A. BREAKING IN A NEW TRAILER
RETIGHTEN LUG NUTS AT FIRST 25 & 50 MILES
Warning: Wheel lugs can shift and settle quickly after being first assembled, and must be
checked after the first 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.
ADJUST BRAKE SHOES AT FIRST 200 MILES
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 forward direction. Read your axle and brake manual to see if your brakes
adjust automatically.
A hard stop is used to confirm that the brakes work; confirm that the trailer brakes are
properly synchronized with the tow vehicle brakes; automatically adjust the brake shoes.
If your trailer is not fitted with automatically adjusting brakes, the brakes will need to be
manually adjusted.
SYNCHRONIZING THE BRAKE SYSTEMS
Trailer brakes are designed to work in synchronization with the brakes on the tow
vehicle. Do not use either brake system alone to stop the combined tow vehicle and
trailer.
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.
B. INSPECTION & SERVICE
AXLE, BOLTS, FRAME, SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
Warning: Worn or broken suspension parts can cause loss of control and injury may
result.
