Demco Dominator User manual

Page 1
Dominator
3/17
TB20036,Rev 12

Page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Safety Sign Location ........................................................................................................................3
Safety Definitions..............................................................................................................................4
Equipment Safety Guidelines ...........................................................................................................4
Lighting and Marking ........................................................................................................................5
Safety Sign Care & Remember ........................................................................................................5
Before Operation ..............................................................................................................................5
During & Following Operation...........................................................................................................6
Highway and Transport Operations ..................................................................................................6
Performing Maintenance...................................................................................................................7
Bolt Torque........................................................................................................................................8
Important Notice ...............................................................................................................................9
Safety and Maintenance...................................................................................................................9
Hooking up, and Operating Instructions ................................................................................... 10-11
Unhooking Tow Bar.........................................................................................................................11
Dominator Tow Bar Parts Breakdown...................................................................................... 12-13
Safety Cable Kit Parts Breakdown..................................................................................................14
Safety Cable Extensions.................................................................................................................14
Optional 4” or 6” Drop/Lift Receiver Hitch.......................................................................................15
Auxiliary Lighting Cable Kit Parts Breakdown ................................................................................15
Optional Locking Pins.....................................................................................................................16
Optional Tow Bar Light Bar Parts Breakdown.................................................................................17
Exceeding weight limitations or not using a towing vehicle larger and at least 500 lbs. heavier than the
tow bar and the towed vehicle combined can result in loss of towing vehicle control, separation of the tow
bar from the towing vehicle, or separation of the towed vehicle from the tow bar, causing severe personal
injury, death, and/or property damage.
WARRANTY POLICY, OPERATOR MANUALS & REGISTRATION
Go online to www.demco-products.com to review Demco warranty policies, operator manuals and register your Demco product.

Page 3
SAFETY SIGN LOCATIONS
Types of safety sign and locations on the are shown in illustration below. Good safety requires
that you familiarize yourself with various safety signs, type of warning, and particular func-
tion related to that area, that requires your SAFETY AWARENESS.
CAUTION

Page 4
Every year many accidents occur which could have been avoided by a few seconds of thought and a more careful approach
to handling equipment. You, the operator, can avoid many accidents by observing and following precautions in this section.
To avoid personal injury, study following precautions and insist those working with you, or you yourself, follow them.
Replace any caution, warning, danger or instruction safety decal that is not readable or is missing. Location of such decals
is indicated in this booklet.
Do not attempt to operate this tow bar under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Review safety instructions with all users.
Operator should be a responsible adult. DO NOT ALLOW PERSONSTO OPERATE OR ASSEMBLETHISTOW BAR UNTIL
THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND HOW IT WORKS.
Do not paint over, remove, or deface any safety signs or warning decals on your tow bar. Observe all safety signs and
practice instructions on them.
Never exceed limits of a tow bar. If its ability to do a job safely is in question DON’T TRY IT.
SAFETY...YOU CAN LIVE WITH IT
EQUIPMENT SAFETY GUIDELINES
SAFETY
TAKE NOTE! THIS SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL FOUND THROUGHOUT THIS MANUAL IS USED
TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO INSTRUCTIONS INVOLVING YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND
SAFETY OF OTHERS. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAN RESULT IN INJURY
OR DEATH.
THIS SYMBOL MEANS
ATTENTION
BECOME ALERT
YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED!
SIGNAL WORDS
Note use of following signal words DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION with safety messages. Appropriate signal word
for each has been selected using following guidelines:
DANGER:
Indicates an imminently hazardous situation that, if not
avoided, will result in serious injury or death. This signal word
is to be limited to the most extreme situations typically for
tow bar components which, for functional purposes, cannot
be guarded.
WARNING:
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided,
could result in serious injury or death, and includes hazards
that are exposed when guards are removed. It may also be
used to alert against unsafe practices.
CAUTION:
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided,
may result in minor or moderate injury. It may also be used
to alert against unsafe practices.
If you have questions not answered in this manual, or require
additional copies, please contact your dealer or
Demco, 4010 320th Street, Boyden, IA 51234, ph: (712)
725-2311 or [phone], Toll Free: 1-800-543-3626
Fax: [phone], http://www.demco-products.com

