Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of
the trailer
so
that the tongue will
not
drop to the road
if it becomes separated from
the
hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety
chains and do not attach them to
the
bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so
you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than
1,000
Ibs.
(450
kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes
--
and they must be
adequate. Be sure
to
read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes
so
you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Your trailer brake system can tap into the vehicle’s
hydraulic brake system
only
if:
The trailer
parts
can withstand
3,OOO
psi
(20
650
Wa)
of pressure.
The trailer’s brake system will use less than
0.02
cubic inch
(0.3
cc) of fluid from your vehicle’s
master cylinder. Otherwise, both braking systems
won’t work well.
You
could even lose your brakes.
If
everything checks out this far, make the brake tap at the
port on the master cylinder that sends the fluid to the rear
brakes. But don’t use copper tubing for this.
If
you do,
it
will
bend and finally break
off.
Use steel brake tubing.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep
in
mind that
the
vehicle you are
driving is now a
good
deal longer and
not
nearly as
responsive as your vehicle
is
by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If
the
trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load
is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
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