Trailer guidelines
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.
There is a vehicle placard (Figure H) located in the same location as the certifi cation label described above. This placard provides tire and loading information. In addition, this placard will show a statement regarding maximum cargo capacity.
TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION
The weight of cargo should never exceed XXX kg. Or XXX lbs.
TIRE | SIZE COLD TIRE PRESSURE | SEE OWNER’S |
FRONT |
| MANUAL FOR |
REAR |
| ADDITIONAL |
SPARE |
| INFORMATION |
|
| |
|
|
|
Figure H. Trailer Tire Placard
If additional work items (hoses, tools, clamps etc.) are going to be added to the trailer, be sure they are distributed evenly to prevent overloading front to back and side to side. Heavy items should be placed low and as close to the axle positions as reasonable. Too many items on one side may overload a tire.
Excessive loads and/or underinfl ation cause tire overloading and, as a result, abnormal tire fl exing occurs.This situation can generate an excessive amount of heat within the tire. Excessive heat may lead to tire failure. It is the air pressure that enables a tire to support the load, so proper infl ation is critical. The proper air pressure may be found on the certifi cation/VIN label and/or on the Tire and Loading Information placard. This value should never exceed the maximum cold infl ation pressure stamped on the tire.
Perform the following steps to determine the load limit of your trailer.
step 1.
Locate the statement, “The weight of cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.,” on your vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information placard (Figure I). This value equals the available amount of equipment load capacity.
page 50 — DCA20spxu2 servpro® • operation and parts manual — rev. #0 (09/23/13)