Page 5
LIGHTING AND MARKING
It is the responsibility of owner to know lighting and marking requirements of local highway authorities and to install and maintain equip-
ment to provide compliance with regulations.
Light bar kits are available from your dealer or from manufacturer.
SAFETY SIGN CARE
• Keepsafetysignscleanandlegibleatalltimes.
• Replacesafetysignsthataremissingorhavebecomeillegible.
• Replacementpartsthatdisplayedasafetysignshouldalsodisplaycurrentsign.
• Safetysignsareavailablefromyourdistributor,dealerpartsdepartment,orfactory.
How to install safety signs:
• Besureinstallationsurfaceiscleananddry.
• Decideonexactpositionbeforeyouremovebackingpaper.
• Removesmallestportionofsplitbackingpaper.
• Aligndecaloverspeciedareaandcarefullypresssmallportionwithexposedstickybackinginplace.
• Slowlypeelbackremainingpaperandcarefullysmoothremainingportionofdecalintoplace.
• Smallairpocketscanbepiercedwithapinandsmoothedoutusingpieceofdecalbackingpaper.
REMEMBER
Your best assurance against accidents is a careful and responsible operator. If there is any portion of this manual or function you do
not understand, contact your local authorized dealer or manufacturer.
•Carefullystudyandunderstandthismanual.
• Givetowbaravisualinspectionforanyloosebolts,wornparts,orcrackedwelds,andmakenecessaryrepairs.Followmaintenance
safety instructions included in this manual.
• Besuretherearenotoolslyingontowbar,towingunitortowedvehicle.
• Donotusetowbaruntilyouaresurethatareaisclear,especiallyaroundchildrenand animals.
• Don’thurrylearningprocessortaketowbarforgranted.Easeintoitandbecomefamiliarwithyournewtowunit.
• Practiceoperationofyourtowunitanditsattachments.Completelyfamiliarizeyourselfandotheroperatorswithitsoperationbefore
using.
• Securelyattachtotowingunit.Useanappropriatelysizedandratedhitchballand/oraclassIII,classIVreceiverandattachsafety
cables.
• Crisscrosssafetycablesundertowbar,securetomountingloopsontowingvehicle.
• Donotallowanyonetostandbetweenvehicleswhenbackingup.
• Makesuretowratingontowingunitishighenoughforwhatitistowing.
• Topreventswayingoftowedvehicleinsurealltiresareinatedtospecications.Failuretoinatetiresevenlywillresultintowedvehicle
to pull unevenly.
BEFORE OPERATION:

Page 6
DURING OPERATION
•Always follow state and local regulations regarding auxiliary lighting when towing. Be sure to check with local law enforcement agen-
cies for your own particular regulations. Only safety cables (not elastic or nylon/plastic tow straps) should be used to retain connec-
tion between towing unit and towed vehicle in event of separation.
• Donotloadtowedvehiclewithcargo.Towedvehiclesexceedingweightlimitswilloverloadtowbarandmaycauseseriousinjury
and damage.
• Bewareofbystanders,PARTICULARLY CHILDREN! Always look around to make sure it is safe to start engine of towing unit and
moving towed vehicle. This is particularly important with higher noise levels, as you may not hear people shouting.
•NO PASSENGERS ALLOWED- Do not carry passengers anywhere on or in towed vehicle.
• Whenhaltingoperation,evenperiodically,settowingunit’sparkingbrake,shutoffengine,and remove ignition key.
• Beextracarefuloninclines.
• MANEUVER TOWING UNIT AT SAFE SPEEDS.
• Avoidoverheadwiresorotherobstacles.Contactwithoverheadlinescouldcauseseriousinjuryordeath.
• Avoidloosegravel,rocks,andholes;theycanbedangerousforunitoperationormovement.
• Allowforunitlengthwhenmakingturns.
• Donotworkunderraisedcomponentsorattachmentsunlesssecurelypositionedandblocked.
• Keepallbystandersandpetsclearofworkarea.
• Operatetowingunitfromoperatorsseatonly.
• Asaprecaution,recheckhardwareontowbarevery200miles,andcorrectallproblems.Followmaintenancesafetyprocedures.
FOLLOWING OPERATION
• Followingoperation,orwhenunhooking,stoptowingvehicle,setparkingbrake,shutoffengineandremove ignition key.
• Storetowbarinareaawayfromhumanactivity.
• Donotpermitchildrentoplayonoraroundstoredtowbar.
• Makesureparkedvehicleisonhard,levelsurface.
• Wheelchocksmaybeneededtopreventvehiclefromrolling.
HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT OPERATIONS
• Adoptsafedrivingpractices:
- Always drive at safe speed relative to local conditions and ensure that your speed is low enough for an
emergency stop.
- Reduce speed prior to turns to avoid risk of overturning.
- Always keep towing unit in gear to provide engine braking when going downhill. Do not coast.
- Do not drink and drive!
• Complywithstateandlocallawsgoverninghighwaysafety.
• Locallawsshouldbecheckedforallhighwaylightingandmarkingrequirements.
• Planyourroutetoavoidheavytrafc.
• Beasafeandcourteousdriver.Alwaysyieldtooncomingtrafcinallsituations,includingnarrowbridges,intersections,etc.
• Watchforobstructionsoverheadandtobothsideswhiletowingvehicle.
• Operatewithmaximumvisibilityatalltimes.Makeallowancesforincreasedlengthandweightwhenmakingturnsandstopping.

