TOWING YOUR AIRSTREAM
| HITCHING UP | |
B | Hitching up your trailer is something that will become almost second nature with practice. The | |
following section includes proper hitch load distribution and a procedure for hitching up. | ||
| ||
| Equalizing Hitch Load Distribution | |
| When a trailer is hitched up properly to a tow vehicle with a load equalizing hitch, approxi- | |
| mately 1/3 of the trailer’s tongue weight will be on the trailer’s axles and 2/3 will be transferred | |
| to the tow vehicle, 1/3 of this weight transfer will be carried by the front wheels and 1/3 by | |
| the rear wheels of the tow vehicle (See diagram), Thus, the tire load of each wheel on the tow | |
| vehicle will be increased by 1/6 of the trailer’s tongue weight. The tire air pressure of the tow | |
| vehicle should be increased to compensate for this additional weight. Refer to the vehicle’s | |
| owner’s manual for this information. | |
| Warning: The tongue weight should he approximately 10% of the trailer’s | |
| total weight, but MUST NOT EXCEED 1,000 lbs. And, under no condition should it exceed | |
| the hitch rating. Your hitch installer should provide your hitch rating information. | |
| Sway Control Device | |
| Although Airstream has not intruded into the hitch manufacturers field of expertise and | |
| performed formal testing, we find the vast majority of Airstream owner’s purchases sway- | |
| control devices. | |
| When passed by large trucks or when exposed to sudden crosswinds the trailer will be | |
| “pushed” and this action will be felt in the tow vehicle. It’s our understanding the sway control | |
| devices will reduce the amount of movement and make towing more comfortable and add | |
| some safety. |
Percentage of Tongue Load distributed to car and or trailer wheels
Follow the directions of the sway control manufacturer when having it installed and using it.
B - 5
