by itruns Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:16 pmCorey, Vanners desire liquid bread? Go figure. Glad to hear you made it back safe and sound.
That master cylinder activates the trailer brakes when the trailer pushes on your van. There should have been a lock-out (defeating) device for backing it up.
Since you have a receiver hitch on your G20, just a couple pointers for future reference:
Keep the rig on a level plane by using the proper height ball mount.
The tongue weight should be between 10 to 15% of the trailer weight (w/ load).
There was a cable to activate the surge brakes in case the trailer came off the tow vehicle. Connect that cable to the vehicle itelf, not the receiver. That way if you loose the receiver, the brakes will still activate.
A weight distribution hitch attachment takes weight off the tow vehicle's rear axle and put it on the front axle making for a much more stable towing platform. The bitch is with the way surge brakes work, a lot of these attachments defeat the braking mechanism. They have also been known to damage unibody vehicles.
Sorry to rant or lecture, but as you found out, trailering can get kinda scary. The more knowledge you have and follow, the safer and easier things will be.
That master cylinder activates the trailer brakes when the trailer pushes on your van. There should have been a lock-out (defeating) device for backing it up.
Since you have a receiver hitch on your G20, just a couple pointers for future reference:
Keep the rig on a level plane by using the proper height ball mount.
The tongue weight should be between 10 to 15% of the trailer weight (w/ load).
There was a cable to activate the surge brakes in case the trailer came off the tow vehicle. Connect that cable to the vehicle itelf, not the receiver. That way if you loose the receiver, the brakes will still activate.
A weight distribution hitch attachment takes weight off the tow vehicle's rear axle and put it on the front axle making for a much more stable towing platform. The bitch is with the way surge brakes work, a lot of these attachments defeat the braking mechanism. They have also been known to damage unibody vehicles.
Sorry to rant or lecture, but as you found out, trailering can get kinda scary. The more knowledge you have and follow, the safer and easier things will be.
