View Owner`s Manual - COMPANION Trailers
Contents
1. General Safety Page 9 Product Specifications Companion 4 Page 10 Companion 6 Page 11 Companion 8 Page 12 Limited warrantee Page 13 Exclusion from Warranty Page 13 Reporting Safety Defects Page 13 Note Companion Trailers Inc Reserves the right to change the content of this manual without any notice Visit our website at www companiontrailers com Safe Operating Instructions As an operator and user of a trailer it is your duty to ensure that you are familiar with all the Safety Instructions The following pages will assist you in becoming competent in maintaining and operating a Companion trailer in a safe manner So sit back and spend some time getting familiar with the latest addition to your family Preparing your Companion for a trip Bes tee Speers ME Deere wee Make sure All bolts and nuts are tight Ensure that the Trailer capacity was not exceeded Tire Care Ensure all lids are closed secured and locked Ensure tires are inflated to the indicated cold pressure Tire inflation pressure is an important factor in proper Ensure the coupler is securely latched to the hitch ball handling as well as tire life Maximum inflation pressure Always use a coupler lock that will prevent the coupler from oe ee i uncoupling from the ball during towing is indicated on the tire side wall and should always be Ensure that the safety chains are crossed under the tongue and secured to the frame of the tow2. U S DEPARTMENT of TRANSPORTATION 400 7th Street SW NSA 11 Washington DC 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline Companion Trailers Inc Phone 682 597 8944 682 597 8948 E mail info companiontrailers com
3. carried out without their written prior authorization Exclusion from Warranty Neither of these warranties shall apply to e Damage caused by accident or through trailer misuse e Any action or failure to comply with actions as described in the user manual The obligation of Companion Trailers Inc shall be limited to the repair or replacement of parts which are judged defective by Companion Trailers Inc Companion Trailers Inc will not be liable for costs or charges derived from inconveniences loss of use financial or commercial losses howsoever caused Neither shall Companion Trailers Inc be liable for shipping towing or storage charges inconveniences or loss of time or income or any other consequential damages of any kind or nature Reporting Safety Defects If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which 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 Companion Trailers Inc If NHTSA receives similar complaints it may open an investigation and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles it may order a recall and remedy campaign However NHTSA cannot become involved in any individual problems between you your dealer or Companion Trailers Inc To contact NHTSA you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll free at 1 800 424 9393 366 0123 in Washington DC area or write to NHTSA
4. first trip allow yourself some time to get used to the new sensation of towing a trailer Very soon you will find your Companion trailer to be very well behaved behind a towing vehicle and easy to tow Wherever you go it will follow Never exceed the posted speed limits and always adjust your speed to suit adverse road conditions Backing up with a trailer Backing up with a trailer does take some practice It s best to practice in a open area and in a vehicle that allows you to see the trailer through the rear window Never back up with your vehicle unless you can see the trailer Since the trailer is so small it turns very easily and a small adjustment on the steering has a major influence on the direction of the trailer Vans trucks and campers that have obstructed rear views require more practice and the use of side mirrors If you cannot see the trailer at all due to the size of your vehicle it is a good idea to fit a small red flag at the back of the trailer Use an antenna holder or similar so that the flag is visible through the rear window This will spare a lot of guess work Is the trailer still there Drive slowly and make steering adjustments a little at a time Sometimes it is just easier to get out uncouple the trailer do the reversing and then hook it back up Go wide and slow on turns Be careful not to make sharp turns or sudden moves when towing Companion trailers were designed with a low center of gravity but m
5. lids were designed to take the occasional mishap by flexing down and popping right back when you remove the load However the top of your Companion is not made for sitting or stepping on Doing this will damage your trailer and could lead to costly repairs Page 10 Visit our website at www companiontrailers com Companion 4 The Companion 4 is the Baby of the family This trailer is small enough to be towed by most vehicles on the road today but has ample space to fit all the luggage for a family vacation of 4 NOTE This trailer is Not recommended for Motorcycles Technical Specifications Maximum Load Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GVWR Dry weight Overall Length Overall width Height Width luggage compartment Luggage compartment Nose Cone Material Paint Suspension Coupler 600 Ib 1000 Ib 400 Ib 7 ft 60 40 48 inch 24 cub ft 7 5 Cub ft Cold rolled AS 300 Powder coating Rubber Torsion Axle 2 inch Always consult your Motor Vehicle dealer for the towing capacity of your vehicle and ensure that you have a suitably approved coupling arrangement for the trailer weight you want to tow Never exceed these specifications and never overload your trailer by exceeding the maximum load limit of your trailer Not only is this foolhardy but if you fail to do this you might be held liable in case of an accident or mishap Companion Trailers Inc Companion 6 The Companion 6 is the mid size t
