Wilson Trailer GOOSENECK LIVESTOCK User manual

Wilson Trailer Company
GOOSENECK LIVESTOCK
TRAILER OWNERS MANUAL
This manual has been prepared to help you operate your new Wilson trailer
successfully, economically, and safely. Should you have any questions, we ask
that you contact a Wilson Trailer Company factory representative immediately
for a clear explanation.
We thank you for expressing your confidence in us through the purchase of
your new Wilson Gooseneck trailer.
We want you to know that it was designed to meet your specific needs for
a livestock trailer and was built for long life and low cost operation. With
regular, proper maintenance and your common sense use, we are confident
that it will do so.
Additional owner’s manuals and decal kits for this trailer are available without charge.
This manual Includes:
• Certificate of Limited Warranty
• Disclaimer and Exclusive Remedies to Which the Sale is Subject
MODEL NO. SERIAL NO.

- 2 -
Table of Contents
This safety alert symbol is to raise your awareness to
important messages in this manual. When you see this
symbol, be alert to the possibility of personal injury and
carefully read the message that follows.
TABLE OF CONTENTS by SECTION
GENERAL INFORMATION
Normal Trailer Operation......................... ..................................................4
Loading and Unloading of Livestock......................................................4
SAFETY
Modification of Trailer..................................................................................5
Decals and Emblems....................................................................................5
Over-the-Road Safe Handling.......................... .........................................7
Wheel Torques...............................................................................................8
Tire Safety Information.......................... ......................................................9
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit.............................................9
Glossary of Tire Terminology.................................................................. 11
Tire Safety - Everything Rides on it........................................................ 17
Safety First - Basic Tire Maintenance.......................... .......................... 18
Tire Safety Tips............................................................................................. 25
Tire Safety Checklist................................................................................... 25
OPERATION
Inspection Procedure Before Trip.................... ..................................... 26
Safety Chains......................... ...................................................................... 26
Coupler Attachment......................... ........................................................ 26
Brake and Electrical Controls.................................................................. 27
Brake Controls............................................................................................. 27
Tires................................................................................................................. 27
Gates......................... ..................................................................................... 28
Wheels and Rims........................................................................................ 28
Door Locks.................................................................................................... 29
Side Structure............................................................................................... 29
Operating Instructions.................... ......................................................... 30
Operation of Brakes......................... ......................................................... 30
Operation of Gates.................................................................................... 30
Operation of Coupler................................................................................ 31
Fifth Wheel & King Pin Engagement................................................... 31

- 3 -
Table of Contents
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Fastenings .................................................................................................... 32
Gate and Ramp Hinges............................................................................ 32
Operating Slam Lock................................................................................. 32
Floor ............................................................................................................... 32
Wheel Bearings........................................................................................... 33
Oil or Grease Seals ..................................................................................... 33
Optional Oil Bath Bearings ..................................................................... 33
Washout Notice.......................................................................................... 33
Brakes............................................................................................................. 34
Brake Adjustment....................................................................................... 35
Wheels and Tires ........................................................................................ 36
Torque Requirements ............................................................................... 36
Wheel Nut Torque Guide........................................................................ 37
Electrical System ......................................................................................... 38
Breakaway Battery Charger Instructions............................................ 38
12 V Sealed Lead-Acid Battery............................................................... 39
Electric/Hyd. Brake Application - Wiring Diagram.......................... 40
Electrical Connector - Wiring Diagram................................................ 41
Electrical Junction Box ............................................................................. 42
Electric Brakes - Wiring Diagram........................................................... 43
Vacuum/Hydraulic Brakes - Wiring Diagram.................................... 44
Electrical Troubleshooting ...................................................................... 45
Troubleshooting Guide/Vacuum/Hyd. Brakes................................. 48
Troubleshooting Guide/Electric Brakes.............................................. 54
CONSUMER INFORMATION
Reporting Safety Defects.......................................................................... 56
Keep Informed ............................................................................................ 56
Customer Assistance ................................................................................. 56
Tire Registry Information ......................................................................... 56
Authorized Repair Facilities..................................................................... 57
Certificate of Limited Warranty.............................................................. 60
Extended Warranty Schedule ................................................................ 62
Vendor Warranties .................................................................................... 63
Bulldog Gooseneck Coupler................................................................... 64
Square Jack, 12,000 lb.............................................................................. 70
Index............................................................................................................... 76

