3-2
PREPARING FOR THE ROAD
PRE-TOW CHECKLIST & HITCH-UP
Having loaded the touring caravan and
secured the lockers and main entrance door:
(i) Check touring caravan wheel bolts are
torquetightened to the required level
(See Index - Changing a Wheel).
(ii) Check tyre pressures (Refer to the
Technical Data Sheet) and tyre condition
for roadworthiness.
(iii) Ensure the jockey wheel is down, in
good contact with the ground, clamp
tightly secured, and the caravan
handbrake is fully on.
(iv) Wind up the corner steadies.
(v) Reverse the car close up to the
caravan’s hitch. It is advisable to seek
assistance to guide you so that the car
tow ball aligns with the caravan’s hitch.
(Use of the caravan handbrake is
advised. Extreme caution should be
taken if manoeuvring the caravan down
hill or on wet, slippery surfaces).
(vi) Make sure the jockey wheel height is
sufficient for the hitch head to clear the
towing vehicles tow ball.
(v) Manoeuvre the hitch head over the tow
ball and lower the jockey wheel using
the winding handle, until the hitch head
opening sits comfortably over the tow
bar ball.
COUPLING & UNCOUPLING
Note: The handle of the ball hitch and the
handbrake lever must not be used as a
manoeuvring aid. There is a risk of damage
to the internal components!
The caravan hitch (ball head hitch) on your
BPW chassis is design tested. The maximum
support load at the coupling point must not
be exceeded. When coupling your caravan to
the towing vehicle lower the jockey wheel to
the ground. Reverse the car up to the
caravan or, in the case of a small caravan,
manoeuvre the caravan up to the car’s
caravan coupling.
Coupling:
Open coupling jaw by pulling lever H
vigorously upwards in the direction of the
arrow until lever locks open. Lower the
opened hitch onto the ball head vehicle
coupling and the lever will automatically
release. Closing and locking are carried out
automatically. Heed the “+” (Fig 3-1) position!
Connect the breakaway cable and electrical
plug to the towing vehicle. Raise the jockey
wheel up fully and secure by firmly clamping
it. Ensure that you release parking brake
before setting off.
Visual check: the ball head should no longer
be visible in coupled condition.
Uncoupling:
Lower the jockey wheel down. Disconnect
breakaway cable and electrical plug. Pull
lever ‘H’ vigorously upwards in the direction
of the arrow and hold. Wind down jockey
wheel and lift the caravan off the ball head of
the towing vehicle. Secure the caravan by
means of a wheel chock and/or by applying
the parking brake.
USE OF YOUR CARAVANS
BREAKAWAY CABLE
UK LAW requires that all caravans with
brakes (e.g. caravans, horse boxes, car
transporters etc), built on or after 1st October
1982, are fitted with a safety device to
provide protection in the unlikely event of the
separation of the main coupling while in
motion. It’s also a legal requirement to use
the breakaway cable whenever it’s provided.
The purpose of the breakaway cable is to
apply the caravan’s brakes if it becomes
separated from its towing vehicle. The cable
assembly is designed to part, allowing the
caravan to come to a halt away from the
towing vehicle.
Fig 3-1
Raising not necessary
for versions: EM...R or
EM...V
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