22
Remember to consider your roof vents, roof rack,
antennas, and air conditioner when you are figu
r
ing
vertical clearance.
11. When pulling up to or away from a curb, watch
for obstructions beyond the cu
r
b because the front
and rear of the trailer can swing wider than the tow
vehicle. Avoid parking too close to the curb, as
signs, poles, and other obstructions can cause
problems. Fast Food drive-ins and gas station
islands have crunched more than their share of
roofs. Watch for sharply crowned roads and steeply
sloped shoulders which can tip your unit into
obstructions when parking close to a curb or
roadside. Keep in mind your trailer is wider than
your tow vehicle.
12. Be careful when driving down steep
mountain roads or long downgrades under normal
highway conditions. The tendency to travel too
fast and apply brakes too quickly can cause the
vehicle to go out of control. Should this occur,
don't panic. Apply more force on the trailer brakes
than on your tow vehicle to help "drag" the trailer
back into line. This will correct any "jackknife" or
trailer swaying that might occur.
13. Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before starting downhill. Brake "fade" may occur
while traveling on downgrades if frequent or
prolonged brake application is required to hold
down your speed to the desired level. Brake "fade"
is a result of overheating the brake surfaces to the
point where friction is greatly diminished or lost.
The result is a brake pedal that is still firm to the
foot when pressure is applied but little or no
stopping action is produced. Overheating of
brakes may occur after repeated brake application
in a short period of time. To avoid this problem,
use lower gears to slow vehicle speed to the point
where only occasional brake application will be
necessary. If the combined vehicle weight is so
great that downhill speed increases even when the
lowest gear is used, apply brakes when necessary
but pull over to the side of the road often to allow
the brakes to cool.
Sway control. Trailer sway has several possible
causes such as improper trailer loading, improper
sway control equipment adjustment, improper load
equalizer hitch adjustment, bad tires, flat tire,
excessive speed, excessive braking, strong side
winds, wind gusts, road dips, being passed by
heavy trucks/buses, sudden and/or severe steering
wheel movement, etc. If you notice your trailer
beginning to sway, take immediate steps to regain
vehicle stability.
1. Steer as straight as possible. Quick steering
movements may actually cause increased
swaying.
2. Reduce speed gradually. Use the manual
trailer brake controller lever to gradually
apply the trailer brakes to "drag" the trailer
back into alignment. Tow vehicle braking
alone can increase the swaying.
3. Once stability has been regained, stop as soon
as possible. Check your weight distribution,
tire pressure, sway control adjustment, and/or
load equalizer adjustment.
4. Until the problem has been identified and
corrected, drive at a reduced speed that
permits full control.
Backing. Backing a trailer is not difficult, but
many inexperienced owners tend to find it
frustrating. Practice in a large empty parking lot.
After a few practice runs the driver is usually
skilled enough to back into most campground
spaces.
1. The most important item to remember is that
the trailer will go in the opposite direction of
the tow vehicle. Turning the tow vehicle's
wheels to the right will cause the rear of the
trailer to go left, and vice-versa. One method
is to steer with one hand at the bottom
of the
steering wheel. Using this technique, the trail-
er will go in the same direction your hand
moves.
2. Always get out and inspect the area you intend
to back into. Don't forget to look for overhead
obstacles. Evaluate the area for width and well
as length.
3. Use both rear view mirrors when backing.
4. If possible, station another person near the
rear of the trailer to help you avoid obstacles.
Be aware that you have poor or no visibility
directly behind the trailer.
5. Use small steering wheel movements to
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