27
Breakaway Switch
In the event of an accidental separation of the tow
vehicle and the trailer, the breakaway switch will
set and lock the trailer brakes for a sufficient length
of time to stop the trailer. The switch is activated
when the wire attached to it and to the tow vehicle
pulls out the small pin in the front of the unit.
When the trailer is connected to the tow vehicle, the
breakaway switch loop should be attached to the
permanent frame of your hitch. When disconnecting
the trailer from the tow vehicle, remove wire loop
from the frame. Do not remove the pin from the
switch because this will apply the trailer brakes.
WARNING
Do not use the breakaway switch as a parking
brake. If the battery should die, the trailer
parking brake would no longer be applied.
Failure to comply could cause damage to
property, injury, and/or death
Loading
When towing a camper, you are subject to new and
different challenges on the highway than you may
have previously encountered. Towing a camper is
no small responsibility and should be undertaken
with great care and safety first in mind. An accident
with a tow vehicle and camper can have much
greater consequences than carelessness with a small
car. Like an airline pilot who is responsible for
expensive equipment and many lives, you should
take your responsibilities as a tow vehicle driver
very seriously and learn all you can about doing the
job safely and well. Balancing the load and
preparing the trailer and tow vehicle are critical to
safe handling.
One of the most critical aspects of safely towing a
camper is knowing the weights involved and where
they are placed. The first thing to determine is how
much is being towed and confirming that it is within
the capacities of the equipment being used.
Determining where the load is placed is critical to
the way your rig will handle on the road.
Know what your camper weighs loaded. Load your
camper including water, propane, etc. and take it to
a public scale. Weigh each axle of your vehicle.
Refer to your axle weight and tire limits to see if
you are within a safe range. Total all axle weights,
ensuring you are below the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR
).
Make sure your load is balanced.
Do not load too much on one side. A balanced load
is much easier to tow or drive. Front to back
balance is also important. Step back and look at
your camper, making sure that there is not too much
weight on the hitch, or on the rear of the camper.
Secure all items, as loose items can cause damage
and become a safety issue.
As cargo is added, removed, or shifts in location,
the weight on the axle and hitch will change. Also,
the hitch and axle weights will change because of
the weight of the LP tank(s) diminishing from use
of propane, and/or the transfer of weight because of
water in the fresh water tank being used, the
reduction in hitch weight may be significant. When
loading the trailer, keep the following in mind:
• GVWR
• Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
• Tire Weight Rating
• Cargo should never exceed these ratings. Your
safety depends on not overloading the trailer, trailer
axles, and tires
Hitching Up
The process of hitching up your trailer is something
that will become almost second nature with
practice. The following section includes proper
hitch load distribution. Proper training on
connecting your trailer to a tow vehicle is essential
for safety. Please see your dealer or other qualified
personnel for instruction on the proper hitching of
your trailer. Safety chain use on the hitch is required
in all states.
Summary of Contents for T@G 2018
Page 1: ...T G TRAILER MANUAL 2018 ...
