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Owner`s Manual - Dell Rapids Custom Trailers

1. go enone Load inflation used as a single limits e SIOW down IT you nave go over a pothole or other object in the road e Do not run over curbs or other foreign objects in the roadway and try not to strike the curb when parking Tire Safety Checklist e Check tire pressure regularly at least once a month including the spare e Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns on the tread cracks foreign objects or other signs of wear or trauma e Remove bits of glass and foreign objects wedged in the tread e Make sure your tire valves have valve caps e Check tire pressure before going on a long trip e Do not overload your vehicle Check the Tire Information and Loading Placard or User s Manual for the maximum recommended load for the vehicle Follow all of the safety precautions and instructions in this manual to ensure safety of persons cargo and satisfactory life of the trailer 3 1 USE AN ADEQUATE TOW VEHICLE AND HITCH 27 serious injury If you have a tow vehicle know your vehicle tow rating and Gross Combination Weight Rating GCWR and make certain the trailer s rated capacity is less than or equal to the tow vehicle s rated towing capacity If you already have or plan to buy a trailer make certain that the tow rating of the tow vehicle is equal to or greater than the GVWR of the trailer and that the GCWR will be within limits 3 1 1 TRAILER INFORMATION Certification VIN Label The loca
2. COTON 15 ONISJIM AYM Val qdavaNvis 69 SAMOS 548 aea uo ypas 019405 035 LON SUSAN apis YC 9105 WOJ s y 0 JOB pansala 57 doS HH qua da val Qua ake 3 dois al 29501 LON 2 fee aeyn Alayeg 5 2 12 z qq INO g 34 uonosuuog Dog p 43845 ei 5 UONOUNS 9 10105 Nid A HOLDINNOD 31893 3 YOLIINNOD dV2 37135 OILSW1d OWYSHL AVM L five AVE dOLO3NNOO val 70 Below are the diagrams regarding the hydraulic option if equipped for your ABU Trailer The main diagram is the poly tool box and two addition diagrams that are labeled within the tool box Complete Wiring instructions are referenced below the tool box Review the information and if you have any further questions please contact us at any time 1912 34 Jo YOY aur o s siy uy MS Aemeyeoig THIS 1 NOT actucal picture of pump used by ABU Trailers Inc This 3 image is only shown as example i WIRING BOX FOR TRAILER WIRING Hydraulic Wireless Control System Up Power Down Power Up Power Down Double Acting Solenoid Installation Single Solenoid Installation Excep
3. A 1 3 DISTRIBUTING THE CARGO Open Tr WARNING Couple the trailer to the tow vehicle aii serious injury pull trailer because the tongue of bun not trailer that the weight on before the cargo is properly distributed tire exceeds its rating have to uncouple the trailer after it is 09 not exceed the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating EX arthe Gross Axle An ovenoaded trailer can result in logs of ntrol ofthe trailer leading to death or Do not transport people containers of flammable substances such as gasoline kerosene paint etc However fuel i in 1 the tank of an off road vehicle or a car or motorcycle etc may be carried on your open WARNING proper tongue weight load distribution ring the Trailer for Loading Im pr ca n result loss of control of the trailer leading to death or serious injury 1to the trailer M certain that tongue weight is with in e deck of the trailer for corrosion or damage and the allowable range quu hold down openings and or D rings Hold Distribute the load front4o rear to provide 3nings must be sturdy with no visible cracks or proper tongue weight see chart rings must be tight to the deck and must not be Distribute the load evenly right and left to avoid tire overload and Keep the center of gravity low 43 44 nuimd
4. aet lead thmprioo Reise Using specific trailer For questions regarding the tonge weight for the trailer his subsection describes pa a rigid deck trailer Jid deck trailer couple the trailer to the tow vehicle and deck is level Do not load or unload the trailer when 1 of the ramp or ramps is secure to the trailer and the 1firm ground Pockets may be provided to hold the yf the trailer Load the cargo onto the trailer with approximately 60 of the cargo in the front half of the trailer Secure the cargo to the trailer using appropriate straps chains and tensioning devices Since the trailer ride can be bumpy and rough you must secure your cargo so that it does not shift while the trailer is being towed Return the ramp s to their stowed position s and secure them so that they will not move during transit 4 3 1 3 Loading a Pivoting deck Tilt Bed Trailer Some open trailers are equipped with a pivoting deck instead of with ramps The pivoting feature allows for easier loading and unloading The pivoting deck trailer is fitted with a spring loaded catch that keeps the trailer in the driving position After the trailer is loaded and the cargo is secured with hold downs be sure the spring loaded catch has locked the trailer into driving position Couple the trailer securely to the tow vehicle before attempting to unlock the deck and load the trail
5. repaired raise your foot permitting the drop leg to rise The plunger pin will engage a hole in the drop leg e Be sure the plunger pin is fully engaged Push it in by hand if necessary The bent part of the plunger pin handle must be touching the plunger pin housing e f your trailer has two drop leg jacks lower them both to the same level following the above instructions e Release the handle or crank from its holder and engage it with the jack shaft see Drop Leg Jack figure e Rotate the handle or crank from its hold and engage it with the jack shaft see Drop Leg Jack figure ling the Gooseneck Trailer with Drop leq Jack 39 e Rotate the handle crank clockwise to slowly extend the jack and transfer the weight of the trailer tongue to the jack e On two speed jacks pushing the handle shaft toward the gearbox can perform rapid extension This shifts the gearbox into a high speed mode e When the drop leg base contacts the ground shift the gearbox into low gear mode by pulling or pushing on the handle shaft until it locks into low gear e Continue to extend the jack s making sure that the ground is providing stable and level support for the trailer e After the jack s are extended and the gooseneck ball receiver is well clear of the gooseneck ball to permit driving the tow vehicle away disengage the handle from its shaft and return to its holder 3 2 4 NOTE SEE INSERTI
6. Have sufficient slack t mit turning and t trailer tires to prevent the trailer from rolling before trailer comes loose cking the trailer up e Disconnect the electrical connector e Disconnect the breakaway brake switch lanyard e Disconnect the safety chains from the tow vehicle e Move the spring loaded gooseneck receiver lock plate locking pin to the OPEN position see Gooseneck Ball Receiver and Height Adjustment figure Rotate the lock plate to a position that permits the A WARNI ball to exit the receiver re releasing dropleg jack make certain ground surface An ineffective or inoperative breakaway w jack base will support the trailer tongue load brake system can result in a runaway trailer leading to death or serious injury te the drop leg plunger pin handle so that plunger ifthe coupler or hitch fails 5 released from the drop leg see Releasing Drop Leg Conned the breakaway cable to the hanism figure tow vehicle and NOT to the safety a chain safety chain receiver gooseneck down on the drop leg base with your foot to place a ball or gooseneck ball support leg to the desired lowered position brake system before teving the trailer te the plunger pin handle so that the plunger pin is Do not tow the trailer ifthe breakaway npting to engage the drop leg see Releasing Drop brake system is not working have it Mechanism figure
7. uinj dols yar tL MOA dols 1uDIH 1H asua2r g 18 dos yeg 11 pL OL asua2r g 18 IAL WNL dors wy aneb usalo axElg axelg abneb tL oL ang punog 09 punog 1 01 10329000 euw 10 28UU07 167 565 910 papes 1epe1 pamo abneg 5 10103 aM AYM 9 SMEUIS YA SMBJ235 Pay 2 AGED pa gas qr a qea uo AJE apis YOEQ AJALA apis 42089 101281105 9 JO BIB 101781109 ABM 9 JO 8235 su 84023 sy 1041 sy sy ONS 93181 ONG 97 ONG 9311 ANOTI3A MOTTA __ _ __ n 3LIHM JLIHAA ana dOL93NNOO 3199 3 HOL23NNOO 031735 1595 39 9 dalvdl 939070 9 INVdoVvid AVM 9 68 LON 3149495 LA 86 EC void Mme Ln ea apis ADE 8402 WO Basel 57 9 aua vat UJ 0015 H MO 3 125 Ajayeg 195 1 LON Ha in 9591 Jape 112 095 2 NET Ii TT punog MWEE uonaauuoy cx uonoun 9 20100 M 318V2 8 H0123NNOO 0313 nid Ad HOLIINNOJ WLIN
8. For example on a 10 000 Ib GVWR trailer the expected load transfer to the tow vehicle may be 1 000 to 2 500 Ibs In this case the trailer tires may only have a load capacity of 7 500 to 9 000 Ibs including the weight of the trailer If not loaded properly with this transfer to the tow vehicle the tires and even the complete running gear could be overloaded otudies of tire safety show that maintaining proper tire pressure observing tire and vehicle load limits not carrying more weight in your vehicle than your tires or vehicle can safely handle avoiding road hazards and inspecting tires for cuts slashes and other irregularities are the most important things you can do to avoid tire failure such as tread separation or blowout and flat tires These actions along with other care and maintenance activities can also e Improve vehicle handling e Help protect you and others fro avoidable breakdowns and accidents e fuel economy e Increase the life of your tires 23 24 This booklet presents a comprehensive overview of tire safety including information on the following topics e Basic tire maintenance e Uniform Tire Quality Grading System e Fundamental characteristics of tires e Tire safety tips Use this information to make tire safety a regular part of your vehicle maintenance routine Recognize that the time you spend is minimal compared with the inconvenience and safety consequences of a flat tire or othe
9. Non pneumatic tire assembly A non pneumatic tire alone or in combination with a wheel or wheel center member which can be mounted on a vehicle Normal occupant weight This means 68 kilograms 150 165 times the number of occupants specified in the second column of Table of 49 CFR 571 110 Occupant distribution The distribution of occupants in a vehicle as specified in the third column of Table of 49 CFR 571 110 Open splice Any parting at any junction of tread sidewall or innerliner that extends to cord material Outer diameter The overall diameter of an inflated new tire Overall width The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflated tire including elevations due to labeling decorations or protective bands or ribs Ply A layer of rubber coated parallel cords Ply separation A parting of rubber compound between adjacent plies Pneumatic tire mechanical device made of rubber chemicals fabric and steel or other materials that when mounted on an automotive wheel provides the traction and contains the gas or fluid that sustains the load Production options weight The combined weight of those installed regular production options weighing over 2 3 kilograms 5 lbs in excess of those standard items which they replace not previously considered in curb weight or accessory weight including heavy duty brakes ride levelers roof rack heavy duty battery and special trim Radial ply tire pneum
10. 01 XXXXA2xXX from shoe stowly until drop Jag automatically locks in hole position 4 Rotate landing gear crank to extend 129 until desir trailer height is obtained SPRING LOADED DROP LEG RETRACTS WITH FORCE AND WARNING A ni Hn AW Mon vez TH BOTLEY ED METER m Bo c Fiat i rame rl mp onm pcr tee pani A GETING Anjali eld eher taa mam ADANGER Serious injury and or property You are required tp comply with damage can result If this vehiciog 10 and requirements is towed before tamiliarizeng yourself with the instructions in the owners manual and caubons listed Coupler hitch and traller ball are the same size Coupler is latched Satety chains are onsas crossed under tongue and hitehed to towing vehicle All trailer lighting is worwng correctly Loading is secured to trailer front and rear Tongue jack if beater is ite ped is retracted s Tilt nin is tatched trailer is equipped Wheel lug bolis are property tightend Tires are infisted to pressure indicated on tire regarding brakes ony additonal equipment that may be nocessary Contact your state mozor vetucle department fo
11. 3 SECURING THE CARGO Distributing THE CARGO Open Trailer 4 3 1 4 3 1 1 4 3 1 2 4 3 1 3 Preparing the Trailer for Loading Loading a Rigid deck Trailer Loading a Pivoting deck Tilt Bed Trailer 4 4 LOADING THE DUMP TRAILER Payload Capacity Loading Cargo Loading Flowable material Loading Fixed Loads including equipment such as skid steer 4 4 1 4 4 2 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 6 4 4 7 4 4 8 4 4 9 5 1 PRE TOW CHECKLIST loaders Securing the cargo Unloading Flowable Loads from the Dump Trailer Hydraulic Components Body Prop Unload Bulk Material Using The Spreader Gate CHECKING THE TRAILER BEFORE AND DURING EACH TOW 5 2 MAKE REGULAR STOPS BREAKING IN A NEW TRAILER 6 1 RETIGHTEN LUG NUTS AT FIRST 10 25 amp 50 MILES 6 2 ADJUST BRAKE SHOES AT FIRST 200 MILES 6 3 SYNCHRONIZING THE BRAKE SYSTEMS 6 4 TIRE PRESSURE Let 7 2 2 7 2 3 7 2 4 7 2 5 7 2 6 7 2 7 7 2 8 7 2 9 7 2 10 8 WARRANTY INFORMATION 10 DIAGRAMS 52 7T INSPECTION SERVICE amp MAINTENANCE 53 71 INSPECTION SERVICE amp MAINTENANCE SUMMARY CHARTS 53 Inspection and Service before Each Use o3 Inspection and Service each 3 Months or 3 000 Miles 54 Inspection and Service each 6 Months 6 000 Miles 54 Inspection and Service Each Year 12 000 Miles 54 7 2 INSPECTION AND SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS 55 Axle Bolts Frame Suspension amp Structure 55 Trailer Structure 55 7 2 2 1 Fa
12. EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOW viumiv 576BF2228E1026294 TYPE 22HD 14 UNDER THE CAMADIAN MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY REGAILATIONS IN EFFECT ON The weight of cargo should never exceed xxxKgor xxxLbs ST225 75R15 ST225 75R1 mei WHEEL AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH Close latch plate TORQU E inserting handie rod in 200 FT 155 holes on coupler before moving trailer AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH Gross trailer weight not t exceed 24 000 LBS This coupler to be used only with 2 5 16 ball SUPERIOR COMPANIES INC BARTLESVILLE OK Made In USA Serious injury and or property damage can result 11 this vehicle is towed before yourself with the instructions in the owners manual and caubons listed Coupler hitch and traller are the same size Coupler is fetched Satety chains are crossed under tongue and hitched to towing vehicle All trailer lighting is working correctiy Loading is secured to trailer front and rear Tongue jack 0 traer is equipped is retracted Tilt pin is tatched traller is equipped Wheel lug bolts are property tightend Tires infisted to pressure indicated on tire You are required 10 comply with and siate requirements regarding brakes bcunieeg amd ony additional equipment matr may be neteasary Contact your state motor vetucie departmen
13. GAWR Do not load a trailer so that the weight on Essential safety items can be dama tire exceeds its rating alteration to your trailer please contact the dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com and describe the alteration you are contemplating Alteration of the trailer structure or modification of mechanical or electrical along with other systems on your trailer must be performed only by qualified technicians who are familiar with the system as installed on your trailer 1 2 15 HAZARDS FOR DUMP TRAILERS e Overloading e improper weight distribution e Not using or improperly using e Modifying or altering hydraulic e Modifying or altering dump co e Not dumping from a solid and e Not fully opening rear doors e Jerking the trailer or hydrauli 1 2 16 TRAILER TOWING GUIDE Drivina vehicle with a trailer in tow is vastly different from driving the same vehicle WARNING and braking are all diminished you need more room to turn Impraper tongue weight load distribution can result in loss 01 control ofthe i Y dt d trailer leading to death or serious injury aller YOU wi need to spen Make certain that tongue weight is within the allowable range of the tow vehicle with Be sure to 1 all aspects of Distribute the load front to rear to provide proper tongue weight see chart i a
14. Ifl you Sep PUR TR eh BUT SUR or VEU ave your dealer inspect them to ion to prevent possible failure of the ball d r akes eJack should be level AND on NOTE SEE INSERTION FOR KINGPIN COUPLERS 7 2 5 LANDING LEG OR JACK If a grease fitting is present you must use a grease gun to lubricate the jack mechanism Grease the gears in the top of hand cranked jacks once a year by removing the top of the jack and pumping or hand packing grease into the gears WARNING Broken or damaged fasteners or can cause injury or damage to trailer and contents Inspect for and repair all damaged parts at least once a vear 29 7 2 6 LIGHTS AND SIGNALS WARNING trailer taillights stoplights turn signals and any Im proper weld repair will lead to early operation failure ofthe trailer structure and can cause serious injury or death Do not repair cracked or broken welds TTERY unless you have the skills and equipmentte properrepair 1 ed with an accessory battery that operates lighting electric not me welde repaired by your Jr other accessories An accessory battery may be kept Tnargeu ener vy Vehicle or by the generator or shore power See the manual for the accessory battery A disconnect switch may be provided to disconnect the accessory battery when you do not plan to be using the trailer for an extended period
