Voyager Industries Yetti Fish House Owner's Manual
Rev.2016
Yetti Fish House
Owner’s Manual
Manufactured by:
Voyager Industries, Inc.
803 Central Ave N
PO Box 566
Brandon, MN 56315
www.yettifishhouse.com
800-980-4940
This Manual contains safety information and instructions
for your Yetti.
You must read this manual before loading or towing.
WARNING
2
5 YEAR-LIMITED STRUCTURAL WARRANTY
Available on product manufactured after April 1st, 2016
Voyager Industries, Inc., here by known as Manufacturer, warrants to the original Purchaser for five (5)
YEARS from date of purchase, the body structure (aluminum shell, frame and roof) shall be free of
substantial defects in materials and workmanship. It is transferable one time from the Purchaser to the
next subsequent owner via a dealer trade in (see Warranty Transferability section for details). This
warranty is valid on all products manufactured/sold after April 1st, 2016 to original Purchaser. Product
manufactured prior to this date will be covered by the warranty in place at time of purchase. All claims
under this Limited Warranty must be submitted pursuant to the following warranty process. Voyager
Industries reserves the right to deny any claim not submitted pursuant to the following.
Warranty Limitations:
1. No warranty or guarantee, express or implied, including no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose;
no warranty of design capability; and/or no warranty of merchantability regarding the Manufacturer’s
products, all of which warranties are specifically disclaimed.
2. Under no circumstances shall Manufacturer be liable for special, incidental, consequential, exemplary
or punitive damages including, but not limited to having no liability for damages for personal injury, loss of
life, property damage, damage to or loss of product, loss of profits and/or loss of revenue. The price at
which the product is supplied to a Purchaser is in consideration of the limiting of Manufacturer’s liability
and the Purchaser’s remedies.
3. This limited Warranty shall not apply to any product which has been subject to misuse and/or abuse or
is due to common negligence or accident, nor shall this limited warranty apply to any product made by the
Manufacturer not used in accordance with the printed instructions and specifications of Manufacturer or
that has been exposed to conditions beyond the represented and rated capacity of the product.
4. This limited Warranty shall not apply to issues related to interior finish, appliances, furniture,
accessories or running gear (including suspension and hydraulic systems), which shall be warranted by
its respective manufacturer, and is administered separately from this Limited Warranty.
5. This limited Warranty shall not apply to products deemed a prototype or Manufacturer demo unless
otherwise specified.
Warranty Process:
All materials (product) for which a claim is made that is defective in breach of this limited warranty
concerning materials or workmanship, if so determined by the Manufacturer, will be repaired, replaced at
the sole discretion of Manufacturer. The original Purchaser will be responsible for freight charges and/or
transportation to and from Manufacturer. The Manufacturer will not be liable for any transportation costs.
A Purchaser may apply for the benefit of this warranty using the following procedure:
1. Proper warranty registration paperwork submitted to Manufacturer within 15 days of original purchase.
2. All claims shall have clear photos showing the defect, and a photo of the VIN number of the unit.
3. Manufacturer may request the product to be returned for inspection prior to acceptance of the claim.
Warranty Transferability:
This limited warranty applies to houses traded in to an authorized Yetti dealer by the original Purchaser
that submitted all applicable warranty documentation upon original purchase, and is only transferable to
the next subsequent owner. This limited warranty may be transferred once during the five (5) year
warranty period. The subsequent owner must submit a warranty transfer form to Manufacturer along with
the applicable processing fee to make the warranty transfer effective. Contact an authorized dealer for
details. All rights and limitations within this warranty are applicable to the original owner and the
subsequent owner of the product. The subsequent owner’s warranty coverage period is the remaining
balance of the warranty coverage period that prior owner was entitled to under this limited warranty.
