SUN COUNTRY Gooseneck SERIES, Owner'S Manual

Page 1: ...tains safety information and instructions for your trailer You must read this manual before loading or towing your trailer You must follow all safety precautions and instructions Gooseneck Trailers November 2013 Sun Country Trailers 5347 W Luke Ave Glendale AZ 85301 ...

Page 2: ...ting Safety Defects 15 3 Tire Safety Information 16 3 1 Trailer Tire Information 16 3 2 Steps For Determining Correct Load Limit Trailer 17 3 2 1 Trailers 10 000 Pounds GVWR Or Less 17 3 2 2 Trailers Over 10 000 Pounds GVWR 17 3 3 Steps For Determining Correct Load Limit Tow Vehicle 18 3 4 Glossary Of Tire Terminology 18 3 5 Tire Safety Everything Rides On It 20 3 5 1 Safety First Basic Tire Maint...

Page 3: ...ailer To Tow Vehicle 30 4 3 2 2 Prepare King Pin And Fifth Wheel 31 4 3 2 3 Couple Trailer To Tow Vehicle 31 4 3 2 4 Connect Electrical Cable 32 4 3 2 5 Attach Breakaway Brake Lanyard 32 4 3 2 6 Test Electric Brakes 32 4 3 2 7 Test Electric Breakaway Brakes 32 4 3 2 8 Uncouple Trailer With King Pin 33 4 4 Tongue Weight 33 4 4 1 Checking Tongue Weight 34 4 5 Adjust Gooseneck Height 34 5 Loading And...

Page 4: ...s 45 9 2 1 2 Welds 45 9 2 2 Trailer Brakes Electric 45 9 2 2 1 Brake Discs Shoes And Drums 45 9 2 2 2 Manually Adjusting Brake Shoes 46 9 2 2 3 Electric Brakes 46 9 2 2 4 Tow Vehicle Operated Electric Brakes 46 9 2 2 5 Electric Brake Magnets 46 9 2 3 Trailer Brakes Hydraulic If Equipped 46 9 2 4 Trailer Connection To Tow Vehicle 47 9 2 4 1 Gooseneck Receiver And Ball 47 9 2 4 2 King Pin And Fifth ...

Page 5: ... please have the VIN number available for the dealer The VIN number is normally on the front left side of the trailer For future reference please write your VIN number in the space below ___________________________________________ This manual covers the basic trailer You must read understand and follow the instructions given by the trailer manufacturer tow vehicle and trailer hitch manufacturers K...

Page 6: ... control of the trailer or trailer tow vehicle combination can result in death or serious injury The most common causes for loss of control of the trailer are Improper sizing the trailer for the tow vehicle or vice versa Excessive Speed Driving too fast for the conditions Improper braking and steering under sway conditions Overloading and or improper weight distribution Not keeping lug nuts tight ...

Page 7: ...cle with a trailer than driving a tow vehicle without a trailer Anticipate the trailer swaying Swaying can be caused by excessive steering wind gusts roadway edges or by the trailer reaction to the pressure wave created by passing trucks and busses Use lower gear when driving down steep or long grades Use the engine and transmission as a brake Do not ride the brakes as they can overheat and become...

Page 8: ...ng do not tow the trailer Have it serviced or repaired 2 2 7 Matching Trailer And Hitch DANGER Be sure hitch and tow vehicle are rated for the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GVWR of your trailer Use of a hitch with a load rating less than the load rating of the trailer can result in loss of control and may lead to death or serious injury Use of a tow vehicle with a towing capacity less than the load ...

Page 9: ...ous injury WARNING Wheel nuts or bolts are prone to loosen after being first assembled Death or serious injury can result Check wheel nuts or bolts for tightness on a new trailer and after re mounting a wheel at 10 25 and 50 miles WARNING Inadequate wheel nut or bolt torque can cause a wheel to separate from the trailer leading to death or serious injury Verify wheel nuts or bolts are tight before...

Page 10: ...ded left right Towing stability also depends on keeping the center of gravity as low as possible WARNING Improper tongue weight load distribution can result in loss of control of the trailer leading to death or serious injury Make certain that tongue weight is within the allowable range Be sure to Distribute the load evenly right and left Keep the center of gravity low Distribute the load front to...

Page 11: ...trailer in tow Acceleration maneuverability and braking are all diminished with a trailer in tow It takes longer to get up to speed you need more room to turn and pass and more distance to stop when towing a trailer You will need to spend time adjusting to the different feel and maneuverability of the tow vehicle with a loaded trailer Because of the significant differences in all aspects of maneuv...

