Carry-On Trailer Corporation 7x16CG Installation and operating manual

Please Read All Warnings Carefully Before Use.
Note: Not all Trailers are Shown on the cover
4x6CG
5x8CG, 5x10CG & 5x10CGB
6x12CGV
7x16CG
ENCLOSED TRAILER
MANUAL & SAFETY GUIDE
ENCLOSED TRAILER
MANUAL & SAFETY GUIDE
6x10CG, 6x12CG & 6x12 CGR
CG = Cargo
B = Brake
R= Ramp Door
V = V-Nose

TABLE OF CONTENTS
contents
Section and Page Numbers:
I. Safety Information............................................ 4
•Safety Signal Word: Warning ............................................. 5
•Driving Too Fast .................................................................. 5
•Changed Handling Due to Trailer ........................................ 5
•Coupling of Trailer to Tow Vehicle ...................................... 6
•Usage of Safety Chains and Breakaway Kit ........................ 6
•Mismatch Between Trailer and Hitch ................................... 7
•Tires and Wheels .................................................................. 7
•Weight and Load Distribution .............................................. 9
•Shifting Cargo ...................................................................... 10
•Brakes, Lights and Mirrors ................................................... 10
11...................................................timiLdaoLtcerroCgninimreteD•
•Reporting Safety Defects ..................................................... 12
•Formaldehyde Warning .......................................................... 12
II. Preparing to Tow ..................................................... 13
•Providing an Adequate Tow Vehicle and Hitch ......................... 14
•Trailer Information ...................................................................... 14
•Tow Vehicle
................................................................................... 15
•Coupling the Trailer .................................................................... 16
>>> Ball Hitch Coupler .......................................................... 17
•Loading the Trailer .......................................................... 18
>>> Checking the Trailer .......................................................... 19
>>> Loading Cargo ................................................................ 20
•Checking the Trailer Before and During Each Tow .................... 22
•Breaking in a New Trailer .......................................................... 22
•Uncoupling the Trailer .......................................................... 22
>>> Ball Hitch/Torque Jack Uncoupling ................................... 23

(continued...)
III. Trailer Towing Guide ..................................... 25
•Safety Trailer Towing Guidelines ...................................... 26
IV. Scheduled Inspection and Maintenance .............. 28
92...................................snoitcurtsnIecivreSdnanoitcepsnI•
>>>Axle Bolts, Frame and Suspension .................................... 29
•Brakes, Electric ...................................................... 29
>>> Breakaway Battery ............................................................. 29
>>> Breakaway Switch ............................................................. 29
>>> Magnets ............................................................................. 29
•Trailer Connection to Tow Vehicle ..................................... 30
>>> Coupler and Ball ................................................................. 30
•Trailer Structure ................................................................. 30
>>> Cleaning ............................................................................. 30
>>> Fasteners and Frame Members .......................................... 30
>>> Welds ................................................................................... 31
>>> Drop Ramp Torsion Springs ................................................ 31
•Tires ................................................................................... 32
•Wheels ................................................................... 32
>>> Unsealed Bearings (Hubs) ................................................. 32
>>> Lug Bolts or Nuts ................................................................. 33
>>> Wheel Rims ......................................................................... 34
Trailer Wheel Safety Guide .................................................. 35
contents
Reporting Safety Defects NHTSA ................................ 24
V. VIN Tag and Certificate of Origin ............................. 38
VI. Tire Care, Safety Information ........................................ 39
VII. Trailer Warranty Information
&Registration ................................................... 41

Safety Information
I. Safety information
This operator’s manual is intended for Carry-On Trailer
enclosed trailers. Read this manual before loading or
towing your trailer and follow all of the safety precautions
and instructions. It contains safety information, instructions
and warnings for protection against death and serious
injuries, including loss of control of the trailer, and the
trailer/tow vehicle combination.
Common causes of loss of control of your trailer include:
•Driving too fast for conditions
•Failure to properly couple the trailer tothe hitch
•Inadequate tow vehicle or towing hitch
•Absence of braking on trailer
•Failure to maintain proper tire pressure
•Failure to keep lug nuts tight
•Overloading or uneven loading of the trailer
•Failure to properly maintain the trailer structure
This manual is not all-inclusive and may not provide all of
the specific details necessary for the proper combination of
trailer, tow vehicle and hitch that you have. Therefore, the
trailer owner is responsible for reading, understanding and
following the instructions of the towing vehicle and trailer
hitch manufacturers, as well as the instructions of this
manual.
4
Warning!
Driving Too Fast
Changed Handling
With A Trailer
Coupling of Trailer
to Tow Vehicle
Usage of Safety
Chains and Break-
away Kit
Mismatch Be-
tween Trailer and
Hitch
Tires and Wheels
Weight and Load
Distribution
Shifting Cargo
Brakes, Lights,
and Mirrors
Reporting
Safety Defects
Introduction