15. Nuts Bolts amp dens wheels check torque after first 10 25 amp 50 miles of driving and after any impact Inspection and Service each 3 Months 3 000 Miles o Inspection Service Section Reference Structure Hinges Doors and Inspect Repair or replace damaged Section 7 2 2 dividers worn or broken parts Inspection and Service each 6 Months or 6 000 Miles em O Inspection Service Section Reference Rotate amp 5 000 miles Section 7 2 8 Brakes electric Magnets Check wear and current draw Section 7 2 3 3 C Controller in tow Check power output amperage and Section 7 2 3 3 B vehicle modulation See Controller Mfr s Manual Inspect tread and sidewalls Section 7 2 8 thoroughly Replace tire when treads are worn when sidewall has a bulge or sidewall Section 7 2 8 is worn Inspection and Service Each Year or 12 000 Miles item Inspection Service Section Reference Brakes all types Check for scoring and wear Replace Section 7 2 3 1 per manufacturer s specifications Shoes and drums See Brake Mfr s Manual Structure Inspect all frame members bolts amp Section O rivets Repair or replace damaged gt Frame members worn or broken parts gt Welds Inspect all welds Repair as needed section 7 2 2 2 Wheels Check and confirm free running Section 7 2 10 Replace if not sealed bearings are not gt Sealed Bearings serviceable Hubs gt UNSEALED Bearings Hub
16. The breakaway brake system may be fitted with a charging facility that draws power from the tow vehicle If the electrical system on your tow vehicle does not provide power to the breakaway brake battery you must periodically charge the battery on the trailer to keep the breakaway brake system in working order e Visually inspect the breakaway brake system for broken parts e Connect the pull pin cable to the tow vehicle so that the pull pin will be pulled out before all of the slack in the safety chains is taken up see Safety Chains figure Do not connect the pull pin cable to a safety chain or a safety chain receiver or to the gooseneck ball or its support This would keep the breakaway brake system from operating is needed Contact the hitch manufacturer or r if you are not certain of the hitch provisions for ay brake connection k the break away brake battery pull out the pull pin e switch and attempt to pull the trailer forward You feel the trailer resisting being towed but the wheels necessarily lock up LEG mo the pull n attery discharges rapidly when the pin is ADJUSTMENT f with the breakaway brake system ON because the hich can result in permanent brake failure Drop Leg Mechanism trailer for three or more months or during winter ors and charge the battery every three months av y brake battery at intervals recommended by the S instructions 3 2 3 5 Connect the ele
17. brake controller Mounted in the cab If your trailer has electric brakes your tow vehicle will have an electric brake controller that sends power to the trailer brakes Before towing the trailer on the road you must operate the brake controller while trying to pull the trailer in order to confirm that the electric brakes operate While towing the trailer at less than 5 M P H manually operate the electric brake controller in the tow vehicle cab You should feel the operation of the trailer brakes 3 2 2 6 Uncoupling the Ball Hitch Trailer with Tongue Jack Follow these steps to uncouple your ball hitch trailer from the tow vehicle e Block trailer tires to prevent the trailer from rolling before jacking the trailer up e Disconnect the electrical connector e Disconnect breakaway brake switch lanyard e Disconnect the safety chains from the tow vehicle e Unlock the coupler and open it e Before extending jack make certain the ground surface below the jack pad will support the tongue load e Rotate the jack handle or crank clockwise This will slowly extend the jack and transfer the weight of the trailer tongue to the jack 3 2 3 TRAILER WITH GOOSENECK COUPLER AND DROP LEG JACK A gooseneck coupler on the trailer connects to a gooseneck ball that you must have installed in the bed of the tow vehicle This system of coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle permits the tow vehicle to turn to sharper angles than are permitt
18. cargo and luggage capacity Is 650 Ibs 1400 750 5 x 150 650 Ibs 5 Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage capacity calculated in Step 4 6 If your vehicle will be towing a trailer load your vehicle Consult the tow vehicle s transfer reduces the available cargo and It The weight of cargo should never exceed xx Lbs 4UGFD 20 2 3 GLOSSARY OF TIRE TERMINOLOGY Accessory weight The combined weight in excess of those standard items which may be replaced of automatic transmission power steering power brakes power windows power seats radio and heater to the extent that these items are available as factory installed equipment whether installed or not Bead The part of the tire that is made of steel wires wrapped or reinforced by ply cords and that is shaped to fit the rim Bead separation This is the breakdown of the bond between components in the bead Bias ply tire A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at alternate angles substantially less than 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread Carcass The tire structure except tread and sidewall rubber which when inflated bears the load Chunking The breaking away of pieces of the tread or sidewall Cold inflation pressure The pressure in the tire before you drive Cord The strands for
19. damage serious injury death surg you Rave the correct pressure and you do not know ihe recommended pressure and consult the trailer manwlacturer Adjusting the hydraulic pressure to more than the recommended setting may the hoist to fail during the demping of ihe 20 This could cause damage 10 the trailer serious injury Never adjust the pressure on your own 11 the hydraulic pressure is question consol ihe trailer manutacterer Have only 2 qualitied person set the hydraulic pressure Freeing a stuck toad during dumping wiih the body raised by jerking shocking the trailer may cause damage to the trailer seriows injury or death Newer drive forward rearward and stop quickly with the load up or otherwise shock the load load is sieck in the body lower the body thee tree the load Being under a raised body can result in seciows iajury or death sheewld the body unexpectedly descend Hever position yoursell allow others 10 position themselves under loaded Always prop the unloaded body up using the prop or body props supplied Remember body props are to be used only an unloaded body Attempting to demp a load on wnlavel ground mey Cause the sp ture and reswil damage serious injury Geath Always the toad ground thet 15 level front to rear as wall as bevel sige to side Dug MOD
20. dump trailers flowable load should be evenly distributed throughout risks 0 Injury are also much the bed sponsible for keeping your Distribute the load evenly right and left 3t is caused if you lose control Keep the center o f gravity law As you did when learning to drive an automobile find an open area with little or no WARNING shifting carga can result in logs of traffic for your first practice trailering Of you must follow all of the instructions for Also before you start towing adjust the the area to the rear of it control of the trailer and can lead to death serious injury Drive slowly at first 5 mph or so and tur 19 da vn all wath proper sized vehicle and trailer combination responds LL8sieners roges straps etc turns Watch i in your side mirrors to see how the trailer follows the tow vehicle WARNING Do not transport flamm able explosive poisonous or other f trailer electric brake and dangerous materials on your trailer E xception amp have when they are the Fuelin the tanks of vehicles that are being towed rakes will come on just Fuel stored in the tank of an on board generator mph If your trailer is It will take practice to learn how to back up a tow vehicle with a trailer attached Take it slow Before backing up get out of the tow vehicle and look behind the trailer to make sure that there a the bottom of the steering whee WARNING the hands as being on
21. electric breakaway brake system If the coupler or hitch fails a properly connected and working breakaway brake system will apply electric brakes on the trailer The safety chains will keep the tow vehicle attached and as the brakes are applied at the trailer s axles the trailer tow vehicle combination will come to a controlled stop WARNING brake system includes a battery a switch with a pull pin Read and follow the instructions here as well as the loose hitch ball nut can result in t have been prepared by the breakaway brake uncoupling leading to death orserious If you do not have these instructions please contact your injury you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc sure the hitch ball tight to the hitch 299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com for a free be fore coupling the trailer The breakaway brake system may be fitted with a charging capability 33 that draws power from the tow vehicle If the electrical system on your tow vehicle does not provide power to the breakaway brake battery you must periodically charge the battery to keep the breakaway brake system in working order e Connect the pullpin lanyard to the tow vehicle so that the pullpin will be pulled out before all of the slack in the safety chains is taken up see Breakaway Brake System figure Do not connect the pullpin cable to a safety chain or to the hitch ball or hitch ball assembly This would keep the breakaway brak
22. load e Safety chains properly rigged to tow vehicle not to hitch or ball see the Coupling to the Tow Vehicle chapter starting at Page 30 of this manual e Test of lights Tail Stop and Turn Lights Test trailer brakes e Safety breakaway switch cable fastened to tow vehicle not to safety chains see the Coupling to the Tow Vehicle chapter starting at Page 30 of this manual 4 48 e Cargo properly loaded balanced and tied down see the Loading the Trailer chapter starting at page 48 of this manual e Tongue weight and weight distribution set up e Doors and gates latched and secured e Fire extinguisher e Flares and reflectors 5 2 MAKE REGULAR STOPS After each 50 miles or one hour of towing stop and check the following items e Coupler secured e Safety chains are fastened and not dragging e Cargo secured e Cargo door latched and secured e section starting on page 32 of this manual e Safety chains properly rigged to tow vehicle not to hitch or ball see the Coupling to the Tow Vehicle chapter starting at Page 30 of this manual e Test of lights Tail Stop and Turn Lights e Test trailer brakes e Safety breakaway switch cable fastened to tow vehicle not to safety chains see the Coupling to the Tow Vehicle chapter starting at Page 30 of this manual e Cargo properly loaded balanced and tied down see the Loading the Trailer chapter starting at page 48 of this manual e Tongue weight and w
23. mileage when you check the lug nut torque Note any lug nut that has lost torque Investigate the reason s if the lug nut torque is not maintained after more than one re torque application because this indicates there is something wrong with the lug nuts nut studs wheels and or hubs and should be corrected Contact your dealer or vehicle manufacturer immediately if you experience any persistent lug nut loosening or any other lug wheel or axle problems In the event of a wheel separation incident notify the vehicle manufacturer and dealer Seek prompt professional assistance in assessing the trailer and its gear and retain but don t re use involved lugs wheels and studs Don t repair or service the trailer yourself Call a trained technician Dry Torque Foot pounds is determined by manufacturer DCT Trailers warrants that each trailer operated by the original purchaser under normal use will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a person of one 1 year from date of purchase provide the trailer is not rented or used for commercial hauling in which case this warranty is null and void Subject to the requirements exclusions and limitations stated below DCT Trailers will correct any defects in material and workmanship which DCT Trailers is informed of within the one year period 1 Original Purchaser This warranty is extended to the original retail purchaser only and is terminated upon sale assignment or transfer
24. of the trailer by the original purchaser 2 Warranty Registration Card To validate this Warranty the Warranty Registration Card included in your owner s packet provided by your dealer must be signed and returned to DCT Trailers within ten 10 days of the date of purchase merchantability and fitness for intended use a re limited to warranty period stated above unless any state 3 Specific Exclusions This Warranty specifically excludes the following parts and equipment of DCT Trailers A Tires and tubes are warranted by their manufacturer B Axles brakes and brake components are warranted by their manufacturer C Trailer hitch hitch components jacks and casters are warranted by their manufacturer 4 Normal Use This Warranty covers only defects in original components which arise from normal use and does not apply if the trailer has been subjected to negligence accident abuse alteration or overloaded or has been repaired without prior authorization from DCT Trailers 5 Prior Consent Any repairs made other than at DCT Trailers must be authorized by DCT Trailers No reimbursement will be made to any dealer or owner for repairs without the prior consent of DCT Trailers 6 Required Procedure In order to speed the correction of any problem covered by this Warranty the following procedure must be followed A To validate the Warranty you must sign and return the Warranty Registration Card in your owner s packet to DCT Trailers withi
25. packed more frequently at least every six months can occur use Check emergency breakaway below to disassemble and service the UNSEALED brake system BEFORE each tow 95 e After removing the grease cap cotter pin spindle nut and spindle washer remove the hub and drum to inspect the bearings for wear and damage e Replace bearings that have flat spots on rollers broken roller cages rust or pitting Always replace bearings and cups in sets The inner and outer bearings are to be replaced at the same time e Replace seals that have nicks tears or wear e Lubricate the bearings with a high quality EP 2 automotive wheel bearing grease Every time the wheel hub is removed and the bearings reassembled follow the steps below to check the wheel bearings for free running and adjust 9 08 e Turn the hub slowly by hand while tightening the spindle nut until you can no longer turn the hub by hand e Loosen the spindle nut just until you are able to turn it the spindle nut by hand Do not turn the hub while the spindle nut is loose e Put a new cotter pin through the spindle nut and axle e Check the adjustments Both the hub and the spindle nut should be able to move freely the spindle nut motion will be limited by the cotter pin 7 2 10 2 Lug Nuts Bolts Being sure wheel mounting nuts lug nuts on trailer wheels are tight and properly torqued is an important responsibility that trailer owners and
26. rated 10 000 Lbs GVW and under 3 Ball Coupler size requirements Tag is located on or near the coupler of your trailer 4 z Danger Warning Caution Tag is located on the backside of the fenders of single axle utility trailers and for all other trailers it can be found on the front side of the trailer 5 z Check Wheel Lugs Tag is located on the back side of the fenders of the single axle utility trailers on the each fender above the wheels and on the rub rails above the wheels on all trailers that do not have fenders 16 Jack Warning Tag is located on the front side of all Holland amp Binkley jacks 17 Jack Warning Pinch Point Tag s is located on the front side of all Bulldog 4 Fulton jacks The following labels are for the trailers shown on pages 18 amp 19 of this DCT Trailers Inc Users Manual 1 VIN Tag is located on the inside of the hitch passenger side AND MUST be visible from the drivers side 2 Tire amp Loading Information Tag is located on the inside of the hitch passenger side AND MUST be visible from the drivers side This applies for all trailers that are rated 10 000 Lbs GVW and under 3 Ball Coupler size requirements is located on or near the coupler of your trailer 4 z Danger Warning Caution Tag is located on the backside of the fenders of single axle utility trailers and for all other trailers it can be found on the front side of the trailer 5 z Check Wheel Lugs Tag is located on the back si
27. such as seasonal storage If there is no disconnect switch then remove the cables from the battery terminals The accessory battery must be kept in a charged condition during storage The battery could freeze and break if it becomes discharged 7 2 8 TIRES Trailer tires may be worn out even though they still have plenty of tread left This is because trailer tires have to carry a lot of weight all the time even when not in use It is actually better for the tire to be rolling down the road than to be idle During use the tire releases lubricants that are beneficial to tire life Using the trailer tires often also helps prevent flat spots from developing The main cause of tire failure is improper inflation Check the cold tire inflation pressures at least once a week for proper inflation levels Cold means that the tires are at the same temperature as the surrounding air such as when the vehicle has been parked overnight Wheel and tire manufacturers recommend adjusting the air pressure to the trailer manufacturer s recommended cold inflation pressure in pounds per square inch PSI stated on the vehicle s Federal Certification Label or Tire Placard when the trailer is loaded to its gross vehicle weight rating GVWR If the tires are inflated to less than the recommended inflation level or the GVWR of the trailer is exceeded the load carrying capacity of the tire could be dramatically affected If the tires are inflated more than the recom
