5
Safety Information
Á
WARNING
• Failure to follow all safety warnings may result in severe injury or death.
• Always adjust equipment and driving habits to match towing conditions. The driver is
responsible for their own safety and the safety of their passengers.
• Always check all hardware before each trip. Never tow your trailer until all bolts and nuts
have been checked for wear and fatigue, are properly tightened, and all pins and clips are
secured.
• Always load the trailer correctly. Follow the trailer and tow vehicle manufacturers’
recommendations for placement and quantity of cargo.
• Always use a hitch ball with a rating that equals or exceeds the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight
(GVW). Always use a hitch ball size that correctly matches your trailer coupler size and make
sure it is coupled securely before towing.
• Never cut, weld, grind, bend, or modify hitch components in any way.
• Never exceed the specified weight ratings for the trailer, tow vehicle, hitch, hitch ball, or any
other towing equipment.
• Never tow with your hitch adjusted incorrectly.
• Never tow with your hitch engaged on rough roads, through profound ditches and dips, or
while launching a boat. Excessive strain on the spring arms and hitch head may cause hitch
fatigue or failure.
• Never transfer your hitch to a different tow vehicle or trailer without adjusting the hitch for
proper setup and weight distribution.
• No hitch setup guarantees that trailer sway will be altogether avoided.
• Read, understand, and follow all safety warnings, setup, use, and maintenance instructions of
the trailer, tow vehicle, and hitch equipment before installing the hitch or towing your trailer.
• Replace worn, faded, or unreadable warning stickers on the spring arms and arm sockets.
• The operator is responsible for making necessary adjustments to the hitch to optimize weight
distribution and sway control. Verify that the hitch is adjusted correctly after loading the
trailer and tow vehicle for each trip. The weight distribution setup and towing performance
should be evaluated by the operator and adjusted when necessary.
• Towing with a tongue weight that is not within 10 — 15% of your Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)
increases the likelihood for loss of vehicle control and/or equipment failure.
Á
CAUTION
• Always secure the tow vehicle and trailer with the parking brake and wheel chocks before
setting up or adjusting the hitch.
• Disengage weight distribution before towing or backing the trailer where there is a significant
transition in grade. For example, backing from a level street onto a driveway with a steep
uphill slope. Failure to disengage the hitch will put excessive strain on the trailer and receiver
hitch.
• Never loosen or remove any part of the hitch while the hitch is under load. Use the tongue jack
to take the tension off the spring arms before removing the L-pins.