Harbor Freight Tools 66771 Product manual

Owner’s Manual & Safety Instructions

Save This Manual Keep this manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assembly,

operating, inspection, maintenance and cleaning procedures. Write the product’s serial number in the
back of the manual near the assembly diagram (or month and year of purchase if product has no number).
Keep this manual and the receipt in a safe and dry place for future reference.

ITEM 66771

WARNING!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This Trailer’s Hitch Coupler MUST be properly
secured to the hitch ball of the towing vehicle.
After assembly and attachment, pull up and down
on the Hitch Coupler to make sure the hitch ball is
fitting snugly in the Hitch Coupler. There must be
no play between the hitch ball and Hitch Coupler.
If there is play, tighten the Adjustment Nut until no
play is present. If the Adjustment Nut is too tight,
the Handle will not lock. Carefully read and follow
the complete instructions in this manual BEFORE
setup or use.

Visit our website at: http://www.harborfreight.com

Email our technical support at: [e-mail]

REV 14j

When unpacking, make sure that the product is intact

and undamaged. If any parts are missing or broken,

please call 1-888-866-5797 as soon as possible.

Copyright© 2009 by Harbor Freight Tools®. All rights reserved.

No portion of this manual or any artwork contained herein may be reproduced in

any shape or form without the express written consent of Harbor Freight Tools.

Diagrams within this manual may not be drawn proportionally. Due to continuing

improvements, actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein.

Tools required for assembly and service may not be included.

IF THE COUPLER IS NOT SECURED PROPERLY,
THE BALL COULD COME LOOSE WHILE
THE TOW DOLLY IS IN MOTION, POSSIBLY
CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE, SERIOUS
PERSONAL INJURY, AND/OR DEATH.

Read this material before using this product.
Failure to do so can result in serious injury.
SAVE THIS MANUAL.

Table of Contents

Safety ......................................................... 2

Setup .......................................................... 7

Specifications ............................................. 9

SAFETY OPERATION MAINTENANCESETUP

Operation .................................................... 9

Maintenance .............................................. 16

Parts List and Diagram .............................. 18

Reporting Safety Defects........................... 20

Warranty .................................................... 20

WARNING SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS

This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to potential

personal injury hazards. Obey all safety messages that

follow this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.

Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,

will result in death or serious injury.

Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,

could result in death or serious injury.

Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,

could result in minor or moderate injury.

VDC

A

Addresses practices not related to personal injury.

Volts Direct Current

Amperes

WARNING marking concerning Risk
of Eye Injury. Wear ANSI-approved
safety goggles with side shields.

Read the manual before
set-up and/or use.

WARNING marking
concerning Risk of Fire.
Connect trailer wiring to
properly fused circuit only.

Page 2 For technical questions, please call 1-888-866-5797. Item 66771

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Read all safety warnings and instructions.
Failure to follow the warnings and instructions may result in serious injury.
Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.

DANGER! TO PREVENT TRAFFIC HAZARD AND/OR DEATH, ATTACH SAFETY
CHAIN AND PROPERLY SECURE HITCH BEFORE LOADING OR TOWING.

WARNING! TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH, DO NOT EXCEED
MAXIMUM PAYLOAD CAPACITY OF 600 LB OR 55 MPH MAXIMUM SPEED.

The warnings, precautions, and instructions discussed in this instruction manual cannot cover all possible
conditions and situations that may occur. It must be understood by the operator that common sense and
caution are factors which cannot be built into this product, but must be supplied by the operator.

Assembly Safety

SAFETYOPERATIONMAINTENANCE SETUP

1. Keep work area clean and dry.
Cluttered, damp, or wet work areas invite injuries.

2. Keep children away from work area.

Connection Safety

1. Dress safely while connecting/disconnecting.
Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry, as they
can become caught in moving parts. Wear a
protective hair covering to prevent long hair from
becoming caught in moving parts. If wearing a
long-sleeve shirt, roll sleeves up above elbows.
Wearing safety work shoes is recommended.

