Backing Up; Stopped On A Hill; Controlling Sway Or Fishtailing; Equipment - Airstream International Serenity 23CB 2020 Owner's Manual

Backing Up

When backing up, the important thing to remember is
to do everything slowly and to immediately correct if
you see the trailer turning the wrong way� Concentrate
on the rear of the trailer� With your tow vehicle and
trailer in a straight line, back up slowly and turn the
bottom of the steering wheel in the direction you
want the trailer to go� Watch out of the window or in
the mirror until the rear of the trailer is pointing in the
desired direction� Your tow vehicle will be following the
trailer in an arc� Straighten the tow vehicle and trailer
by turning the steering wheel more sharply, and then,
when they are in line, straighten the steering wheel�
Always try to back to your left because the visibility is
much better. When you don't make it on the first try, it
is usually much easier to pull forward to your original
position and start over, or at least pull forward until the
rig is straight, and then start backing�
If your spouse or traveling companion normally directs
you when backing, they should position themselves
forward of the tow vehicle so the driver can easily see
them� Their directions should always indicate to the
driver the direction the rear of the trailer should go�
A little practice in a parking lot with the person giving
directions can save a lot of frustration when backing
into a campsite�

Stopped On a Hill

Refer to the following warning if stopped on a hill for a
prolonged period of time�
Chock the trailer wheels when stopping on a hill
or slope. Leaving your tow vehicle in gear is not
enough for standstill safety. Do not use trailer
brakes as parking brakes.
2020 International
WARNING

Controlling Sway or Fishtailing

Sway or fishtailing is the sideways action of a
trailer caused by external forces� It is common for
travel trailers to sway in response to strong winds,
crosswinds, when passed by or passing a semi-tractor
and trailer, or driving downhill�
Excessive sway or fishtailing of your travel trailer
can lead to the rollover of the trailer and tow
vehicle. Serious injury or death can occur. It
is important that you read and understand the
information in this section.
Sway or fishtailing of your recreation vehicle can be
controlled and is primarily impacted by four factors:

• Equipment

• Tongue Weight

• Driving

• Corrective Measures
Equipment
When hitched together, the trailer and the tow vehicle
must be level� The tires of both the trailer and tow
vehicle should be in good condition and properly
inflated to their recommended pressures.
Braking is a very important factor in vehicle control�
Refer to Brakes (and Electronic Brake Controller) in
this section�
We recommend a friction sway damper or hitch with
built-in sway control be provided for your unit� Please
consult your dealer regarding this equipment� Also,
refer to Sway Control Device in this section for more
information�
Tongue weight
Refer to Weighing Your Trailer and, Equalizing Hitch
Load Distribution in this section�
Driving
This is the most important component� The tendency
for the vehicle to sway increases with speed therefore,
obey all speed limits and reduce speed during
inclement weather or windy conditions�
Towing
WARNING
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