28. the spreader gate to swing out wath force when unlatched causing serious lowering or falling dump body can ise result in death or serious injury Ld NE VER enter the area under the dump Stand away from the trailer to unlatch spreader gate body unless the empty dump body is supported by the body props welds for cracks or failure at least once a year 7 2 3 TRAILER BRAKES 7 2 3 1 Brake Shoes and Drums Properly functioning brake shoes and drums are essential to ensure safety You must have your dealer inspect these components at least once per year or each 12 000 miles The brake shoes must be adjusted after the first 200 miles of use and each 3 000 miles thereafter Most axles are fitted with a brake mechanism that will automatically adjust the brake shoes when the trailer Or Fully raising the loaded dump body may The body props are designed to support result in the tow vehide rear wheels an empty dump body only loosing traction NEVER support a loaded dump body by mnc NP the body props Do not fullyraise a loaded dump body or Unioad the dump body before using body lace the entire load atthe rear of trailer props wW wie WIWI E E E These brakes require manual adjustment The following steps apply to adjust most manually adjustable brakes Read your axle and brake manual to see how to adjust your brakes If you do not have this manual p
29. the trailer Electricity is used to turn on brake lights running lights and turn signals as required In addition if your trailer has a separate braking system the electrical connector will also supply power to the trailer brakes from the tow vehicle Breakaway switch If the trailer becomes de coupled from the towing vehicle the breakaway switch lanyard attached independently to the tow vehicle hitch will pull a pin in the emergency electrical break away switch on the trailer The breakaway switch 15 activated by a separate battery supply in the trailer such as to energize the trailer brakes independently of the towing vehicle It is important to check the state of charge of the emergency break away battery before each trip Simply pull the pin out of the switch by hand and then try to pull the trailer If you feel a significant drag force the brakes are activated Be sure to re insert the pin in the break away switch Also be sure to allow enough slack in the break away brake lanyard such that the switch will only activate pin pulls out if the coupler connection comes loose For additional details refer to Section 0 Jack A device on the trailer that is used to raise and lower the trailer tongue On larger trailers the jack is sometimes called the landing gear 3 2 1 VARIOUS COUPLER DESIGNS Trailers are produced with a variety of coupler devices One of the sections below will pertain to your trailer e Bumper pull Ball Hitch Coup
30. tires need to be replaced If you are storing your trailer for an extended period make sure the tires are fully inflated to the maximum rated pressure and that you store them in a cool dry place such as a garage Use tire covers to protect the trailer tires from the harsh effects of the sun 7 2 9 WHEEL RIMS If the trailer has been struck or impacted on or near the wheels or if the trailer has struck a curb inspect the rims for damage i e being out of round and replace any damaged wheel Inspect the wheels for damage every year even if no obvious impact has occurred 7 2 10 WHEELS BEARINGS AND LUG NUTS loose worn or damaged wheel bearing is the most common cause of brakes that grab To check your bearings jack trailer and check wheels for side to side looseness If the wheels are loose or spin with a wobble the bearings must be serviced or replaced Most trailer axles are built with sealed bearings that are not serviceable Sealed bearings must be replaced as complete units 7 2 10 1 Unsealed Bearings Hubs If your trailer has unsealed axle bearings they must be inspected and WARNING ce a year or 12 000 miles to insure safe operation of your It electric breaka way brakes eel bearing is immersed in water it must be replaced do not operate when trailer is fom has not been used for extended amount of have the vehicle death or serious injury ppected and
31. which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com for a free copy 2 king system will function properly you must have your dealer inspect the magnets at least once a year or each 12 000 miles See the brake manual for wear and current inspection instructions WARNING Hydraulic vacuum air or electric operated T hydraulically operated brakes they function the same installation which can lead to death or brakes do on your tow vehicle The hydraulic braking ispected by a dealer at least as often as the brakes on Check lug nuts for tightness on a new trailer ca or when wheel s have been remounted ater less than once per year This inspection includes the first 10 25 and 50 miles o f driving the condition and proper operation of the wheel cylinders shoes brake drums and hubs You must check the fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir at least every three months If you tow your trailer an average of 1 000 miles per month in a hot and dry environment you must check the brake fluid level once a month The brake fluid reservoir is located on the tongue of the trailer or near the gooseneck Fill with DOT 4 brake fluid 7 2 3 4 VACUUM OPERATED HYDRAULIC When towing a trailer the vacuum gauge which is located inside the cab of the tow vehicle must indicate 18 In Hg inches of mercury or m
32. 0 should last twice as long as a tire graded 200 Traction Letter This letter indicates a tire s ability to stop on wet pavement higher graded tire should allow you to stop your car on wet roads in a shorter distance than a tire with a lower grade Traction is graded from highest to lowest as and Temperature Letter This letter indicates a tire s resistance to heat The temperature grade is for a tire that is inflated properly and not overloaded Excessive speed under inflation or excessive loading either separately or in combination can cause heat build up and possible tire failure From highest to lowest a tire s resistance to heat is graded as 2 4 10 3 Additional Information on Light Truck Tires mwailerTireSpeedHa ng following diagram on the left 5 62 68 Jcks have other markings besides those found on the aine of nger tires Laad amp inflation when _used as a dual cates the tire is for light trucks or trailers conditions indication the tire is for trailer use only kg 165 at kPa psi Cold This information indicates and tire pressure when the tire is used as a dual that put on each rear axle a total of six or more tires on e kg Ibs at kPa psi Cold This information indicates J and tire pressure when the tire is used as a single 115 information identifies the tire s load carrying s inflation limits Light truck tire
33. 1 2 13 INOPERABLE BRAKES LIGHTS OR MIRRORS Be sure that the electric brakes and all of the lights on your trailer are functioning properly before towing your trailer Electric brakes and lights on a trailer are controlled via a connection to the tow vehicle generally a multi pin electrical connector Check the trailer tail lights by turning on your tow vehicle headlights Check the trailer brake lights by having someone step on the tow vehicle brake pedal while you look at trailer lights Do the same thing to check the turn signal lights If your trailer has electric brakes your tow vehicle will have an electric brake controller that sends power to the trailer brakes Before towing the trailer on the road you must operate the brake controller while trying to pull the trailer in order to confirm that the electric brakes operate While towing the trailer at less than 5 mph manually operate the electric brake controller in the tow vehicle cab You should feel the operation of the trailer brakes If your trailer has hydraulic surge ralae niill tha amarnanny hraal _awiav hraka lanyard to check the operation of th overloaded trailer can result in loss of Standard mirrors usually do not pro control ofthe trailer leading to death or sides and rear a towed trailer YOU serious injury observe approaching traffic Do not exceed the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GYW R or an axle Gross 12 14 HAZARDS FROM ie Weight Rating
34. 3 COLD INFL PRESS PRESS DE GONFL FROID JANTE KPA PSI I LPC 16 X 6 00 J 552 80 PSI 22HD 14 E I CE VONE ES CONFORME TOUTES LES NORMES QUI LUI SONT APPLICABLES EN VERTU DU P GUENENT SUP LA DU CAMADA EN VIGUEUR LA DATE DE SA FABRICATION TRIS VONCLE COMFORNS TO ALL APPLICABLE 0 5 FEDERAL MOTOR VEMICLE SAFETY STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN viwmiv 576BF2228E1026294 TRAIREM SIE COLD TIRE PRESSURE T225 75R15 0 448 65 PSI ST225 75R15 0 448 KPA 65 PSI MODEL 48000SL SPRING LOADED DROP LEG OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS f Ur 0 a LOCKED POSITION RELEASED POSITION TO LOWER LEG Rotate handie to released position with hand or Teol 2 Place foot on drop leg shoe and lower spring toaded drop section to desired extension 3 Rotate handie 10 locked position with hand Bren fool CAN CUT AND CRUSH WHEN RETRACTING KEEP HANDS AND FEET CLEAR OF THE DROP SECTION WHILE OPERATING THE RELEASE HANDLE TO RETRACT LEG 1 Aotale crank to retract deg to fully retracted minimam position 2 Keeping hands and feet clear ol the drop section rotate handle to ceieased position which will automatically retract the spring loaded drop sestina into the tanding gear 3 Aetate handle 10 locked position with hand or foot DCL 031 79 Res XL 6348
35. ASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES Please refer to the diagram and additional information to follow P The P indicates the tire is for passenger vehicles Next number This three digit number gives the width in millimeters of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge In general the larger the number the wider the tire R 106mph Next number This two digit number known as the aspect ratio gives the tire s ratio of height to width Numbers of 70 or lower indicate a short 5 112 mph sidewall for improved steering response and better overall handling on T 118mph dry pavement The stands for radial Radial ply construction of tires has been the U 124mph industry standard for the past 20 years H 130 mph Next number This two digit number is the wheel or rim diameter in inches If you change your wheel size you will have to purchase new 149 mph tires to match the new wheel diameter Next number This two or three digit number is the tire s load index It is 168 mph a measurement of how much weight each tire can support You may find Y 186 mph this information in your owner s manual If not contact a local tire dealer Note You may not find this information on all tires because it is not required by law 2 4 10 2 UTQGS Information Treadwear Number This number indicates the tire s wear rate The higher the treadwear number is the longer it should take for the tread to wear down For example a tire graded 40
36. EL 4800051 i 5 SPRING LGADED DROP LEG DPERATING INSTRUCTIONS WARHNG UE Bl TO Lowa beth 1 ium 1 Ad py ee eer Bur V Hil Fu ika iem mi dica inj minc i m 4 AS pel lar e ic ad SUMI Bi CUT FHIR amr mp rn impp rpm d Pi Tl my a LEEN BETRACT LEG I IL ILLI uar Ti ama __ dium udn _ _____ ee P 1 19 This portion the User s Manual contains tire safety information as required by 49 CFR 575 6 2 1 STEPS FOR DETERMINING CORRECT LOAD LIMIT TRAILER 211 TRAILERS 10 000 POUNDS GVWR OR LESS 1 Locate the statement The weight of cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX Ibs on your vehicle s placard See figure 1 1 2 This figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity 3 Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity The trailer s placard refers to the Tire Information Placa
37. NG tow you must also check the tire pres listed on the Certification VIN label Ineffdive or inoperative breakaway brake system can result in a runaway trailer leading to trailer and should be checked when death or serious injury ifthe coupler or hitch fails driving as much as 1 mile at 40 mph The breakaway cable must be connected to the of the lug nuts is very important in tow wehicle and NOT to any part ofthe hitch Before towing the trailer test the function of the breakaway brake system If the breakaway brake system is not working do not towthe trailer have it serviced or repaired The proper tightness torque for lug 77 eens e ee 9 Inspection and Service Instructions chapter of this manual Use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts use the crisscross star pattern on page xx If you do not hava taraia wranch Ia wranch fram vair taw vahicla and tinhtan tha niite Before each tow check to make sure as much as you can At the first opportunity have a service garage or trailer dealer tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque Lug ing a new traile tight after ota hitch with a load rating lessthan the load rating fter Failure to pe the trailer can result in loss of control and may lead to 1a crash ead death or serious injury 1 2 9 LOADING The total weight of the load you put in or on the trailer plus the empty weight of the trailer itsel
38. ON FOR KINGPIN COUPLERS Improper trailer loading causes many accidents and deaths To safely load a trailer you must consider Overall load weight e Load weight distribution e Proper tongue weight and e Securing the load properly To determine that you have loaded the trailer within its rating you must consider the distribution of weight as well as the total weight of the trailer and its contents The trailer axles carry most of the total weight of the trailer and its contents Gross Vehicle Weight or GVW The remainder of the total weight is carried by the tow vehicle hitch It is essential for safe towing that tha trailar tanaiia and tow vahicla hitch carry the proper amount of the loaded trailer weight WARNING desirable sway at towing speeds or the rear of the Im proper electrical connection between the Tongue Weight section below the towzwehicle and the trailer wall result in inoperable lights and electric brakes no component part of the trailer is loaded beyond its Before each tow that the taillights brake lights ider the rating of the tires wheels and axles For tandem Check that the electric brakes work by SUre that the front to rear load distribution does not result operating the brake controller inside the tow wehicl Towing stability also depends on keeping the center of gravity as low as possible Load heavy items on the floor and over the axles When l
39. Owner s Manual X Dell Rapids Your Trailer Information 1 GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION 1 1 SAFETY ALERT SYMBOLS AND SIGNAL WORDS 1 2 MAJOR HAZARDS L2 Improper Sizing of the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle 1 2 2 Driving Too Fast 1 2 3 Failure to Adjust Driving Behavior When Towing a Trailer 1 2 4 Trailer Not Properly Coupled to the Hitch 1 2 5 Proper Use of Safety Chains 1 2 6 Proper Connection of Breakaway Brake 1 2 7 Matching Trailer and Hitch 1 2 8 Worn Tires Loose Wheels and Lug Nuts 1 2 9 Improper Loading 1 2 10 Unsafe Load Distribution 1 2 11 Shifting Cargo 1 2 12 Inappropriate Cargo 1 2 13 Inoperable Brakes Lights or Mirrors 1 2 14 Hazards From Modifying Your Trailer 1 2 15 Hazards for Dump Trailers 1 2 16 Trailer Towing Guide 1 2 17 Reporting Safety Defects 1 2 18 Safe Trailer Towing Guidelines 1 3 SAFETY WARNING LABELS ON YOUR TRAILER 2 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION 2 1 STEPS FOR DETERMINING CORRECT LOAD LIMIT TRAILER 2 1 1 Trailers 10 000 Pounds GVWH Less 41100 20 20 20 2 1 2 Trailers Over 10 000 Pounds GVWR Note These trailers are not required to have a tire information placard on the vehicle 20 2 2 STEPS FOR DETERMINING CORRECT LOAD LIMIT TOW VEHICLE 2 3 GLOSSARY OF TIRE TERMINOLOGY 2 4 TIRE SAFETY EVERYTHING RIDES ON IT 2 4 1 Safety First Basic Tire Maintenance 2 42 Finding Your Vehicle TRAILERS Recom
40. SION amp STRUCTURE To perform many of the inspection and maintenance activities you must jack up the trailer Jacking Points for All Trailers figure indicates the general areas where jacks and jack stands may be applied WARNING is WARNING Risk of electrocution sof and or uneven surface may cause Dump body coming near or contacting SU the tow vehicle and trailer to overturn power lines may result in electrocution Electrocution can occur without contact Be sure there overhead lines over or near the trailer before raising dump bod y when the dump body is raised or while spreading material Raise the dump body ONLY ifthe tow vehicle and trailer are both firm and level Surface ws y wwiwi V any other part of the structure 7 2 2 1 Fasteners and Frame Members 49 50 Inspect all the fasteners and structural frame members for bending and other damage cracks or failure Repair or replace any damaged fastener and repair the frame member If you have any questions about the condition or method of repair of fasteners or frame members get the recommendation of or have the repair done by your dealer The various fastener types used on your trailer are e Bolts which mainlu far attanhina danr and nte Loaded materials can exert pressure against the spreader gate Thismay cause
41. ailers shall not be held liable for any cost of transportation of the trailer to or from the place of repair not for any damages resulting from the lost of use inconvenience loss of time commercial loss or any other type of damage general or specific foreseen consequential or incidental unless applicable state law provides otherwise WARNING 8 Disclaimer DCT Trailers makes to representation or warranty of any kind expressed or implied with respect to DCT Trailers whether as to merchantability fitness for a particular purpose or any other matter No one including an authorized DCT dealer is authorized to make further or additional warranties on behalf of DCT Trailers All implied warranties of law provided otherwise In this section you will find links that were used in our Owners Manual along with other resource In this section you will find links that were used in our Owners Manual along with other resource links If you would like to contact ABU Trailers Inc or any of the other websites for information please use the links listed below sales dct usa com http www dct usa com WARNING ASSOCIATIONS Worn damaged or under in fated tires 60 cause loss of control resulting in damage American Rental Association serious injury and possibly death hitp www ararental oro Inspect tires before each tow National Truck Equipment Association http www ntea org National Wheel amp Rim Association h
