JLG Triple-L Operator Manual - Manual (Page 32)

SECTION 2 - TRAILER OPERATION
2-14 – Triple-L-Trailer – 3121224
2.11 LIFT TIE DOWN PROCEDURE
The tie downs at the front of the trailer are a fixed length
and remain attached to the D-rings in the front corners of
the deck.
1. Move the lift onto the trailer and pull forward until the
front chains can be attached to the designated tie
down points on the lift.
THERE SHOULD BE 15 INCHES FROM THE INSIDE FRONT OF
THE TRAILER WALL BACK TO THE CENTER OF THE FRONT
WHEEL OF THE LIFT.
2. Once the chains are attached, lift should be moved
back to apply tension to forward chains.
3. The rear tie downs are attached to ratchet chain
binders, anchored to the D-rings at the middle of the
trailer deck and pass through the D-ring at the rear
of the deck.
NOTE: The chain should be routed through the top of the D-
ring at the rear of the deck for easier ratcheting once
attached to lift.
4. Pass the hooks through the designated tie down
locations at the rear of the lift and secure to chain
link.
5. Chain tension should be adjusted with the ratchet
binder. (See Figure 2-4., Lift Tie Down).
2.12 TOWING OPERATIONS
Trailer Maneuvering
Driving a vehicle with a trailer in tow is vastly different from
driving the same vehicle without a trailer in tow. Accelera-
tion, maneuverability and braking are all diminished with a
trailer in tow. It takes longer to get up to speed; you need
more room to turn and pass, and more distance to stop
when towing a trailer. You will need to spend time adjust-
ing to the different feel and maneuverability of the tow
vehicle with a loaded trailer. Because of the significant dif-
ferences in all aspects of maneuverability when towing a
trailer, the hazards and risks of injury are also much
greater than when driving without a trailer. You are respon-
sible for keeping your vehicle and trailer in control, and for
all the damage that is caused if you lose control of your
vehicle and trailer.
When learning to drive with a trailer in tow, find an open
area with little or no traffic to practice trailering. Before you
start towing the trailer, you must follow all of the instruc-
tions for inspection, testing, loading and coupling. Also
adjust the mirrors so you can see the trailer as well as the
area to the rear of it.
Drive slowly at first, 5 mph or so, and turn the wheel to get
the feel of how the tow vehicle and trailer combination
responds. Next, make some right and left hand turns.
Watch in your side mirrors to see how the trailer follows
the tow vehicle. Turning with a trailer attached requires
more room.
Stop the tow vehicle (with the trailer coupled) a few times
from speeds no greater than 10 m.p.h. If your trailer is
equipped with electric brakes, try using different combina-
tions of trailer brake and tow vehicle brake. Note the effect
that the trailer brakes have when they are the only brakes
used. When properly adjusted, electric trailer brakes will
come on just before the tow vehicle brakes.
It will take practice to learn how to drive a tow vehicle in
reverse with a trailer attached. Take it slow. Before backing
up, get out of the tow vehicle and look behind the trailer to
make sure that there are no obstacles. Some drivers place
their hands at the bottom of the steering wheel, and while
the tow vehicle is in reverse, “think” of the hands as being
on the top of the wheel. When the hands move to the right
(counter-clockwise, as you would do to turn the tow vehi-
cle to the left when moving forward), the rear of the trailer
moves to the right. Conversely, rotating the steering wheel
clockwise with your hands at the bottom of the wheel will
move the rear of the trailer to the left, while backing up. Be
careful not to allow the trailer to turn too much, because it
will hit the rear of the tow vehicle. To straighten, either pull
forward, or turn the steering wheel in the opposite direc-
tion.