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Serious Hazards 

D

RIVING 

B

EHAVIOR AND 

C

ONDITIONS

 

Loss of control of the tow vehicle/trailer combination could result in serious injury or death. The most common causes 
for loss of control include: 

 

Failure to adjust driving behavior when towing a trailer 

 

Immoderate speed; driving too fast for the conditions 

With ideal road conditions, the maximum recommended speed for safely towing a trailer is 60 mph. If you drive too fast, 
the trailer is more likely to sway, increasing the possibility for loss of control. In addition, it is possible that the tires may 
overheat, increasing the chance of a blowout. 

Decrease your speed as road, weather, lighting, and other conditions decline. 

I

MPROPER 

S

IZING OF THE 

T

OW 

V

EHICLE

 

Trailers that weigh too much for the tow vehicle can cause unsafe stability issues which can lead to loss of control and a 
serious accident. Know your vehicle tow rating and Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR.) Vehicle manufacturers 
will provide you with maximum towing capacities, as well as the GCWR. The additional strain put on the engine and 
drivetrain of the vehicle may also lead to serious maintenance problems. For these reasons, the maximum towing 
capacity of your towing vehicle should not be exceeded. The towing capacity of your vehicle can be found in the tow 
vehicle's owner's manual. 

Use of a hitch with a load rating less than the load rating of the trailer can result in loss of control and may lead to a 
serious accident. Ensure that your hitch and tow vehicle are rated for the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and 
tongue weight of your trailer. 

O

VERLOADING AND

/

OR IMPROPER WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

 

The total weight of the load you put in or on the trailer, plus the empty weight of the trailer itself, must not exceed the 
trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR.) If you do not know the empty weight of the trailer plus the cargo weight, 
you must weigh the loaded trailer at a commercial scale. In addition, you must distribute the load in the trailer such that 
the load on any axle does not exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR.) The GVWR and GAWR are located on the 
OEM certification and VIN label attached to the front frame of the trailer. 

Never exceed the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or the Gross Axle Weight Rating. Do not load a trailer so that the 
weight on any tire exceeds its rating. 

Improper front/rear load distribution can lead to trailer sway and poor handling conditions. Undesirable trailer sway 
results from tongue weights that are too low, while tow vehicle instability results from tongue weights that are too high.  

Uneven left/right load distribution can cause tire, wheel, axle or structural failure. To the extent possible, be sure your 
trailer is evenly loaded left/right. Towing stability also depends on keeping the center of gravity as low as possible. 

Make certain the tongue weight is within the allowable range. Keep the center of gravity as low as possible. 

U

NSECURED LOADS

 

Your trailer may be designed for specific cargo, such as reels, or poles. If your trailer is designed for specific cargo, do not 
carry any other cargo such as people, hazardous substances or containers of flammable materials. 

Summary of Contents for 1521-PRD

Page 1: ...contact about Phone 630 365 6600 The following manual provides important safety information and instruction Please read this manual before operating your new trailer It is important to follow safety instructions and cautions We acknowledge that not every situation or combination of tow vehicle and trailer can be addressed therefore we ask that you use sound judgment after reading the following out...

Page 2: ...and tow vehicle are rated for the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GVWR and tongue weight of your trailer OVERLOADING AND OR IMPROPER WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION The total weight of the load you put in or on the trailer plus the empty weight of the trailer itself must not exceed the trailer s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GVWR If you do not know the empty weight of the trailer plus the cargo weight you must weig...

Page 3: ...tch and that the safety chains and emergency breakaway cable electric brakes and air hoses air brakes are correctly attached Uncoupling of the trailer during transit can lead to a serious accident or a fatality Ensure that the pintle hook capacity rating including installation is sufficient for the GVWR and the tongue weight of the trailer being towed Make sure that the pintle hook is physically c...

Page 4: ...sembled When driving a new trailer or after wheels have be remounted check to make sure they are tight after the first 10 25 and 50 miles of use and before each tow thereafter Our wheel nuts are torqued to manufacturer specifications and are then fitted with high visibility wheel nut indicators The indicators are fitted in a uniform pattern so when a wheel nut has loosened the indicator will becom...

Page 5: ...g vehicle hitch cross the safety chains and connect them to the rings provided at the towing vehicle bumper Insert the electrical connection cord and check trailer lighting Connect the air glad hands if present and check brake operation Ensure the trailer axle s do not exceed their GAWR and the entire trailer and load does not exceed the GVWR rating Grounding Your trailer may be equipped with a br...

Page 6: ...erves as a guide in recommending what size poles should be carried in various positions It is always assumed that the pole will be carried with the butt end heavy end towards the front and that the pole front will be within 1 of the hitch front The calculations below assume 20 total weight transfer to the trailer tongue and are based on standard minimum butt and top circumference measurements for ...

Page 7: ... trailer and extension A second option is relocating the undercarriage rearward a maximum of 2 The third option simply lowers the target tongue weight If 10 or 15 tongue weight transfer is desired substitute 1 10 or 1 15 respectively for 1 20 in the equation Tongue weight is an important consideration Too much can raise rear truck axle weights to unacceptable levels and de load the front axle caus...

Page 8: ... and has an 8 quart hydraulic reservoir The 2 Button tethered remote is labeled UP and DOWN and controls the elevation and lower of the bed Although the unit is equipped with a relief valve avoid running the unit over relief Doing so will reduce hydraulic component life and put unnecessary stress on mechanical components The Class D 40 Hoist includes an integrated prop which should be used wheneve...

Page 9: ...Page 9 ...

Page 10: ...nsion Monthly Check Oil Bath Level in Axle Hubs Monthly Inspect Any Hydraulic Hoses and Connections Monthly Check Pintle Eye Wear Annually Owner Operating Company Work Methods This section is provisional space for work methods that would be specific to the owning or operating company Incorporating the company specific work methods here may provide for more thorough adherence to safety procedures p...

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