Coupling To The Tow Vehicle
! WARNING
A worn, cracked or corroded pintle can fail while towing, and may
result in death or serious injury.
Before coupling trailer, inspect the pintle for wear, corrosion and
cracks.
Replace worn or damaged pintle.
Rock the pintle to make sure it is tight to the hitch, and visually check that the
pintle fasteners are solid against the hitch frame.
Wipe the inside and outside of the ring clean and inspect it visually for cracks
and deformations; feel the inside of the ring for worn spots and pits.
Be sure the ring is tight to the tongue of the trailer. All ring fasteners must be
visibly solid against the trailer frame.
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! WARNING
A loose pintle can result in uncoupling, leading to death or
serious injury.
Make sure the pintle is tight to the hitch before coupling the
trailer.
Raise the bottom surface of the ring to be above the top of the open pintle.
4.3.1.5 Prepare The Ring and Pintle
Lubricate the inside of the pintle with a thin layer of automotive bearing
grease.
Remove the safety latch pin and open the pintle locking mechanism.
In the open position, the ring is able to drop fully onto the pintle.
See the coupler instructions for details of placing the pintle in the “open”
position.
Slowly back up the tow vehicle so that the pintle is near or aligned under the
ring.
4.3.1.6 Couple The Trailer To The Tow Vehicle
Lower the trailer tongue until the ring fully engages the pintle. If the ring does
not line up with the pintle, adjust the position of the tow vehicle.
Engage the pintle locking mechanism. In the engaged position, the locking
mechanism securely holds the ring to the pintle.
Insert the safety lock pin through the hole in the locking mechanism.
Be sure the ring is all the way on the pintle and the locking mechanism is
engaged. A properly engaged locking mechanism will allow the pintle to raise
the rear of the tow vehicle. Using the trailer jack, test to see that you can raise
the rear of the tow vehicle by 1 inch, after the coupler is locked to the hitch.