Page 7
PERFORMING MAINTENANCE
Good maintenance is your responsibility. Poor maintenance is an invitation to trouble.•
Make sure there is plenty of ventilation. Never operate engine of towing unit in a closed building. Exhaust fumes may cause asphyxi-•
ation.
Before working on tow bar, stop towing vehicle, set parking brake, turn off engine and• remove ignition key.
Always use proper tools or equipment for job at hand.•
Use extreme caution when making adjustments.•
Follow torque chart in this manual when tightening bolts and nuts.•
After servicing, be sure all tools, parts and service equipment are removed.•
Do not allow grease or oil to build up.•
When replacing bolts, refer to owners manual.•
Refer to bolt torque chart for head identification marking.•
Where replacement parts are necessary for periodic maintenance and servicing, genuine factory replacement parts must be used to•
restore your tow unit to original specifications. Manufacturer will not claim responsibility for use of unapproved parts and/or accessories
or other damages as a result of their use.
If tow unit has been altered in any way from original design, manufacturer does not accept any liability for injury or warranty.•
A fire extinguisher and first aid kit should be kept readily accessible while performing maintenance on this tow bar.•
Any disassembly of the Dominator must be performed by an authorized dealer or sent back to Demco for repair and maintenance.•

Page 8
Torque Specifications
Bolt Torque for Metric bolts *
CLASS 8.8 CLASS 9.8 CLASS 10.9
“A” lb-ft (N.m) lb-ft (N.m) lb-ft (N.m)
6 9 (13) 10 (14) 13 (17)
7 15 (21) 18 (24) 21 (29)
8 23 (31) 25 (34) 31 (42)
10 45 (61) 50 (68) 61 (83)
12 78 (106) 88 (118) 106 (144)
14 125 (169) 140 (189) 170 (230)
16 194 (263) 216 (293) 263 (357)
18 268 (363) -- -- 364 (493)
20 378 (513) -- -- 515 (689)
22 516 (699) -- -- 702 (952)
24 654 (886) -- -- 890 (1206)
BOLT TORQUE DATA FOR STANDARD NUTS, BOLTS, AND CAPSCREWS.
Tighten all bolts to torques specified in chart unless otherwise noted. Check tightness of bolts periodically, using bolt chart as guide. Re-
place hardware with same grade bolt.
NOTE: Unless otherwise specified, high-strength Grade 5 hex bolts are used throughout assembly of equipment.
Torque figures indicated are valid for non-greased or non-oiled threads and heads unless otherwise specified. Therefore, do not grease or
oil bolts or capscrews unless otherwise specified in this manual. When using locking elements, increase torque values by 5%.
* GRADE or CLASS value for bolts and capscrews are identified by their head markings.
Bolt Torque for Standard bolts *
GRADE 2 GRADE 5GRADE 8
“A”lb-ft (N.m) lb-ft (N.m) lb-ft (N.m)
1/4”6 (8) 9 (12) 12 (16)
5/16”10 (13) 18 (25) 25 (35)
3/8”20 (27) 30 (40) 45 (60)
7/16”30 (40) 50 (70) 80 (110)
1/2”45 (60) 75 (100) 115 (155)
9/16”70 (95) 115 (155) 165 (220)
5/8”95 (130) 150 (200) 225 (300)
3/4”165 (225) 290 (390) 400 (540)
7/8”170 (230) 420 (570) 650 (880)
1”225 (300) 630 (850) 970 (1310)
Torque all 1/4” button head screws to 6 ft/lbs
and apply Blue
R
to threads.
GRADE-2 CLASS 8.8 CLASS 10.9
GRADE-5 GRADE-8
CLASS 9.8
8.8 9.8 10.9 A

