COUPLING TO THE TOW VEHICLE
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.
WARNING
The tongue jack can be damaged by overloading. Do not use the tongue jack to
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raise the tow vehicle more than 1 inch.
If the ring cannot be secured to the pintle, do not tow the trailer. Contact your dealer for assistance.
• Lower the trailer so that its entire tongue weight is held by the hitch, and continue retracting
the jack to its fully retraced position.
• Fully retract jack drop leg and insert pin.
• Go to Section 4.3.3 “Connect Safety Chains – Bumper Pull Trailer” to continue connecting
trailer to tow vehicle.
CONNECT SAFETY CHAINS – BUMPER PULL TRAILER
• Visually inspect the safety chains and hooks for wear or damage. Replace worn or damaged
safety chains and hooks before towing.
• Rig the safety chains so that they:
• Crisscross underneath the coupler so if the trailer uncouples, the safety chains can
hold the tongue up above the road. Loop around a frame member of the tow vehicle
or to holes provided in the hitch system (but, do not attach them to an interchange
• Provide enough slack to permit tight turns, but not be close to the road surface to
drag.
Proper Safety Chain Arrangement