6. the chains under the trailer tongue and allow slack for turning For additional security padlock the trailer hitch to the tow vehicle or use a pin lock as shown in the figure That will also prevent someone from removing the trailer while youre away from the vehicle INPROPER SECURING OF THE JOCKEY WHEEL MIGHT LEAD TO DAMAGE OF YOUR TRAILER OR THE PROPERTY OF OTHER ROAD USERS s Ensure that the trailer is properly connected and safety chains attached Using the crank handle screw the Jockey wheel all the way up until the wheel is off the ground and the crank handle hand tight Loosen the clamping bracket and pull the jockey wheel all the way upwards The wheel should be facing to the rear of the trailer and snugly against the trailer tongue Secure the clamping bracket enough to prevent loosening from vibrations Visually check at regular intervals to ensure that the jockey wheel is still in raised position Sq i Lift and secure the Jockey wheel sS Ensure that the trailer is properly connected and safety chains attached Using the crank handle screw the Jockey wheel all the way up until the wheel is off the ground and the crank handle is hand tight You might need to stop the wheel from rotating iror ad by holding it or putting a foot to it Do not force the handle this will shear the pin holding the handle to the jockey wheel and you will need to replace it Loosen the clamping bracket and pull the joc
7. to leave the vehicle unless it is safe and they are away from the roadway and traffic Always use your vehicle s hazard lights when you have to stop This will indicate caution to fellow road users Secure your trailer wheels so they do not run away Companion trailers are not fitted with park brakes so be careful when you uncouple your trailer on an incline or sloped paving found that dropping the safety chains in front or behind the jockey wheel depending on the incline will keep the trailer from running away on a slight incline Secure the trailer from moving by placing a suitable object depending on the direction of the slope behind or in front of the wheels before you uncouple the coupler from the ball Make sure your trailer is stationary and secure before you remove the safety chains Ensure that you are able to hold and maneuver the trailer before you remove the object from the wheels It is always better to have someone to help with coupling and uncoupling the trailer it might save you a lot of embarrassment by not having to go and fetch your trailer from the neighbor s front yard Do not load on top of trailer The top of your Companion is not made for loading any goods goods go inside There is no way of securing any items to the outside of the trailer and the lid is not designed to take a load Doing this will not only damage your trailer but tt could endanger your fellow road users Do not step or sit on top of trailer The
8. 0 cone a angle zinc plated nuts or lug bolts and initially tighten to y Se ee 12 20 ft lbs using a cross tightening sequence 1 3 2 4 Check wheel nuts for tightness Finish torquing to 70 80 ft lbs Nuts and studs should be v Wheelnuts on remounted wheels should be checked the clean dry and not lubricated first 10 25 and 50 miles Spare Wheel Your Companion is not supplied with a spare wheel This can be a slight inconvenience should the need arise so it is a good idea to always keep a can of Fix A Flat or similar in your nose cone Just in case The wheels are standard and available at most trailer shops throughout the country Do not replace the tires with passenger or truck tires Trailer tires are specially made for trailers and will resist sway Always replace with the same type of tire as indicated on the VIN plate For your Companion this is a 4 80 x 12 load rating B or also called 4 ply Companion Trailers Inc Loading your Companion Tongue weight How a trailer handles down the road depends upon tongue weight Too much weight will cause the rear of the trailer to sway and make the tow vehicle difficult to control The tongue weight should not exceed 200 pounds for trailer up to 2 000 pounds Tongue weight for trailers over 2 000 pounds should be 10 to 15 of the trailer s loaded weight For your Companion a bathroom scale under the jockey wheel will work well for taking this measurement How t
9. COMPANION Owner s Manual Trallars Companion 4 6 and 8 Companion Trailers Inc MADE WITH PRIDE aoe en J b E Sa CE P Changing the way you Travel Revision 06 01 06 This Manual contains important and valuable information about the use and Safe operation of your Companion Trailer Please read it carefully and ensure that you or the user adhere to these instructions Not only will this assist in the prevention of unnecessary accidents or mishaps but it will save you money and ensure a long and happy relationship with your Companion Visit our website at www companiontrailers com The Companion Companion trailers are family friendly trailers that are small enough to be towed by most vehicles on the road today They have a simple yet elegant design that makes them functional and easy to use They allow the user the option of owning a smaller motor vehicle and the comfort of adding space when needed We trust that you will enjoy the new addition to your family and that it gives you many years of safe reliable service Thank you for purchasing a Companion and Travel Safely See you on the road Louis and Kevin Companion Trailers Inc Table of Contents Safe Operating Instructions Page 4 Preparing your Companion for a trip Page 4 Loading your Companion Coupling your Companion to the towing vehicle Page 6 Towing your Companion Page 7 Maintaining and Storing your Companion Page 8
