Securing Your Trailer___________________________
Start with the parking jack up high enough that the tongue of the
trailer extends over the trailer hitch securely mounted to your vehicle.
Most trailer hitches use a pin and keeper system to connect to a vehicle.
Your hitch should also have a location for each of the safety chains to
be mounted. If these locations are not available on your hitch, most
towing packages include a location for safety chains on you vehicle
if your vehicle’s towing package is equipped. Always use a bolted or
welded frame-mounted hitch, class 2 or 3.
With the hitch now directly beneath the coupler, unlock the coupler
and use the parking jack to lower the trailer until the ball of the trailer
fully enters the socket of the coupler. Continue turning the parking
jack until it is in the full up position before departure. Close and lock
the coupler in place to prevent the trailer from coming detached from
your hitch. Use a padlock of appropriate size to lock the lever of the
coupler mechanism down to the trailer and prevent it from coming
loose. A tethered bolt of the appropriate size to fi t through the hole
on the coupler lock with a keeper pin or nut is also a secure method
of latching the coupler closed.
Criss-cross the safety chains and engage them to the vehicle using
locking hooks verses “S” hooks. Then connect your electrical
harnesses and ensure all lights are functional.
10-5
Trailering
To Next Page
Loading...