2. Do not setup or use this Trailer if under the influence
of alcohol or drugs. Read warning labels on
prescriptions to determine if your judgement or
reflexes are impaired while taking drugs. If there
is any doubt, do not attempt to use this Trailer.

3. Stay alert. Watch what you are doing at
all times. Use common sense. Do not
setup or use this Trailer when you are tired
or distracted from the job at hand.

3. Wear ANSI-approved safety impact eye
goggles and heavy-duty work gloves
when assembling this Trailer.

4. Do not modify this Trailer, and do not use
this Trailer for a purpose for which it was not
intended. Do not use for aircraft purposes.

4. The tail light bulbs supplied with this Trailer are for a
12 volt DC (negative ground) electrical system only
(or a 6 volt electrical system for motorcycles).
Do not attempt to power the Light Bulbs with
any other type or voltage electrical current.

5. Make sure the Hitch Coupler (7) and the
vehicle’s ball hitch (not included) are of equal
mating size (1-7/8") and are rated equal to or greater
than the weight of the Trailer and its payload.

6. Before each use, attach the Trailer’s
Safety Chains (8) to the towing vehicle. Attach
the Safety Chain to the towing vehicle with
equal length on each side. Do not allow
the Safety Chain to drag on the ground.

7. Do not use Trailer without Fenders in place.

Loading Safety

1. Do not exceed the Trailer’s maximum payload
capacity of 600 lb (evenly distributed).

2. Properly and safely secure the payload in the
Trailer. Load the Trailer evenly from side to side
with 60% of the load forward of the Axle (3).

3. Make sure the towing vehicle and its hitch are both
rated to safely tow the Trailer and its payload.
The towing capacity of the hitch is typically
stamped on the hitch drawbar.

4. Keep Shell top locked while driving. Do not
drive with Trailer’s Shell top unlocked or open.

5. Pinch hazard; use care when latching. Keep
hands and fingers away from shell edges.

Page 3For technical questions, please call 1-888-866-5797.Item 66771

Operation Safety

Note: Selected recommendations in this section are adapted from TOWING A TRAILER -

Being Equipped for Safety, published by NHTSA. For full details, see that document.

1. This Trailer is not a toy.

SAFETY OPERATION MAINTENANCESETUP

Do not allow children to play on or near this item.

2. Take time to practice before driving on main roads.

Before Each Use

1. Check Tire (5) condition and air pressure.

2. Make sure wheel lug nuts/bolts
are properly tightened.

3. Make sure hitch, coupler, draw bar, and other
equipment that connect the trailer and the tow
vehicle are properly secured and adjusted.

4. Make sure wiring is properly connected — not
touching the road, but loose enough to make turns
without disconnecting or damaging the wires.

5. Make sure all running lights, brake lights,
turn signals, and hazard lights are working.

6. Check that all items are securely
fastened on and in the trailer.

3. Never allow anyone to ride in or on the trailer.

4. Do not transport animals in this trailer.

7. Be sure the trailer jack, tongue support, and any
attached stabilizers are raised and locked in place.

8. Check load distribution to make sure
the tow vehicle and trailer are properly
balanced front to back and side to side.

9. Check side- and rear-view mirrors to
make sure you have good visibility.

10. Check routes and restrictions
on bridges and tunnels.

11. Make sure you have wheel chocks and jack stands.

12. Check trailer for loose bolts and nuts,
structural cracks and bends, and any
other condition that may affect its
safe operation. Do not use the Trailer
even if minor damage appears.

General Handling

1. Use the driving gear that the towing vehicle
manufacturer recommends for towing.

2. Drive at moderate speeds. This will place
less strain on your tow vehicle and trailer.
Trailer instability (sway) is more likely to
occur as speed increases. Do not exceed

55 miles per hour when towing the Trailer.

3. Avoid sudden stops and starts that can
cause skidding, sliding, or jackknifing.

4. Avoid sudden steering maneuvers that might
create sway or undue side force on the trailer.

Braking

1. Allow considerably more distance for stopping.

2. If you have an electric trailer brake controller and
excessive sway occurs, activate the trailer brake
controller by hand. Do not attempt to control
trailer sway by applying the tow vehicle brakes;
this will generally make the sway worse.

