Malibu Boats RESPONSE TXi 2021, Owner'S Manual

Page: 141 / 202

2021 OWNERS MANUAL | Trailers 127
Tire Safety Checklist
• Check tire pressure regularly (at least once a month or
every 50 miles, whichever comes first), including the
spare tire.
• Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns on the tread,
cracks, foreign objects or other signs of wear or
trauma.
• Remove bits of glass and other foreign objects wedged
in the tread.
• Make sure your tire valves have valve caps.
• Check tire pressure before going on a long trip.
• Do not overload your vehicle. Check the tire
information placard for the maximum recommended
load for the vehicle.
• When towing the trailer, remember that some of the
weight of the loaded trailer is transferred to the towing
vehicle.
• For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov or call (888)
327-4326.
Brakes
Most Malibu trailer brakes are “surge” brakes, which can
be effective and helpful particularly when towing heavy loads.
(NOTE: Not every jurisdiction allows surge brakes. Check with
authorities in the area in which you will be towing.) Trailers may
be equipped with optional electric brakes instead. Information
follows regarding that type of braking system.
When the tow vehicle slows or stops, the trailer’s momentum
moves against the hitch ball and causes hydraulic pressure in
the master cylinder (located in the trailer’s tongue) to transfer
pressure through the brake lines, causing the brakes to engage.
Picture at right is a sample of a
broken clip.
The trailer brakes should always be maintained in top
condition. This includes regularly checking the fluid level in the
actuator. The loss of brake function can result in loss of control
or the inability to stop the trailer, which could lead to serious
injury or death.
See the information provided in this section of the manual
about the breakaway cable. The breakaway cable should NEVER
be used as a substitute for braking or as a parking brake.
Note that brakes will be submerged when the trailer is backed
into the body of water to unload or load the boat. If the brakes
(and/or wheels) are hot, it is recommended to wait briefly and
allow them to cool before submerging.
Excessive heat in the wheels as a result of road use, meeting
cooler water can cause damage to the components, especially
the calipers and rotors. Also, if the trailer is submerged in salt
or brackish water, be sure to carefully and completely rinse the
entire trailer after the outing. Salt and exceptionally dirty fresh
water can cause damage to the trailer components, which is not
covered under warranty.
Regarding routine maintenance, you need to be aware that
small amounts of rust will build up on the brake’s rotor surface
if the trailer sits for a fairly short period of time, as little as a
week. The brake’s pads will eliminate the rust after several
applications of braking, but if the trailer has been sitting for a
more-extended period of time, and especially following long-
term storage such as over the winter off-season, the brakes may
be significantly corroded. This can also happen if the trailer has
been submerged in saltwater and has not been sufficiently rinsed
with fresh water afterwards. Greater concentrations of rust may
require assistance from your authorized Malibu Trailer dealer to
ensure ongoing proper functionality.
If there is any concern about the condition of any component
of the braking system, have an authorized Malibu trailer dealer
review and rectify the matter before towing the boat.
How to Manually Bleed the Brakes
Because of the importance of correctly performing this
procedure, Malibu strongly recommends that this be done
only by trained service technicians at your authorized
Malibu dealer. However, recognizing that brake issues arise
and may have to be addressed in situation in which the
trailer cannot be taken to the dealer for repair, the following
instructions are provided with the understanding that they
should be utilized only in emergency.
• Check that all hydraulic fittings are secure.
• Read and understand all instructions before starting.
• Two people are required for manual bleeding.
1. Remove the master cylinder reservoir plug and fill the
reservoir with brake fluid.
Note that if the breakaway cable has been engaged—even slightly, as
can happen when the trailer is disengaged from the tow vehicle and
the cable is tripped over—it can cause the cable clip to break. If the
cable clip is missing, or it has been broken, first check and attempt
to release the emergency brake mechanism by pressing up on the
brake release tab under the actuator nose, right behind the tow ball
insert location. Press up on the brake release tab, and if a metallic
clunk or sound of spring releasing is heard, that means the emergency
brake mechanism had previously been engaged. When pressing up
on the brake release tab, if it moves up and down freely with just the
resistance of its spring, then the emergency brake system was likely
not previously engaged. If the cable clip is broken or missing, the
breakaway cable cannot operate properly. Such failure could result in
serious injury or death.
! WARNING
NOTICE
Salt and brackish fresh water can damage trailer components,
which is not covered under warranty. Always clean the trailer with
a freshwater rinse and/or use of mild soap after an outing in which
parts of the trailer are submerged.