Page 12: ...nge lanes or pull into traffic Use your turn signals well in advance Allow plenty of stopping space for your trailer and tow vehicle Use lower gears for climbing and descending grades Do not ride the brakes while descending grades they may get so hot that they stop working Then you will potentially have a runaway tow vehicle and trailer Do not apply the tow vehicle brakes to correct extreme traile...

Page 13: ... 13 2 2 17 Safety Warning Labels On Your Trailer Safety ...

Page 14: ... protect you and others against death or serious injury all applicable labels shown must be on the trailer and must be legible If any of these labels are missing or cannot be read contact your dealer for replacement labels ...

Page 15: ...n investigation and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles it may order a recall and remedy campaign However NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you your dealer or Sun Country Trailers To contact NHTSA you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll free at 1 888 327 4236 TTY 1 800 424 9153 or go to http www safercar gov or write to Administrator NHTSA ...

Page 16: ...tter for the tire to be rolling down the road than to be idle During use the tire releases lubricants that are beneficial to tire life Using the trailer tires often also helps prevent flat spots from developing Themaincauseoftirefailureisimproperinflation Check the cold tire inflation pressures at least once a week for proper inflation levels Cold means that the tires are at the same temperature a...

Page 17: ... tire supplier to determine if your tires need to be replaced If you are storing your trailer for an extended period make sure the tires are fully inflated to the maximum rated pressure and that you store them in a cool dry place such as a garage Use tire covers to protect the trailer tires from the harsh effects of the sun 3 2 Steps For Determining Correct Load Limit Trailer Determining the load ...

Page 18: ...except tread and sidewall rubber which when inflated bears the load Chunking The breaking away of pieces of the tread or sidewall Cold inflation pressure The pressure in the tire before you drive Cord The strands forming the plies in the tire Cord separation The parting of cords from adjacent rubber compounds Cracking Any parting within the tread sidewall or inner liner of the tire extending to co...

Page 19: ... wheel or wheel center member which can be mounted on a vehicle Normal occupant weight This means 68 kilograms 150 lbs times the number of occupants specified in the second column of Table I of 49 CFR 571 110 Occupant distribution The distribution of occupants in a vehicle as specified in the third column of Table I of 49 CFR 571 110 Open splice Any parting at any junction of tread sidewall or inn...

Page 20: ...hese actions along with other care and maintenance activities can also Improve vehicle handling Help protect you and others from avoidable breakdowns and accidents Improve fuel economy Increase the life of your tires This booklet presents a comprehensive overview of tire safety including information on the following topics Basic tire maintenance Rim diameter This means the nominal diameter of the ...

Page 21: ...that is the greatest amount of weight a vehicle can safely carry and the vehicle s tire size The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is referred to as the recommended cold inflation pressure As you will read below it is difficult to obtain the recommended tire pressure if your tires are not cold Because tires are designed to be used on more than one type of vehicle tire manufacturers list the ma...

Page 22: ... in the bottom of the tread grooves When they appear even with the outside of the tread it is time to replace your tires Another method for checking tread depth is to place a penny in the tread with Lincoln s head upside down and facing you If you can see the top of Lincoln s head you are ready for new tires 3 5 8 Tire Balance And Wheel Alignment To avoid vibration or shaking of the vehicle when a...

Page 23: ...umers if a tire defect requires a recall Tire Ply Composition and Materials Used The number of plies indicates the number of layers of rubber coated fabric in the tire In general the greater the number of plies the more weight a tire can support Tire manufacturers also must indicate the materials in the tire which include steel nylon polyester and others Maximum Load Rating This number indicates t...

Page 24: ...s 3 5 10 4 Tire Safety Tips Preventing Tire Damage Slow down if you have to go over a pothole or other object in the road Do not run over curbs or other foreign objects in the roadway and try not to strike the curb when parking Tire Safety Checklist Check tire pressure regularly at least once a month including the spare Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns on the tread cracks foreign objects or ...

Page 25: ...he lowest of axle wheel or tire rating Sometimes the tire or wheel rating is lower than the axle manufacturers rating and will then determine GAWR The sum total of the GAWR for all trailer axles may be less than the GVWR for the trailer because some of the trailer load is carried by the tow vehicle rather than by the trailer axle s The total weight of the cargo and trailer must not exceed the GVWR...