5
I. Safety Information
• Warning!
The following signal word is used to indicate risk:
• Driving Too Fast
The maximum speed that the trailer can be safely towed, under ideal
conditions, is 60 miles per hour. Do not exceed the maximum towing
speed while towing your Carry-On Trailer.
• Changed Handling With A Trailer
When towing the trailer, you will have:
1. Slower acceleration
2. Increased stopping distance
3. Increased turning radius (watch the inside corner)
4. Longer distance to pass, due to slower acceleration
5. Increased vehicle length
Also, keep in mind the following information:
• Beware of slippery conditions. A tow-vehicle and trailer combination
is more likely to be affected by slippery road surfaces than a tow
vehicle without a trailer.
• Anticipate the trailer reaction to the air pressure wave caused by
passing trucks and busses. This reaction is called “swaying”.
• Use rear view mirrors frequently to observe both the trailer behavior
and trafc patterns.
• Use a lower gear when going down steep or long grades. Do not ride
the brakes, or they may overheat to the point of becoming ineffective.
Use the engine and transmission as a brake.
• Keep the height of your trailer in mind, especially when approaching
Hazards or unsafe practices that COULD result in severe
personal injury or death if the warning is ignored.
Driving too fast for conditions may result in loss of control
and cause death or serious injury. Reduce your speed
when towing a trailer.
Safety Information

6
sheltered areas and when around trees.
• Coupling of Trailer to Tow Vehicle
A secure coupling, including the correct attachment of the safety
chains, is vital. A loss of coupling may result in death or serious injury.
Coupler and hitch selection and condition are critical
for safe towing. Uncoupling may result in death or
serious injury.
• Make sure the hitch and ball are related for the trailer.
• Make sure the hitch [ball size] matches the coupler.
• Check the hitch ball for wear, corrosion and cracks
before coupling. Replace worn, corroded or cracked
hitch ball before coupling the trailer.
• Make sure the hitch ball nut is tight before coupling
the trailer.
An improperly coupled trailer may result in death or
serious injury.
Do NOT move the trailer until:
• the coupler is secured and locked
• the safety chains are secured to the tow vehicle
• the trailer jacks are fully retracted.
Do NOT tow the trailer on the road until:
• the trailer brakes are checked
• the breakaway switch is connected to the tow vehicle
(if applicable)
• the trailer lights are connected
• Usage of Safety Chains and Breakaway Kit
Safety chains are provided so that control of the trailer can be main-
tained, even if the trailer becomes loose from the hitch. To be effec-
tive, safety chains must be in good condition and properly rigged.
Incorrect rigging of the safety chains may result in loss of
control of the trailer and tow vehicle, leading to serious
injury.
Safety Information

7
Safety Chains must:
• Fasten to the frame of tow vehicle, not to the trailer
hitch or ball.
• Cross underneath the hitch and coupler with minimum
slack to permit turning and to hold the tongue up, if the
trailer comes loose.
Your trailer may be equipped with a breakaway brake system, in addi-
tion to having safety chains. This system will apply the brakes on your
trailer, if the trailer comes loose from the hitch for any reason. To be
effective, the breakaway brake system must be in good condition, and
properly rigged.
An ineffective breakaway system can result in a runaway
trailer, if the coupler or ball hitch fails, leading to death or
serious injury.
• Test the function of the breakaway system before
towing the trailer. Do not tow the trailer if the
breakaway system is not working. Having it serviced
or repaired.
• Connect the breakaway cable to the tow vehicle.
• NOT to the safety chain.
• NOT to the hitch, ball or support.
• Mismatch Between Trailer and Hitch
Use of an under-rated hitch, ball or tow vehicle may
result in loss of control leading to death or serious injury.
Make certain that your hitch and tow vehicle are rated for
your trailer.
• Tires and Wheels
Tire or wheel failure may result in loss of control of the trailer and the
towing vehicle. Trailer tires and wheels are more likely to fail than car
tires and wheels because they carry a heavier load. Therefore, it is
critical that you develop the necessary habit of always inspecting the
trailer tires before towing. If tire pressure is too low or too high, the
trailer will not be stable. They must be inated to the proper pressure
before getting underway. Trailer tires are designed to be inated to
Safety Information