42. atic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread Recommended inflation pressure This is the inflation pressure provided by the vehicle manufacturer on the Tire Information label and on the Certification VIN tag Reinforced tire tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation pressures than the corresponding standard tire Rim metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tire beads are seated Rim diameter This means the nominal diameter of the bead seat Rim size designation This means the rim diameter and width Rim type designation This means the industry of manufacturer s designation for a rim by style or code Rim width This means the nominal distance between rim flanges Section width The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflated tire excluding elevations due to labeling decoration or protective bands Sidewall That portion of a tire between the tread and bead Sidewall separation The parting of the rubber compound from the cord material in the side wall Special Trailer ST tire The 51 is an indication the tire is for trailer use only Test rim The rim on which a tire is fitted for testing and may be any rim listed as appropriate for use with that tire Tread That portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road Tread rib A tread section running circumfer
43. axels do not exceed their Gross Axle Weight Rating GAWR The table to the right has rules of thumb for proper tongue weight see the table xxx the second column notes the rule of thumb percentage of total weight of the trailer plus its cargo Gross Vehicle Weight or GVW that should appear on the tongue of the trailer For example a trailer with a gooseneck hitch with a loaded weight of 12 000 pounds should have 20 25 of 12 000 pounds on the tongue That is the example trailer would have 2 400 to 3 000 pounds on its tongue 4 2 CHECKING TONGUE WEIGHT To check the tongue weight the tow vehicle and trailer must be on level ground as they will be when the trailer is being towed For lighter trailers the recommended method of checking tongue weight is to use an accessory called a tongue weight scale If a tongue weight scale is not available from your dealer please contact your dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or ABU Trailers Inc at 701 642 9771 or e mail them at info abutrailers com for assistance An alternate method of checking tongue weight involves the use of a bathroom scale The loaded trailer must be on a smooth and level surface and you must block the trailer wheels front and rear e Raise the tongue of the trailer with the jack e Place a bathroom scale on the ground directly below the coupler e Place a strong block support such as a cement block on the scale note the scale reading
44. ca Transport Canada http www tc qc ca en menu htm WARNING Metal creep between the wheel rim and lug nuts wall cause rim to loosen and could sulk in a wheel coming off leading to death or Serious injury Tighten lug nuts before each tow A WARNING Lug nuts prone to loosen after initial installation which can lead to death or serious injury Check lug nuts for tightness a new trailer or when wheels have been remounted afterthe first 10 25 and 50 miles of driving 62 Lug nut sequence of tightening 5 LUG BOLT 6 LUG BOLT 8 LUG BOLT PATTERN PATTERN PATTERN Pounds pounds 5001 7 000 8 00 onein ooo sinh PO oum Cem _ d 12 000 4 inch LLL Lug Nut Torque Aluminum Wheels pounds 16 inch 8 hole 63 47138 246th St Dell Rapids SD 57022 Phone 605 428 3299 Fax 605 428 5681 64 TT LL Lu 2 LLI N A LLI Q lt LLI LLI a LLI gt lt oc lt SERVICED AT a LLI LL LLI gt LLI o LLI lt 6 122uuo05 qJ AAAA 91 punog ZL 32auuo2 ueiberg uopne ejsu wasg
45. can raise the rear of the tow vehicle by 1 inch after the coupler is locked to the hitch e Lower the trailer so that its entire tongue weight is held by the hitch and continue retracting the jack to its fully retraced position If the coupler cannot be secured to the hitch ball do not tow the trailer Please contact your dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at WARNING WARNING Coupler to hitch mismatch can result in A wom cracked or corroded hitch uncoupling leading to death or serious ball can fail while towing and may injury rezult in death or serious injury Be sure the LOAD RATING of the hitch ball Before coupling trailer inspect the is equal or greater than the load rating ofthe hitch ball for wear corrosion and coupler cracks Be sure the SIZE ofthe hitch ball matches Replace wom damaged hitch the size ofthe coupler ball e Rig the safety chains so that they e Crisscross underneath the coupler so if the trailer uncouples the safety chains can hold the tongue up above the road e Loop around a frame member of the tow vehicle or to holes provided in the hitch system but do not attach them to an interchangeable part of the hitch assembly e Attach S hooks up from underneath the hole do not just drop into hole and e Provide enough slack to permit tight turns but not be close to the road surface to drag Attach and test
46. cle s GVWR Pull the trailer onto the scale and decouple it from the tow vehicle leaving just the trailer on the scale Get a ticket which lists the total trailer weight Re connect the trailer to your tow vehicle and the drive the tow vehicle wheels off the scale just leaving the trailer axles on the scale Get a second ticket which lists the trailer s axle weight Simple subtract the axle weight from the total weight to determine the hitch weight While you are at the scale you should weigh the entire combination vehicle This result should be less than the Gross Combined Weight Rating GC WR for your towing vehicle Some scales allow you to get individual axle weights also If this is possible get the tow vehicles front and rear axle weights to make sure they are in the same proportion as the tow vehicle alone and that the rear axle is not overloaded This is the best way to check that a weight distribution or load leveling hitch is adjusted properly i e you have the proper number of chain links attached to the snap up brackets 4 3 SECURING THE CARGO Since the trailer ride can be bumpy and rough you must secure your cargo so that it does not shift while the trailer is being towed Also refer to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Compliance Regulations for Vehicles website for further information on securing your cargo http www fmcsa dot gov rules regulations administration whomustcomplv index asp 4 3 1
47. ction between the tow vehicle and the trailer wall result in tow vehicle 50 that i able lights and electric brakes and can lead to collision f een the bottom of the trailer and the sides of the tow Before each tow Check that the taillights brake lights and turn llow weight distribution on tandem Check that the electric brakes work by ROWS equa e 9 d st but on o ta de axles operating the brake controller inside the tow vehicle 35 The Gooseneck Ball Receiver and Height Adjustment figure shows the gooseneck height adjustment The gooseneck height adjustment bolts which have a cup that makes a gripping impression into the gooseneck tube must be tight so that the trailer does not drop to a lower position Do not over tighten because the tube can be deformed After tightening the bolts tighten the jam nuts on the bolts A trailer having a gooseneck hitch will have one or two drop leg jacks for raising and lowering the gooseneck ball receiver Because several drop leg jack mechanisms are available the general instructions below may vary slightly from the jack 15 If the trailer jack on your trailer does not resemble the Overloading can damage the tongue TOllow the jack instructions provided by the jack jack not use the tongue jack to vot have these instructions please contact your dealer in trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 e mai
48. ctrical cables Connect the trailer lights to the tow vehicle s electrical system using the electrical connectors The drop legs are heavily spring loaded in the lowered position They wall rapidly return to the upper position when released and can inflict serious bruises scrapes or pinching Keep your feet shins and hands well clear ofthe drop legs and drop leg bases when releasing the drop legs Always wear shoes or boots while performing this operation 38 e Check all lights for proper operation e Clearance and Running Lights Turn on tow vehicle headlights e Brake Lights Step on tow vehicle brake pedal e Turn Signals Operate tow vehicle directional signal lever e Check electric brakes for proper operation If your trailer has electric brakes your tow vehicle will have an electric brake controller that sends power to the trailer brakes Before towing the trailer on the road you must operate the brake controller while trying to pull the trailer in order to confirm that the electric brakes operate While ailer at less than 5 M P H manually operate the electric WARNING in the tow vehicle cab You should feel the operation of Im proper rigging ofthe safety chains can b result in loss of control of the trailer and tow ncoun vehicle leading to death serious injury if the trailer uncou ples from the to hicle PS to uncouple your gooseneck hitch trailer from the tow hitch not to ball
49. de of the fenders of the single axle utility trailers on the each fender above the wheels and on the rub rails above the wheels on all trailers that do not have fenders 6 Hoist Danger Tag is located on each side panel in front of the wheels on dump trailers 7 Hoist Operation Danger is located on the front side above the hitch amp or toolbox of a dump trailer 8 Hoist Operation Danger is located on the front side above the hitch amp or toolbox of a dump trailer 9 z Gooseneck Latch Plate Tag is located on the lower front side of all gooseneck couplers 10 Wheel Nut Torque Tag is located on the rim amp rub rail of all dually tires 11 GVW Tag is located on the lower front side of all gooseneck couplers 12 Set Bolts Tag is located on the middle front side of all gooseneck couplers 13 Improper Loading is located on the backside of the fenders of single axle utility trailers and for all other trailers it can be found on the front side of the trailer 14 Hoist Brace Tag is located on each side panel in front of the wheels on dump trailers 16 Jack Warning Tag is located on the front side of all Holland amp Binkley jacks 17 Jack Warning Tag is located on the front side of all Bulldog amp Fulton jacks GVWR PNBV 6350 KG 14000 LB GAWR EACH AXLE 3175 KG 7000 LB THIS VORCLE CONFORNS TO MANUFACTURED BY FABRIQUE PAR DELL RAPIDS CUSTOM TRAILERS INC DATE 121201
50. drop legs are held in the lowered position with a plu A WARNING pulling it outward will cause it t worn cracked or corroded gooseneck leg and the leg wil rapidly ball can fail while towing and may result in death or serious injury 3 2 3 3 Rig the safety Before coupling the trailer inspect the gooseneck ball for wear corrosion and cracks and replace wom or damaged e Visually inspect damage Repad mm hooks before towing chain receivers ce rtain of the hitc un coupling leading to death or senous contact the hitch cm the gooseneck ball nut is tight the safety chains before coupling the trailer e Rig the safety chains so they have sufficient slack to permit turning but not too much slack the safety chains must keep the goose uncouples A loose gooseneck ball can result in Drop Leg Jack Arrangement 3 2 3 4 Attach and test If the coupler or hitch fails a p brake system will apply electric Will keep the tow vehicle attac trailer s axles the trailer tow ve Stop The breakaway brake system and breakaway brake controller Read and follow the instructions here as well as the instructions that have been prepared by the breakaway brake controller manufacturer If you do not have these instructions please contact your dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com for a free copy
51. e hoist trailer body or the trailer itself DO NOT use the body prop to support a loaded dump body DO NOT perform maintenance under a raised dump body without first blocking the empty dump bed up with the body prop 46 4 4 9 UNLOAD BULK MATERIAL USING THE SPREADER GATE e Read and understand the hoist operating procedure before operating the dump body e Clear the area around the dump trailer e Park the tow vehicle and trailer on a firm and level surface left right and front rear Attempting to unload on a soft or uneven surface may cause the trailer to cc ccce in death or serious injury WARNING surface in which the tow vehicle and trailer will travel An unlacked pivoting deck can result in the desired number of links to control the opening trailer which can result in death or serious inju ry ite Be sure to set both chains at equal length Before to wing the trailer Lock the pivoting deck in the driving controller position yourself a safe location clear Double check that the catch engages the a ec for overhead power lines and other obstructions IM e Press and hold button tor raise the dump body Release the button when the body has reached approximately the halfway point of its dumping angle or if the load begins to shift rearward Never leave the dump body control when operating the dump body e Watch
52. e previous step Standing well clear of the dump bed raise the dump bed to the three quarter point of the maximum dump angle Stop the lift and walk to the rear to check to if thara anniinh fnr continued dumping WARNING ad has been completely dumped can mue Jumped DO NOT drive forward and stop quickly can result in death or serious injury ed Also DO NOT jerk the control button up and Do not load or unload your open trailer proper procedure for a stuck load is to lower the unless it is prevented from tipping and is by hand firm and level ground gt ule MOVING forward 4 4 7 HYDRAULIC COMPONENTS Do not alter or substitute and hydraulic components on the dump trailer The hoist system is designed with each component being compatible with the safe and reliable operation of the hoist system Under no circumstances should you alter the hydraulic pressure or flow rate to the hoist system WARNING Shifting cargo can result in loss of control of the or maintained by a qualified technician trailer and can lead to death or serious injury Tie down all loads wath proper sized fasteners trailer is to be used only when the dump body Is empty he purpose of the body prop is a back up to the hydraulic system and will hold the empty dump body in a raised position while performing maintenance on th
53. e system from operating when it is needed e Totest the break away brake battery remove the pullpin from the switch and attempt to pull the trailer forward You should feel the trailer resisting being towed but the wheels will not necessarily be locked If the brakes do not function do not tow the trailer until brakes or battery are repaired e mmediately replace the pull pin The breakaway brake WARNING IS um V HICLE FRAME Im proper rigging ofthe safety chains can result in loss of control ofthe trailer and to w vehide leading to death or serious injury ifthe trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle Fasten chains to frame oftow vehide Do not fasten chains to any part of the hitch unless the hitch has holes or loops spedfically for that Qm tS Cross chains underneath hitch and coupler with ENOUGH SLACK enough slack to permit turning and to hold FOR TURNS tongue up ifthe trailer comes loose To view the Schematic Wiring Diagram for your Breakaway Switch 22610 cables Connect the trailer lights to the tow vehicle s electrical system using the electrical connectors e Check all lights for proper operation e Clearance and Running Lights Turn on tow vehicle headlights e Brake Lights Step on tow vehicle brake pedal e Turn Signals Operate tow vehicle directional signal lever e Check electric brakes for proper operation using
54. ed by a bumper hitch system A gooseneck coupler consists of a tube in an inverted U shape and a gooseneck ball receiver Trailer with Gooseneck Hitch Coupler figure shows a trailer with a gooseneck coupler We have installed a Gooseneck ball receiver that is suitable for the size and weight of the trailer The load rating of the coupler and the necessary ball size are listed on the gooseneck A WARNING eck ball and support structure that is marked with a 5 the GVWR of your trailer and matches the size of the ee the gooseneck ball is too small is underrated is loose prevent brakes from working leading to loss of control Serious injury or death me loose from the tow vehicle and may lead to death or WARNING ORT STRUCTURE AND GOOSENECK BALL MUST SUE REID JAPACITY EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE An ineffective breakaway brake system can WEIGHT RATING GVWR result in a runaway trailer leading to death or serious injury ifthe coupler or ball hitch fails chee and NOT the hich allera GOOSENECK BALL BE OF THE SAME SIZE AS Before towing the trailer test the function of the breakaway brake system Ifthe RECEIVER breakaway brake system iz not working do ot towthe trailer it serviced oi M 75 esi pq cc EN capacity are marked on the ball hitch capacity is marked on tne A er on the trailer must be adjusted to match the height of Im proper electrical conne
55. eight distribution set up e Doors and gates latched and secured e Fire extinguisher e Flares and reflectors 6 1 RETIGHTEN LUG NUTS AT FIRST 10 25 amp 50 MILES Wheel lugs can shift and settle quickly after being first assembled and must be checked after the first 10 25 and 50 miles of driving Failure to perform this check may result in a wheel coming loose from the trailer causing a crash leading to death or serious injury See Section 7 2 10 2 page 65 on Proper Tourqing Technique 6 2 ADJUST BRAKE SHOES AT FIRST 200 MILES Brake shoes and drums experience a rapid initial wear The brakes must be adjusted after the first 200 miles of use and each 3 000 miles thereafter Some axles are fitted with a mechanism that will automatically adjust the brake shoes when the trailer is hard braked from a rearward direction Read your axle and brake manual to see if your brakes adjust automatically If you do not have the axle and brake manual please contact your dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com for a free copy A hard stop is used to e Confirm that the brakes work e Confirm that the trailer brakes are properly synchronized with the tow vehicle brakes using the brake controller in the tow vehicle e Adjust the brake shoes as necessary e For surge brakes check the Master cylinder reservoir for fluid If your trailer is not fitted with au
