Coupling To The Tow Vehicle
TRAILER WITH BALL HITCH COUPLER
A ball hitch coupler connects to a ball that is located on or under the rear bumper
of tow vehicle. This system of coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle is sometimes
referred to as “bumper pull.”
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Trailer With Ball Hitch Coupler
We have utilized a ball hitch coupler that is suitable for the size and weight of the
trailer. The load rating of the coupler and the necessary ball size are listed on the
trailer tongue. You must provide a hitch and ball for your tow vehicle, where the
load rating of the hitch and ball is equal to or greater than that of your trailer. Also,
the ball size must be the same as the coupler size. If the hitch ball is too small, too
large, is underrated, is loose or is worn, the trailer can come loose from the tow
vehicle, and may cause death or serious injury.
Your trailer may be equipped with a Hydraulic Surge Brake Actuator. Surge braking
is accomplished with an actuator and hydraulic brake assemblies. The "surge" or
"push" of the trailer toward the tow vehicle during deceleration automatically
synchronizes these trailer brakes with the tow vehicle brakes. As the trailer pushes
against the vehicle, the actuator telescopes together and applies force to its master
cylinder, supplying hydraulic pressure to the trailer's brakes. For more information,
refer to the Surge Brake Actuator manual provided with your trailer. Direct
questions regarding surge brake troubleshooting to the hydraulic brake
manufacturer.
THE TOW VEHICLE, HITCH AND BALL MUST HAVE A RATED TOWING
CAPACITY EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE TRAILER Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR).
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE HITCH BALL BE OF THE SAME SIZE AS THE
COUPLER.
The ball size and load rating (capacity) are marked on the ball; hitch capacity is
marked on the hitch.
4.3.1.1 Before Coupling The Trailer To The Tow Vehicle
Be sure the size and rating of hitch ball match the size and rating of the coupler.
Hitch balls and couplers are marked with their size and rating.