2
The following safety checklist is provided to the installer
with the instructions for installing the Sterling All Terrain
tow bar. It is repeated here for your information.
As a precaution, verify that all safety requirements have
been followed before towing the vehicle.
• Stress to the owner that the tow bar must be within
the ‘Safe Zone’
— no more than three inches above or
below level. Towing with an out-of-level tow bar will cause
significant wear and tear on the tow bar and mounting
brackets, and on the towed vehicle’s suspension and
frame. (See the section titled “Stay within the ‘Safe Zone’”
for further information.)
• Show the owner how to properly operate the tow
bar.
Familiarize yourself with the features of the tow bar.
Demonstrate them to the owner, and ask the owner to
connect and disconnect the tow bar and other components
of the towing system, until the owner is comfortable with
its operation.
• Caution the owner to use a receiver hitch rated
higher than the actual weight of the towed vehicle.
The motorhome receiver hitch must have a minimum
capacity of no less than the weight of the towed vehicle
and all its contents.
(The Sterling All Terrain
tow bar is rated at a maximum
of 6,000 pounds carrying capacity; therefore ROAD
MAS
-
TER has used 6,000 pounds as a standard for rating the
weight capacity of all supplementary towing equipment, as
well as the towed vehicle and all its contents, throughout
this manual.)
• The tow bar must be attached to a bracket which
is bolted to the towed vehicle’s frame or unibody.
In
order to be towed, virtually all vehicles require a tow bar
mounting bracket that is connected to the frame, unibody
or chassis and extends beyond the bumper.
• Caution the owner to secure the tow bar with linch
INSTALLER'S SAFETY CHECKLIST
pins (or optional padlocks) before towing.
Unless the
tow bar is secured to both vehicles with all appropriate
pins (or padlocks), the towed vehicle will detach.
• Advise the owner to use 6,000 pound or higher
rated safety cables.
Six thousand pound-rated safety
cables are provided with the Sterling All Terrain; if the
safety cables are ever replaced, use only 6,000 pound or
heavier rated safety cables.
• Read the instructions thoroughly before installing
the ‘quick-disconnect’ (‘QD’) system and its compo
-
nents.
The tow bar will be attached to the QD system.
If the QD system is not properly aligned, centered and
positioned on the towed vehicle, the tow bar will not be
centered on the towed vehicle, which may cause excessive
tire wear and other consequential, non-warranty damage.
• The installer must be sure that the vehicle is suit
-
able or adaptable for towing.
Some vehicles must be
equipped with a transmission lube pump, an axle discon-
nect, driveline disconnect or free-wheeling hubs before
they can be towed. Failure to properly equip the vehicle
will cause severe damage to the transmission.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the proper
procedure(s) to prepare the vehicle for towing.
• The installer must NOT use the tow bar as a ground
for welding.
Connecting a ground to the ‘A-frame’ of the
tow bar will cause current to flow through the locking
spring, which will detemper the spring and destroy the
locking mechanism.
• Under no circumstances should the tow bar be
welded to the vehicle
, nor should any of the pre-punched
mounting holes be altered. Any welding or altering of the
tow bar will void the owner’s warranty.
Failure to follow these instructions may cause prop-
erty damage, personal injury or even death.
INSTALLING THE ‘QUICK-DISCONNECT' SYSTEM
This ROADMASTER tow bar is equipped with an exclu-
sive “quick-disconnect” (or, “QD”) system. Before connect-
ing the tow bar to the vehicle, first install the components
of the QD system to the mounting bracket.
Note: the quick-disconnect system is not used with
ROADMASTER ‘MS’ or ‘MX’ series mounting brackets.
If the towed vehicle has MS or MX brackets, proceed to
the next section — “Connecting the tow bar.” The quick-
disconnect system should be reserved, however, for sub-
sequent vehicles which may not have these brackets.
1.
First, attach the quick-disconnects (“QDs,” parts “A” and
“B” in Figure 1) to the tow bar mounting brackets. Attach
the QDs so that the vertical pin on each is pointing up, as
shown in Figure 1.
Attach part “A” on the passenger side, and part “B”
on the driver’s side. Use the supplied ½" x 1½" bolts, the
two safety plates (parts “C”), and the flat washers, lock
washers and nuts, as shown in Figure 1.
Both QDs have cable anchors — parts “D” and “E” in
Figure 1 — designed for safety cable attachment. Bolt cable
anchor “D” to part “A,” and cable anchor “E” to part “B,”
using the supplied ½" x 1" bolts and nuts.
Do not tighten any of the bolts — leave them loose for
now — they will be tightened later.
Use all mounting hardware, the safety plates, and
the cable anchors. If all supplied materials are not used,
the quick-disconnects, the quick-disconnect bases, or
other components may vibrate loose, which may cause
property damage, personal injury or even death.
2.
Now, test-fit the crossbar — lower the crossbar (Figure
2) over the quick-disconnects. The vertical pins at the top
of both QDs should fit through the top holes at the ends
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