56. entially around a tire Tread separation Pulling away of the tread from the tire carcass Treadwear indicators TWI The projections within the principal grooves designed to give a visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread 22 Vehicle capacity weight The rated cargo and luggage load plus 68 kilograms 150 lbs times the vehicle s designated seating capacity Vehicle maximum load on the tire The load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing by two Vehicle normal load on the tire The load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle its share of the curb weight accessory weight and normal occupant weight distributed in accordance with Table of CRF 49 571 110 and dividing by 2 Weather side The surface area of the rim not covered by the inflated tire Wheel center member In the case of a non pneumatic tire assembly incorporating a wheel mechanical device which attaches either integrally or separably to the non pneumatic rim and provides the connection between the non pneumatic rim and the vehicle or in the case of a non pneumatic tire assembly not incorporating a wheel a mechanical device which attaches either integrally or separably to the non pneumatic tire and provides the connection between tire and the vehicle Wheel holding fixture The fixture used to hold the wheel and tire assembly securely d
57. er Unlock the deck and pivot it to the Loading position see Pivoting Deck Trailer figure Before loading the cargo be certain the deck catch pin is retracted Load the cargo onto the trailer with approximately 60 of the cargo in the front half of the bed As the cargo is moved forward on the deck the deck will pivot down into the driving position Extend the deck catch pin into the deck to lock the deck into the driving position see Pivoting Deck Trailer figure Ensure that the catch engages the hole in the pivoting deck Secure the cargo onto the trailer using appropriate straps and tensioning devices Since the trailer ride can be bumpy and rough you must secure your cargo so that it does not shift while the trailer is being towed 4 4 LoADING THE DUMP TRAILER 4 4 1 PAYLOAD CAPACITY Check if the trailer has payload decals on the sides If not then determine the payload or Cargo Capacity by subtracting the empty weight of the trailer from the GVWR given on the Certification VIN tag Determine the density of the material to be loaded and dumped so that you will know annroximatelv how manv cubic vards of material may be safely loaded carrie WARNING 4 4 2 LOADING CARGO An unrestrained trailer can fall off its support resulting in serious injury or death Couple the trailer to the towing vehicle Before checking tongue weight block trailer pull trailers because the tongue can rise _wheels f
58. er Cargo IS subject Do not transport flammable explosive poisonous other dangerous materials on your trailer side forces you must secure all Exceptions while the trailer is being towed Fuel in the tanks of vehicles that are being ta wed Fuel stored in the tank ofan on board generator 4 4 6 UNLOADING FLOWABLE LOADS FROM THE DUMP TRAILER e Read and understand the hoist operating procedure before dumping the load e Be sure the trailer is on level ground left right and front back Attempting to unload on uneven ground may cause the trailer to overturn which can result in serious injury or death Clear the area around the dump trailer Open the rear doors and make sure they are securely hooked to the sides of the trailer using the hold back door chains Undo the latch on the control box and open the cover exposing the control switch The control box cover should be locked when the dump trailer is not being used Standing well clear of the dump bed push the UP button on the control device until the dump bed reaches approximately the halfway point of its dumping angle Never leave the control device when operating the dump bed Discontinue pushing the UP button and walk to the rear of the trailer so you can estimate if there is enough space for the remainder of the load to be safely dumped If not then you need to lower the dump bed by depressing the DOWN button and pull the trailer forward and then repeat th
59. f must not exceed the trailer s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GVWR If you do not know the empty weight of the trailer plus the cargo weight you must weigh the loaded trailer at a commercial scale In addition you must distribute the load in the trailer such that the load on any axle does not exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating GAWR If you pessimi m Placard mounted next to the WARNING stated on that placard Is only i Im proper tire pressure result in a blowout and on the Certification VIN labe sss ot control which can lead to death or serious injury 1 2 10 UNSAFE LOAD tires are inflated to pressure indicated on the Certification VIN label before to wing trailer Improper front rear load disti Nn a tow vehicle handling Poor trailer sway stability results from tongue weights that are too low and poor tow vehicle stability results from tongue weights that are too high Refer to Chapter heading Loading the Trailer for more information In the following table the second column shows the rule of thumb percentage of A WARNING rgo Gross Trailer Weight or GTW that should For example a trailer with a gooseneck hitch Improper lug nut torque can cause a inds should have 20 25 of 12 000 pounds wheel separating from the trailer leading A dump trailer will have the proper weight to death or serious injury stributed in the dump bed For non flo
60. for and avoid obstructions such as tree limbs overhead lines potholes etc and SLOWLY drive the tow vehicle and trailer ahead to spread the material DO NOT drive forward and stop quickly to shock the load out of the body DO NOT jerk the control button up and doum to miele ino the Tha nraner procedure for a stuck load is to fully lov WARNING Trailer hitch or dump body can fail e You may need to raise the dump body sou or others can seriously been spread to place the remaining materi injured e Stop tow vehicle after all material has exit 289 in trailer must not exceed 8250 Iba It must be evenly distributed e Press and hold button to lower the dump E body is fully lowered e Close and latch rear gate 5 1 PRE TOW CHECKLIST Before towing double check all of these items See section 7 1 Inspection Service amp Maintenance Summary Charts for A WARNING e Tires wheels and lug nut a Loading a pivoting d eck trailer before retracting the deck of this manual catch pin can crack the catch pin which can cause loss e Tire Pressure Inflate tire of cargo or loss of control ofthe trailer Death or serious TTE injury m ay result VIN Certification label Before loading the trailer retract the deck catch pin Coupler secured and loch ifthe deck catch pin becomes bent do not straighten it 27 of this manual Replace the deck catch pin before towing the
61. for the weight of the block support e Lower the tongue until the coupler rests on the block support and the jack is 12 inch above the ground e The scale reading minus the weight of the block support is the tongue weight leverage to divide Ifthe drop legs are not set at the same level support see Chec one ofthe drop leg jacks can be overloaded e Raise the tongue 0 and can be damaged 4 42 e Arrange a brick 2 x 4 or 4 x 4 board bathroom scale and pipes as shown in Checking Tongue Weight figure The brick should be about the same thickness as the bathroom scale e Leave a 3 foot distance between the pipes and place the coupler about 2 feet from the pipe on the bathroom scale e Place a strong block support such as a cement block on the board Note the weight indicated on the scale e Lower the tongue until the coupler rests on the block support and the jack is 12 inch above the ground e Subtract the scale reading with the block and board alone from the scale reading with the trailer on the block Multiply the result by 3 to get the actual tongue weight E block and board ne 10 bs e Scale reading with trailer coupler resting on board 50 Ibs e Actual tongue weight 50 10 x 120 Ibs For heavier trailers it is easier to go to a truck stop where there is a certified scale Pull only the tow vehicle onto the scale and get the weight This weight must be less than your tow vehi
62. hicle manufacturers provide reflects the proper psi when a tire is cold The term cold does not relate to the outside temperature Rather a cold tire is one that has not been driven on for at least three hours When you drive your tires get warmer causing the air pressure within them to increase Therefore to get an accurate tire pressure reading you must measure tire pressure when the tires are cold or compensate for the extra pressure in warm tires 2 4 5 STEPS FOR MAINTAINING PROPER TIRE PRESSURE e Step 1 Locate the recommended tire pressure on the vehicle s tire information placard certification label or in the owner s manual Step 2 Record the tire pressure of all tires e Step 3 If the tire pressure is too high in any of the tires slowly release air by gently pressing on the tire valve stem with the edge of your tire gauge until you get to the correct pressure Step 4 If the tire pressure is too low note the difference between the measured tire pressure and the correct tire pressure These missing pounds of pressure are what you will need to add e Step 5 Ata service station add the missing pounds of air pressure to each tire that is underinflated Step 6 Check all the tires to make sure they have the same air pressure except in cases in which the front and rear tires are supposed to have different amounts of pressure If you have been driving your vehicle and think that a tire is under inflated fill it
63. ignated by its manufacturer as primarily intended for use on lightweight trucks or multipurpose passenger vehicles Load rating The maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given inflation pressure Maximum load rating The load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible inflation pressure for that tire Maximum permissible inflation pressure The maximum cold inflation pressure to which a tire may be inflated Maximum loaded vehicle weight The sum of curb weight accessory weight vehicle capacity weight and production options weight Measuring rim The rim on which a tire is fitted for physical dimension requirements Non pneumatic rim A mechanical device which when a non pneumatic tire assembly incorporates a wheel supports the tire and attaches either integrally or separably to the wheel center member and upon which the tire is attached Non pneumatic spare tire assembly A non pneumatic tire assembly intended for temporary use in place of one of the pneumatic tires and rims that are fitted to a passenger car in compliance with the requirements of this standard 21 tire A mechanical device which transmits both directly or through a wheel wheel center member the vertical load and tractive forces from the roadway to the vehicle generates the tractive forces that provide the directional control of the vehicle and does not rely on the containment of any gas or fluid for providing those functions
64. k rearview mirrors frequently to observe the trailer and traffic Use lower gear when driving down steep or long grads Use the engine and transmission as a brake Do not ride the brakes as they can overheat and become ineffective e Be aware of your trailer and your cargo height especially when approaching bridges roofed areas and around trees 1 2 3 FAILURE TO ADJUST DRIVING BEHAVIOR W 1 2 4 TRAILER NOT PROPERLY COUPLED TO THE HITCH It is critical that the trailer be securely coupled to the hitch ball and that the safety chains and emergency break away brake cable are correctly attached Uncoupling may result in death or serious injury to you and to others 1 2 5 PROPER USE or SAFETY CHAINS If your trailer comes loose from the hitch for any reason we have provided safety chains so that control of the trailer can still be maintained WARNING BRI WARNING Proper selection and condition ofthe couplerand wij An improperly coupled trailer can result in death or serious hitch are essentialto safely towing your trailer A trail injury oss of coupling may result in death or serious P Do not move the trailer until Injury The coupler secured and locked to hitch ball Be sure the maximum load rating ofthe hitch on the tow vehicle is equal to or greater than the per The safety chains are secured to the tow vehide and maximum load rating ofthe coupler on the trailer Be aure the hitch ball
65. kaway pin is pulled The other brake is an electric braking system that acts whenever the brakes of the tow vehicle are applied 7 2 3 3 I BREAKAWAY BRAKE 7 2 3 3 1 BREAKAWAY BATTERY This battery supplies the power to operate the trailer brakes if the trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle Be sure to check maintain and replace the battery according to the battery manufacturers instructions 7 2 3 3 Ill BREAKAWAY SWITCH This switch causes the breakaway battery to operate the electric brakes if the trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle The pull cable for the pull pin is connected to the tow vehicle and the switch is connected to the trailer To check for proper functioning of the switch battery and brakes you must pull the pin from the switch and confirm that the brakes apply to each wheel You can do this by trying to pull the trailer with the tow vehicle after pulling the pin The trailer brakes may not lock but you will notice that a greater force is needed to pull the trailer 7 2 3 3 B TOW VEHICLE OPERATED ELECTRIC BRAKES The electric brakes that operate in conjunction with the tow vehicle brakes must be synchronized so that braking is properly distributed to the tow vehicle brakes and the trailer brakes For proper operation and synchronization read and follow the axle brake and the brake controller manufacturers instructions If you do not have these instructions please contact your dealer in
66. l them at sales dct usa com for a free copy Before attempting to tow the trailer e Be sure the size and rating of the gooseneck ball match the size and rating of the receiver Gooseneck balls and receivers are marked with their size and ratings e Wipe the gooseneck ball clean and inspect it visually and by feel for flat spots cracks and pits Rocks the ball to make sure it is tight to the ball support and visually check that the gooseneck ball nut is solid against the lock washer and ball support frame ff the receiver clean and inspect it visually for he receiver for worn spots and pits If any of e receiver replaced before coupling the trailer oseneck ball receiver with automotive bearing Trailer i With P the trailer All receiver fasteners must be visibly Gooseneck o Coupler ank from its holder see Drop Leg Jack figure path the jack foot is firm enough to support the wise to raise the bottom surface of the gooseneck ball 3 2 3 1 Prepare the ball receiver and gooseneck ball e Release the lock plate on the gooseneck ball receiver With the spring loaded lock plate locking pin in the OPEN position rotate the lock gooseneck ball to enter Height Receiver and Height Ad Adjustment Slowly back up the tow 5 Set Screws is aligned under the HH 36 eRotate the jack handle counter clockwise This will retract the jack causing the go
67. lated You will also find this number on the vehicle information placard expressed in kilopascals kPa which is the metric measure used internationally Manufacturers of passenger vehicles and light trucks determine this number based on the vehicle s design load limit that is the greatest amount of weight a vehicle can safely carry and the vehicle s tire size The proper tire pressure for your vehicle Is referred to as the recommended cold inflation pressure As you will read below it is difficult to obtain the recommended tire pressure if your tires are not cold Because tires are designed to be used on more than one type of vehicle tire manufacturers list the maximum permissible inflation pressure on the tire sidewall This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put in the tire under normal driving conditions 244 CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE It is important to check your vehicle s tire pressure at least once a month for the following reasons e Most tires may naturally lose air over time e Tires can lose air suddenly if you drive over a pothole or other object or if you strike the curb when parking e With radial tires it is usually not possible to determine under inflation by visual inspection For convenience purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep in your vehicle Gauges can be purchased at tire dealerships auto supply stores and other retail outlets The recommended tire inflation pressure that ve
68. lease contact your dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com for a free copy e Jack up the trailer and secure it on adequate capacity jack stands e Be sure the wheel and brake drum e Remove the adjusting hole cover f the brake backing plate e With a screwdriver or standard adj adjuster assembly to expand the b out until the pressure of the linings An ovenoaded trailer or impropeny distributed load can result in death or serous injury An ovenoaded trailer can cause the hydraulic system to malfunction resulting inthe dump body falling A load that iz im propedy distributed in the trailer can result in the trailer overturning when the dump body is raised vm trailer dem spi with ep Sade See manual for your axle type You will need a modified adjusting tool for adjusting the brakes in these axles With drop spindle axles a modified adjusting tool with about an 80 degree angle should be used e Rotate the starwheel in the opposite direction until the wheel turns freely with a slight drag e Replace the adjusting hole cover e Repeat the above procedure on all brakes Lower the trailer to the ground 7 2 3 3 Brakes Electric Two different types of electric brakes may be present on the trailer an emergency electric breakaway system which acts only if the trailer comes loose from the hitch and the brea
