Livin Lite Recreational Vehicles Owner's Manual page 21

I
WARNING
Improper braking can result in serious
personal injury or death. When being
overtaken, passing or meeting an
oncoming bus, tow vehicle or other large
vehicle, air turbulence may be encountered
and may cause you to feel the trailer sway.
When this occurs a slight acceleration and/
or applying the trailer brakes only will help
overcome the sway sensation: however,
application of the tow vehicle brakes at
the beginning of the sway situation will
accentuate the sway and may cause you to
lose control of your vehicle.
Turning Corners
Here's where you find the first basic difference
with a trailer. The trailer wheels do not follow
the path of your car's wheels. The trailer will
make a closer turn than the tow vehicle. To
compensate for this action when making
turns, you will put the tow vehicle out further
into the intersection than you would normally,
so that the trailer will clear the curb or clear
any parked vehicles along the curb.
Making a left turn requires a technique similar
to a right turn, with a wider than normal swing
into the new lane of traffic to keep the trailer
from edging into the opposing lane.
On sharply winding and narrow roads, keep
to the center of your lane, equally away from
both the center line and pavement edge.
This allows the trailer to clear the edge of
the pavement without the likelihood of the
wheels dropping off onto the shoulder, which
could cause dangerous trailer sway.
Do not overcrowd or cross the center line. All
sharp turns should be taken at low speeds.
Professional drivers, when rounding turns, slow
down well in advance of the turn, enter it at
reduced speed, and then accelerate smoothly
as they come out again onto the straightaway.
Overtaking and Passing
When you pass another vehicle, remember
that it takes longer to accelerate and you
must allow for the length of the trailer to
pass before returning to your lane. Use your
signals freely. On freeways and expressways,
try to pick the lane in which you want to move
and stay in it, preferably the slow lane to the
right. Remember, always pass very carefully.
Slippery Pavement
On slippery and icy pavement, drive slowly,
and if you feel you are skidding, gently apply
the trailer brakes only.
Backing and Parking
After arriving at your destination, your next
task is to choose a good level parking space
and back into it. A recommended procedure
for backing into a space is:
1. Stop near the site, get out and look it over.
(Check the site for low hanging limbs, posts,
large rocks, etc. which are to be avoided)
2. Try to place the site to your left. Then you
can see what the trailer is doing while you
are backing. If the site is on your right,
you will be backing into your blind side.
3. With everything clear, maneuver the trailer
into position for backing into the site.
4. Grasp the steering wheel at the bottom (never
the top) and back up. Turn the steering wheel
in the direction you wish the trailer to go. If
the site is on your left, turn your steering
wheel to the left and back slowly, watching
the trailer. When the trailer starts into the
turn, follow it by easing up on the steering
wheel. The trailer will move into position.
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