Ironhorse Trailers One bike, Owner'S Manual

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Getting Ready to Tow Your Ironhorse Trailer
Hitches
Already have a hitch on your vehicle? You’ll need a drawbar with a
2” diameter ball and the correct drop or rise for the top of the ball to
be 16” above the ground (see diagrams below).
Drawbar
with DROP
Drawbar
with RISE
2” Ball
Hitch pin
Hitch pin
lock
16 inches
top of ball to
ground
Rise ‘R’
Drop ‘D’
Height of ball ‘ H ’
If you don’t have a hitch, get one installed with the correct drawbar.
To calculate what type of draw bar you need see examples below:
For vehicles requiring a DROP drawbar
Example:
Height of ball ‘H’ = 4”, Height of hitch receiver ‘A’ = 20”
16” - 4” (‘H’) = 12”
20” (‘A’) - 12” = 8” DROP (‘D’)
For vehicle requiring a RISE drawbar
Example:
Height of ball ‘H’ = 4”, Height of hitch receiver ‘A’ = 8”
16” - 4” (‘H’) = 12”
12” - 8” (‘A’) = 4” RISE (‘R’)
Electrical Connectors
Ironhorse trailers with electric brakes need a round 7 pin trailer
receptacle and a brake actuator. Ironhorse trailers with no electric
brakes use a flat 4 pin receptacle. 7 to 4 pin adapters are available.
Height of hitch
receiver ‘A’
Height of hitch
receiver ‘A’
7 pin receptacle
7 to 4 (or 5) pin
adapter
If your vehicle is already equipped with a 7 or 4 pin receptacle,
check your owner’s manual that the correct fuses are in place and
operational.
Factory Tow Packages - Check with a Trailer Hitch Install or RV
Center to ensure that your vehicle’s factory tow package can be
configured and is compatible with the Ironhorse trailer you have
purchased. We recommend that a Trailer Hitch Install or RV Center
sets up the electric brake controller and checks its operation.
Breakaway and Security systems
If your Ironhorse trailer has a breakaway system (it automatically
engages the trailer brakes should trailer become detached from tow
vehicle), a small battery will charge each time trailer is used.
Tow Vehicle Requirements
For trouble free towing, it is essential that your tow vehicle is correctly matched to the Ironhorse trailer you have purchased.
•
Match the GVWR of your trailer to the maximum trailer weight allowed for your tow vehicle. See the Tow Vehicle Guidelines table below.
•
Match the hitch weight carrying capacity of your tow vehicle with the loaded tongue weight of your trailer.
•
Match the size of the brake controller to the number of braking wheels on your trailer.
•
Match the electrical wiring of your tow vehicle to the wiring on your trailer. Be sure to check that your tow vehicle has a ground wire
running from the receptacle to the frame.
•
Match the ball size to the coupler size. We use a two inch ball. Never tow your trailer with an improper size ball. The ball should be lightly
greased so the hitch rotates smoothly on it.
•
Match the width of your trailer to your tow vehicle. If the overall width of your tow vehicle is considerably less than your trailer, be aware of
that and make the necessary allowances when driving.
Tow Vehicle Guidelines
Ironhorse trailer specifications
Ironhorse trailer model One bike Two bike/one trike WideBody
Hitch class I & II II II
Empty weight 850 lbs 1050 lbs 1300 lbs
Axle capacity 2000 lbs 3500 lbs 3500 lbs
Unloaded tongue weight 60 lbs 80 lbs 100 lbs
Overall width 6’ 8” 8’ 4” 8’ 6”
Suggested types of tow vehicle
Sub-compact & compact cars
X
Mid-size cars X X
Mid-size pick-ups and SUVs X X X
Minivans X X X
Full size cars X X X
Full-size pick-ups and SUVs X X X
Full-size vans X X X
The total weight of your trailer should be less than the maximum trailer weight allowed for your tow vehicle.
The actual GVW is the weight of the empty trailer plus the weight of the motorcycle(s) being carried.
Example: a Two bike trailer weighs 1050 lbs empty, one bike weighs 560 lbs, the second bike weighs 720 lbs.
1050 + 560 + 720 = 2330 lbs This is under the maximum axle capacity of 3500 lbs
You match this figure to the maximum trailer weight allowed for your vehicle.
Calculate your own loaded trailer weight
Weight of empty trailer .............................__________ lbs
+ Weight of 1st bike .................................__________ lbs
+ Weight of 2nd bike (if carried) ..............__________ lbs
= Total weight of loaded trailer .................__________ lbs
Electrical
cont.
All your lights must work to be legal and safe. The weakest link are
the connectors – they can corrode and need occasional attention
to keep the system working. When cleaning the connectors, be
careful not to short them out. Electric brakes also run through this
connector. Have an observer confirm your brake lights, blinkers
and running lights are working properly each time you hook up.
Your tow vehicle must have the correct plug at the rear and must
be connected to the correct tow vehicle circuits for the vehicle to
correctly tow the trailer. Trailers equipped with brakes have a 7-way
round plug and all other trailers have a flat 4-way plug.
It is very important that there be a ground wire from your tow
vehicle’s connector to its frame. Hitches, safety chains or ball
couplers will not provide an adequate ground for your trailer.
If an auxiliary battery is added to your trailer, a fuse should be
installed between the battery and the trailer.
Electric Brake Axle/Breakaway Battery
Your vehicle must be equipped with an electric brake actuator for
your electric trailer brakes to operate. Refer to your Dexter Axle
Operation Maintenance Service Manual for general maintenance.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN BATTERY BOX!
Electric Brakes
Before each trip, be sure to check and test the battery and
breakaway box for proper charge and operation. Before connecting
the electrical system to the tow vehicle, press the test button
on your breakaway box. A green light will indicate the battery is
charged. The breakaway cable must be connected to the tow
vehicle; NOT to the coupler ball or the safety chains.
PLEASE NOTE: ATTACHING AND DETACHING THE TRAILER
WIRING HARNESS WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING CAN CAUSE
FUSES IN YOUR VEHICLE TO BLOW.
4 Way Plug
Wire color Function
Green R/H Turn and Stop Light
Yellow L/H Turn and Stop Light
Brown Running Lights
White Ground
7 Way Plug
Pin label Function Ironhorse
color wire color
1 White Ground White
2 Blue Electric brakes Black
3 Green Running Lights Brown striped
4 Black Breakaway Battery Red
5 Red L/H Turn and Stop Light Yellow
6 Brown R/H Turn and Stop Light Green
7 Yellow Auxillary None