69. ler e Gooseneck Hitch Coupler e Fifth Wheel Coupler If the coupler on your trailer does not resemble one of the couplers shown in the figures see the separate coupler instructions If you do not have separate coupler instructions please contact your dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com for a free copy 3 2 2 TRAILER WITH BALL HiTCH COUPLER A ball hitch coupler connects to a ball that is located on or under the rear bumper of tow vehicle This system of coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle is sometimes referred to as bumper pull A WARNING A ball hitch trailer may be fitted with a tc An improperly coupled trailer can result in death or serious The tongue jack is mounted to the A fra 777 Do not the trailer until the jack handle clockwise the jack will The coupler is secured and locked to hitch The safety chains are secured to the tow vehicle and The trailer jack s are fully retracted Be sure the Ball Hitch coupler is Suitable Do not tow the trailer on the road until rating of the coupler and the necessary Tires and wheels are checked provide a hitch and ball for your tow veh 11 rater brakes are checked oo equal to or greater than that of your ihe rest eva bate checked 0 towvehicis and coupler size If the hitch ball is too smal The toad is secured to the trailer and trailer can come loo
70. mended Tire Pressure and Load Limits 2 4 3 Understanding Tire Pressure and Load Limits 2 4 4 Checking Tire Pressure 2 4 5 Steps for Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure 246 Tire Size 2 4 7 Tire Tread 2 4 8 Tire Balance and Wheel Alignment 2 4 9 Tire Hepair 2 4 10 Tire Fundamentals 2 4 10 1 Information on Passenger Vehicle Tires 2 4 10 2 UTQGS Information 2 4 10 3 Additional Information on Light Truck Tires 2 4 11 Tire Safety Tips 3 COUPLING TO THE TOW VEHICLE 3 1 USE AN ADEQUATE TOW VEHICLE AND HITCH 4 3 1 1 3 2 1 3 2 2 3 2 3 3 2 4 LOADING THE TRAILER 4 1 TONGUE WEIGHT Trailer Information 3 2 COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING THE TRAILER Various Coupler Designs Trailer with Ball Hitch Coupler 3 2 2 1 9 2 cnc 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 4 3 2 2 5 3 2 2 6 Before coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle Prepare the coupler and hitch Couple the trailer to the tow vehicle Rig the safety chains Connect the electrical cables Uncoupling the Ball Hitch Trailer with Tongue Jack Trailer with Gooseneck Coupler and Drop leg Jack 3 2 3 1 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 4 3 2 3 5 3 2 3 6 Prepare the ball receiver and gooseneck ball Couple the trailer to the tow vehicle Rig the safety chains Attach and test the breakaway brake system Connect the electrical cables Uncoupling the Gooseneck Trailer with Drop leg Jack Trailer with Fifth wheel Coupler and Drop leg Jack 4 2 CHECKING TONGUE WEIGHT 4
71. mended inflation level handling characteristics of the tow vehicle trailer combination could be affected Refer to the owner s manual or talk to your dealer or vehicle manufacturer if you have any questions regarding proper inflation practices Tires can lose air over a period of time In fact tires can lose 1 to 3 PSI per month This is because molecules of air under pressure weave their way from the inside of the tire through the rubber to the outside A drop in tire pressure could cause the tire to become overloaded leading to excessive heat build up If a trailer tire is under inflated even for a short period of time the tire could suffer internal damage High speed towing in hot conditions degrades trailer tires significantly As heat builds up during driving the tire s internal structure starts to breakdown compromising the strength of the tire It is recommended to drive at moderate speeds Statistics indicate the average life of a trailer tire is about five years under normal use and maintenance conditions After three years replacing the trailer tires with new ones should be considered even if the tires have adequate tread depth Some expert s claim that after five years trailer tires are considered worn out and should 96 be replaced even if they have had minimal or no use This is such general statement that it may not apply in all cases It is best to have your tires inspected by a tire supplier to determine if your
72. ming the plies in the tire Cord separation The parting of cords from adjacent rubber compounds Cracking Any parting within the tread sidewall or inner liner of the tire extending to cord material CT A pneumatic tire with an inverted flange tire and rim system in which the rim is designed with rim flanges pointed radially inward and the tire is designed to fit on the underside of the rim ina manner that encloses the rim flanges inside the air cavity of the tire Curb weight The weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel oil and coolant and if so equipped air conditioning and additional weight optional engine Extra load tire A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation pressures than the corresponding standard tire Groove The space between two adjacent tread ribs Innerliner The layer s forming the inside surface of a tubeless tire that contains the inflating medium within the tire Innerliner separation The parting of the innerliner from cord material in the carcass Intended outboard sidewall The sidewall that contains a white wall bears white lettering or bears manufacturer brand and or model name molding that is higher or deeper than the same molding on the other sidewall of the tire or the outward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that has a particular side that must always face outward when mounted on a vehicle Light truck LT tire A tire des
73. n ten 10 days of the date of purchase of your trailer B Within five 5 days after discovering a problem return your trailer to you dealer for inspection Dealers are responsible for fixing minor problems without charge to you or the factory This is you vest and fastest remedy for small problems C lf your local dealer cannot repair the problem and you wish to make a claim under this Warranty have your dealer notify DCT Trailers 47138 246th St Dell Rapids SD 57022 of your claim Please provide your name address home and work phone numbers a complete description of 99 T the problems and VIN number of your trailer If you are not near an DCT dealer please call DCT at 605 428 3299 to discuss your claim Cost estimates and pictures may be requested before claim is processed D DCT Trailers or your dealer will contact you claim Correction action if required will be Improper operating taillights stop lights and turn DCT Trailers will not reimburse purchaser tow prior approval by DCT Trailers Ifyou return your trailer for repair to the factory we will warrant the repair of replacement parts for year from date of repair If authorized repair must be done other than at DCT Trailers we will not warrant such repair work or replacement parts Limitations The sole responsibility of DCT Trailers under this Warranty shall be to repair and replace parts at the factory or ata place approved by DCT Trailers DCT Tr
74. oading additional items be sure to maintain even side to side weight distribution and proper tongue weight The total weight of the trailer and its contents must never exceed the total weight rating of the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or GVWR 4 1 TONGUE WEIGHT It is critical to have a portion of the trailer load carried by the tow vehicle That is the 40 trailer tongue must exert a downward force on the hitch This is necessary for two reasons First the proper amount of tongue weight is necessary for the tow vehicle to be able to maintain control of the tow vehicle trailer system If for example the tongue exerts an upward pull on the hitch instead of pushing down on it because the trailer is vheel of the tow vehicle can lose traction or grip and re is some weight on the tongue but not enough The drop legs are heavily spring loaded in unstable at high speeds Remember the the lowered position They will rapidly return is to swa to the upper position when released and can inflict serious bruises scrapes or pinching Keep your feet shins and hands well clear of i tongue weight the tow vehicle is prone to jack the drop legs and drop leg bases when re the front wheels of the tow vehicle can be too releasing the drop legs i Always wear shoes or boots while performing 9 Control and traction if the front wheels are driving this operation weight is necessary to insure that the trailer
75. ore at all times 7 2 3 4 PRESSURE OPERATED HYDRAULIC Air hydraulic braking systems are typically used when the tow vehicle has a diesel engine The tow vehicle has an air compressor that routes the air to an air hydraulic mechanism which sends brake fluid to the wheel cylinders The air pressure gauge in your tow vehicle indicates the current air pressure See your tow vehicle manual for the proper air pressure 7 2 3 4 ELECTRICAL OPERATED HYDRAULIC Electric hydraulic braking systems which are mounted on the trailer use a small electrically driven pump to generate hydraulic pressure which operates the brake cylinders Like electrical brakes an electric hydraulic braking system 15 operated by an electrical signal from the tow vehicle 7 2 4 TRAILER CONNECTION TO TOW VEHICLE 7241 Coupler and A WARNING The coupler on the trailer conn trailer and towvehide brakes tow vehicle The coupler nat work property together between the tow vehicle and tr death or serious injury ith a thin faut ti with a thin layer of automotive Road test the brakes in a safe proper operation and check th more than 30 m p h to the ball for proper operation gt 92 See the COUTE 5 fart shat maintenance activities If you do not have this manual please contact your dealer in which you purchased your trailer through o
76. oseneck ball receiver to drop down so it can fully engage the gooseneck ball and transfer the weight of the trailer tongue to the towing vehicle hitch If the receiver does not line up with the ball raise the receiver again and adjust the position of the tow vehicle Then lower the receiver over the ball 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 eClose the lock plate on the gooseneck ball receiver the spring loaded lock plate locking pin to the CLOSED position Be sure the locking pin is holding the lock plate eBe sure the receiver is all the way on the gooseneck ball and the lock plate is engaged A properly engaged locking mechanism will allow the coupler to raise the rear of the tow vehicle Using the trailer jack test it to see that you can raise the rear of the tow vehicle by 1 inch If the gooseneck ball cannot be secured to the receiver do not tow the trailer Call your dealer in pis n v or contact DCT Trailers Inc al WARNING additional information on the D gooseneck height adjustment can Diagram Section for additione result in overloaded tires blowout and loss of control leading to death or serious injury e After testing to see that the re Adjust the gooseneck receiver so that the loaded trailer is level the ball retract the jack to its ft eReturn the drop legs to their upper positions The
77. ove the ball height e Open the coupler locking mechanism Ball couplers have a locking mechanism with an internal moving piece ball clamp and an outside handle wheel or latch e n the open position the coupler is able to drop fully onto the hitch ball e See the coupler instructions for details of placing the coupler in the open position e Slowly back up the tow vehicle so that the hitch ball is near or aligned under the coupler if the trailer jack has raised the coupler 3 2 2 3 Couple the trailer to the tow vehicle If your trailer does not have a jack you will have to lift the coupler and place it over the ball e f you have a jack lower the trailer tongue until the coupler fully engages the hitch ball If the coupler does not line up with the hitch ball adjust the position of the tow vehicle Re y 7 Pin in place M Coupler open Sleeve forward er Closed clamp UToo29 Lift Coupler to check 32 e Engage the coupler locking mechanism In the engaged position the locking mechanism securely holds the coupler to the hitch ball e Insert a pin or lock through the hole in the locking mechanism e Be sure the coupler is all the way on the hitch ball and the locking mechanism is engaged A properly engaged locking mechanism will allow the coupler to raise the rear of the tow vehicle Using the trailer jack test to see that you
78. p working Then you will potentially have a runaway tow vehicle and trailer e To conserve fuel don t use full throttle to climb a hill Instead build speed on the approach e Slow down for bumps in the road Take your foot off the brake when crossing the bump e Do not brake while in a curve unless absolutely necessary Instead slow down before you enter the curve e Do not apply the tow vehicle brakes to correct extreme trailer swaying Instead lightly apply the trailer brakes with the hand controller e Make regular stops about once each hour Confirm that The coupler is secure to the hitch and is locked Electrical connectors are made There is appropriate slack in the safety chains There is appropriate slack in the breakaway switch pullpin cable The tires are not visibly low on pressure and The cargo is secure and in good condition 1 3 SAFETY WARNING LABELS ON YOUR TRAILER the following pages you will find pictures of each type of trailer along with each label that we affix to each trailer trailer type The following labels are for the trailers shown on pages 16 amp 17 of this DCT Trailers Inc Users Manual 1 VIN Tag is located on the inside of the hitch passenger side AND MUST be visible from the drivers side 2 Tire amp Loading Information Tag is located on the inside of the hitch passenger side AND MUST be visible from the drivers side This applies for all trailers that are
79. r DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com for a free If you see or feel evidence of wear such as spots deformations pitting or corrosion on the ball or coupler immediately have your dealer Inspection and Service before Each Use Breakaway Brakes Electric Check operation Sections 0 3 2 3 4 amp 3 2 4 3 Hydraulic Check fluid Level Section 7 2 3 4 Breakaway Battery Fully charged connections clean Sections 0 3 2 3 4 amp 3 2 4 3 Section 7 2 3 3 Brakes all p Check operation Brakes Check gauge for proper vacuum of 18 Section 7 2 3 4 A Vacuum Actuated In Hg inches of mercury Check for cracks pits and flats Section amp 7 2 4 1 Replace w ball 8 coupler having trailer Coupler and Hitch GVW Rating Ball Grease Check locking device amp replace Check for cracks pits and flats Section 3 2 3 1 Replace w ball amp coupler having trailer GVW Rating Gooseneck Ball Grease Section 3 2 3 1 Check locking device amp replace when section amp 7 2 4 2 worn Check for cracks Section O Fifth Wheel amp Grease Section 0 Kingpin Check locking device amp replace when Section 0 amp 7 2 4 3 worn Safety Chain s amp Check for wear and damage Sections 3 2 2 4 amp 3 2 3 3 Hooks Tires Check tire pressure when cold Inflate as needed Check for tightness Sections 0 amp 7 2 10 2 Tighten For new and remounted Wheels Lug
80. r if it is necessary to install a separate oil cooler for the automatic transmission Fire Extinguisher It is sensible to have a fire extinguisher in the tow vehicle Emergency Flares and Emergency Triangle Reflectors It is wise to carry these warning devices even if you are not towing a trailer It is particularly important to have these when towing a trailer because the hazard flashers of your towing vehicle will not operate for as long a period of time when the battery is running both the trailer lights and tow vehicle lights 30 3 2 COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING THE TRAILER A secure coupling or fastening of the trailer to the tow vehicle is essential A loss of coupling may result in death or serious injury Therefore you must understand and follow all of the instructions for coupling The following parts are involved in making a secure coupling between the trailer and tow vehicle Coupling That part of the trailer connecting mechanism by which the connection is actually made to the trailer hitch This does not include any structural member extension of the trailer frame or brake controller The following parts are involved in making a secure coupling between the trailer and tow vehicle Coupling That part of the trailer connecting mechanism by which the connection is actually made to the trailer hitch This does not include any structural member extension of the trailer frame or brake controller Hitch That part of the connec
81. r mare information brakes if trailer is equipped are property anjusted and break away device ts attached to towing vehicte Load is within trailer capacity and distributed property to maintain proper tongue weight Do not exceed GVW which consists of combined weight of trailer amp cargo Heavy end of load must go onto the trailer first When approaching trailer drive on Slowly High speed loading can result in over shooting tront of trader and result in jury Wet surfaces may cause slick bed surface Uae caution whee on Sed CHECK WHEEL LUGS On first trip tighten wheel lugs at start and at 10 25 and 50 miles Tighten to manufacturer s specifications 17 MANUFACTURED BY FABRIQUE PAR DELL RAPIDS CUSTOM TRAILERS INC DATE 1212013 GVWR PNBV 6350 KG 14000 LB COLD INFL PRESS PRESS DE GONFL FROID GAWR PNBE EACH AXLE TIRE PNEU RIM JANTE KPA PSI I LPC 3175 KG 7000 LB os tim DANGER DO NOT GO UNDER A RAISED BODY IT MAY DROP AND KILL YOU OPERATE HOIST CONTROLS ONLY FROM A SAFE LOCATION 18 ST235R16 E 16 X 6 00 J 552 KPA 80 PSI WIE 10 ML APUCA TOUTES LES NORMES QUI LUI SONT APPLICABLES EN VER TU DU REGLEMENT SUP LA DES AUTOMOBILES DU CANADA VIGUEUR LA DATE DE SA FABRICATION THIS VONCLE COMFORNS ALL APPLICABLE US FEDERAL MOTOR SAFETY STANDARDS IN
