There are two ways to transport the trailer: Shipping pertains to moving the trailer by truck, aircraft, railroad, or sea. Towing means that the trailer will be attached to a vehicle capable of pulling 4,200 lbs., both on and off road. Refer to Towing Instructions. The following paragraphs describe both methods.
Part Number 1006313 0005-37 DHS Systems LLC
This document contains information proprietary to DHS Systems LLC and is intended solely for use by its customers. No portion of this document may be reproduced release to a third party without written consent of DHS Systems LLC.
Coupling the Trailer to a Tow Vehicle
WARNING
Power to the Genset batteries MUST BE turned off prior to moving the trailer. Failure to follow this warning may result in serious equipment damage and personnel injury. 1. Verify that all circuit breakers and switches are in the OFF position.
2. Verify that power to the batteries is off by ensuring the BATTERY SWITCH on the Circuit breaker Panel is in the OFF position.
WARNING
Ensure that towing vehicle and trailer are on level ground before coupling. Failure to follow this warning may result in serious personnel injury or equipment damage. 3. Apply both handbrakes (Figure 32, Item 1).
WARNING
Ensure weight of trailer is on tongue jack post (Figure 32, Item 3) before raising rear stabilizer legs. Failure to follow this warning may cause trailer to tip, resulting in serious injury to personnel or damage to equipment.
4. Fully retract and secure both rear stabilizer legs (Figure 32, Item 2).
Figure 32. Trailer Leveled and Secured.
5. Rotate tongue jack hand crank (Figure 32, Item 6) to raise trailer tongue (Figure 32, Item 4) until lunette ring (Figure 32, Item 5) is higher than towing vehicle pintle hook (Figure 33, Item 8).
1 3 2 6 4 5
Part Number 1006313 0005-38 DHS Systems LLC
This document contains information proprietary to DHS Systems LLC and is intended solely for use by its customers. No portion of this document may be reproduced release to a third party without written consent of DHS Systems LLC.
Coupling the Trailer to a Tow Vehicle – Continued
WARNING
When operating the tongue jack hand crank do not force the tongue jack beyond the normal operating range, or permanent damage may occur.
The trailer drawbar is heavy - up to 420 lb (190.5 kg) loaded tongue weight. If the tongue jack is inoperative, remove load from trailer or use four or more persons to lift the drawbar. Failure to follow this warning may result in serious personnel injury or equipment damage.
6. Remove safety pin (Figure 33, Item 9) from pintle hitch (Figure 33, Item 2). Open pintle hitch (Figure 33, Item 2) by pulling up on locking latch (Figure 33, Item 1).
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3
Figure 33. Attach Trailer to Tow Vehicle. 7. Back up towing vehicle in front of lunette ring (Figure 33, Item 4).
8. Adjust height of lunette ring (Figure 33, Item 4) by rotating tongue jack hand crank (Figure 32, Item 6). 9. Place lunette ring on towing vehicle pintle hook and close pintle hitch. Check that locking latch is locked by
pulling up on pintle hitch. The pintle hitch should not come up.
10. Re-insert safety pin (Figure 33, Item 9) into pintle hitch (Figure 33, Item 2).
11. Cross two trailer safety chains under trailer tongue and hook to towing vehicle eyebolts. If safety chains are too long, they can be twisted to be shortened. It is recommended that wire be used across hook openings to prevent accidental unhooking.
Part Number 1006313 0005-39 DHS Systems LLC
This document contains information proprietary to DHS Systems LLC and is intended solely for use by its customers. No portion of this document may be reproduced release to a third party without written consent of DHS Systems LLC.
Coupling the Trailer to a Tow Vehicle – Continued
CAUTION
Safety chains must be attached on opposite sides of the trailer tongue or frame and crossed under the tongue when passed forward to the towing vehicle so as to cradle the tongue in the event of a breakaway. Slack should only be sufficient to permit full turns.
Failure to provide enough slack can result in twisting the trailer tongue.
12. Attach safety breakaway cable (Figure 33, Item 6) to towing vehicle. Ensure there is enough slack in the cable to allow trailer to make full turns.
CAUTION
Ensure that breakaway lever is fully released. If the breakaway lever is not fully released, the brakes will drag, heat up, and burn out.
13. Ensure breakaway lever (Figure 33, Item 5) is pushed all the way back toward trailer and that breakaway lever is not engaged in leaf spring (Figure 33, Item 7).
14. Rotate tongue jack hand crank (Figure 34 Item 1) to raise wheel/skid plate assembly (Figure 34, Item 3) off the ground.