8
higer pressure than passenger vehicle tires.
Improper tire pressure causes an unstable trailer. Blow
out and loss of control may occur. Death or serious injury
may result.
Make sure of proper tire pressure before towing a trailer.
Inate tires to pressure indicated on the sidewall.
Tire pressure must be checked “cold”. Allow 3 hours of cool down
after driving as much as 1 mile at 40 m.p.h. before checking pressure.
If the tires have too little tread, they will not provide adequate trac-
tion on wet roadways. This may result in loss of control of the towing
vehicle and trailer, leading to death or serious injury.
Inspect the trailer tires before each tow. If a tire has a bald spot,
bulge, cut, crack, or is showing any cords, immediately replace the
tire before towing the trailer. Uneven tread wear may be caused by
tire imbalance, axle misalignment or improper ination. If you observe
uneven tread wear, take the trailer to a Carry-On Trailer dealer service
center for diagnosis.
Lug nuts or bolts may shift and settle quickly after assembly. You must
check the lug nuts for tightness after the rst 10, 25, and 50
miles of driving a new trailer (or remounted wheel), and before each
tow thereafter. Trailer wheels and lug nuts are subjected to greater
side loads than automobile wheels. This may cause the lug nuts to
become loose.
Failure to perform this check may result in a wheel parting from the
trailer, and a crash leading to death or serious injury.
Lug nuts are prone to loosen after assembly. Death or
serious injury may result. Check lug nuts for tightness on
a new trailer, and after re-mounting a wheel at 10, 25,
and 50 miles.
Use a torque wrench to obtain the proper tightening of the lug nuts (or
bolts). If you do not have a torque wrench, tighten the lug nuts with
a lug wrench as much as you can, then have the lug nuts tightened
Safety Information

9
to the proper torque at a service garage or by your Carry-On Trailer
dealer.
Inadequate lug nut torque may cause a wheel to part
while towing. Death or serious injury can result. Make
sure lug nuts are tight before towing trailer.
• Weight and Load Distribution
Proper loading of your trailer is essential for your safety. Tire, wheel, axle
or structural failure may be caused by overloading.
An overloaded trailer may result in failure or in loss of
control of the trailer, leading to death or serious injury.
Never load a trailer so that the weight on any tire
exceeds its rating.
Never exceed the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR).
Never exceed an axle Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GVWR).
Proper handling of your trailer depends on having the trailer load dis-
tributed properly. A proper weight distribution is equal, right to left; and
proper tongue weight for stable trailer handling. Rules of thumb for
proper tongue weight are:
Ball Hitch (or Bumper Hitch) 10-15% of GVW
Gooseneck Hitch 20-25% of GVW
Fifth Wheel Hitch 20-25% of GVW
The trailer is more stable when its center of gravity is low.
• Load heavy items on the oor and over the axles.
• Load additional items to maintain even weight distribution and to
achieve desired tongue weight.
An improperly distributed load may result in loss of
control of the trailer, leading to death or serious injury.
• Proper tongue weight is essential for stable
trailer handling
• Distribute the load front to rear to provide proper
tongue weight
Safety Information

10
• Distribute the load evenly, right and left to avoid
tire overload
• Keeping the center of gravity low and centered is
essential to minimize the risk of tipping over
• Shifting Cargo
You are responsible for securing your cargo in such a way that it does
not shift within the trailer during the tow. The “ride” inside a trailer can
be very bumpy and rough.
A shifting load may result in failure, or loss of control
of the trailer, and can lead to death or serious injury. You
must tie down all loads with properly sized fasteners,
rope, straps, etc. to prevent the load from shifting while
trailer is in motion. If the catch on the door latch has a
hole for a linch pin, be sure to securely fasten the linch
pin to the door.
Always secure the door latch after closing. Place a linch-
pin in the catch. If the door opens, your cargo may be
ejected onto the road.
Your Carry-On Trailer is not capable of safely
transporting ammable, explosive, poisonous or other
dangerous materials.
• Brakes, Lights, and Mirrors
The brakes (if equipped) and lights on your trailer are controlled via a
connection to the tow vehicle, usually a multi-pin electrical connec-
tor. Trailer brake operation is critical for slowing the trailer. Lights are
necessary for drivers behind you to see you at night, and be alerted to
your intended moves. Make sure that the brakes and all of the lights on
your trailer are functioning properly before towing your trailer.
Failure to connect the tow vehicle lighting and braking
to the trailer will result in inoperable lights and brakes,
and may lead to collision.
Check that all the trailer lights and brakes work before
each tow.
Standard mirrors usually do not provide adequate visibility for viewing
trafc to the sides and rear of a trailer under tow. You are responsible for
providing mirrors that permit you to safely maneuver in trafc.
Safety Information