Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle
R4 3/30/2017
Page 27
and put the lock-pin (or padlock) in the lock-
pin hole. Be sure the pintle catch cannot be
opened with the lock-pin in place.
^ WARNING
A cracked, bent or heavily corroded pintle
can fail while towing, and may result in
serious injury or death.
Check the pintle and pintle catch for cracks
or bending.
Make sure the pintle catch is locked closed
when the lock-pins are in the lock-pin hole.
Replace worn, cracked or non-lockable
pintle before towing trailer.
•
Rock the pintle to make sure it is tight to the
hitch, and visually check that the hitch pintle
fasteners are solid against the lock washer and
hitch frame.
•
Wipe the inside and outside of the coupler
clean and inspect it visually for cracks and
deformations; feel the inside of the coupler for
worn spots and pits.
•
Be sure the coupler is tight to the tongue of the
trailer. All coupler fasteners must be visibly
solid against the trailer frame.
^ WARNING
A loose hitch ball nut can result in
uncoupling, leading to death or serious
injury.
Make sure the hitch ball is tight to the hitch
before coupling the trailer.
3.2.2.b Prepare the Ring and Pintle
•
Lubricate the hitch ball and the inside of the
coupler with a thin layer of automotive bearing
grease. Using the jack, raise the coupler above
the ball height.
•
Open the coupler locking mechanism. Ball
couplers have a locking mechanism with an
internal moving piece (ball clamp) and an
outside handle, wheel, or latch. See figure 3-3.
•
In the open or released position, the
coupler is able to drop fully onto the hitch
ball.
•
See the coupler instructions for details of
placing the pintle in the open or released
position.
•
Slowly back up the tow vehicle so that the hitch
pintle is near or aligned under the coupler.
3.2.2.c Couple Trailer to the Tow Vehicle:
•
Using the trailer jack, lower the trailer so the
ring enters the pintle. If the ring does not line
up with the pintle, adjust the position of the tow
vehicle.
•
Close the pintle catch and install and secure the
lock-pin or padlock so the pintle catch cannot
be opened.
•
A properly engaged locking mechanism will
allow the coupler to raise the rear of the tow
vehicle. Using the trailer jack, test to see that
you can raise the rear of the tow vehicle by 1
inch, after the coupler is locked to the hitch.
NOTICE
The tongue jack can be damaged by
overloading. Do not use the tongue jack to
raise the tow vehicle more than 1 inch.
If the coupler cannot be secured to the hitch
ball, do not tow the trailer.
Call Featherlite, Inc.
at 800-800-1230 or your dealer for assistance.
•
Lower the trailer so that its full tongue weight
is held by the pintle and tow vehicle and
continue retracting the jack to its fully retracted
position.
Summary of Contents for COACH TRAILERS
Page 1: ...COACH TRAILERS OWNER S MANUAL...
Page 6: ......
