Airstream 1980 Argosy Owner's Manual page 34

straight back to the hitch. (See Fig. 2.) This can
best be accomplished through the use of
prearranged hand signals with the help of
another person, but if you are hitching up by
yourself we recommend the use of a hook-up
view mirror.
Lower the trailer hitch onto the hitch ball; then
close the locking lever and insert safety pin.
(See Fig. 3.)
Now raise the trailer and car to the full Eieight of
the hitch jack (See Fig. 7) and then attach the
leveling bars. (See Fig. 4, 5, &
6) Lower the
car and trailer (See Fig. 7). The hitch ball
should be level to slightly higher. Readjust
leveling bars until this condition is correct, by
increasing or decreasing length of chain
engaged in "A" frame saddle bracket. Shorter
chain raises hitch ball, longer chain lowers it. A
level condition will result in the best balance for
towing and steering control as the weight
equalizing hitch distributes the hitch load. A
low hitch ball increases tailwagging tendencies
by lowering the nose of the trailer thus
changing the center of support for the trailer
and reducing the weight on the front wheels of
the car. With proper hitch installation and
hitching up, the bar should have a noticeable
amount of deflection or bending. (See Fig. 8.)
A little practice with your rig will teach you how
far to pull up the bar, and you may wish to
mark the chain links that match your rig.
Always choose level ground for checking
correct hook-up. For further information see
hitch manufacturer's literature.
Note: If your car is equipped with
adjustable load leveling air shocks, you
must load the car first with typical luggage
and passengers and bring it back to level.
Then attach the trailer and adjust the load
leveling bars. Otherwise the air shocks on
your car will overload the rear wheels. Do
not use air shocks to level car and trailer
after hitching up.
The hitch ball on your car should be installed at
a height of
19 K "
to the top of the hitch ball,
measured when the car is loaded to pull 2 5 ' ,
28', and 31
'
models and I6Y2" to pull 2 0 ' ,
22' and 24' models. Plug in the electrical
connector cord (See Fig.
9)
and check running,
directional, brake lights, and back up.
If your trailer is equipped with electric brakes,
attach the break-away switch cable to welded
portion of hitch, or car's frame (See Fig. 1 1 ). If
it has hydraulic disc brakes, remove plug from
tow vehicle's vacuum coupling and insert
trailer's vacuum line (See Fig. 12). To couple,
Fig. 2
-
Hltch~ng U p
Fig. 4
push kr~urled coupling sleeve forward, firmly
insert trailer's vacuum hose fitting and pull
sleeve back. Check for proper locking by firmly
pulling trailer's hose fitting.
Attach the safety chains (see Fig. 10) to the
welded portion of the hitch or the car's frame,