15. Remove two assembly pins (Figure 34, Item 4) holding wheel/skid plate assembly to tongue jack extension (Figure 34, Item 2).
16. Release extension pin (Figure 34, Item 5) and push tongue jack extension all the way up into tongue jack (Figure 34, Item 7). Secure tongue jack extension by reinserting pin in tongue jack.
17. Continue to rotate tongue jack crank to fully raise tongue jack.
18. Place wheel/skid plate assembly onto storage post (Figure 34, Item 6) with skid plate facing rear of the trailer. 19. Secure wheel/skid plate assembly to storage post by inserting two assembly pins.
20. Connect electrical plug on the inter-vehicular cable to receptacle of towing vehicle. 21. Check all towing vehicle and trailer lights for proper operation.
Part Number 1006313 0005-40 DHS Systems LLC
This document contains information proprietary to DHS Systems LLC and is intended solely for use by its customers. No portion of this document may be reproduced release to a third party without written consent of DHS Systems LLC.
Coupling the Trailer to a Tow Vehicle – Continued
Figure 34. Secure Tongue Jack Assembly. END OF TASK 7 6 1 2 4 5 3
Part Number 1006313 0005-41 DHS Systems LLC
This document contains information proprietary to DHS Systems LLC and is intended solely for use by its customers. No portion of this document may be reproduced release to a third party without written consent of DHS Systems LLC.
Off-Road Driving Conditions
The TMSS-MED trailer is equipped with a safety brake actuator device that is intended to keep the safety brakes from engaging when the vehicle is operating off-road.
CAUTION
During extreme off road transport, tire pressure should be reduced to 17 psi. Failure to observe this warning could result in equipment damage.
NOTE
This procedure is to be used for all off road operation of the TMSS-MED Trailer. 1. Ensure trailer lunette ring (Figure 35, Item 1) is level with towing vehicle.
2. Ensure safety chains (Figure 35, Item 4) are properly attached to towing vehicle.
3. Ensure safety breakaway cable (Figure 35, Item 2) is properly attached to towing vehicle. 4. Ensure rear stabilizer legs are properly stowed.
5. Ensure that trailer light cable is securely attached to the towing vehicle.
6. Ensure trailer tongue jack assembly (not shown) is properly stowed (failure to properly stow tongue jack assembly will result in damage to trailer tongue jack).
7. Ensure trailer handbrakes are disengaged. 8. Ensure all trailer cargo is secured.
9. Insert safety brake actuator lockout rod (Figure 35, Item 3) into the safety brake actuator lockout bore (Figure 35, Item 5), thus by-passing the trailer actuated braking system. (If trailer actuator is not pinned out, trailer actuated brakes may engage during extreme assents and descents, causing damage to the trailer tongue)
Figure 35. Trailer Safety Brake Lockout. END OF TASK 2 3 ACTUATOR LOCKOUT 2 1 4 5
Part Number 1006313 0005-42 DHS Systems LLC
This document contains information proprietary to DHS Systems LLC and is intended solely for use by its customers. No portion of this document may be reproduced release to a third party without written consent of DHS Systems LLC.
Towing Instructions
NOTE
Refer to FM 21-305 for further information on proper towing practices. Driving.
CAUTION
Sudden stops may cause drawbar to bend or buckle and may cause damage to hydraulic brake actuator assembly.
1. When the trailer is coupled, always start and stop the towed load slowly and gradually. Do this whether or not the trailer is loaded.
2. When driving a vehicle towing a trailer with a hydraulic brake actuator assembly, sudden and fast deceleration will cause the trailer hydraulic brakes to be applied.
3. Never exceed the maximum speed of 55 mph (88.5 km/h) highway or 20 mph (32.2 km/h) cross-country. 4. When driving the towing vehicle and trailer, the overall length of the unit must be kept in mind when turning and
passing other vehicles. Because the unit is hinged in the middle, turning and backing are also affected. Heavier payloads will increase stopping distance and decrease off-road maneuverability.
END OF TASK
Turning.
CAUTION
Tight turns may cause damage to hydraulic brake actuator assembly.
1. When turning corners, allow for the fact that the trailer wheels may turn inside the turning radius of the towing vehicle.
2. To make a right turn at an intersection, drive the towing vehicle partway into the intersection, then cut sharply to the right. This will allow for the turning radius of the trailer to keep its wheels off the curb.
END OF TASK
Backing.
CAUTION