Jayco Legacy Fifth Wheel 2009, Owner'S Manual

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SECTION 7
TOWING & HANDLING
68
length of your tow vehicle/RV combination.
Drive with caution to avoid situations that might
require quick momentum changes.
Even though your RV is equipped with brakes
designed for GVWR, we suggest practicing
stopping away from traffic until you become
accustomed to your RV’s stopping distance. A
good way to practice is at a large parking lot
(where it is permissible). Easing to a stop and
starting smoothly saves wear and tear on your
tow vehicle/RV combination.
Drive defensively, try to anticipate problems
that may occur and prepare for them (even if
they may never happen). Be aware of road
surface conditions. Slow down well in advance
of dips and bumps to reduce the jolting to your
tow vehicle/RV combination. Drive over them
slowly and let the trailer tires pass over them
before accelerating. Cross railroad tracks slowly
(always release your brakes before crossing).
When descending a long hill, drop down into a
lower gear (or lower range if you have
automatic transmission). Avoid conditions that
require excessive and prolonged use of your
brakes. Apply and release brakes at short
intervals to give them a chance to cool. The tow
vehicle transmission and engine will help in
controlling downhill speed and can lengthen
brake life. The distance required to stop the RV
is greater than an automobile’s. Use care when
accelerating or decelerating on a slippery
surface. Abrupt speed changes can cause
skidding and loss of control.
Driving through water deep enough to wet the
brakes may affect stopping distance or cause
the vehicle to pull to one side. Check the RV’s
brake operation in a safe area to be sure they
have not been affected.
Never operate any
vehicle if a difference in braking efficiency is
noticeable.
Turning corners
When turning, the tires do not follow the path of
your tow vehicle tires. The RV will make a
tighter turn than the tow vehicle. You must
compensate for this action by carefully pulling
the tow vehicle out into the intersection further
than you would normally so that the RV clears
the curb (or any parked vehicles along the
curb). When making a turn, check the road
clearance and be aware of others. Have
someone help guide you out of a difficult
parking space or traffic pattern. Swerves
and sharp turns, especially at high speeds,
could result in loss of control of the RV.
Backing up
If your camping destination does not have
pull through sites, pick a level site and back
in carefully. We suggest you stop near the
site, get out of the RV and observe the
surrounding area.
Check to ensure there are no obstacles in
your path and that you have plenty of
vehicle clearance. Check for low-hanging
tree limbs, posts, large rocks or other
obstacles. Try to choose a site that is on the
driver’s side, so you can see what the rear
of the RV is doing. With the site on the
passenger side, you would be backing into
the site on your blind side, which is more
difficult.
When you determine the site conditions are
satisfactory, maneuver the RV into position
for backing up into the site space. Back the
RV up slowly using your tow vehicle mirrors
as a guide. Have another person outside
the RV assist you until the RV is parked in
the desired position.
B
ACKUP
C
AMERA
S
YSTEM
The audible backup camera system
requires 12-volt power from both your RV
and tow vehicle to operate. The transmitter,
located on the RV exterior, is powered by
the auxiliary battery. The portable
receiver/monitor must be plugged into your
tow vehicle 12-volt DC outlet.
•
This system operates at 2.4GHz and
may interfere with or be interfered by
devices that operate on the same
frequency (i.e. cordless phones, garage
door openers, wireless security
systems).
•
Encountering short periods of
interference while driving is considered
normal operation. If you experience