Titan Leaf Pro, Operation & Maintenance Manual

Page: 34 / 139

Breaking-In a New Trailer
5. B
REAKING
-
IN A
N
EW
T
RAILER
5.1. R
ETIGHTEN
L
UG
N
UTS AT
F
IRST
10, 25 & 50 M
ILES
Wheel lugs can shift and settle quickly after being first assembled, and must be checked after the
first 10, 25 and 50 miles of driving. Failure to perform this check may result in a wheel coming
loose from the trailer, causing a crash leading to death or serious injury.
^ W
ARNING
Lug nuts are prone to loosen after initial installation, which can lead to death
or serious injury.
Check lug nuts for tightness on a new trailer or when wheel(s) have been
remounted after the first 10, 25 and 50 miles of driving.
See Section 6.2.9.2 page 42 on Proper Tourqing Technique.
5.2. A
DJUST
B
RAKE
S
HOES AT
F
IRST
200 M
ILES
Brake shoes and drums experience a rapid initial wear. The brakes must be adjusted after the
first 200 miles of use, and each 3,000 miles thereafter. Some axles are fitted with a mechanism
that will automatically adjust the brake shoes when the trailer is “hard braked” from a rearward
direction. Read your axle and brake manual to see if your brakes adjust automatically. If you do
not have the axle and brake manual, call Bonnell Industries, Inc at 800-851-9664 for a free copy.
A hard stop is used to:
•
Confirm that the brakes work;
•
Confirm that the trailer brakes are properly synchronized with the tow vehicle brakes
using the brake controller in the tow vehicle
•
Adjust the brake shoes as necessary.
•
For surge brakes check the Master cylinder reservoir for fluid.
If your trailer is not fitted with automatically adjusting brakes, the brakes will need to be manually
adjusted. See section 6.2.3.2, “Manually Adjusting Brake Shoes,” for instructions.
5.3. S
YNCHRONIZING THE
B
RAKE
S
YSTEMS
Trailer brakes are designed to work in synchronization with the brakes on the tow vehicle. When
the tow vehicle and trailer braking systems are synchronized, both braking systems contribute to
slowing, and the tongue of the trailer will neither dive nor rise sharply.
^ W
ARNING
If trailer and tow vehicle brakes do not work properly together, death or
serious injury can occur.
Road test the brakes in a safe area at no more than 30 m.p.h. before each tow
To insure safe brake performance and synchronization, read and follow the axle/brake and the
brake controller manufacturers’ instructions. If you do not have these instructions, call Bonnell
Industries, Inc at 800-851-9664 for a free copy.
TIRE PRESSURE
Check tire pressures on both the trailer and tow vehicle. Inflate to the maximum shown on the
VIN / Certification Label.