3
Warranty 2
General Safety Information 5
Safety Alert Symbols and Signal Words 5
Major Hazards 5
Improper Sizing of the Yetti to the Tow Vehicle 6
Driving Too Fast 6
Failure to Adjust Driving Behavior When Towing 6
Use An Adequate Tow Vehicle and Hitch 7
Yetti With Ball-Hitch Coupler 7
Coupling to the Tow Vehicle 8
Coupling and Uncoupling the Trailer 8
Proper Use of Safety Chains (rig the safety chains) 9
Worn Tires, Loose Wheels and Lug Nuts 9
Improper Loading 10
Unsafe Load Distribution 10
Shifting Cargo 11
Innappropriate Cargo 12
Inoperable Brakes, Lights or Mirrors 12
Hazards From Modifying Your Yetti 12
Hazards From Accessories 13
LP Gas Fuel System 14
Safety Warning Labels on Your Trailer 15
Yetti Towing Guide 15
Reporting Safety Defects 16
Safe Yetti Towing Guidelines 17
Tire Safety Information 17
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit - Trailer 18
Trailers 10,000 Pounds GVWR or Less 18
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit - Tow Vehicle 18
Tire Safety - Everything Rides on It 19
Safety First - Basic Tire Maintenance 19
Finding Your Vehicles Recommended Tire Pressure and
Load Limits
19
Understanding Tire Pressure and Load Limits 20
Checking Tire Pressure 20
Steps for Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure 20
Tire Size 20
Tire Tread 21
Tire Balance and Wheel Alignment 21
Tire Repair 21
Tire Fundamentals 21
Table of Contents
4
UTQGS Information 22
Additional Information on Light Truck Tires 23
Tire Safety Tips 23
Certification/VIN Tag Locations 24
Definitions 25
Before Coupling the Trailer to the Tow Vehicle 28
Lowering Your Manual Yetti 26
Raising Your Manual Yetti 27
Lowering Your Hydraulic Yetti 28
Raising Your Hydraulic Yetti 29
Loading the Trailer 31
Recharging the Wireless Remote 30
Tongue Weight 31
Securing the Cargo 33
Loading the Cargo 33
Checking the Yetti Before and During Each Tow 33
Pre-tow Checklist 33
Make Regular Stops 34
Retighten Lug Nuts at First 10,25 & 50 Miles 34
Inspection, Service & Maintenance Summary Charts 35
Inspection and Service Instructions 36
Axle Bolts, Frame, Suspension & Structure 36
Yetti Structure 36
Fasteners and Frame Members 36
Welds 36
Yetti Connection to Tow Vehicle 37
Coupler and Ball 37
Landing Leg or Jack 37
Lights and Signals 37
Tires 37
Wheel Rims 38
Wheels, Bearings & Lug Nuts 38
Wheel Bearings 39
Lug Nuts (bolts) 39
Yetti Wiring Connectors 40
Wireless Remote Error Code Chart 41
Table of Contents
5
GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION
Safety Alert Symbols and Signal Words
An Owner’s Manual that provides general Yetti information cannot cover all of the specific details
necessary for the proper combination of every Yetti, tow vehicle and hitch. Therefore, you must read,
understand and follow the instructions given by the tow vehicle and Yetti hitch manufacturers, as well as
the instructions in this manual.
Our Yetti fish houses are built with components produced by various manufacturers. Some of these
items have separate instruction manuals. Where this manual indicates that you should read another
manual or standard, you may call Voyager Industries, Inc. at 800-980-4940 for a free copy.
The safety information in this manual is denoted by the safety alert symbol:
The level of risk is indicated by the following signal words.
MAJOR HAZARDS
Loss of control of the Yetti or Yetti/tow vehicle combination can result in death or serious injury. The most
common causes for loss of control of the Yetti are:
Improper sizing the Yetti for the tow vehicle, or vice versa.
Excessive Speed: Driving too fast for the conditions.
Failure to adjust driving behavior when towing a Yetti.
Overloading and/or improper weight distribution.
Improper or mis-coupling of the Yetti to the hitch.
Improper braking and steering under sway conditions.
Not maintaining proper tire pressure.
Not keeping lug nuts tight.
DANGER
WARNING
Immediate hazards which WILL result in
severe personal injury or death if the
warning is ignored.
Hazards or unsafe practices which COULD
result in severe personal injury or death if
the warning is ignored.
CAUTION
NOTICE
Hazards or unsafe practices which could
result in minor or moderate injury if the
warning is ignored.
