Owner`s manual

41
Photo courtesy of GoRving.com
Glossary of towing terms
binding — When the tow bar is difficult to detach because of exces-
sive pressure, the tow bar is said to be “bound.” All-Terrain tow bars
(see pages 2 and 3) have a patented latching mechanism which virtu-
ally eliminates this problem.
car-mounted — a tow bar designed to be mounted and stored on the
towed vehicle.
curb weight — the total weight of a vehicle and all necessary fluids
(water, coolant, oil and a full tank of gas) when not loaded with either
passengers or cargo.
diode — Diodes allow the towed vehicle’s brake and turn signal lights
to mimic the motorhome’s (which is required by law) without damaging
the towed vehicle’s electrical system. They allow current to flow in only
one direction, eliminating electrical feedback, which could damage
the towed vehicle’s wiring, fuses or other electrical components.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (or “GVWR”) — how much weight a
vehicle is designed to carry. The GVWR includes the net weight of the
vehicle, plus the weight of passengers, fuel, cargo and any additional
accessories. GVWR is a safety standard used to prevent overloading.
hitch (or “receiver hitch”) — the two-inch receiver on the back of the
motorhome where your tow bar connects.
motorhome-mounted — a tow bar designed to be mounted and
stored on the motorhome.
mounting bracket (a.k.a. “bracket”) — connects the towed vehicle to
the tow bar. All mounting brackets are bolted to the subframe of the
towed vehicle.
proportional braking — A supplemental braking system which
brakes at the same time and intensity as the motorhome is called “pro-
portional.” There are two proportional systems in this catalog — a
direct system (BrakeMaster) and a portable system (Even Brake).
removable bracket arms — All tow bar mounting brackets have
arms which extend out from the vehicle. ROADMASTER’s ‘hidden’
brackets (see page 7) have arms that can be easily removed, making
the bracket virtually invisible.
quick-disconnects — the connection point between the tow bar and
the tow bar mounting brackets. These components allow the tow bar to
be quickly connected and disconnected. There is one quick-disconnect
(“QD”) for the driver’s side and one for the passenger side. Quick-
disconnects also allow for the mounting of accessories such as the
Guardian and the Nixtopper.
quick links — used to attach the safety cables. They look like one link
in a chain, and have a nut which can be threaded up or down to open
or close the link.
safety cables — Required by law, safety cables connect the towed ve-
hicle to the towing vehicle. They are a secondary safety device to hold
the vehicles together if the towing system separates for any reason.
stinger — the part of a tow bar that inserts into the motorhome’s re-
ceiver hitch. A hitch pin and clip secure the tow bar to the motorhome.
supplemental braking — an independent braking system that
brakes the towed vehicle in tandem with the motorhome.