Maytag 2006 owner manual Towing Your Airstream, Electric Brakes

ELECTRIC BRAKES

The brakes are operated by 12 volt current from your tow vehicle and MUST BE HOOKED UP SO THAT YOU HAVE AN INTEGRAL SYSTEM WITH YOUR TOW VEHICLE BRAKES. To prevent problems and insure satisfactory braking action, install an electronic controller in line with the brakes in your tow vehicle.

An electronic controller installed in your tow vehicle will synchronize the trailer brakes with your tow vehicle brakes. It is designed to apply the trailer brakes with your tow vehicle brakes.

Your brake controller should be adjusted to provide for a slight lead of the trailer brakes over the tow vehicle brakes. Follow the directions provided with your controller and keep the information for future reference. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If you don’t understand the directions, have the installer explain the procedures.

Due to normal brake lining wear, the brakes and the controller setting should be checked and readjusted, if necessary, during the trailer manufacturer’s recommended inspection intervals.

Note: Brake lining adjustment should be periodically checked (fully) to be sure trailer brakes are in the same adjustment as the tow vehicles.

Properly set these adjustments will provide for safe comfortable stops. They will also help assure optimum brake and tire life for both the tow vehicle and the trailer.

In THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENTAL SEPARATION of the tow vehicle and the trailer, the BREAK-AWAY SWITCH will set and lock the trailer brakes for a sufficient length of time to stop the trailer. The switch is activated when the wire attached to it and to the tow vehicle pulls out the small pin in the front of the unit. THIS PIN SHOULD BE PULLED OUT, LUBRICATED WITH LIGHT HOUSEHOLD OIL, AND REPLACED EVERY 90 DAYS.

TOWING YOUR AIRSTREAM

To prevent corrosion within the breakaway switch, pull the switch’s pin straight forward and spray the inside of the switch through the hole with an electric contact cleaner (such as Spra- Kleen) and reinsert pin. A drop of light household oil on the groove

near the base of the pin will allow the pin to operate freely. WHEN THE TRAILER IS B CONNECTED TO THE TOW VEHICLE, THE BREAKAWAY SWITCH LOOP SHOULD

BE ATTACHED TO THE PERMANENT FRAME OF YOUR HITCH. When disconnecting the trailer from the tow vehicle remove wire loop from the frame. DO NOT REMOVE THE PIN FROM THE SWITCH BECAUSE THIS WILL APPLY THE TRAILER BRAKES.

CAUTION: Do not use breakaway switch for parking brake.

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