5. Slow down when traveling over bumpy roads,
railroad crossings, and ditches.

6. Make wider turns at curves and corners.
Because your trailer’s wheels are closer to the
inside of a turn than the wheels of your tow vehicle,
they are more likely to hit or ride up over curbs.

7. To control swaying caused by air pressure
changes and wind buffeting when larger
vehicles pass from either direction, release
the accelerator pedal to slow down and
keep a firm grip on the steering wheel.

3. Always anticipate the need to slow down.
To reduce speed, shift to a lower gear
and press the brakes lightly.

Page 4 For technical questions, please call 1-888-866-5797. Item 66771

Acceleration and Passing

1. When passing a slower vehicle or changing lanes,
signal well in advance and make sure you
allow extra distance to clear the vehicle
before you pull back into the lane.

2. Pass on level terrain with plenty of clearance.
Avoid passing on steep upgrades or downgrades.

Downgrades and Upgrades

1. Downshift to assist with braking on downgrades
and to add power for climbing hills.

2. On long downgrades, apply brakes at intervals to
keep speed in check. Never leave brakes on for
extended periods of time or they may overheat.

Backing Up

1. Put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel.
To turn left, move your hand left.
To turn right, move your hand right.

2. Back up slowly.

3. Because mirrors cannot provide all of the
visibility you may need when backing up,
have someone outside at the rear of the
trailer to guide you whenever possible.

3. If necessary, downshift for improved
acceleration or speed maintenance.

4. When passing on narrow roads, be careful not
to go onto a soft shoulder. This could cause
your trailer to jackknife or go out of control.

SAFETYOPERATIONMAINTENANCE SETUP

3. Some tow vehicles have specifically calibrated
transmission tow-modes. Be sure to use the
tow-mode recommended by the manufacturer.

4. Use slight movements of the steering wheel
to adjust direction. Exaggerated movements
will cause greater movement of the trailer.

5. If you have difficulty, pull forward and realign
the tow vehicle and trailer and start again.

Parking

1. Try to avoid parking on grades.

2. If possible, have someone outside
to guide you as you park.

3. Once stopped, but before shifting into Park:

a. Have someone place blocks on the

downhill side of the trailer wheels.

b. Apply the parking brake.

c. Shift into Park.

(first or reverse gear for manual transmissions)

d. Then remove your foot from the brake pedal.

Following this parking sequence is important to
make sure your vehicle does not become locked in
Park because of extra load on the transmission.

4. Before uncoupling a trailer:

a. Place blocks at the front and rear of the

trailer tires to ensure that the trailer does not
roll away when the coupling is released.

b. An unbalanced load may cause the

tongue to suddenly rotate upward;
therefore, before uncoupling, place jack stands
under the rear of the trailer to prevent injury.

TRAILER LICENSING NOTICE

Some states may consider this Trailer a vehicle requiring registration, licensing, and titling.
Check with your State Department of Motor Vehicles for information and
guidance on registering, licensing, and titling the Trailer.

Page 5For technical questions, please call 1-888-866-5797.Item 66771

Maintenance Safety

1. Maintain labels and nameplates on the trailer.
These carry important information.
If unreadable or missing,

SAFETY OPERATION MAINTENANCESETUP

contact Harbor Freight Tools for a replacement.

2. Replacement parts and accessories: when
servicing, use only identical replacement parts.
Only use accessories intended for use
with this Trailer. Approved accessories are
available from Harbor Freight Tools.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

3. Maintain this Trailer with care. Keep this Trailer
clean and dry for better and safer performance.

4. For your safety, service and maintenance should
be performed regularly by a qualified technician.

5. When not in use, store Trailer in a
dry location to inhibit rust. Lock up Trailer,
and keep out of reach of children.

Page 6 For technical questions, please call 1-888-866-5797. Item 66771