Page 9
Important Notice!
Be sure towed vehicle is suitable or adaptable for towing.
A few models are not towable!
Be sure to check if towed vehicle requires additional equipment such as a transmission lube pump, free-wheel hubs, driveline
disconnectoraxlelocks.Failuretoproperlyequiptowedvehiclewillresultinseveredamagetotowedvehicle’s
transmission.
Besurethattowedvehicle’ssteeringwheelisunlockedandfreetoturn.Checkmanufacturer’sspecicationsfortheproperwayto
unlock steering wheel.
Be sure to check that receiver on towing vehicle is not inset to far. When attaching a Demco towing product it is important that
turning clearance is adequate. A receiver that is inset to far on a towing vehicle will shorten turning radius. Failure to check this
may result in towing or towed vehicle to be damaged. It may be necessary to install a receiver extension to allow for proper turning
clearance.
WARNING: FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF TOWING VEHICLE CONTROL, SEPARATION OF THE
TOW BAR FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE, SEPARATION OF THE TOWED VEHICLE FROM THE TOW BAR, CAUSING SEVERE
PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Tow Bar positioning
should be parallel to
road surface or within 3”
in either direction
TOW BAR
WARNING: ADDITIONAL SAFETY ITEMS
Safety is of utmost importance at all times. To prevent personal injury
or property damage, observe the following.
•Before allowing anyone to hook up or operate the Dominator, be sure
they have read and understand the proper operating procedure.
•This unit must be used with a Class III, 5,000 lb. Hitch or higher.
•Be sure the steering components of the towed vehicle are properly
aligned.
•The male receiver tube must fit snugly in the hitch receiver and the safety
pin must be in position to lock the receiver and tube together.
•NOTE: Any severe backwards cornering could result in damage to the
Dominator and/or towed vehicle chassis.
•For automatic transmissions: Consult your vehicle owners manual
for towing suitability with the drive shaft connected. Otherwise, the towed
vehicle will have to be equipped with a transmission pump or drive shaft
disconnect.
•Be sure the SAFETY CABLES w/retainers are hooked to both the
towing and towed vehicles using the crisscross method.
•Do not load the towed vehicle with anything as you may exceed the
towing capacity of the tow bar.
•Check to make sure that all lights are in proper working order.
•Make sure the optional light bar is fastened securely at the rear of the
towed vehicle.
•Do not use coiled safety cables with this tow bar, always use straight
Demco safety cables.
MAINTENANCE
Periodically check all bolts and nuts to ensure proper tension or
torque.
Check all pivot points for wear or breakage.
Replace any worn or damaged parts with O.E.M. parts only.
An occasional spray of lubricant may be required inside the latch trigger
area of the extending legs.
DO NOT lubricate any of the pivot points of the Dominator. These are
self-lubricating washers and your towbar could lose its self-supporting
ability.
Keep the Dominator covered when stored on or off the towing vehicle.
If the Dominator needs servicing, only an authorized dealer can service
it or it can sent to Demco for servicing.
Make sure all bolts are properly tightened and those requiring a set
torque are up to specifications:
Thank you for Purchasing Products.

Page 10
Step 5. Slide and twist the legs into position to attach them
to the baseplate on towed vehicle. Secure to baseplate using
the two attaching pins and 1/4”quick-lock pin. Attach safety
cables (see below). Now connect the lighting cable between
the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle lighting system or op-
tional light bar. The coiled section of the cable will be stored
on the support rod. Towing vehicle must be larger and at
least 500 lbs. heavier than the towed vehicle and tow bar
combined.
Step 1. Out of the box, the Dominator tow bar is setup for
the recommended positions for the safety cables and light
wire storage rod. These can be positioned to new areas to
fit your setup by loosening the screw on the retaining rings
and sliding them off the rail and relocating to a new position
and tighten screw. Install the light cable (optional) by placing
the coil over the wire support rod. Secure the cable with the
cable locking hair pin.
HOOKING UP THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED
Refer to load limits on inside of front cover.
SAFETY CABLE & LIGHT CABLE INSTALLATION
Quick-lock pin must be
closed properly. Fold ring of
Quick-Lock Pin to the side
of the pin that allows ring to
snap against pin. If you have
folded its ring the wrong way
it will not snap against pin.
Step 2. Insert the DominatorintoaClassIIIorIVhitch.
Step 6. Hook safety cables to chain anchor of baseplate.
Note: Make sure safety clip is in working order.
Step 7. Leave the electrical cable storage pin (circled above)
out for the locking procedure in step 6. When step 6 is com-
pleted, position cable on storage rod leaving enough slack,
and insert pin.
Step 3. Insert receiver pin through receiver until pin passes
through. Secure pin with the Receiver hair pin. Crisscross
safety cables underneath pivot assembly and attach to chain
anchors on towing vehicle. Do not use coiled safety cables
with this tow bar, always use straight Demco safety cables.
Step 4. Position the vehicle to be towed approx.24”behind
the towing vehicle. Perform a tow bar safety check, look for any
loose fasteners, condition of safety cables, excessive movement
in connecting leg shaft when the shaft is extended and locked. If
any excessive movement or loose fasteners, the tow bar will need
to be serviced before towing. The vehicles do not have to be
in straight alignment to complete the hook-up. Engage
towed vehicle and towing vehicle parking brake.