10. Thisis the maximum weight your trailer can safely carry Never exceed this weight Failure to do this could lead to loss of control and serious injury or death For your safety and that of your family never exceed this weight Close and lock all latches Never tow your trailer with the latches to the lids open or unlocked While towing the force of the wind on a open lid may rip the lids off and cause damage to your trailer and severe injury to your fellow road users We recommend a small lock of your choice for each latch Locking the latches will also keep your belongings safe and away from prying eyes ENSURE ALL LIDS ARE CLOSED BY SECURING AND LOCKING ALL LATCHES BEFORE TOWING THE TRAILER Towing the trailer wth open latches may result in the lids becoming detached from your trailer and causing severe injury to fellow road users Visit our website at www companiontrailers com Coupling your Companion to the towing vehicle Make sure your vehicle is suitable UNCOUPLING OF THE TRAILER MAY Although the Companion trailers are small and can be CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH accommodated by most vehicles you must ensure that your vehicle is capable of doing this Just because a vehicle has the power to pull a loaded trailer down the road doesnt mean it will be able to haul it up a steep hill or that the brakes are capable of holding it on a steep incline Follow your vehicle manufac
11. aking sharp turns at soeed must be avoided as this might cause your trailer to overturn All trailers tend to cut corners more sharply than the tow vehicle which can be dangerous when cutting corners close to curbs other vehicles and road side obstructions Striking solid objects at an angle can cause tire damage and more importantly cause you to lose control momentarily Swaying lf for any reason the trailer starts swaying while towing Something is wrong and you should slow down to where you can safely stop and investigate the cause DO NOT STEP ON THE BRAKE if your trailer starts swaying This will cause your trailer to Jackknife and could result in serious damage to your vehicle and trailer Hold the steering wheel steady and ease off on the gas all the time reducing the speed of the vehicle Let your vehicle come to a comfortable speed apply brake slowly and come to a steady stop at a safe place away from traffic Swaying can be caused by a flat or blown out tire seized wheel bearing a coupling that became disconnected incorrect loading of the trailer or a load that shifted during traveling Investigate the cause and rectify before proceeding Do not forget about your Trailer This sounds really obvious but unfortunately have seen this happen The trailer is so easy to tow that you tend to forget that you have something behind the vehicle have seen people park their vehicle go into the store come back out get in the
12. cans that will be suitable for this purpose Just match the color to your trailer and follow the instructions on the can Then keep the can handy for the next time you might need tt This is a small investment in a little maintenance that will keep your investment in good condition and prolong its useful life Lubricate the locks hinges and coupler with a shot of WD 40 This will keep these parts in good working condition and free from rust A shot of the same on the inside of the coupler is also adequate for lubricating the ball during towing and will not ruin your clothing if you accidentally brush up against it Do not use your trailer to accumulate garden refuse Although garden refuse like leaves twigs and plant material looks dry at the time it will soon build up moisture and start generating heat Add some oxygen and you have perfect conditions for rust Pretty soon all that will be left of your Companion is a set of wheels and a tow bar Should you store your Companion outside it is always a good idea to protect it from the elements with a car cover Do not use plastic for this purpose plastic will trap moisture on the inside and prolonged storage under this condition will cause more harm than good Use a cover that breathes These covers allow the moisture to evaporate while protecting from UV rays and other adverse weather conditions Most local Spares or Super stores keep a variety of covers for all kinds of vehicles or boats and ca
13. g GVWR Dry Weight Overall Length Overall width Height Width luggage compartment Luggage compartment Nose Cone Material Paint Suspension Coupler 1400 Ib 2100 Ib 700 Ib 11 ft 60 40 48 inch 48 cub ft 7 5 Cub ft Cold rolled AS 300 Powder coating Rubber Torsion twin Axle 2 inch Always consult your Motor Vehicle dealer for the towing capacity of your vehicle and ensure that you have a suitably approved coupling arrangement for the trailer weight you want to tow Never exceed these speci fications and never overload your trailer by exceeding the maximum load limit of your trailer Not only is this foolhardy but if you fail to do this you might be held liable in case of an accident or mishap Companion Trailers Inc Limited Six Month Warranty Companion Trailers Inc warrants each Trailer free of defects caused by faulty workmanship or defects in materials under normal use and service for a period of six months from the date of purchase During this period warranty repairs will be made without charge either by Companion Trailers Inc or by an authorized repair center It is the responsibility of the owner of the trailer to notify Companion Trailers Inc in writing of any defects which may need to be rectified under this warranty All warranty repairs must have the prior approval of Companion Trailers Inc before repairs are commenced Companion Trailers Inc will not be responsible for the cost of repairs