82. r tire failure 24 1 SAFETY FiRST BASIC TIRE MAINTENANCE Properly maintained tires improve the steering stopping traction and load carrying capability of your vehicle Under inflated tires and overloaded vehicles are major causes of tire failure Therefore as mentioned above to avoid flat tires and other types of tire failure you should maintain proper tire pressure observe tire and vehicle load limits avoid road hazards and regularly inspect your tires 2 4 2 FINDING YOUR VEHICLE TRAILER S RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE AND LOAD LIMITS Tire information placards and vehicle certification labels contain information on tires and load limits These labels indicate the vehicle manufacturer s information including e Recommended tire size e Recommended tire inflation pressure e Vehicle capacity weight VCW the maximum occupant and cargo weight a vehicle is designed to carry e Front and rear gross axle weight ratings GAWR the maximum weight the axle systems are designed to carry Both placards and certification labels are permanently attached to the trailer near the left front 2 4 3 UNDERSTANDING TIRE PRESSURE AND LOAD LIMITS Tire inflation pressure is the level of air in the tire that provides it with load carrying capacity and affects the overall performance of the vehicle The tire inflation pressure is a number that indicates the amount of air pressure measured in pounds per square inch psi a tire requires to be properly inf
83. rd attached adjacent to or near the trailer s VIN Certification label at the left front of the trailer Note The following calculations in Sections 2 1 2 and 2 2 are not required by the government For the purpose of completeness NATM has included these statements 2 1 2 TRAILERS OVER 10 000 GVWR NOTE THESE TRAILERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A TIRE INFORMATION PLACARD ON THE VEHICLE 1 Determine the empty weight of your trailer by weighing the trailer using a public scale or other means This step does not have to be repeated Locate the GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the trailer on your trailer s VIN Certification label 2 Subtract the empty weight of your trailer from the GVWR stated on the VIN label That weight is the maximum available cargo capacity of the trailer and may not be safely exceeded 2 2 STEPS FOR DETERMINING CORRECT LOAD TOW VEHICLE 1 Locate the statement The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed lbs on your vehicle s placard 2 Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers who will be riding in your vehicle 3 Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds 4 The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage capacity For example if the XXX amount equals 1400 105 and there will be five 150 Ib passengers in your vehicle the amount of available
84. res Another method for checking tread depth is to place a penny in the tread with Lincoln s head upside down and facing you If you can see the top of Lincoln s head you are ready for new tires 2 4 8 BALANCE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT To avoid vibration or shaking of the vehicle when a tire rotates the tire must be properly balanced This balance is achieved by positioning weights on the wheel to counterbalance heavy spots on the wheel and tire assembly A wheel alignment adjusts the angles of the wheels so that they are positioned correctly relative to the vehicle s frame This adjustment maximizes the life of your tires These adjustments require special equipment and should be performed by a qualified technician 2 4 9 TIRE REPAIR The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a plug for the hole and a patch for the area inside the tire that surrounds the puncture hole Punctures through the tread can be repaired if they are not too large but punctures to the sidewall should not be repaired Tires must be removed from the rim to be properly inspected before being plugged and patched 2 4 10 TIRE FUNDAMENTALS Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized information on the sidewall of all tires This information identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics of the tire and also provides a tire identification number for safety standard certification and in case of a recall 2 4 10 1 INFORMATION ON P
85. res a brake controller be installed at the driver s position The brake controller is not the same as the safety breakaway brake system that is installed on the trailer Side View Mirrors The size of the trailer that is being towed and your state law regulations determine the size of the mirrors However some states prohibit extended mirrors on a tow vehicle except while a trailer is actually being towed In this situation detachable extended mirrors are necessary Check with your dealer or the appropriate state agency for mirror requirements Heavy Duty Flasher A Heavy Duty Flasher is an electrical component that may be required when your trailer turn signal lights are attached to the tow vehicle flasher circuit Electrical Connector An Electrical Connector connects the light and brake systems on the trailer to the light and brake controls on the towing vehicle Heavy Duty Engine Oil Cooling System The tow vehicle engine works harder when a trailer is being towed Depending on the size of the trailer you may need to install a separate engine oil cooler Inadequate cooling may result in sudden engine failure Ask the tow vehicle dealer if it is necessary to install a heavy duty cooling system Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler The automatic transmission of a towing vehicle handles more power when a trailer is being towed Inadequate cooling will shorten transmission life and may result in sudden transmission failure Ask the tow vehicle deale
86. ront and rear weight you will have to de couple the trailer atter it 15 loaded Be sure the trailer is located on level ground Attempting to load on uneven ground may cause the trailer to overturn which can result in serious injury or death Do not transport people containers of hazardous substances or cans of flammable liquids However fuel in the tank of a tractor skid steer loader generator etc may be carried in the dump trailer 4 4 3 LoADING FLOWABLE MATERIAL e Flowable loads will assume an even weight distribution within the trailer e Couple the trailer to the tow vehicle e Check the bed for damage e Close and fasten doors e Level evenly distribute the load within the trailer from front to back and from side to side 4 4 4 LOADING FIXED LOADS INCLUDING EQUIPMENT SUCH AS SKID STFFR LOADERS e Fixed loads that are to be carrie A WARNING out the trailer Too much load in load the hydraulic hoist Too mu trailer and can lead to death or serious injury sway stability at highway down all loads with proper sized fasteners e Inspect the hold down openinc e Clear the area around the dump e oad the equipment or material e Secure the equipment e Close and fasten doors e f loading ramps are used the operator must be experienced and skilled to perform the loading shifting cargo can result in loss of control ofthe 4 4 5 SECURING THE CARGO WARNING Since the trail
87. s Disassemble inspect assemble and Section 7 2 10 1 repack Replace promptly if immersed See Axle Mfr s Manual in water Inspect for cracks amp dents Replace as gt Rims needed Section 7 2 9 Structure Axle Attachment Check Axle Manufacturer booklet Section O Bolts inspect them to determine the proper action to prevent possible failure of 94 the ball and coupler system All bent or broken coupler parts must be replaced before towing the trailer The coupler handle lever mt snap into the latched positio spring ends with SAE 30W mechanism clean Dirt or cc the latching mechanism WARNING Never crawl under your trailer unless it is on firm ant level ground and resting on When replacing a ball the load rating must match or exceed the GVWR WARNING Worn or broken suspension parts can cause ck of control and injury may result oem on the trailer connects to a hitch mounted ball on annually and afterany im p uw wwig veuve rn receiver ball and hitch transfer the towing forces between the tow vehicle and the trailer Before each tow coat the ball with a thin layer of automotive bearing grease to reduce wear and ensure proper operation and check the locking device that secures the receiver to the ball for proper operation nection hg a manual for tHe receiver please contad Kaur in which you purchased our e race d Ms for t
88. s general trailer information cannot cover all of the specific details necessary for the proper combination of every trailer tow vehicle and hitch Therefore you must read understand and follow the instructions given by the tow vehicle and trailer hitch manufacturers as well as the instructions in this manual Our trailers are built with components produced by various manufacturers Some of these items have separate instruction manuals Where this manual indicates that you should read another manual and you do not have that manual please contact the dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at www dct usa com for a free copy The safety information in this manual is denoted by the safety alert symbol The level of risk is indicated by the following signal words DANGER Immediate hazards which WILL result in severe personal injury or death if the warning is ignored CAUTION Hazards or unsafe practices which could result in minor or moderate injury ifthe Warning is igna red WARNING WARNING H azards or unsafe practices which COULD result in severe personal injury or death if the waming iz ignored NOTICE Practices that could result in damage to the trailer or other property 1 2 MAJOR HAZARDS Loss of control of the trailer or trailer tow vehicle combination can result in death or serious injury The most common causes for loss of control of
89. se death or serious injury When towing a trailer you will have decreased 5 7 scar 22257 when going distance and increased turning radius which mean lighting conditions deteriorats keep from hitting curbs vehicles and anything else that is on the inside corner Furthermore the trailer will change the handling characteristics of your towing vehicle making it more sensitive to steering inputs and more likely to be pushed around in windy conditions or when being passed by large vehicles In addition you will need a longer distance to pass due to slower acceleration and increased length With these caveats in mind e Be alert for slippery conditions You are more likely to be affected by slippery road surfaces when driving a tow vehicle with a trailer than driving a tow vehicle without a trailer Anticipate the trailer swaying Swaying can be caused by excessive steering wind gusts roadway edges or by the trailer reaction to the pressure wave created by passing trucks and busses When encountering trailer sway take your foot off the gas and steer as little as possible in order to stay on the road Use small trim like steering adjustments Do not attempt to steer out of the sway you ll only make it worse Also do not apply the tow vehicle brakes to correct trailer swaying On the other hand application of the trailer brakes alone will tend to straighten out the combination especially when going downhill e Chec
90. se from the tow vehi The trailer lights are connected and checked THE TOW VEHICLE HITCH AND BALL MUS HAVE HAIED IOWING EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE TRAILER GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING GVWR IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE HITCH BALL BE OF THE SAME SIZE AS THE COUPLER pacity are marked on the ball hitch capacity is marked on 5 2 2 1 _ Before coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle of hitch ball match the size and rating of the uplers are marked with their size and rating vipo itch ball clean and inspect it visually and by ots cracks and pits nake sure it is tight to the hitch Then you will Es ly check and see that the hitch ball nut is against lock washer and hitch frame Wi pe the inside and outside of the coupler clean and inspect it visually for cracks and deformations feel the inside of the coupler for worn spots and pits sure the coupler is tight to the tongue of the trailer coupler fasteners must be visibly solid against the trailer frame se the bottom surface of the coupler to be above the top of the hitch ball Use the jack if one is provided otherwise use wood or concrete blocks to support the trailer tongue 3 2 22 Prepare the coupler and hitch e Lubricate the hitch ball and the inside of the coupler with thin layer of automotive bearing grease If your trailer is equipped with a jack raise the coupler ab
91. shington DC 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from www safecar gov Rev 05 27 09 Please contact the dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com if you plan on making any changes to you trailer 1 2 18 SAFE TRAILER TOWING GUIDELINES e Recheck the load tie downs to make sure the load will not shift during towing e Before towing check coupling safety chain safety brake tires wheels and lights e Check the lug nuts or bolts for tightness e Check coupler tightness after towing 50 miles e Adjust the brake controller to engage the trailer brakes before the tow vehicle brakes Follow the instructions given with the brake controller manufacturer s literature e Use your mirrors to verify that you have room to change lanes or pull into traffic e Use your turn signals well in advance e Allow plenty of stopping space for your trailer and tow vehicle e Do not drive so fast that the trailer begins to sway due to speed Generally never drive faster than 60 m p h e Allow plenty of room for passing A rule of thumb is that the passing distance with a trailer is 4 times the passing distance without a trailer e Shift your automatic transmission into a lower gear for city driving e Use lower gears for climbing and descending grades e Do not ride the brakes while descending grades they may get so hot that they sto
92. size matchesthe coupler Observe the hitch for wear corrosion and cracks before coupling Replace worn corroded or cracked hitch components before coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle Be sure the hitch components are tight before coupling the trailer to the tow vehide The trailer jack s are fully retracted Hire Do not towthe trailer on the mad until Tires and wheels are checked The trailer brakes are checked The breakaway switch is connected to the tow vehide The load is secured to the trailer and The trailer lights are connected and checked 1 2 8 WORN TIRE Just as with your to WARNING Therefore itis esse Improper rigging ofthe safety chains can result in loss of control of the trailer and tow vehicle leading to death or If a tire has a bald s serious injury if the trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle before Ifa t Fasten chains to frame of towvehicle Do not fasten 1016 chains to of the hitch unless the hitch has holes center for diagnosis loops specifically for that purpose misalignment Of inc Cross chains underneath hitch and coupler with enough slack to permit turning and to hold tongue up if the trailer Tires with too little t 2 1208 and can result in loss of control leading to death or serious injury Improper tire pressure causes Increased tira waar and mav rarliica trailar etahility which can result in a tire blowout or WARNI
93. steners and Frame Members 55 7 2 2 2 Welds 56 Trailer Brakes 56 7 2 3 1 Brake Shoes and Drums 56 7 2 3 2 Manually Adjusting Brake Shoes 56 7 2 3 3 Brakes Electric 57 7 2 3 3 A i Breakaway Brake 57 7 2 3 3 A ii Breakaway Battery 57 7 2 3 3 Breakaway Switch 57 7 2 3 3 B Vehicle Operated Electric Brakes 57 7 2 3 3 0 Magnets for all Electric Brakes 57 7 2 3 4 Brakes Hydraulic vacuum air or electric operated 57 7 2 3 4 hydraulic 58 7 2 3 4 Pressure operated Hydraulic 58 7 2 3 4 C Electrical operated Hydraulic 58 Trailer Connection to Tow Vehicle 58 7 2 4 1 Coupler and Ball 58 7 2 4 2 Gooseneck 59 7 2 4 3 Fifth Wheel Kingpin 59 Landing Leg or Jack 59 Lights and Signals 59 Accessory Battery 59 Tires 60 Wheel Rims 61 Wheels Bearings and Lug Nuts 61 7 2 10 1 Unsealed Bearings Hubs 61 7 2 10 2 Lug Nuts Bolts 62 64 9 MAINTENANCE RECORDS SERVICE amp WARRANTY WORK 65 67 72 11 LINKS This User s Manual contains safety information amp instructions for your trailer You must read this manual before loading or towing your trailer Following all safety precautions and instructions will only insure your safety while your are traveling along with all the lives you encounter on the road All information in Issue 2 af the Trailers Inc User s Manual is current at the time of print An Owner s Manual that provide
94. t for mare information Trailor brakes if trailer equipped are property adjusted and break away device s attached 10 lowing vehicse Load is within trailer capacity and distributed property to maintain proper tongue weight Do not exceed GVW which consists of combined weight of trailer amp cargo Heavy end of load must go onto the trailer first When approaching trailer drive on slowly High speed loading can result in over shooting tront of tradier result in jury Wet surfaces may cause slick bed surtace lt whoe on Do not over torque set bolts Max torque set bolt to BOFT LB CHECK WHEEL LUGS On first trip tighten whee tegs at stari and at 10 25 and 50 miles Tighten to manutacturer s specifications Theeealter check wheel lugs betore each trip after excessive braking and following winter storage DANGER BODY MUST BRACED BEFORE SERVICING HOIST OR WORKING IN AREA WITH BODY N RAISED POSITION LUBRICATE HOIST GREASE FITTINGS OFTEN AT LEAST EACH TIME TRUCK IS SERVICED TRAILER MUST BE LEVEL FOR DUMPING tmr E iam 1 s HAIE GAME FELT Commecting the botst 10 a hydraulic system with more gpm han is recommended by the hoist menutacturer cae cause the 10 fall during the Gumping ol a load This could 1020 to
