FEATHERLITE TRAILERS COACH TRAILERS Owner's Manual
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FEATHERLITE TRAILERS COACH TRAILERS Owner's Manual

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COACH
TRAILERS
OWNER'S MANUAL

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Summary of Contents for FEATHERLITE TRAILERS COACH TRAILERS

  • Page 1 COACH TRAILERS OWNER’S MANUAL...
  • Page 2 Dear Customer, Thank you for purchasing a Featherlite Trailer. You are now part of tens of thousands in North America who enjoy Featherlite Trailers for their premium grade construction, innovative features and custom interiors. Featherlite builds hun- dreds of different standard and custom-designed aluminum specialty trailers and transporters.
  • Page 3 Featherlite, Inc. MODEL C OACH RAILERS ^ WARNING This User’s Manual contains 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. Featherlite, Inc. 800-800-1230 Phone 563-547-6100 Facsimile R4 3/30/2017...

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Table Of Contents 3.1.2 Tow Vehicle ..........22 SAFETY INFORMATION ........1 ..23 OUPLING AND NCOUPLING THE RAILER ..1 3.2.1 Trailer With Ball Hitch Coupler ....24 AFETY LERT YMBOLS AND IGNAL ORDS 3.2.1.a Before Coupling the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle ..........
  • Page 5 Table Of Contents 8.2.3 Drop Ramp Torsion Springs ......43 8.2.14 Lug Nuts (Bolts) ..........48 8.2.4 Trailer Brakes (Nev-R-Adjust® Forward TECHNICAL REFERENCE ........51 Adjusting Brakes) .......... 43 8.2.4.a Periodic Inspection ........43 ... 51 RAILER IGHTING LECTRICAL ONNECTION 8.2.4.b Brakes, Electric ...........

  • Page 7: Safety Information

    This manual provides instructions for the operation and care of Featherlite Coach Trailers. instructions in this manual must be followed to NOTICE ensure the safety of persons and satisfactory life of the trailer.

  • Page 8: Driving Too Fast

    Section 1 – Safety Information ^ DANGER pressure wave created by passing trucks and busses. • When encountering trailer sway, take your foot Use of an under-rated hitch, ball or tow off the accelerator, and steer as little as possible vehicle can result in loss of control leading in order to stay on the road.

  • Page 9: Trailer Not Properly Coupled To The Hitch

    Section 1 – Safety Information 1.2.5 Trailer Not Properly Coupled to the ^ WARNING Hitch It is critical that the trailer be securely coupled to Incorrect rigging of the safety chains can the hitch, and that the safety chains and emergency result in loss of control of the trailer and breakaway brake lanyard are correctly attached.

  • Page 10: Worn Tires, Loose Wheels And Lug Nuts

    Section 1 – Safety Information ^ DANGER Before each tow, check to make sure they are tightened to the proper torque. Use of an under-rated hitch, ball or tow ^ WARNING vehicle can result in loss of control leading to death or serious injury. Metal creep between the wheel rim and lug Make certain your hitch and tow vehicle are nuts (bolts) will cause rim to loosen.

  • Page 11: Weight And Load Distribution

    Section 1 – Safety Information ^ WARNING 1.2.10 Weight And Load Distribution Proper loading of your trailer is essential for your An improperly distributed load can result in safety. Tire, wheel, axle or structural failure can be loss of control of the trailer, and can lead to caused by overloading.

  • Page 12: Inoperable Brakes, Lights Or Mirrors

    Section 1 – Safety Information used to carry certain items, such as people, Your tow vehicle will have an electric brake containers of hazardous substances or containers of controller that sends power to the trailer brakes. flammable substances. A trailer not designed with Before towing the trailer on the road, you must living quarters should only be used for operate the brake controller while trying to pull the...

  • Page 13: Generator

    Section 1 – Safety Information ^ WARNING 1.2.16 Generator If your Featherlite trailer is occupied nearby a Risk of fire. running gasoline or diesel generator, you are at risk Connect only to source of correct voltage. of carbon monoxide poisoning. Do not overload electrical circuits.

  • Page 14: Safe Trailer Towing Guidelines

    Section 1 – Safety Information • brakes used. When properly adjusted, the trailer Do not drive so fast that the trailer begins to brakes will come on just before the tow vehicle sway due to speed. Never drive faster than 60 brakes.

  • Page 15: Safety Warning Labels On Your Trailer

    Section 1 – Safety Information 1.2.20 Safety Warning Labels on Your Trailer Warning Labels and Locations – Figure 1-2 ^ WARNING To protect you and others against death or serious injury, all of the labels shown above must be on the trailer and must be legible.