14. ing vehicle Make sure the electrical connection is connected and all lights are working Screw the Jockey wheel down all the way till the crank is tight then raise it to its highest position and secure with the clamp Take frequent breaks from driving and visually repeat the inspections checked when the tire is cold before operation It s wise to periodically check tires for wear cuts or other damage and replace as needed Above all maintain the tire pressure Improperly inflated tires will cause them to wear out faster and reduce fuel efficiency Wheel Bearings Wheel bearings are the heart of trailers They need to remain airtight and packed with fresh grease Poorly greased bearings will overheat and deteriorate creating serious problems if they fail They should be inspected and repacked at least once a year depending upon the amount of use Lay your hand on your wheel hubs after traveling They will be warm to the touch but moderate heat is normal If however they feel unusually warm you may have a problem Routine maintenance is a good precaution Wheel Nuts An important safety procedure is to apply and maintain proper lug torque on trailer rims Too little torque may cause the wheel to wobble or fall off Wheel nuts bolts WHEEL NUT FAILUARE MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL should be torqued after each wheel removal re torqued Before towing after 50 miles and frequently thereafter Use 6
15. ir vehicle and just back up without looking The next thing you hear the terrible sound of a trailer being pushed sideways This will result in a bent drawbar and serious damage to your trailer and vehicle not a good way to start a vacation Visit our website at www companiontrailers com Maintaining and Storing your Companion Depending on how you purchased your trailer it may come fully assembled or in a crate To save some space for crating the wheels are removed and shipped inside the luggage compartment If this is the case use your car jack and wheel nut wrench to fit the wheels Use the wheel nuts provided for this purpose The wheel nuts should be fitted with the taper towards the rim of the wheel To fasten follow the procedure as prescribed previously for torquing the wheel nuts It is always a good idea to give your new Companion a good wax inside out before you use it for the first time Not only will this get rid of any dirt that might be on it from the factory or shipping but it will seal the paint and aid in keeping it clean We recommend that you fit some kind of protection to the inside of your trailer to prevent it from becoming too banged up through use The choice of a liner is personal preference It will depend on what you are going to use your trailer for In general the heavier the use the heavier the liner Your choice of liners will also depend on the character that you want it to adopt for your Companion Suitable li
16. key wheel all the way upwards and away from the road The wheel should be wheel from rotating and winding itself down while you travel Secure the clamping bracket I i tightly enough to prevent loosening from vibrations As an extra safety measure a small safety chain is attached to the trailer tongue This is for the Jockey wheel Insert the safety chain through the hole in the jockey wheel fork Visually check at regular intervals to ensure that the jockey wheel is still in the raised position Do not lubricate the outer tube or bracket of the jockey wheel as you need a good solid grip between these components Please look after your jockey wheel Do not ramp the jockey wheel over uneven surfaces This will bend the tubes Companion Trailers Inc or snap the bolts securing it to the trailer tongue Replacements are costly but can be ordered online Ensure the lights are working Check the trailer s lights before you drive Ask someone to stand behind the trailer to make sure the tail lights brake lights and turn signals are working properly If signals are dim there could be a bad connection An occasional shot of WD 40 into the wiring connector will reduce corrosion Your companion is fitted with LED lights and if properly cared for should last for a very long time Replacement lights are standard and available at most parts dealers Towing your Companion Get acquainted with your trailer When you take your Companion out for its
17. n assist you in selecting a suitable cover for your Companion Secure your Companion from theft Unfortunately a Companion Trailer is one of those items that most people want but not everyone can afford so needless to say it seems that some of them tend to get feet and walk away all by themselves There is a variety of devices available today at little cost that can help you secure your trailer from theft Securing the safety chain around a pole with a padlock is a simple way to deter some unwanted company Companion Trailers Inc General Safety Never allow people or animals to travel in or on your trailer Not only is this against the law but it is extremely dangerous even for a short distance Do not let kids play in the empty trailer The lids are not lockable from the inside but neither can they be opened from the inside in case someone should be locked in Always keep the lids closed and locked to prevent children from playing in the trailer and locking each other in for fun Your Companion is airtight with the lids closed and people or animals will suffocate under these circumstances Never work on traffic side of your trailer The lids on your Companion are fitted in such a manner that when you have to pull of to the right hand side of the road the access to your trailer will be away from passing traffic Always pull off the road where it is safe to stop and as far away from the roadway as possible Do not allow passengers
