Lance 1130 - Before Coupling the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle; Adjust Hitch Height; Prepare the Fifth Wheel Coupler; Couple the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle

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Before Coupling the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle
• Besurethesizeandratingofthefifthwheel
hitch matches the pin box rating.
• Besurethefifthwheelhitchoperatesfreely.
• Lubricatethefifthwheelplatesurfacewitha
light coat of Lithium-base, waterproof grease.
• Besurethefifthwheelandpinboxfastenersare
tight and any welds are solid.
WARNING
A loose fifth wheel can result in uncoupling,
leading to death or serious injury.
Make sure the fifth wheel and pin box are
tight before coupling the trailer.
• Besurethebreakawaylanyardandelectrical
connection are clear of the coupling area.
Adjust Hitch Height
It is your responsibility to have the height of the pin
box or fifth wheel adjusted to match the height of the
fifth wheel in your tow vehicle. Proper height adjust-
ment is required to provide clearance between the
bottom of the trailer and sides of the tow vehicle bed,
to obtain level running of the trailer and to permit
equal weight distribution on the axles. Your Lance
Trailer dealer is able to perform the height adjustment
to match the trailer to your towing vehicle.
Prepare the Fifth Wheel Coupler
• Besurethelockisopen.
• Ifthetowvehicleisequippedwithatailgate,
lower it.
• Blockthetrailerwheels,frontandrear.
Couple the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle
• Backtowvehicleupclosetothetrailer,center-
ing the pin box in the slot of the fifth wheel.
• STOP before engaging the coupling.
WARNING
No one must be under the trailer or coupler
during the coupling.
Death or serious injury can occur if the trailer
drops.
• Adjusttheheightofthetrailer,usingthejack,so
that the fifth wheel plate just touches the pin box
plate.
• Slowlybackupthetowvehicle,keepingthepin
box centered in the slot of the fifth wheel. Con-
tinue backing up until the fifth wheel locks firmly
on the pin box.
• Visuallychecktoconfirmthatthefifthwheel
lock is properly locked onto the pin box.
• Attempttopullforwardasaninitialtestofthe
closing of the fifth wheel lock.
WARNING
An improperly coupled fifth wheel can come
loose, resulting in death or serious injury.
Raise the Drop-Leg Jacks
A trailer having a fifth wheel coupler will be outfit-
ted with two drop leg jacks for raising and lowering
the trailer. Because we use several drop leg jack
mechanisms, the general instructions below may vary
slightly from the jack manufacturer’s instructions. If
the trailer jack on your trailer does not resemble the
jack shown in the figures, follow the jack instructions
provided by the jack manufacturer.
• Slowlyretractthejackandtransfertheweight
of the trailer on to the towing vehicle. When
the drop leg base is no longer resting on the
ground, the towing vehicle hitch is holding all of
the weight of the trailer tongue. Continue retract-
ing the jack to its fully retracted position.
• Returnthedroplegstotheirupperpositions.
The drop legs are held in the lowered position
with a pin. Pulling it out will cause it to come out
of the engagement with the drop leg and the leg
can be relocated in the travel position and the
pin re-installed.
• Raisethetailgate.
• Pickupthetrailerwheelblocks.