FEATHERLITE TRAILERS COACH TRAILERS, Руководство пользователя

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Section 1 – Safety Information
R4 3/30/2017 Page 5
1.2.10 Weight And Load Distribution
Proper loading of your trailer is essential for your
safety. Tire, wheel, axle or structural failure can be
caused by overloading.
^ WARNING
An overloaded trailer can result in failure or
in loss of control of the trailer, leading to
death or serious injury.
Never load a trailer so that the weight on
any tire exceeds its rating.
Never exceed the trailer Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR).
Never exceed an axle Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR).
Improper front / rear load distribution can lead to
poor trailer sway stability or poor tow vehicle
handling. Poor trailer sway stability results from
tongue weights that are too low, and poor tow
vehicle stability results from tongue weights that are
too high.
In figure 1-1, the second column shows the rule of
thumb percentage of total weight of the trailer, plus
its cargo (Gross Trailer Weight, or “GTW”) that
should appear on the tongue of the trailer. After
loading, be sure to check that none of the axles are
overloaded.
Tongue Weight as a Percentage of Loaded
Trailer Weight
Type of Hitch Percentage
Ball Hitch (or Bumper Hitch)
10–15% for
large trailers
Tongue Weight Chart – Figure 1-1
Uneven left / right load distribution can cause tire,
wheel, axle or structural failure. Be sure your
trailer is evenly loaded left / right.
Towing stability also depends on keeping the center
of gravity as low as possible.
^ WARNING
An improperly distributed load can result in
loss of control of the trailer, and can lead to
death or serious injury.
Proper tongue weight is essential for stable
trailer handling.
Distribute the load front to rear to provide
proper tongue weight.
Distribute the load evenly, right and left, to
avoid tire overload.
Keeping the center of gravity low and
centered is essential to minimize the risk of
tip-over.
1.2.11 Shifting Cargo
Since the trailer “ride” can be bumpy and rough,
you must secure your cargo so that it does not shift
while the trailer is being towed.
^ WARNING
A shifting load can result in failure, or to
loss of control of the trailer, and can lead to
death or serious injury.
You must tie down all loads with proper
sized fasteners, ropes, straps, etc. to
prevent the load from shifting while
trailering.
If the door latch is equipped with a catch that has a
hole for a linchpin, use a linchpin to prevent the
door latch from opening.
^ WARNING
Always secure the door latch after closing.
Place a linchpin in the catch.
If the door opens, your cargo may be
ejected onto the road, resulting in death or
serious injury to other drivers.
1.2.12 Inappropriate Cargo
Your trailer may be designed for specific cargo. If
your trailer is designed for specific cargo, only carry
that cargo in the trailer. Your trailer must not be