Surge Brake Hitch Operation
Surge Brake Hitch Operation SB96doc110697 2-1
2
SECTION 2 SURGE BRAKE
HITCH OPERATION
1. Pull the mill behind the towing vehicle and
place the hitch over a 2" ball on your vehicle.
The hitch ball should be solid (not two-piece)
with a rating of at least 3500 pounds (1588 kg).
The hitch should be correctly mounted to the
towing vehicle so that it will be able to pull this
type of load.
2. Flip the locking handle upward, being sure the
bracket underneath firmly clamps around the
ball.
DANGER! Make sure hitch bracket is securely
fastened around ball before towing the sawmill.
Ball should be completely engaged by the hitch
bracket and securely locked in place.
See Figure 2-1.
3. Cross the safety chains underneath the hitch and
hook to the vehicle. The chains should be con-
nected so that there is still slack in the chains
when the vehicle is turned sharply in either
direction.
DANGER! Do not use eyebolts for safety chain
hook-up. Safety chains should be hooked to
bumper of vehicle so that each chain would pull
the trailer equally in the event the hitch became
disengaged.
4. Connect the surge brake activator cable to the
vehicle. This cable should be connected in case
the hitch becomes unhooked and the safety
chains fail. The surge brake activator cable
would then activate the braking mechanism.
There should be enough slack in the brake cable
that the brake won’t engage until the safety
chains are stretched tight.
5. Connect the vehicle running lights to the saw-
mill pigtail. Check signals and brake lights.
6. Raise the front outrigger. Recheck that all loose
items are removed or secured (such as Resaw
Option, Shingle/Lapsiding Option, cant hooks,
etc.).
7. The hitch on the mill is adjustable. It should be
raised or lowered to let the mill travel horizontal
to ground level. Adjust by removing the two
mounting bolts. Then slide the hitch tube up or
down to new set of holes. Replace bolts and
nuts.
DANGER! Be sure that the hitch and safety
chains are secure before towing the sawmill.
Check all lights and signals for correct opera-
tion. Check to see tires are properly inflated and
surge brakes are working before towing the
sawmill.
FIG. 2-1
