safety guidelines — TRAILERS
NOTICE
Overloading can damage the tongue jack. DO nOT use the tongue jack to raise the tow vehicle more than one inch.
If the coupler cannot be secured to the hitch ball, do not tow the trailer. Call your dealer for assistance. Lower the trailer so that its entire tongue weight is held by the hitch and continue retracting the jack to its fully retracted position.
attaching safety Chain
Visually inspect the safety chains and hooks for wear or damage. Replace worn or damaged safety chains and hooks before towing.
Attach the safety chains so that they:
• Cross underneath the coupler. See Figure E.
TOW
VEHICLE
TRAILER
TONGUE
IMPORTANT!
SAFETY CHAIN | CROSS BOTH | |
MASTER LINK | ||
SAFETY CHAINS | ||
|
Figure E. Attaching Safety Chain (Ball Hitch)
•Loop around a frame member of the tow vehicle or holes provided in the hitch system (DO NOT attach them to an interchangeable part of the hitch assembly).
•Have enough slack to permit tight turns, but not be close to the road surface, so if the trailer uncouples, the safety chains can hold the tongue up above the road
. 
WaRnIng
Improper rigging of the safety chains can result in loss of control of the trailer and tow vehicle, leading to death or serious injury, if the trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle.
•Fasten chains to frame of tow vehicle. DO NOT fasten chains to any part of the hitch unless the hitch has holes or loops specifi cally for that purpose.
•Cross chains underneath hitch and coupler with enough slack to permit turning and to hold tongue up, if the trailer comes loose.
Breakaway Brake system
If the coupler or hitch fails, a properly connected and working breakaway brake system (Figure F) will apply the hydraulic brakes on the trailer. The safety chains will keep the tow vehicle attached and as the brakes are applied at the trailer’s axles, the trailer/tow vehicle combination will come to a controlled stop.
Connect Cable to | Breakaway Lever |
| |
Tow Vehicle |
|
Hydraulic Actuator
Figure F. Breakaway Brake System
Breakaway Cable surge Brake system
The breakaway brake system includes a brake cable connected to the tow vehicle on one end and to the emergency brake lever located on the hydraulic actuator on the other end.
WaRnIng
•An ineffective breakaway brake system can result in a runaway trailer, leading to death or serious injury, if the coupler or ball hitch fails.
•Connect the breakaway cable to the tow vehicle and NOT to the hitch, ball or support.
•Before towing the trailer, test the function of the breakaway brake system. If the breakaway brake system is not working, DO NOT tow the trailer. Have it serviced or repaired.
NOTICE
DO NOT tow the trailer with the breakaway brake system ON because the brakes will overheat which can result in permanent brake failure.
NOTICE
Replace the breakaway brake battery (if equipped) at intervals specifi ed by manufacturer.
MLT25 SERIES LIGHT TOWER • operation manual — rev. #0 (11/28/12) — page 33
