Sooner Trailers Owners Manual - Pirate4x4.Com

Coupling to the Tow Vehicle
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE GOOSENECK BALL BE OF THE SAME SIZE
AS THE GOOSENECK BALL RECEIVER.
The gooseneck ball size and load rating (capacity) are marked on the
ball; hitch capacity is marked on the hitch.
COUPLER-TO-HITCH MISMATCH CAN RESULT IN UNCOUPLING,
LEADING TO DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.
BE SURE THE LOAD RATING OF THE HITCH BALL IS EQUAL OR
GREATER THAN THE LOAD RATING OF THE COUPLER.
BE SURE THE SIZE OF THE HITCH BALL MATCHES THE SIZE OF
THE COUPLER.
The height of the ball receiver on the trailer must be adjusted to match the
height of the gooseneck ball on your tow vehicle, so that:
• There is clearance between the bottom of the trailer and the sides at
the tow vehicle bed.
• Some users of gooseneck trailers drive in rough terrain, where the tow
vehicle and trailer are not level. If the un-level condition tilts the truck
one direction and the trailer the opposite direction, the trailer and side
of the truck can interfere, as they would if the gooseneck is set too
low. When the truck and trailer is turning the likelihood of interference
occurring is increased.
• The remedy for this is to extend the gooseneck and possibly raise the
frame of the trailer. The trailer must remain level on level ground, but
the distance from the “bottom of the gooseneck” to the top sides of the
truck bed is increased.
• The adjustment to raise the trailer frame should be performed by a
dealer or the trailer manufacturer, because the change involves a
technical adjustment to the axle or replacing the axle with a different
degree angle on the axle torsion arm.
• The trailer is level and allows equal weight distribution on tandem and
triple axles.
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