  • Page 16: Reporting Safety Defects

    Section 1 – Safety Information become involved in individual problems between 1.2.21. Reporting Safety Defects you, your dealer, or us. If you believe that your vehicle has a defect that To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Vehicle could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY:1- you should immediately inform the National 800-424-9153), go to http://www.safercar.gov;...

  • Page 17: Tire Safety Information

    AFETY NFORMATION • This portion of the User’s Manual contains tire Determining compatibility of tire and safety information as required by 49 CFR 575.6. vehicle load capabilities. • Adverse safety consequences Section 2.1 contains “Trailer Tire Information” overloading on handling and stopping on tires.

  • Page 18: Tire

    Section 2 – Tire Safety Information High speed towing in hot conditions degrades For trailers with living quarters installed, the weight trailer tires significantly. As heat builds up during of water and propane also need to be considered. driving, the tire’s internal structure starts to The weight of fully filled propane containers is breakdown, compromising the strength of the tire.

  • Page 19: Trailers Over 10,000 Pounds Gvwr

    Section 2 – Tire Safety Information 1. Locate the statement, “The weight of cargo may not safely exceed the available cargo and should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.,” on luggage capacity calculated in Step # 4. your vehicle’s placard. See figure 2-1. 6.
  • Page 20 Section 2 – Tire Safety Information has a particular side that must always face outward A pneumatic tire with an inverted flange tire and when mounted on a vehicle. rim system in which the rim is designed with rim flanges pointed radially inward and the tire is Light truck (LT) tire designed to fit on the underside of the rim in a A tire designated by its manufacturer as primarily...
  • Page 21 Section 2 – Tire Safety Information Non-pneumatic tire assembly levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special A non-pneumatic tire, alone or in combination with trim. a wheel or wheel center member, which can be mounted on a vehicle. Radial ply tire A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend Normal occupant weight to the beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to...

  • Page 22: Tire Safety - Everything

    Section 2 – Tire Safety Information Test rim The rim on which a tire is fitted for testing, and may Wheel-holding fixture be any rim listed as appropriate for use with that The fixture used to hold the wheel and tire tire.

  • Page 23: Finding Your Vehicle's Recommended Tire Pressure And Load Limits

    Section 2 – Tire Safety Information vehicles are a major cause of tire failure. Therefore, air pressure that should ever be put in the tire under as mentioned above, to avoid flat tires and other normal driving conditions. types of tire failure, you should maintain proper tire pressure, observe tire and vehicle load limits, avoid 2.5.4 Checking Tire Pressure...

  • Page 24: Tire Size

    Section 2 – Tire Safety Information If you have been driving your vehicle and think that 2.5.9 Tire Repair a tire is underinflated, fill it to the recommended The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a plug cold inflation pressure indicated on your vehicle's for the hole and a patch for the area inside the tire tire information placard or certification label.

  • Page 25: Utqgs Information

    Section 2 – Tire Safety Information Maximum Load Rating The "R" stands for radial. Radial ply construction of This number indicates the maximum load in tires has been the industry standard for the past 20 kilograms and pounds that can be carried by the years.

  • Page 26: Tire Safety Tips

    Section 2 – Tire Safety Information change in maximum cold tire inflation pressure or Tires for light trucks have other markings besides load is required. Recommended speed may vary and those found on the sidewalls of passenger tires. the owner should check ratings for the specific tire installed on the trailer.

  • Page 27: Coupling To The Tow Vehicle

    (GVWR) of your trailer, you can cause an accident the trailer was manufactured. that could lead to death or serious injury. Featherlite Coach trailers have a GVWR between 15,000 and GVWR: The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the 20,000 pounds.

  • Page 28: Tow Vehicle

    Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle the weight of the trailer and all of the items within it axles. Subtracting the axle weight from the empty (such as cargo, water, food and other supplies). weight gives you the tongue weight. GVWR is sometimes referred to as GTW (Gross Trailer Weight), or MGTW (Maximum Gross Knowing the empty weight now allows you to...

  • Page 29: Coupling And Uncoupling The

    Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle controller is not the same as the safety breakaway 3.2 C OUPLING NCOUPLING brake system that is installed on the trailer. RAILER Side View Mirrors: The size of the trailer that is A secure coupling (or fastening) of the trailer to the being towed and your state law regulations tow vehicle is essential.

  • Page 30: Trailer With Ball Hitch Coupler

    Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle drag force the brakes are activated. Be sure to re- A coach trailer will be equipped with an electric- insert the pin in the breakaway switch. Also be sure powered jack to facilitate raising and lowering the to allow enough slack in the breakaway brake coupler.

  • Page 31: Prepare The Coupler And Hitch

    Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle • ^ WARNING Open the coupler locking mechanism. Ball couplers have a locking mechanism with an internal moving piece (ball clamp) and an Coupler-to-hitch mismatch can result in outside handle, wheel, or latch. See figure 3-3. uncoupling, leading to death or serious •...