Page 26: ...u feel a significant drag force the brakes are activated Be sure to re insert the pin in the breakaway switch Also be sure to allow enough slack in the breakaway brake lanyard such that the switch will only activate pin pulls out if the connection comes loose Jack A device on the trailer that is used to raise and lower the trailer tongue WARNING An improperly coupled trailer can result in death or...

Page 27: ...st be visibly solid against the trailer frame WARNING A loose gooseneck ball can result in uncoupling leading to death or serious injury Make sure the gooseneck ball is tight to the hitch before coupling the trailer 6 Raise the bottom surface of the receiver to be above the top of the gooseneck ball 4 3 1 2 Prepare Receiver And Ball 1 Lubricate ball and inside of receiver with a thin layer of auto...

Page 28: ...ing to death or serious injury if the trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle Fasten chains to safety chain receivers on hitch not to ball Have sufficient slack to permit turning and to keep gooseneck on bed of tow vehicle if the trailer comes loose 4 3 1 5 Connect Electrical Cable 1 Connect the trailer lights to the tow vehicle s electrical system using trailer electrical cable 2 Check all lights ...

Page 29: ... to the breakaway brakes If your trailer is not setup this way there will be a small breakaway battery mounted near the breakaway switch Most trailers are setup to charge the battery from the tow vehicle If the electrical system on your tow vehicle does not provide power to the battery you must periodically charge the battery with a commercial battery charger to keep the battery charged CAUTION Ex...

Page 30: ...clear when releasing drop legs 8 Lower jack drop leg if equipped 9 Rotate jack handle to extend the jack and transfer the weight of the trailer gooseneck to the jack 10 Raise the trailer receiver above the tow vehicle hitch 11 Drive tow vehicle forward 4 3 2 Trailer With King Pin A king pin connects to a fifth wheel that is installed in the bed of the tow vehicle We have utilized a king pin that i...

Page 31: ...Fifth Wheel 1 Lubricate king pin and fifth wheel with grease 2 Lower tow vehicle tailgate if equipped WARNING No one must be under the trailer or king pin during coupling Death or serious injury can occur if the trailer drops 4 3 2 3 Couple Trailer To Tow Vehicle 1 Back tow vehicle up close to the trailer centering the kingpin in the slot of the fifth wheel Stop before engaging the coupling WARNIN...

Page 32: ... working breakaway brake system will apply the trailer brakes Connect the lanyard to the tow vehicle Do not connect the lanyard to king pin or its support This would keep the breakaway brake system from operating when it is needed Contact the hitch manufacturer or installer if you are not certain of the hitch provisions for the breakaway brake connection 4 3 2 6 Test Electric Brakes If your traile...

Page 33: ...with the breakaway brake system ON because the brakes will overheat which can result in permanent brake failure 4 3 2 8 Uncouple Trailer With King Pin Follow these steps to uncouple trailer from the tow vehicle 1 Park the trailer on a firm level surface and block trailer tires 2 Lower tow vehicle tailgate if equipped 3 Disconnect electrical connector 4 Disconnect breakaway brake switch lanyard 5 B...

Page 34: ...t a ticket which lists the trailer s axle weight Simply subtract the axle weight from the total weight to determine the hitch weight While you are at the scale you should weigh the entire combination vehicle This result should be less than the Gross Combined Weight Rating GCWR for your towing vehicle Some scales allow you to get individual axle weights also If this is possible get the tow vehicles...

Page 35: ...10 Tighten setscrews A to the torque specified by the manufacturer 11 Tighten jam nuts to the torque specified by the manufacturer 12 Check tightness after 50 miles of towing 13 Couple the trailer to the tow vehicle and verify that the trailer is level front to rear Adjust if necessary 14 Unload trailer See Loading And Unloading Coupling To Tow Vehicle ...

Page 36: ...ight The total weight of the trailer and its contents must never exceed the total weight rating of the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or GVWR Do not transport people containers of hazardous substances or flammable liquids The exception is fuel in the tank of vehicles or equipment being hauled WARNING Do not transport flammable explosive poisonous or other dangerous materials on your trailer T...

Page 37: ...trailer deck for loading WARNING Loading a pivoting deck trailer before retracting the deck catch pin can crack the catch pin which can cause loss of cargo or loss of control of the trailer Death or serious injury may result Before loading the trailer retract the deck catch pin If the deck catch pin becomes bent do not straighten it Replace the deck catch pin before towing the load 3 Load the carg...

