Pick up any levelling pads or levelling boards.
Check rooflights/vents are securely closed.
Switch off gas supply and change over to
electricity if required.
Lock the caravan exterior door.
An assistant can help in the hitching
operation by standing on the left hand side
of the drawbar (facing rear of car) and
extending an arm horizontally to indicate
position of the coupling. When reversing aim
the towball of the car directly at the caravan
drawbar. Remove towball cover and keep in
car.
Adjust the jockey wheel to ensure the cup is
high enough to slide over the towball.
Release caravan handbrake.
Position cup over greased towball, release
safety catch and lift handle (Fig. B). The hitch
head is fitted with a visual indicator to show
whether or not it is properly connected to the
towball. A green band will show immediately
below the red indicator button on the hitch
head when a proper connection has been
made. (See Fig. D, Page 11)
WARNING: Serious damage will occur
unless the locking button is depressed
first and the handle lifted forward before
the caravan is lowered manually. This
prevents the noseweight being
transmitted through the locking button.
Wheels
Caravan wheel nuts should be tightened to a
torque of 88Nm (65lb/ft) on steel wheels or
115Nm (85lb/ft) on alloy wheels and should
be checked with the use of a torque wrench
regularly. Only use a spare wheel and tyre
recommended by the manufacturer.
Wheel Rims
The majority of caravans manufactured since
1993 have been fitted with steel wheel rims
which are the wider 5J size incorporating a
double safety hump rim which conforms to
European standards of safety. The alternative
to steel wheel rims are alloy wheel rims.
If you are in any doubt, have your wheels
checked by a competent tyre supplier.
Hitch head load capacity
The maximum vertical static load which can
be put upon the hitch head when connected
is 100kg. Please refer to the technical data in
your handbook.
(But see also vehicle manufacturer’s weight
limits on towball loading.)
PRE-TOW CHECKLIST AND HITCH-UP
Check Gas Locker, Battery Locker (if fitted)
and Cassette Toilet (if fitted) door/s are
secure.
Check wheelnuts, tyre pressures and tyre
conditions.
Fully raise all four corner steadies. (Fig. A).
Fig. B Safety Catch and HandleFig. A Winding Corner Steady
The Towing Code
10
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