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7. Breaking In A New Trailer
7.1 Retighten Lugs At First 10, 25 & 50
Miles
Wheel lugs can shift and settle quickly after being fi rst
assembled, and must be checked after the fi rst 10, 25
and 50 miles of driving. Failure to perform this check
may result in a wheel coming loose from the trailer,
causing a crash leading to death or serious injury.
Improper tightening of the lug nuts or bolts voids the
axle warranty.
Refer to the Inspection, Service and Maintenance
section of this manual.
^
WARNING
Lug nuts or bolts are prone to loosen after
being fi rst assembled. Death or serious
injury can result.
Check lug nuts or bolts for tightness on a
new trailer, and after re-mounting a wheel
at 10, 25 and 50 miles.
7.2 Adjust Brake At First 200 Miles
Brake shoes and drums experience a rapid initial
wear. The brakes must be adjusted after the fi rst
200 miles of use, and each 3,000 miles thereafter.
Some axles are fi tted with a mechanism that will
automatically adjust the brake shoes.
Read your axle and brake manual to see if your
brakes adjust automatically. If you do not have the
axle and brake manual, contact your dealer for
assistance.
If your trailer is not fi tted with automatically adjusting
brakes, the brakes will need to be manually adjusted.
See section 9 for instructions.
7.3 Synchronizing Brake Systems
Trailer brakes are designed to work in synchronization
with the brakes on the tow vehicle. When the tow
vehicle and trailer braking systems are synchronized,
both braking systems contribute to slowing, and the
tongue of the trailer will neither dive nor rise sharply.
Breaking In A New Trailer
If trailer and tow vehicle brakes do not
work properly together, death or serious
injury can occur.
Road test the brakes in a safe area at no
more than 30 m.p.h. before each tow.
To insure safe brake performance and
synchronization, read and follow the axle/brake and
the brake controller manufacturers' instructions. If you
do not have these instructions, contact your dealer for
assistance.
40
^
WARNING
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