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Quality Towing Systems since 1974
Owner's Manual
Entire contents of manual must be read by owner
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Welcome to the ROADMASTER family! This manual has been prepared to acquaint you with the installation, operation, care and maintenance of your tow bar, and to provide you with important safety information. Read your owner’s manual cover to cover. Understand how to install and operate your tow bar, and carefully follow the instructions and safety precautions. Your tow bar has a one-year limited warranty. To qualify for your warranty, fill out and return the enclosed product registration card with
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Table of Contents Safety definitions ................................... inside front cover Wiring a six-wire system ....................................... 14-15 Safe towing practices..................................................... 2-4 Safety cables Installer’s safety checklist ............................................. 4-5 How to use safety cables .......................................... 16 Installing the ‘quick-disconnect’ system ...................... 6-8 Proper installation of saf
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Safe Towing Practices The tow bar must be within the ‘Safe Zone’ — no • more than three inches above level or four inches below To ensure your safety and that of your passengers, as level. Towing with an out-of-level tow bar will cause sig- well as the safety of others on the road, follow these safe nificant wear and tear on the tow bar and mounting brack- towing practices at all times. ets, and on the towed vehicle’s suspension and frame. (See the section titled “Stay within the ‘Safe Zone’” fo
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Safe towing practices ty cables, which are provided with the Sterling All Ter- continued from preceding page rain, must connect the towed vehicle to the towing vehi- Additionally, check the tow bar bracket every 3,000 cle frame to frame. miles — inspect for any fractures or cracks in the steel, If the safety cables are ever replaced, use only 6,000 or any visible damage. Do not tow if the tow bar bracket pound or heavier rated safety cables. is damaged. Additionally, check to ensure that the saf
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Safe towing practices Installer’s safety checklist continued from preceding page using a tow bar, never tow more than one vehicle, or non- The following safety checklist is provided to the install- warranty damage or injury may result. er with the instructions for installing the Sterling All Ter- The tow bar stinger fits motorhome hitch receiv- rain tow bar. It is repeated here for your information. • If the motorhome hitch ers with 2-inch inner diameters. As a precaution, verify that all safet
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Installer’s safety checklist damage. continued from preceding page The installer must be sure that the vehicle is suit- • mum of 6,000 pounds carrying capacity; therefore ROAD- Some vehicles must be able or adaptable for towing. MASTER has used 6,000 pounds as a standard for rat- equipped with a transmission lube pump, an axle discon- ing the weight capacity of all supplementary towing equip- nect, driveline disconnect or free-wheeling hubs before ment, as well as the towed vehicle and all its c
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Installing the 1. First, attach the quick-disconnects (“QDs,” parts “A” and “B” in Figure 1) to the tow bar mounting brackets. At- ‘quick-disconnect’ system tach the QDs so that the vertical pin on each is pointing up, as shown in Figure 1. Your ROADMASTER tow bar is equipped with an ex- Attach part “A” on the passenger side, and part “B” clusive “quick-disconnect” (or, “QD”) system. Before con- on the driver side. Use the supplied ½" x 1½" bolts, the necting the tow bar to the vehicle, first in
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Installing the ‘quick-disconnect’ system CAUTION continued from preceding page cable anchor “E” to part “A,” and cable anchor “F” to part The quick-disconnects must be centered on the “B,” using the supplied ½" x 1" bolts and nuts. mounting brackets. If they are attached too far to the Do not tighten any of the bolts — leave them loose left or the right, the tow bar will not be centered on for now — they will be tightened later. the towed vehicle, which will cause excessive tire wear and other c
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Installing the ‘quick-disconnect’ system Connecting the tow bar continued from preceding page CAUTION less they are properly locked in place over the verti- Use caution when handling the tow bar — if your cal pins on both quick-disconnects. Refer to Figures 3 and 4. Failure to install the linch pins properly will hands, fingers or any part of your body are caught be- result in tow bar malfunction, loss and damage to the tween moving components, they can be pinched, cut vehicle and property,