- 4 -
General Information
Normal Trailer Operation
This Wilson trailer is designed for
operation within legal highway speed
limits on reasonable road surfaces
for the type of service it was built to
perform, in accordance with the noted
weight restrictions.
Normal use means the loading,
unloading and transportation of
uniformly distributed legal loads, in a manner which does not subject the
trailer to stresses or impacts greater than imposed by reasonable use.
This trailer was built to carry cargo within the two weight ratings on the
identification plate located on the road side of the trailer near the front.
The GAWR (gross axle weight rating) is the structural capability of the
lowest rated member of the running gear component: suspension and
spring system, hub, wheels and drums, rims, bearings, brakes, axles, or
tires.
The GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is the structural capability of the
trailer when supported by the kingpin and axles with the load uniformly
distributed throughout the cargo space.
CAUTION
The maximum load indicated on the identification plate may
not be a legal load on the highway you plan to use. States have
differing laws and regulations affecting vehicle lengths and
weights on roads that are not a part of the primary interstate
road system.
Loading and Transport of Livestock
The loading of the trailer is important! Keep the center of gravity as low as
possible. Proper placement of the larger animals should be considered.
Because load types vary, the driver needs to drive with appropriate care
and within the limits of the load.
The well being of the gooseneck livestock trailer is dependent on the
stock density, ventilation, skill of driving, and quality of roads. Frequent
inspection of livestock and careful driving cannot be over-
emphasized!

- 5 -
Safety
Modification of Trailer
Any modification made to the trailer must comply with DOT and NHTSA
regulations and must not compromise the gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) of the trailer.
(Rev. 12-98)
WARNING
Any operation of the trailer outside the limitations stated
in this manual will void any responsibility of Wilson Trailer
Company for any of its results.
CAUTION
Personal Injury, death, and property damage may result from
improper operation or unsafe practices. Be sure to read and
follow all decals and emblems carefully.
Decals and Emblems
The following section contains the decals and emblems used on Wilson
Gooseneck Trailers. Due to differences in configurations and equipment,
your trailer may or may not use all the decals and emblems listed. Newer
trailers may also have decals and emblems that differ from older trailers.
Replace damaged or missing decals promptly.
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TRAILER COMPANY SIOUX CITY, IOWA
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Safety
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GROUND FOR
INT.& EXT.
LIGHTS
BLACK:
CONNECTS
TO BLACK
WIRE ON
BREAKAWAY
BATTERY
BREAKAWAYSWITCH
AAA-06891-KX AAA-06891-SE
(Rev. 4-19)
Over-The-Road Safe Handling
IMPORTANT: Like any other vehicles, semi-trailers can tip or slide out
of control if turns are negotiated at too high a speed or when making
violent maneuvers such as abrupt lane changes or other evasive
actions to avoid obsacles.
YOU AND YOUR SAFETY
1. You - the OPERATOR - have control of the most important factors
that affect vehicle stability. Trailers are important tools in our
transportation industry and, like any tool, are safe in the hands of a
properly qualified operator.
2. The fifth wheel should be securely mounted to the tractor frame.
3. The driver should be familiar with the characteristics of the
particular trailer and the load being transported.
4. The driver should be familiar with the nature of the roads and
traffic which may be encountered during the trip.
5. Stability: Within the relatively narrow confines of road laws
limiting vehicle size and weight, together with the characteristics
of available tires, suspensions, and other components, there is
little that a manufacturer can do to affect the inherent stability of
a trailer other than keeping the loading decks as low as feasible,
considering the requirements for loading space and adequate tire
clearance. This means that the major factors affecting operational
stability are the knowledge and skill of the driver.
The predominant causes of the rollover accidents are:
• Excessive speed.
• Violent swerving or turning.
• Application of brakes or tractor power while turning.
• Entering curves at too high a speed may be caused by one of the
following factors:

