This information is the property of Sauber Mfg. Co. and is intended for customer use only.
Operation & Maintenance Manual
Model 1580-TBA Tilt-Bed Trailer
07/2017
Page 4
Failure to maintain proper tire condition and pressure can lead to loss of control.
Just as with your tow vehicle tires, the trailer tires and wheels are important safety items. It is essential to inspect
them before each tow.
If a tire is found to include defects such as a bald spot, bulge, cut, cracks or is showing any cords, replace before
towing. Have the tires inspected by qualified persons. Check inflation pressure on all tires prior to towing.
Failure to keep lug nuts tightened properly may cause the wheels to be seated to the hub improperly. Before
each tow, check to make sure they are properly torqued. The proper torque for lug nuts is listed in this manual
and available from the manufacturer. Use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts, use a crisscross star pattern.
Lug nuts are also prone to loosen after first being assembled. 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.
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The trailer lights and brakes are connected and checked
Be sure the trailer brakes and all the lights on your trailer are functioning properly before towing your trailer.
Brakes and lights on a trailer are controlled via a connection to the tow vehicle.
Electric Brakes
Check the trailer brake lights by having someone operate the brake and turn signals on the tow vehicle
while you visually verify it is functioning. If your trailer has electric brakes, your tow vehicle will have an electric
brake controller that is required to be installed at the driver's position that sends power to the brakes. To check the
condition of the electrical brake system, pull the breakaway pin and check for the illumination of the green
LED
indicator light. When fully lit, the battery is charged and the system wiring is correct. To test this system, operate
the brake controller while trying to pull the trailer at a speed of less than 5mph to verify they are operating and you
can feel them engage.
If your trailer has hydraulic, or “surge” brakes, pull the emergency breakaway lanyard to check the operation of
the emergency brake system.
Proper Tongue Weight is established
It is critical to have a portion of the trailer load carried by the tow vehicle. The trailer tongue should always exert a
downward force on the hitch. Proper tongue weight is essential to good trailer tracking and safe operation. If too
little weight is distributed to the tongue, towing will be erratic. Too much tongue weight may overload the towing
vehicle’s rear axle or the pintle hitch rating. Ten to twenty percent weight transfer is considered a normal range.
Smaller, single axle trailers can transfer weight on the high side of this range. Larger, multiple axle trailers are de-
signed to transfer less because of the limited capacity of the towing vehicle’s rear axle.
