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.
hitch.
4.3.1.1 BEFORE COUPLER 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.