they may never happen). Be aware of road
surface conditions. Slow down well in advance
of dips and bumps to reduce the jolting to your
tow vehicle/RV combination. Drive over them
slowly and let the trailer tires pass over them
before accelerating. Cross railroad tracks
slowly (always release your brakes before
crossing).
When descending a long hill, drop down into a
lower gear (or lower range if you have
automatic transmission). Avoid conditions that
require excessive and prolonged use of your
brakes. Apply and release brakes at short
intervals to give them a chance to cool. The
tow vehicle transmission and engine will help
in controlling downhill speed and can lengthen
brake life. The distance required to stop the RV
is greater than an automobile’s. Use care
when accelerating or decelerating on a
slippery surface. Abrupt speed changes can
cause skidding and loss of control.
Driving through water deep enough to wet the
brakes may affect stopping distance or cause
the vehicle to pull to one side. Check the RV’s
brake operation in a safe area to be sure they
have not been affected. Never operate any
vehicle if a difference in braking efficiency
is noticeable.
Towing behind your RV
DO NOT tow anything behind your RV. The
RV frame and bumper are not designed for
towing.
Vehicle Clearance
Remember some bridges, older ones in
particular, may not support the weight of your
tow vehicle/RV combination. Know the weight
and size of your towing combination and
observe any posted weight and clearance
limits. The added height of roof air
conditioners, TV antennas or floodlights may
cause clearance problems around some
tunnels, canopies and hanging signs.
Turning Corners
When turning, the tires do not follow the path of
your tow vehicle tires. The RV will make a
tighter turn than the tow vehicle. You must
compensate for this action by carefully pulling
the tow vehicle out into the intersection further
than you would normally so that the RV clears
the curb (or any parked vehicles along the
curb). When making a turn, check the road
clearance and be aware of others. Have
someone help guide you out of a difficult
parking space or traffic pattern. Swerves and
sharp turns, especially at high speeds, could
result in loss of control of the RV.
Backing up
If your camping destination does not have pull
through sites, pick a level site and back in
carefully. We suggest you stop near the site,
get out of the RV and observe the surrounding
area. Check to ensure there are no obstacles
in your path and that you have plenty of vehicle
clearance. Check for low-hanging tree limbs,
posts, large rocks or other obstacles. Try to
choose a site that is on the driver’s side, so you
can see what the rear of the RV is doing. With
the site on the passenger side, you would be
backing into the site on your blind side, which
is more difficult. When you determine the site
conditions are satisfactory, maneuver the RV
into position for backing up into the site space.
Back the RV up slowly using your tow vehicle
mirrors as a guide. Have another person
outside the RV assist you until the RV is
parked in the desired position.
Parking
After the RV is in the desired location set the
tow vehicle parking brake and place the
transmission in park. Turn OFF the ignition
switch. Go outside the RV and block all wheels
securely with wheel chocks. The wheel chocks
can be wood blocks or purchased items as
62
SECTION 7
TOWING & HANDLING
Towing items behind your Jayco trailer, or
overloading the rear, will void the warranty
and may result in: damage to the trailer or
add-on items, towing difficulties, property
damage and/or personal injury.
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