safety guidelines — TRAILERS
TIRe saFeTY
unsafe Tires, Lug nuts or Wheels
Trailer tires and wheels are more likely to fail than car tires and wheels because they carry a heavier load. Therefore, it is essential to inspect the trailer tires before each tow.
If a tire has a bald spot, bulge, cuts, is showing any cords, or is cracked, replace the tire before towing. If a tire has uneven tread wear, take the trailer to a dealer service center for diagnosis.
Uneven tread wear can be caused by tire imbalance, axle misalignment or incorrect infl ation.
Tires with too little tread will not provide adequate tracking on wet roadways and can result in loss of control, leading to death or serious injury.
Improper tire pressure causes an unstable trailer and can result in a tire blowout and loss of control. Therefore, before each tow you must also check the tire pressure.Tire pressure must be checked when tires are cold.
Allow 3 hours
Since trailer wheels and lug nuts (or bolts) are subjected to greater side loads than automobile wheels, they are more prone to loosen. Before each tow, check to make sure they are tight.
The proper tightness (torque) for lug nuts is listed in the lug nut tightening section of this manual. Use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts. If you do not have a torque wrench, use a lug wrench (from your tow vehicle) and tighten the nuts as much as you can. Then have a service garage or trailer dealer tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque.
WaRnIng
Metal creep between the wheel rim and lug nuts will cause rim to loosen and could result in a wheel coming off, leading to death or serious injury.
Tighten lug nuts before each tow.
Lug nuts are also prone to loosen after first being assembled. When driving a new trailer (or after wheels have been remounted), check to make sure they are tight after the fi rst 10, 25 and 50 miles of driving and before each tow thereafter.
Failure to perform this check can result in a wheel parting from the trailer and a crash, leading to death or serious injury.
WaRnIng
Lug nuts are prone to loosen after initial installation, which can lead to death or serious injury.
Check lug nuts for tightness on a new trailer or when wheel(s) have been remounted after the fi rst 10, 25 and 50 miles of driving.
WaRnIng
Improper lug nut torque can cause a wheel parting from the trailer, leading to death or serious injury.
Be sure lug nuts are tight before each tow.
WaRnIng
Improper tire pressure can result in a blowout and loss of control, which can lead to death or serious injury.
Be sure tires are infl ated to pressure indicated on side wall before towing trailer.
Determining Load Limit of Trailer
Determining the load limits of a trailer includes more than understanding the load limits of the tires alone. On all trailers there is a Federal certifi cation/VIN label that is located on the forward half of the left (road) side of the unit. This certifi cation/VIN label will indicate the trailer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). This is the most weight the fully loaded trailer can weigh. It will also provide the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). This is the most a the axle can weigh.
page 36 — MLT20 sERIES LIGHT TOWER • operation manual — rev. #0 (01/18/13)