18. ners can range from a simple rubber mat or industrial carpet cut to size to a lining of 1 4 inch plywood You might even want to consider a heavy duty spray on liner like those used for trucks When returning from a trip we recommend that you clean your trailer thoroughly inside and out before you put it back in storage Make sure that you hose off any mud that might be stuck to the under carriage of your trailer as mud will accumulate moisture and eventually cause rust to form at these places Your Companion is provided with a 1 inch drain plug in the nose cone and luggage compartment These are for draining water from these compartments should you wish to hose them out Always replace these plugs before your next trip to prevent water from entering your trailer through these holes Never store wet equipment or clothes in your trailer In most cases it will take as little as 24 hours for mildew to form and ruin your equipment Ensure that your trailer is completely dry on the inside before closing the lids and storing it for any amount of time Your Companion is made of mild steel and should you store it with the inside wet or with wet equipment on the inside it will rust Rust is your trailers biggest enemy and the only protection that your trailer has against it is the coating of paint To prevent rust from forming touch up places where the paint has been scratched or chipped off Your local hardware store should have a variety of paint spray
19. o load When loading balance the cargo with 60 percent of the weight near the front and evenly distributed from side to side Start loading your trailer with the heavier items to the front of the cargo space and work your way backwards The nosecone is ideal for storing the last minute items or the items to which you need quick access When Camping this is also ideal for all the kitchen ware Because the trailer is enclosed you do not need to fasten down the load but always pack items so that they cannot move around during the trip Always fill up empty space Empty cardboard boxes are light and ideal for packing material or for filling up empty space Remember If you allow heavy items to roll around in the trailer you could damage the item and cause unnecessary damage to the trailer s body Do not overload Never overload your trailer Overloading your trailer could result in loss of control of your vehicle or component failure Before loading your trailer for the first time you need to verify the load capacity of the trailer This can be done by weighing the empty trailer and subtracting this number i from the Gross Vehicle Weight Ratio GVWR as indicated on PEERS E ener the VIN plate The result of this calculation will give you the maximum weight that your trailer can safely carry Verfy the load capacity of your Traller by weighing the empty trailer and subtracting this number fram the GVWR as indicated on the VIN plate
20. railer of the family This trailer is 2 feet longer than the baby brother but the same in all other aspects It provides a little more space for the larger family Towing vehicles should have an engine capacity of at least 2 liters or more NOTE This trailer is Not recommended for Motorcycles Technical Specitications Maximum Load Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GVWR Dry Weight Overall Length Overall width Height Width luggage compartment Luggage compartment Nose Cone Material Paint Suspension Coupler 1000 Ib 1500 Ib 500 Ib 9 ft 60 40 48 inch 36 cub ft 7 5 Cub ft Cold rolled AS 300 Powder coating Rubber Torsion Axle 2 inch Always consult your Motor Vehicle dealer for the towing capacity of your vehicle and ensure that you have a suitably approved coupling arrangement for the trailer weight you want to tow Never exceed these specifications and never overload your trailer by exceeding the maximum load limit of your trailer Not only is this foolhardy but if you fail to do this you might be held liable in case of an accident or mishap Page 12 Visit our website at www companiontrailers com Companion 8 The Companion 8 is the Biggest trailer of the family and has ample space to fit all the luggage for a large family This trailer is recommended for a towing vehicle with engine capacity of 3 liters or more Technical Specifications Maximum Load Gross Vehicle Weight Ratin
21. turers towing guidelines and never exceed tow limits Too much trailer weight can cause an accident v Ensure that the ball load rating of your coupling is adequate to accommodate the trailer Ensure that the ball size is the same as the trailer coupler 2 inch Close coupler clamp on the ball and lift upwards on the trailer tongue to test the connection Lock coupler clamp with pin or padlock Cross safety chains under trailer tongue and secure to the frame of the towing vehicle Tow hitch The tow hitch on your vehicle must be suitable to accommodate the weight of the trailer Make sure that you follow the manufacturer s instructions and that you adhere to the safe loads for which the tow hitch was designed Overloading a tow hitch could result in failure of the components and the trailer becoming uncoupled from the vehicle Injuries as a result of this action could have very serious consequences The ball diameter you will need for your Companion is 2 inch Ensure that your trailer is as level as possible by fitting a ball hitch with a suitable drop or raise Hitching up your trailer Make sure that the hitch coupler is secured by lifting the trailer tongue upwards to test the coupling Safety chains should be properly attached and the electrical plug properly installed Secure the trailer Keep the safety chains provided on the trailers fastened securely to the tow vehicle in case the hitch fails Cross
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