95. the 2 transport people on the trailer The counter clockwise as you Wou tansport of people puts their lives at risk and forward the rear of the trailer mav be illeg wheel clockwise with your hano trailer to the left while backing up If you are toing a bumper hitch rig be not to allow the trailer to turn too much because it will hit the rear of the tow vehicle To straighten the rig either pull forward or turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction 1 2 17 REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS If you believe that your vehicle has a defect that could cause a crash or could cause injury or death you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA in addition to notifying please your dealer in which you T Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299or e mail A WARNING aia Improper electrical connection between the tow vehicle ME and the trailer vill result in inoperable lights and electric t may open an investigation and if it finds brakes and can lead to collision of vehicles it may order a recall and remedy Before each tow become involved in individual problems Check that the taillights brake lights and tum signals ailers Inc work Check that the electric brakes work by operating the all the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll free at brake controller inside the tow vehicle 53 go to http Avww safecar gov or write to Administrator NHTSA 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Wa
96. the side of the jack near the input shaft Rotate the jack handle to distribute the grease evenly A lightweight oil must be applied to the input shaft bushings at both sides of the jack or gearbox For top wind models the screw stem should be lubricated with a light weight oil If equipped the drop leg pin and spring must be kept clean and lubricated with a lightweight oj atm om MAH Me http www ntda org UFA 73
97. the trailer are e mproper sizing the trailer for the tow vehicle or vice versa e Excessive Speed Driving too fast for the conditions e Failure to adjust driving behavior when towing a trailer e Overloading and or improper weight distribution e mproper or mis coupling of the trailer to the hitch e braking and steering under sway conditions eNot maintaining proper tire pressure e Not keeping lug nuts tight 1 2 1 IMPROPER SIZING OF THE TRAILER TO THE TOW VEHICLE Trailers that weigh too much for the towing vehicle can cause stability problems ith or serious injury Furthermore the additional strain put on train may lead to serious tow vehicle maintenance problems Use ofa towvehide with atowng maximum towing capacity of your towing vehicle should not capacity less than the Gross ity of t hicle in t f G can result loss o f control and and maximum Gross Combined Weight Rating GCWR can may lead to death or serious injury shicles Owner s Manual Be sure your hitch and tow vehide are rated for the Gross Vehide Weight Rating of your trailer AST With ideal road conditions the maximum recommended speed for safely towing a trailer is 60 mph If you drive too fast the trailer is more likely to sway thus increasing the possibility for loss of control Also yotga increasing the possibility of a blowout WARNING Driving too fast for conditions can result in loss of control and cau
98. ting mechanism including the ball support platform and ball and those components that extend and are attached to the towing vehicle including bumpers intended to serve as hitches e Weight Distributing Hitch or Equalizing Hitch A mechanical device that connects the trailer to the towing vehicle and by means of leverage applied on both the trailer and towing vehicle structures when properly adjusted distributes the imposed vertical load at the hitch and coupling connection between structures of the towing vehicle and trailer e Weight Carrying Hitch A mechanical and or structural device that connects the trailer to the towing vehicle and that does not employ features designed to redistruibute the load imposed at the hitch and carrying connection Safety chains or cables Chains or cables permanently attached to the trailer such that if the coupler connection comes loose the safety chains or cables can keep the trailer attached to the tow vehicle With properly rigged safety chains or cables it is possible to keep the tongue of the trailer from digging into the road pavement even if the coupler to hitch connection comes apart Some states do not allow safety cables e g Pennsylvania therefore it may be wise to check with the State Police to see if your state has any restrictions on the use of safety cables if your trailer is so equipped Trailer lighting and braking connector A device that connects electrical power from the tow vehicle to
99. tion For Homesteader Trailers do notuse With single Hydraulic solenoid installation use terminal 3 do not connect to the solenoid switch at all either 4 or 5 only depending on system m Ll AS 2008 Frequency Code Hydraulic Hydraulic Pump Solenoid Hydraulic Pump Solenoid Switch Valve Solenoid Switch Function Sinale Sol paar When button 1 is depressed SIS SONIC 1 5 amp 4 powered with 12VDC With single Hydraulic solenoid installation use either 4 or 5 only depending on system ALTA When button 2 is depressed 07 3 amp 5 are powered with 12VDC b ir 10 Solenoid Valve Battery ie siu Hydraulic Solenoid Hydraulic Pump Valve Solenoid Switch Published 7 01 08 DROP LEG OPERATION SPRING RETRUN DROP LEG OPERATION WARNING Drop leg will naturally retract very quickly Verify that the jack is not supporting any load If extended place your foot on the foot plate to control the return of the drop leg Disengage drop leg pin by rotating to the disengaged position Carefully move the drop leg to the desired position Engage the drop leg pin by rotating it to the engaged position and into the desired adjustment hole Verify that the drop leg pin is fully inserted into the jack by checking for no clearance you must adjust the drop leg to fully seat the pin into the hole location You may need to l
100. tion of the trailers Certification VIN Tag are shown here Use ofa hitch with a load rating less than the bad ratng ofthe trailer can resull lossof control and may to dea h or Serious injury Use ofa towvehicde with lowing capacity less than load rating of te trailer cen result in loss of control and may lead to death or Serious injury sure your hitch and tow vehicle are rated for the Gross Vehice Weight Rating of your trailer of the trailer andjts contents The gross weight of the Siler includes the weight of the trailer and alf of the items within it such as water food and other supplies won ANRE REB ALAA AS GVWR PARN supo of axle 1 or tire rating Coro i GAWR PWheet atinexisigower ard til 16 X 6 00 J 552 KPA 80 PSI OCA TR ae asy the tow vehicle rather than b BENOTEREEEGAIRGA WR 22 0 14 he tire size recommended for your trailer and load range 28 PSIC The pounds per square inch cold is the tire pressure Kilopascals Pounds per Square Inch measured when Cold CERTIFICATION STATEMENT This trailer meets all the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect on the date of manufacture shown above VIN The Vehicle Identification Number VEHICLE TYPE Generall
101. to the recommended cold inflation pressure indicated on your vehicle s tire information placard or certification label While your tire may still be slightly under inflated due to the extra pounds of pressure in the warm tire it is safer to drive with air pressure that is slightly lower than the vehicle manufacturer s recommended cold inflation pressure than to drive with a significantly under inflated tire Since this is a temporary fix don t forget to recheck and adjust the tire s pressure when you can obtain a cold reading 246 TIRE SIZE To maintain tire safety purchase new tires that are the same size as the vehicle s original tires or another size recommended by the manufacturer Look at the tire information placard the owner s manual or the sidewall of the tire you are replacing to find this information If you have any doubt about the correct size to choose consult with the tire dealer 24 7 TIRE TREAD The tire tread provides the gripping action and traction that prevent your vehicle from slipping or sliding especially when the road 15 wet or icy In general tires are 26 not safe and should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1 16 of an inch Tires have built in tread wear indicators that let you know when it is time to replace your tires These indicators are raised sections spaced intermittently in the bottom of the tread grooves When they appear even with the outside of the tread it is time to replace your ti
102. tomatically adjusting brakes the brakes will need to be manually adjusted See section 7 2 3 2 Manually Adjusting Brake Shoes for instructions 6 3 SYNCHRONIZING THE BRAKE SYSTEMS Trailer brakes are designed to work in synchronization with the brakes on the tow vehicle When the tow vehicle and trailer braking systems are synchronized both braking systems contribute to slowing and the tongue of the trailer will neither dive nor rise sharply To insure safe brake performance and synchronization read and follow the axle brake and the brake controller manufacturers instructions If you do not have these instructions please contact your dealer in which you purchased your trailer through or DCT Trailers Inc at 605 428 3299 or e mail them at sales dct usa com for a free copy 6 4 TIRE PRESSURE er and tow vehicle Inflate to the maximum shown on Risk of Death by crushing dump body before using body prop WARNING 7 1 INSPECTION SERVICE amp MAINTENANCE SUMMA s Riek of Death by crushing You must inspect maintain and service your trail operation If you cannot unsure howto jersonisnearthe contwl Pra doclor do than Nota Ie t this manual also check the relevant component A WARNING Risk of Death by crushing Dump body can drop unexpectedly Never go under raised dump body Use body prop for maintenance CTIONS 7 21 AXLE BOLTS FRAME SUSPEN
103. ttp www nationalwheelandrim org Recreational Vehicle Industry Association http www rvia com Society of Automotive Engineers http www sae org Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association http www ttmanet org STANDARDS amp REGULATIONS American National Standards Institute http www ansi org Code of Federal Regulations http www access gpo gov nara cfr cfr table search html Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards http www access gpo gov nara ctr waisidx 99 49cfrb71 99 html Federal Register http www gpoaccess gov fr Trailer Lighting Posters http www nhtsa dot gov cars rules standards conspicuity Trirpstr html EARLY WARNING REPORTING NHTSA Early Warning Reporting http www odi nhtsa dot gov ewr ewr cfm GOVERNMENT Federal Highway Administration http www fhwa dot gov Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration http www fmcsa dot gov exploded picture of a wheel please see the Axle Owner s http www dot B e un NHTSA Manufacturer Information http www nhtsa dot gov cars rules manufacture Search Bill Summary amp Status 108th Congress http thomas loc gov bss d108query html State by State Lemon Law Information http www autopedia com html HotLinks Lemon2 html 6 U S Department of Transportation USDOT http www dot gov CANADA Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators http www ccmta ca english Canadian Transportation Equipment Association http www ctea on
104. ubricate the drop leg pin assembly as described in the maintenance section If you are unable to fully seat the pin DO NOT USE Drop Leg Pin Drop Leg Engaged No Clearance N n Pinnot NA AA fully Drop Leg Pin 104 Clearance Dido NON SPRING RETRUN DROP LEG OPERATION WARNING Drop leg will naturally fall Verify that the jack is not supporting any load If retracted grasp the handle of foot plate to control the fall of the drop leg Disengage drop leg pin by rotating to the disengaged position Carefully move the drop leg to the desired position Engage the drop leg pin by rotating it to the engaged position and into the desired adjustment hole Verify that the drop leg pin is fully inserted into the jack by checking for no clearance between the drop leg pin and housing If you see clearance you must adjust the drop leg to fully seat the pin into the hole location You may need to lubricate the drop leg pin assembly as described in the maintenance section If you are unable to fully seat the pin DO NOT USE MAINTENANCE Dil a v p 1 0 d 229 s ET 1 1 The following procedures should be performed at least annually The gears bushings and screw of the hack must be kept lubricated For side wind models apply a small amount of automotive grease with a grease gun at the lubrication points found on
105. uring testing 2 4 TIRE SAFETY EVERYTHING RIDES ON IT The National Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA has published a brochure DOT HS 809 361 that discusses all aspects of Tire Safety as required by CFR 575 6 This brochure is reproduced in part below It can be obtained and downloaded from NHTSA free of charge from the following web site http www nhtsa dot gov cars rules TireSafety ridesonit tires index html KEEP IN MIND EVERY TIME AS YOU ARE TOWING YOUR TRAILER THAT YOUR SPEED SHOULD BE MAINTAINED IT S FOR EVERYONE S SAFETY The TRA Tire amp Rim Association 2007 year book classifies ST tires at a speed rating of only 65 This speed rating is not noted on the tire itself however all ST tires are rated this same speed Other factors can also affect the performance of the trailer tire such as inflation rate and load weight Reduced tire inflation reduces the load carrying capacity causing the opportunity to be overloaded even at normal operating conditions This with the possibility the trailer may already be overloaded beyond its normal operating condition only compounds the problem We fund vehicle overload conditions when consumers and end users do not properly distribute the payload or cargo on their trailer Many manufacturers account for load transfer to the tow vehicle when establishing their Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or GVWR Depending on the type of vehicle this can be anywhere from 10 percent to 25 percent
106. users need to be familiar with and practice Inadequate and or inappropriate wheel nut torque tightness is a major reason that lug nuts loosen in service Loose lug nuts can rapidly lead to a wheel separation with potentially serious safety consequences WARNING Lug nuts are prone to loose When driving on a new or re lf the vacuum gauge in tow vehicle not at or above 18 In inches of mercury damage to often during the first few the brake system will result and the brakes may the first 10 25 and 50 miles become inoperable per year thereafter Tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque for the axle size on your trailer to prevent wheels from coming loose Use a torque wrench to tighten the fasteners The only way to be certain you have checked the torque or torqued the lug nuts to the proper torque is with a torque wrench Four way wrenches ratchets and similar tools can be useful for short term emergency repairs but are not appropriate tools for adequately checking lug nut torque You must use a torque wrench to adequately indicate the torque that you are applying to the lug nut If you do not have a torque wrench tighten the fasteners with a lug wrench as much as you can then have a service garage or dealer tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque Over tightening will result in breaking the studs or permanently deforming the mounting stud holes in the wheels Keep a record of the date and approximate
107. wable sure lug nuts are tight before each sh as to provide the proper tongue weight tow After loading be sure to check that none of the axles are overloaded The numbers quoted in the graph to the left are for example purposes only and should be tailored to the specific trailer For questions regarding the actual percent of tongue weight for the trailer check with the manufacturer for specifics Goes with tongue weight percentage of loaded graph Uneven left right load distributi Be sure your trailer is evenly loa keeping the center of gravity as WARNING creep between the wheel and hub may cause lug nuts to loosen and could result wheel coming off leading to death or serious injury Tighten lug nuts before each tow 1 2 11 SHIFTING CARGO and rough you must secure your cargo so that WARNING towed Lug nuts prone to loosen after initial installation which can lead to death or serious GO injury ic cargo only carry that cargo on the trailer Check lug nutsfortightness on a newtralleror certain items such as people containers of when wheels have been remounted afier h rs of flammable substances If your trailer is frst 10 25 and 50 mies of driving arry that cargo on the trailer A utility trailer must not be used to carry certain items such as people containers of hazardous substances or containers of flammable substances
108. y the word trailer is used However after this you may put a Model or additional descriptor Tow Vehicle When equipping a new vehicle or an older vehicle to tow your trailer ask the vehicle dealers for advice on how to outfit the towing vehicle Discuss the following information and equipment with the vehicle dealer Overall Carrying and Towing Capacity of Vehicle Vehicle manufacturers will provide you with the maximum towing capacities of their various models as well as the GCWR No amount of reinforcement will give a 100 horsepower 2 500 pound truck the towing capacity that a 300 horsepower 5 000 pound truck has Towing Hitch The towing hitch attached to your tow vehicle must have a capacity equal to or greater than the load rating of the trailer you intend to tow The hitch capacity must also be matched to the tow vehicle capacity Suspension System A tow vehicle equipped with a factory installed Towing Package likely comes equipped with heavy duty springs heavy duty tires and other suspension components which are able to serve the size and weight of the trailer that the vehicle is rated to tow However the addition of additional equipment may further improve the tow vehicle performance These may include adjustable air shocks helper springs etc Brake Controller The brake controller is part of the tow vehicle and is essential in the operation of the electric brakes on the trailer If your trailer has electric brakes it requi

Owner`s Manual - Dell Rapids Custom Trailers

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