  • Page 32: Trailer With Ring And Pintle Coupler

    Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle NOTICE Powered Landing Gear description in the Accessories Section. The tongue jack can be damaged by Be sure the pintle coupler is suitable for the size overloading. Do not use the tongue jack to raise the tow vehicle more than 1 inch.

  • Page 33: Prepare The Ring And Pintle

    Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle • and put the lock-pin (or padlock) in the lock- See the coupler instructions for details of pin hole. Be sure the pintle catch cannot be placing the pintle in the open or released opened with the lock-pin in place.

  • Page 34: Rig The Safety Chains

    Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle ^ WARNING 3.2.3 Rig The Safety Chains Incorrect rigging of the safety chains can result in loss of control of the trailer and tow vehicle, leading to death or serious injury, if the trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle.

  • Page 35: Connect The Electrical Cables

    Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle • worn, damaged or missing parts before towing Charge the battery every three months. trailer. • Connect the pullpin lanyard to the tow vehicle Replace the breakaway brake battery according to so that the pullpin will be pulled out before all the intervals specified by the battery manufacturer.
  • Page 36 Section 3 – Coupling To The Tow Vehicle • • Disconnect the breakaway brake switch Extend the jack slowly and transfer the weight lanyard. of the trailer tongue to the jack. • Disconnect the safety chains from the tow vehicle. •...

  • Page 37: Loading The Trailer

    OADING THE RAILER • Improper trailer loading causes many accidents and Do not carry heavier items on a raised lift. • deaths. To safely load a trailer, you must consider: Load additional items evenly, right to left, to achieve uniform tire loading. •...

  • Page 38: Loading Cargo

    INSPECT the trailer and lift LOAD and SECURE the cargo Coach trailers may be fitted with “D”-ring hold- 4.2.1 Couple the Trailer to the Coach downs, and/or a track system that can be used to secure the cargo.

  • Page 39: Inspect The Lift

    The trailer “ride” can be 4.2.4 Loading the Coach Trailer very bumpy and rough. Coach trailers are fitted with a drop ramp door. The ^ WARNING weight of the drop ramp door is partially held by a spring and cable counterbalance assembly. If this...
  • Page 40 Section 4 – Loading The Trailer • To determine the type of lift on your trailer, look at Extend all the way through the lift the top of the four posts. A jackscrew lifted system posts • has a hydraulic motor at the top of each post. A Be secured with cotter or spring pins •...

  • Page 41: Checking The Trailer Before And During Each Tow

    HECKING THE RAILER EFORE AND URING • 5.1 P Cargo properly loaded, balanced and tied HECKLIST down” (see the “Loading The Trailer” section Before towing, double-check all of these items: of this manual). • Tongue weight and weight distribution set-up. •...

  • Page 42: Breaking-In A New Trailer

    REAKING IN A RAILER 6.1 R 10, 25 6.3 S ETIGHTEN UTS AT IRST YNCHRONIZING THE RAKE YSTEMS & 50 M ILES Trailer brakes designed work synchronization with the brakes on the tow vehicle. Wheel lugs can shift and settle quickly after being first assembled, and must be checked after the first When the tow vehicle and trailer braking systems 10, 25 and 50 miles of driving.

  • Page 43: Accessories

    CCESSORIES This section provides some basic information for the safe operation of several accessories. For many ^ WARNING accessories, such as electric-powered landing gear, the manufacturer of the accessory has also provided instructions. You must read and follow these Gasoline and diesel generators pose a risk instructions before using the accessory.

  • Page 44: Electric - Powered

    Section 7 - Accessories volts alternating current) into 12 volts direct 7.4.1 Electric-Powered Hydraulic Jack current. An electric-powered hydraulic jack uses an electric motor to operate a pump, and the pressure from the Do not assume that a shore power supply is pump is used to extend or retract a hydraulic correctly wired.

  • Page 45: Electric-Powered Cable Lift

    Section 7 - Accessories 7.5.2 Electric-Powered Cable Lift An electric-powered cable lift uses an electric motor to operate a pump, and the pressure from the pump is used to extend a hydraulic cylinder located underneath the floor of the trailer. The extending cylinder operates a cable and pulley system to platform.

  • Page 46: Inspection, Service & Maintenance

    & M NSPECTION ERVICE AINTENANCE 8.1 I & M NSPECTION ERVICE AINTENANCE UMMARY HARTS You must inspect, maintain and service your trailer regularly to insure safe and reliable operation. If you cannot or are unsure how to perform the items listed here, have your dealer do them. Note: In addition to this manual, also check the relevant component manufacturer's manual.

