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Steps for Hitching Up
Jack up the trailer hitch until there is
clearance for the
hitch ball
to slide under,
remove safety pin and raise the
locking
lever.
Back the car 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
height of the hitch jack (See Fig. 4) and
then attach the
leveling bars.
(See Fig. 5.)
Lower the car and trailer. The hitch ball
should be level to slightly higher. Readjust
leveling bars until this condition is correct,
(See Fig. 6.) This will result in the best
balance for towing and steering control as
the weight equalizing hitch distributes the
hitch load. With proper hitch installation and
hitching up the bar should have a notice¬
able amount of deflection or bending, (See
Fig. 7.) 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 manufacturers'
literature.
Note: If your car is equipped with
adjustable load leveling air shocks, you
must load the car first with typical
Power Jack—
Electrical
Connector
Socket
Vacuum Line
Locking Lever
Safety Pin
Coupler
Safety Chains
Dolly Wheel
Leveling Bar
Fig. 1 - Hitching Up Equipment
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
V
2
" to the top of
the hitch ball, measured when the car is
loaded, A low hitch ball increases tail-
wagging 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.
Fig. 3
Plug in the electrical connector cord and
check running, directional, and brake lights.
The electrical connector cord should be
completely removed and stored when not
in use. Remove plug from tow vehicle's
vacuum coupling and insert trailer's
vacuum line plug, (See Fig. 8.) To couple,
push knurled 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 to the welded portion of
the hitch of the car's frame, but never to the
removable bail mount. Cross the safety
chains under the hitch.
34
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