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Connecting the tow bar and the release latch are pointing up, as shown in continued from preceding page Figure 6. Components of the tow bar may be damaged if the tow bar is attached with the release latch and/ CAUTION or the locking mechanisms pointing down. Attach the tow bar so that the locking mechanisms 4. Hold both tow bar arms firmly, and rotate them up, so that they are vertical, as shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 WARNING Never release the tow bar arms when they are in the vertical posit
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quick-disconnect Connecting the tow bar base Figure 8 continued from preceding page pin with a linch pin (Figure 9) or optional padlock. base pin The linch pin must be locked. The ring (Figure 9) is quick- inserted spring-loaded — it must be snapped over the pin, as disconnect crossbar tow shown in Figure 9, with the curved side of the linch pin base pin bar to be inserted touching the ring (as shown in Figure 10), in order to keep arm the base pin secure. quick-disconnect base WARNING linc
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Connecting the tow bar fail during towing, causing property damage, person- continued from preceding page al injury or even death. When you drive away, steer briefly to the left and then WARNING to the right, to extend, self-center and lock the tow bar. Always stop at this time. Check the tow bar to ensure If the motorhome hitch receiver has an extension, do that both arms are locked, before assuming highway not tow if the tow bar is more than three inches out of speed. Additionally, check
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Disconnecting the tow bar 1. Disconnecting the tow bar is essentially the reverse Figure 11 Pull up on the release of connecting it. First, always try to park on level ground, handle to release the with the towed vehicle in line with the motorhome. This locking mechanism. will eliminate most of the tension between the vehicles, allowing for an easier disconnect. 2. Disconnect the electrical wiring harness, safety ca- bles, and any other towing system accessories. 3. Lift the release handles on e
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3 1 Figure 12 Wiring instructions The Sterling All Terrain tow bar comes equipped with a front of fully-wired motorhome-to-towed vehicle electrical cord — plug on 4-wire simply plug the cord into the sockets on the motorhome cord and the towed vehicle. 2 4 If you should need to rewire the plugs and sockets, follow the instructions below for a four-wire system, or the Socket Pin Wire Number Color Motorhome Towed Vehicle instructions on pages 14 and 15 for a six-wire system. 1 ............... Yel
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Wiring instructions — four-wire system al injury or even death. continued from preceding page shown in Figure 13. Or, wire the socket to match the ex- Wiring the plug for a six-wire system 1. Insert the end of the electrical cord through one of the isting wiring on the motorhome. 4. Tighten all the set screws, and check each wire to cable guides. ensure that it is secure. Apply a clear silicone sealant 2. Wire the plug to match your vehicle, or follow Figure around each wire entry and set screw
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5 1 4 Figure 14 Wiring instructions — six-wire system continued from preceding page front of plug on 5. If your motorhome does not have the correct wiring 6-wire socket already, you can replace it with the new socket cord 2 for the six-wire cord, and connect the appropriate wires to the new socket, according to Figure 15. 6 3 6. Now, connect the six-wire electrical cord to the mo- Socket Pin Wire Number Color Motorhome Towed Vehicle torhome and to the towed vehicle. Test the towed vehi- 1 .....
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How to use safety cables (Twelve-inch safety cable extensions, part number 910648-12, are available from ROADMASTER.) Safety cables are an integral part of your towing sys- Make sure the cables are not too long — the cables • tem. They are a secondary safety device, required by law should not hang down to the extent they may catch on in many states. This section, and the following section, obstructions, or drag on the ground. This much slack will acquaint you with how to use them properly. could
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Figure 16 electrical Connect the cord snap hooks The built-in cable to the loops guides will help on hitch or prevent the safety frame. cables and 12-volt electrical cord from being damaged. short long safety Cross the safety cables under the hitch Connect each long safety safety cable Use quick links for and stinger. This helps prevent the tow bar cable to the slot in the cables easy attachment and from hitting the road and “pole vaulting” if the cable anchor. . tow bar separates from the hitch
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Proper installation of safety cables ble failure, which may cause property damage, per- continued from preceding page sonal injury or even death. bolted directly to the frame of the towed vehicle and do WARNING not require short safety cables. If your ROADMASTER bracket kit contains short safety If the quick links are not completely tightened, with cables, refer to the installation instructions for complete the loop closed, the safety cables may detach. In the information. event of a towing