  • Page 47: Inspection

    Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance Featherlite Trailer Inspection and Service Intervals Manual Item Service Required Service Interval Section Before Every 3 Every 6 Every Reference Each Use Mo’s Mo’s Year • Lights and Signals Check for proper operation. Verify connection is clean and 8.2.7 tight.

  • Page 48: Trailer Structure

    Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance When jacking and using jack stands, place them so or frame members, get the recommendation of, or as to clear wiring, brake lines, and suspension parts have the repair done by, your dealer. (springs, torsion bars, etc.).

  • Page 49: Drop Ramp Torsion Springs

    Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance 8.2.3 Drop Ramp Torsion Springs is pulled. The other brake is an electric braking system that acts whenever the brakes of the tow If your trailer has a drop-ramp door, the weight of vehicle are applied.

  • Page 50: Brakes, Hydraulic (Air Or Electric Operated)44

    Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance 8.2.4.c Brakes, Hydraulic (Air or Electric 8.2.5 Trailer Brakes (Axles Rated 8000 Operated) lbs. and Below with Hydraulic Brakes and ALL Axles with Air If your trailer has hydraulically-operated brakes, Brakes) they function the same way the hydraulic brakes do on your tow vehicle.

  • Page 51: Brakes, Hydraulic (Air Or Electric Operated)45

    Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance out until the pressure of the linings against the an electric/hydraulic braking system is operated by drum makes the wheel very difficult to turn. an electrical signal from the tow vehicle. • Note: Your trailer maybe equipped with drop 8.2.6 Trailer Connection to Tow Vehicle spindle axles.

  • Page 52: Landing Leg Or Jack

    Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance The pintle lock lever must be able to rotate freely 8.2.10 Tires and automatically snap into the latched position. Before each tow, be sure the tire pressure is at the Oil the pivot points, sliding surfaces, and spring value indicated on the Certification / VIN label.

  • Page 53: Wheel Bearings

    Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance To install the liners: Inspect and lubricate the wheel bearings every 12 1. Install stud extenders (5) 180 degrees apart and months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first. tighten to 30 lb. ft. of torque. 2.

  • Page 54: E-Z Lube® Bearings (Standard Equipment On Axles Rated 8,000 Lbs. And Below)

    Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance • axle manufactures manual for information on Put a new cotter pin through the spindle nut checking wheel end play and clearance. See figure and axle. • 8-5. Check the adjustments. Both the hub and the spindle nut should be able to move freely (the spindle nut motion will be limited by the cotter pin).
  • Page 55 Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance are not appropriate tools for accurately information. Use a calibrated torque wrench to checking lug nut torque. You must use a tighten the lug nuts. Over-tightening may result in torque wrench to accurately indicate the torque breaking the studs or permanently deforming the that you are applying to the lug nut.
  • Page 56 Section 8 – Inspection, Service & Maintenance Lug Nut Sequence of Tightening – Figure 8-6 Lug Nut Torque Stud size 1st stage 2nd Stage 3rd Stage 1/2 Inch 35 lb ft 65 lb ft 100 lb ft 9/16 Inch 45 lb ft 90 lb ft 130 lb ft 5/8 Inch...

  • Page 57: Technical Reference

    ECHNICAL EFERENCE 9.1 T RAILER IGHTING LECTRICAL ONNECTION The electrical wiring on your Featherlite Coach trailer has been designed and built in accordance with all the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that were in effect when the trailer was produced. The figure below illustrates the wiring code that has been adopted for several types of electrical lighting connectors.
  • Page 58 Section 9 – Technical Reference Hitch Classification Class Type of Hitch Maximum Maximum Towed Weight Tongue Weight Class 1 Weight Carrying Hitch up to 2,000 pounds up to 200 pounds Class 1 Weight Dist. Hitch up to 2,000 pounds up to 300 pounds Class 2 Weight Carrying Hitch up to 3,500 pounds...
  • Page 59 FEATHERLITE APPAREL GREAT LOOKS! GREAT FEEL! GREAT PRICE! Call Toll Free: 800-800-1230 | Shop Online: www.featherlitewear.com Apparel availability subject to change REPAIR PARTS & ACCESSORIES LOCAL DEALERS! LOCAL SALES! LOCAL SERVICE! Repair Parts can be obtained from the Featherlite dealer serving your area. Call your local dealer for parts & accessories for your trailer or contact our corporate office and ask for Dealer Information.
  • Page 60 PROUD MEMB ER toll free 800.800.1230 | fax 563.547.6100 | email salesinfo@fthr.com web www.fthr.com | address Hwy. 63 & 9, PO Box 320, Cresco, IA 52136 FEATHERLITE MANUFACTURES: Horse Trailers Livestock Trailers Open Car Haulers Custom Interiors Concession Trailers Motorcycle Trailers Snowmobile Trailers Enclosed Car Haulers Living Quarters Trailers...

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