Towing
7-2
Tow Vehicle
When buying a new vehicle to tow your trailer, we
suggest including towing options offered by most tow
vehicle manufacturers These include such things as a
heavy-duty alternator and radiator, heavy-duty springs
and shock absorbers, transmission cooler, heavy-duty
fan and flasher unit, etc., for the make of the vehicle.
WARNING
Springs that are too stiff can hinder the action of
the weight equalizing hitch and prevent the transfer
of weight to the front of the vehicle.
NOTE
Only use springs heavy enough to support your
loaded vehicle (not including trailer). Having a too
harsh spring rate on your tow vehicle will only
shorten the life of the tow vehicle and trailer, and
will cause your trips to be less enjoyable.
Transmissions may be manual or automatic, but an
automatic transmission may prolong your tow vehicle’s
life and generally does a better job of controlling engine
loads than does the average driver using a manual
shift
Having adequate power is very important when
considering the purchase of a new vehicle or the
trailer-towing capability of your present one Auto
dealers are provided with guidelines to use when
helping a customer decide on a tow vehicle Guidelines
are not determined solely by the power output of the
engine The gear ratio of the differential is also a very
important part of the guideline
Inspect the tow vehicle’s hitch regularly for loose bolts
or nuts, cracked welds, loose ball mounts, worn parts,
etc
New trailerists often carry more food and supplies than
is really needed Remember that every item you take
along is one more thing to stow and adds weight to the
total load you must pull Consolidate items in shelves,
lockers, and in the refrigerator It is better to have one
full and one empty locker, than two half empty ones
Special care must be taken not to overload the front
and rear ends of the trailer
Brakes
All trailers are equipped with Dexter Nev-R-Adjust
brakes Please follow all maintenance procedures
in the Dexter user’s manual provided in the owner’s
packet
Electronic Brake Controller
The trailer 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 ensure satisfactory braking
action, install an electronic controller in line with the
brakes in your tow vehicle
An electronic controller 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
NOTE
Study all material provided with your particular
brake control. If you do not understand the
information, have the installer explain the
information to you or call the manufacturer of the
controller.
Proper Electric Brakes Use
WARNING
Never use your tow vehicle or trailer brakes alone
to stop the combined load.
Proper synchronization of tow vehicle to trailer braking
can only be accomplished by road testing Brake
lockup, grab, or harshness is quite often due to lack
of synchronization between the tow vehicle and the
trailer being towed, a too-high threshold voltage (over 2
volts), or under-adjusted brakes
WARNING
The braking system should be checked and
serviced by qualified, certified technicians only.
Failure to do so could result in loss of control
of your vehicle or the trailer, causing damage to
property, injury, and/or death.
Summary of Contents for Pendleton
Page 6: ...1 2 Introduction NOTES ...
Page 24: ...NOTES 3 12 General Information ...
Page 28: ...Floor Plans And Specifications 4 4 NOTES ...
Page 38: ...5 10 Interior Lavatory Faucet Replacement Parts ...
Page 60: ...NOTES 6 10 Exterior ...
Page 68: ...Towing 7 8 NOTES ...
Page 86: ...Maintenance 8 18 Electrical Diagrams 12 Volt Diagrams ...
Page 94: ...NOTES 8 26 Maintenance ...
Page 97: ......