make sure your tire valves have valve caps.
• Do not overload your vehicle. Check the Tire
Information and Loading Placard or User’s Manual
for the maximum recommended load for the vehicle.
Steps for determining correct load limit
• Locate the statement “The weight of cargo should
never exceed XXX KG or XXX LBS” on your vehicles
placard.
• The figure stated on the placard is the available
amount of cargo load capacity
• Determine the weight of cargo being loaded in the
vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo capacity.
For further information about wheel and tire safety:
1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-242-9 53)
http://www.safercar.gov
and NHTSA
400 Seventh St. S.W.
Washington, DC 20590
Storage of Tires
Rubber tires degrade faster when not being used. A
cool, dry, sealed garage is the preferred storage location.
Many recreational vehicles are stored outside. Some
storage surfaces may cause tires to prematurely age.
Placing a barrier (plastic or plywood) between the tire
and storage floor/ground helps to protect the tires. When
the tire may be out of service for 30 days or more, the
vehicle should be in long-term storage condition.
Note
IF THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE IS STORED
WITH WEIGHT ON THE TIRES, INFLATE THEM TO
MAXIMUM INFLATION PRESSURE AS INDICATED
ON THE FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION TAG.
• Thoroughly clean the tires.
• Unload the vehicle so there is minimum weight on the tires.
• Ensure the surface is reasonably level, firm, clean and
has good drainage.
• Move recreational vehicle every three months to
prevent cracking in bulge areas as well as flat spotting
from prolonged sidewall strain and tread deflection.
• Cover the tires to block direct sunlight and ultraviolet rays.
• The parking surface will affect moisture accumulation
on the chassis and flooring.
• Gravel covered parking areas allow moisture to
evaporate into the underside of the recreational vehicle.
• Sealed concrete pads allow better ventilation under
the recreational vehicle.
• Storage buildings with sealed concrete floors or
heated facilities greatly reduce the amount of moisture
accumulation and protect the recreational vehicle from
moisture damage.
• Avoid wet or greasy surfaces. Avoid highly reflective
surfaces like asphalt, sand or snow.
Before removing the vehicle from long-term storage,
thoroughly inspect each tire tread area and air pressure.
If the pressure check indicates tires have lost air, inflate
to correct pressure for current load before use.
Support Tires When Leveling
Extreme caution must be taken to ensure the tires are fully
supported when placing blocks under the tires. The load
on the tire should be evenly distributed on the support
block. In case of dual tires, distribute the load evenly on
blocks for both tires. If not properly supported, the steel
cables in the sidewall of the tires may be damaged and
could lead to premature fatigue of the sidewall.
CAUTION
SUPPORTING TIRES PREVENTS DAMAGE TO THE SIDEWALL OF THE
TIRES, BUT DOES NOT PREVENT TIRE ROLL.
In Case of Flat Tire
In the event of a flat tire, it is recommended to call for
roadside assistance. The size and weight of the trailer
requires the proper equipment to change the tire. A
professional service technician will have the equipment
and training necessary to repair or replace the tire. In
the event of sudden tire failure, avoid heavy braking.