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Safety
Over-The-Road Safe Handling
a. Traveling at freeway speeds for long periods of time and failing
to recognize the high speed of travel and reducing it before
entering freeway interchanges or other curves requiring a
reduced and controlled speed.
b. Lack of familiarity with the vehicle characteristics to recognize its
safe speed with relation to posted speed limits on curves, which
are usually determined with automobile traffic in mind.
c. Failure to reduce speed sufficiently when approaching
congested traffic such as might be found at traffic signals on
highways. With the advent of today’s more powerful and
higher torque engines, the original practice of maintaining
momentum to avoid acceleration in traffic is outmoded.
6. Tire Characteristics: High pressure truck/trailer tires have different
characteristics under high speed cornering conditions than do
passenger car tires. As an extreme example, it is fairly common
knowledge that a skilled race car driver can consistently “drift”
his racer around tight turns where very high lateral “g” forces are
encountered. However, truck/trailer tires which are designed for
carrying high loads over long distances have substantially different
characteristics, and their lateral stability becomes unpredictable
when lateral forces approach 0.4 g. This means that commercial
vehicles must be operated in a conservative manner when
cornering.
7. Braking and Acceleration: Either braking or accelerating while
cornering can significantly reduce the stability of the vehicle and
should be avoided. The best driving practice is to decelerate to a
safe conservative speed before entering a corner or approaching
congested traffic, and then to apply only moderate power until a
straight path has been reestablished.
(Rev. 6-02)
Wheel Torques
Proper torquing and retorquing the wheel nuts are critical to prevent the
premature loss of wheel equipment
Wheels must be checked and retorqued after 50 to 100 miles of use. This
is important every time you change a wheel.

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Tire Safety Information
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit - Trailer
Determining the load limits of a trailer includes more than understanding
the load limits of the tires alone. On all trailers there is a Federal
certification/VIN label that is located on the forward half of the left
(road) side of the unit. This certification/VIN label will indicate the trailer’s
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). This is the most weight the fully
loaded trailer can weigh. It will also provide the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). This is the most a particular axle can weigh. If there are multiple
axles, the GAWR of each axle will be provided.
If your trailer has a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less, there is a vehicle
placard located in the same location as the certification label described
above. This placard provides tire and loading information. In addition,
this placard will show a statement regarding maximum cargo capacity.
Cargo can be added to the trailer, up to the maximum weight specified
on the placard. The combined weight of the cargo is provided as a single
number. In any case, remember: the total weight of a fully loaded trailer
can not exceed the stated GVWR
For trailers with living quarters installed, the weight of water and propane
also need to be considered. The weight of fully filled propane containers is
considered part of the weight of the trailer before it is loaded with cargo,
and is not considered part of the disposable cargo load. Water however, is
a disposable cargo weight and is treated as such. If there is a fresh water
storage tank of 100 gallons, this tank when filled would weigh about 800
pounds. If more cargo is being transported, water can be off-loaded to
keep the total amount of cargo added to the vehicle within the limits of
the GVWR so as not to overload the vehicle. Understanding this flexibility
will allow you, the owner, to make choices that fit your travel needs.
When loading your cargo, be sure it is distributed evenly to prevent
overloading front to back and side to side. Heavy items should be placed
low and as close to the axle positions as reasonable. Too many items on
one side may overload a tire. The best way to know the actual weight of
the vehicle is to weigh it at a public scale. Talk to your dealer to discuss
the weighing methods needed to capture the various weights related to
the trailer. This would include the weight empty or unloaded, weights per
axle, wheel, hitch or king-pin, and total weight.
Excessive loads and/or underinflation cause tire overloading and, as
a result, abnormal tire flexing occurs. This situation can generate an
excessive amount of heat within the tire. Excessive heat may lead to tire
failure. It is the air pressure that enables a tire to support the load, so
proper inflation is critical. The proper air pressure may be found on the
certification/VIN label and/or on the Tire Placard. This value should never
exceed the maximum cold inflation pressure stamped on the tire.

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Tire Safety Information
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit - Trailer
1. Locate the statement, “The weight of cargo should never exceed XXX
kg or XXX lbs.,” on your vehicle’s placard.
2. This figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity.
3. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity.
The trailer’s placard refers to the Tire Information Placard attached
adjacent to or near the trailer’s VIN (Certification) label at the left front of
the trailer.
Trailers Over 10,000 Pounds GVWR
NOTE: These trailers are not required to have a tire information
placard on the vehicle.
Determine the empty weight of your trailer by weighing the trailer using a
public scale or other means. This step does not have to be repeated.
Locate the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of the trailer on your
trailer’s VIN (Certification) label.
Subtract the empty weight of your trailer from the GVWR stated on the
VIN label. That weight is the maximum available cargo capacity of the
trailer and may not be safely exceeded.