Page 38: ...m and level surface 3 Clear the area around the trailer 4 Remove chains straps and tensioning devices 5 Release deck latch pin to pivot trailer deck for unloading WARNING Unloading a pivoting deck trailer before retracting the deck catch pin can crack the catch pin which can cause loss of cargo or loss of control of the trailer Death or serious injury may result Before unloading the trailer retrac...

Page 39: ...ecklist before operating the tilt deck 6 Locate the tilt deck controller Position yourself in a safe location clear of the tilt deck 7 Press and hold button to raise the tilt deck Release the button when the rear of the tilt deck touches the ground 8 Unload the cargo from trailer 9 Press and hold button to lower the tilt deck Release the button when the tilt deck is in the driving position 10 Stow...

Page 40: ...xles are fitted with a mechanism that will automatically adjust the brake shoes Read your axle and brake manual to see if your brakes adjust automatically If you do not have the axle and brake manual contact your dealer for assistance If your trailer is not fitted with automatically adjusting brakes the brakes will need to be manually adjusted See section 9 for instructions 7 3 Synchronizing Brake...

Page 41: ...e located in a tongue mounted battery box or a side mounted box The accessory battery must be kept in a charged condition during storage The battery could freeze and break if it becomes discharged If the battery is not fully charged the hydraulic pump will lose pressure which may cause hydraulic fluid to flow back into the hydraulic reservoir overfilling the reservoir and ejecting fluid into the b...

Page 42: ...on Check reservoir level Section 4 and 9 Shoes And Drums Adjust Section 9 Safety Chains And Hooks Check for wear damage Section 4 Receiver And Hitch Ball Check for cracks pits and flats Replace w ball and receiver having trailer GVW Rating Grease Check locking device replace when worn Section 4 and 9 Section 4 and 9 Section 4 and 9 King Pin And Fifth Wheel Check for cracks pits and flats Replace w...

Page 43: ...are worn when sidewall has a bulge or sidewall is worn Rotate every 5 000 Miles Section 9 Section 9 Section 9 Brakes Electric Hydrailic Check Operation Check Operation Check Reservoir Level Section 4 and 9 Brake Shoes And Drums Adjust Section 7 and 9 Safety Chains Hooks Check for wear damage Section 4 Receiver And Hitch Ball Check for cracks pits and flats Replace w ball and receiver having traile...

Page 44: ... at top See Jack Mfr s Manual Structure Frame Members Welds Inspect all frame members bolts rivets Repair or replace damaged worn or broken parts Inspect all welds Repair as needed Section 9 Section 9 Wheels Wheel Bearings Rims Disassemble inspect assemble and repack Replace promptly if immersed in water Inspect for cracks dents Replace as needed Section 9 See Axle Mfr s Manual Structure Axle Atta...

Page 45: ...r WARNING Broken or damaged fasteners can cause injury or damage to trailer and contents Inspect for and repair all damaged parts at least once a year 9 2 1 2 Welds All welds can crack or fail when subjected to heavy loads or movement of cargo that was not properly secured Any time that you know or suspect that the trailer has been subjected to heavy loads or movement of cargo immediately inspect ...

Page 46: ...r brake is an electric braking system that acts whenever the brakes of the tow vehicle are applied Breakaway Battery This battery supplies the power to operate the trailer brakes if the trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle Be sure to check maintain and replace the battery according to the battery manufacturer s instructions Your trailer may use the hydraulic system battery to operate the breakaw...

Page 47: ... once a year by removing the top of the jack and pumping or hand packing grease into the gears 9 2 6 Lights And Signals Before each tow check all trailer lights for proper operation WARNING To avoid risk of collisions all lights must work 9 2 7 Wheel Rims If the trailer has been struck or impacted on or near the wheels or if the trailer has struck a curb inspect the rims for damage Replace any dam...

Page 48: ... pivots and hydraulic cylinder ends every month if equipped 9 2 11 Hydraulic Reservoir Check fluid level prior to using the trailer The reservoir is normally located inside the battery box The dump body must be fully lowered before checking fluid level The reservoir should be filled to the full mark on the side of the reservoir Use a quality hydraulic fluid with anti wear properties rust and oxida...

Page 49: ... studs are free of contaminates such as paint or grease which may result in inaccurate torque readings Over tightening will result in breaking the studs or permanently deforming the mounting stud holes in the wheels and will void the axle warranty See your axle manufacturers manual or your dealer for wheel nut or bolt torque specifications Inspection Service And Maintenance ...

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