viouslybeenengaged.Whenpressinguponthebrakereleasetab,ifitmovesupanddownfreely
with just the resistance of its spring, then the emergency brake system was likely not previously
engaged.
Be sure the emergency brake mechanism is not engaged prior to towing. If the cable was
pulled hard enough to break the clip on the cable, the cable and clip should be replaced and the
actuatorcheckedforproperfunction.YourauthorizedAxisdealercanobtainacablereplace-
mentkitthatisspecictotheactuatormodelusedonyourtrailer.
Arangebetweenvepercent(5%)totenpercent(10%)ofthetotalweighton
the trailer must rest at the coupling ball when the tongue is parallel to the ground.
Thisdeterminationcanbemadewithabathroomscale,providedyouknowthe
total weight of the trailer, boat and items on-board.
Somevehiclemanufacturerslimittongueweighttoamaximumoftwohun-
dred(200)poundswhenusingcertaintypesofweight-carrying,bumper-mounted
hitches.Checkthetowvehicle’sOwner’sManualtodeterminethecorrectdistribu-
tion.
Failure to properly distribute weight in the boat and
across the trailer can result in the trailer sh-tailing
(swaying from side-to-side) in a dangerous fashion that puts not only
the total rig at risk but also other vehicles and persons on the road.
Adequate download on the hitch ball is critical!
how to connect
to the tow vehicle
• Openthecouplermechanism.(Instructionsfollow.)
• If necessary, use the trailer jack to have the trailer at the proper height, just
above the height of the hitch on the tow vehicle.
• HitchONLY to a ball that is sized properly for the coupler.
• Back up the tow vehicle SLOWLY to the trailer. Many tow vehicles now have a
back-upcamerathatmakesthisprocesseasier,butitwillstillrequirepractice.
Ifyoudonothaveaback-upcamera,havingasecondpersontooerhand
signals can be helpful.
Axis
Owners
Manual
2019
Page 117
weight
distribution
attaching
to the
tow vehicle