To Open the Coupler
• Remove the hitch pin from the hole in the side of the coupler.
• While holding the button, raise the handle.
Never move the trailer toward the
tow vehicle. When the trailer is not
fully hitched up, the brakes are not
operational.
• Release the coupler latch. The hitch pin should fit easily into the
hole. If it does not, this means that the latch is not completely closed.
It will not close unless the coupler fits snugly over a properly sized
ball. If the hitch pin is damaged or lost, it must be replaced prior to
operating the rig.
The hitch pin must be properly
installed and secure prior to operation.
If it is damaged or missing, you can
operate temporarily with a 1/4” or 5/16” shank padlock. Never
operate without the hitch pin or padlock as the trailer and
contents can become disengaged from the tow vehicle, which
may result in serious injury or death.
determine the correct distribution.
Failure to properly distribute weight
in the boat and across the trailer
can result in the trailer fish-tailing
(swaying from side-to-side) in a dangerous fashion that puts not
only the total rig at risk but also other vehicles and persons on
the road. Adequate download on the hitch ball is critical!
Breakaway Cable
If the cable clip is missing, or it has
been broken by the cable being pulled,
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 a 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.
Be sure the emergency brake mechanism is not engaged prior
to towing. If the cable was pulled hard enough to break the clip on
the cable, the cable and clip must be replaced, and the actuator
checked for proper function. Your authorized Malibu dealer can
obtain a cable replacement kit that is specific to the actuator
model used on your trailer.
Trailers—115
Weight Distribution
A range between 5 to 10 percent (5%-to-10%) of the total weight
on the trailer must rest at the coupling ball when the tongue is
parallel to the ground. This determination can be made with a
bathroom scale, provided you know the total weight of the trailer,
boat, and items onboard.
Some vehicle manufacturers limit tongue weight to a maximum
of two hundred pounds when using certain types of weight-carrying,
bumper-mounted hitches. Check the tow vehicle’s owner’s manual to
How to Connect to the Tow Vehicle
Attaching to the Tow Vehicle
• Open the coupler mechanism. (Instructions below).
• If necessary, use the trailer jack to have the trailer at the proper height,
which is just above the height of the ball on the tow vehicle.
• Hitch ONLY to a ball that is sized properly for the coupler.
• Back up the tow vehicle SLOWLY to the trailer. Many tow vehicles
now have a backup camera that makes this process easier, but
it will still require practice. If you do not have a backup camera,
having a second person to offer hand signals can be helpful.
When using a second person to assist
in the backing up process to hitch the
trailer to the tow vehicle, always watch
in your mirror. Do not allow the person to stand between the
tow vehicle and the trailer as they can be struck by the vehicle
or caught between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Such activity
requires common sense and care to avoid injury.
To Close the Coupler
• Place the coupler over the ball.
• Lower the coupler.
• Close the handle. An audible sound will be heard. If the handle
does not close easily, the ball is not fully within the socket. DO
NOT FORCE the handle to close as it is likely that the ball is the
wrong size and should be replaced.
Never tow with the coupler handle open
or partially open. If the handle will not
remain closed, go back through the steps
to ensure that it will close and stay closed. If you are unable to get
the system to perform correctly, see an authorized Malibu dealer
for assistance. Failure to get the coupler secure could result in the
trailer disengaging, which could lead to serious injury or even death.
