regulations require the safety chain to be crossed under
the tongue and hitch to prevent the tongue from dropping
to the ground in the event of a hitch or coupler failure.
Attaching Safety Chains
1. Cross the safety chains under the tongue and hitch.
2. Attach the hooks to the chain attachment loops pro-
vided on the tow bar portion of the hitch or to the
vehicle frame.
3. Be sure the chain slack length is equal on both
sides and that it is sufficient to allow the vehicles to
turn at their minimum radius without the chains
dragging on the pavement.
W ARNING
Do not attach the safety chains to the vehicle’s
bumper.
W ARNING
Do not attempt to repair a damaged chain. If the
safety chain has been damaged, it must be
replaced.
W ARNING
Extending the rear bumper or adding rear supports
to carry toolboxes, bikes, motorcycles or other
heavy equipment may seriously overload the
frame, trailer brakes, axle, wheels and tires. In
addition, rear-end load reduces the hitch weight
and can cause severe fishtailing.
Driving and Towing Tips
Now that you are familiar with load limits and weight dis-
tribution, as well as hitching your tent camper to the tow
vehicle, follow these driving and towing tips, which will
make trips with your camper both safer and more
enjoyable.
•
When learning how to tow your new camper, find a
spot that has space to practice accelerating, turning,
braking, and backing up.
•
A set of RV mirrors on your tow vehicle increases
visibility and is required by law in many states. Most
styles are not permanent and can be easily installed
and removed. Keep the mirrors properly adjusted
and check them often.
•
Before leaving on a trip, inspect your hitch, brakes,
and tires. Be sure everything is connected properly
and functioning correctly.
•
Understand that the camper wheels do not follow in
the same track as the tow vehicle wheels. When
turning, pull ahead a sufficient distance to allow for
the additional tail swing of the camper.
•
The additional weight of the tent camper affects
accelerating and braking distances. Accelerate
slowly and smoothly. When pulling into traffic, be
sure there is enough distance to merge safely. Keep
a safe distance between yourself and the traffic
ahead. When applying the brakes, allow extra time
to slow down or stop safely. The heavier your
camper, the greater the distance required to bring it
to a stop. A panic stop can cause the camper to
jack-knife, which can result in damage to both your
vehicles and/or cause an accident.
•
Always drive within the speed limit. Reduce speed if
you encounter gusty winds, heavy traffic, or unusual
road conditions.
•
When backing up, use your mirrors to check for
obstructions. If needed, have someone help guide
you. Be sure this person is always in view and at a
safe distance from the camper.
•
Avoid sudden movements when changing lanes.
Always check your mirrors and signal your intention
before passing.
•
When driving on steep grades, select the correct
transmission range and drive at proper speeds.
Down-shifting will allow the engine to help control
your speed and relieve the extra strain on your
brakes. Continuous application of the brakes can
cause them to overheat and could result in a tempo-
rary loss of braking. Never exceed the appropriate
speed when driving in low gear. Excessive speed in
a lower gear can overheat the tow vehicle’s trans-
mission, which can lead to transmission failure.
•
If you encounter driving conditions that put addi-
tional strain on the engine, it may be necessary to
turn off the tow vehicle’s air conditioning to improve
engine cooling.
•
Do not drive with your foot resting on the brake
pedal. Doing so will cause abnormally high brake
temperatures and lining wear, which will result in
increased stopping distance.
•
If your tow vehicle is equipped with cruise control,
do not use it on wet or icy roads, in congested traf-
fic, or on winding roads.
•
If a large truck or a bus passes you, the air from the
vehicle may push the rear of the camper to the right,
causing the front of the camper to sway. You may
compensate for this additional sway by steering
slightly toward the passing vehicle until the sway is
corrected.
•
If the camper should become disconnected from the
tow vehicle while driving, the safety chains will keep
the camper attached. Slow down and come to a
controlled stop at the side of the road. Reattach the
safety chains, remembering to cross them under the
tongue and hitch.
WEIGHING, LOADING AND TOWING
21