Hazards that could result in damage to the
trailer or other property if ignored.
6
Improper Sizing of the Yetti to the Tow Vehicle
Yetti’s that weigh too much for the towing vehicle can cause stability problems, which can lead to death
or serious injury. Furthermore, the additional strain put on the engine and drive-train may lead to serious
tow vehicle maintenance problems. For these reasons the maximum towing capacity of your towing
vehicle should not be exceeded. The towing capacity of your tow vehicle, in terms of maximum Gross
Yetti Weight (GTW) and maximum Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) can be found in the tow
vehicles Owner’s Manual.
Driving Too Fast
With ideal road conditions, the maximum recommended speed for safely towing a Yetti is 60 mph. If you
drive too fast, the Yetti is more likely to sway, thus increasing the possibility for loss of control. Also your
tires may overheat, thus increasing the possibility of a blowout.
Failure to Adjust Driving Behavior When Towing
When towing a Yetti, you will have decreased acceleration, increased stopping distance, and increased
turning radius (which means you must make wider turns to keep from hitting curbs, vehicles, and anything
else that is on the inside corner). Furthermore, the Yetti will change the handling characteristics of your
towing vehicle, making it more sensitive to steering inputs and more likely to be pushed around in windy
conditions or when being passed by large vehicles. In addition, you will need a longer distance to pass,
due to slower acceleration and increased length. With these caveats in mind:
Be alert for slippery conditions. You are more likely to be affected by slippery road surfaces when driving
a tow vehicle with a Yetti, than driving a tow vehicle without a Yetti.
Anticipate the Yetti “swaying.” Swaying can be caused by excessive steering, wind gusts, roadway
edges, or by the Yetti reaction to the pressure wave created by passing trucks and busses.
When encountering Yetti sway take your foot off the gas, and steer as little as possible in order to stay on
the road. Use small “trim-like” steering adjustments. Do not attempt to steer out of the sway; you’ll only
make it worse. Also do not apply the tow vehicle brakes to correct Yetti swaying. On the other hand,
application of the Yetti brakes, if so equipped, alone will tend to straighten out the combination, especially
when going downhill.
Check rearview mirrors frequently to observe the Yetti and traffic.
Use lower gear when driving down steep or long grades. Use the engine and transmission as a brake.
Do not ride the brakes, as they can overheat and become ineffective.
Be aware of your Yetti height, especially when approaching bridges, roofed areas and around trees.
DANGER
Use of a tow vehicle with a towing capacity less than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of
the trailer can result in loss of control, and may lead to death or serious injury.
Be sure your hitch and tow vehicle are rated for the GVWR of your trailer.
WARNING
Driving too fast for conditions can result in loss of control and cause death or serious
injury.
Decrease your speed as road, weather and lighting conditions deteriorate.
7
Use an Adequate Tow Vehicle and Hitch
If the vehicle or hitch is not properly selected and matched to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of
your Yetti, you can cause an accident that could lead to death or serious injury. If you already have a tow
vehicle, know your vehicle tow rating, and Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) and make certain
the Yetti’s rated capacity is less than or equal to the tow vehicle’s rated towing capacity. If you already
have (or plan to buy) a Yetti, make certain that the tow rating of the tow vehicle is equal to or greater than
the GVWR of the Yetti, and that the GCWR will be within limits
Yetti with Ball-Hitch Coupler
A ball hitch coupler connects to a ball that is located on or under the rear bumper of tow vehicle. This
system of coupling a Yetti to a tow vehicle is sometimes referred to as “bumper pull.”
THE TOW VEHICLE, HITCH AND BALL MUST HAVE A RATED TOWING CAPACITY EQUAL TO OR
GREATER THAN THE YETTI GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR).
DANGER
Use of a hitch with a load rating less than the load rating of the trailer can result in loss of
control and may lead to death or serious injury.
Use of a tow vehicle with a towing capacity less than the load rating of the trailer can
result in loss of control, and may lead to death or serious injury.
Be sure your hitch and tow vehicle are rated for the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) of your trailer.
An improperly coupled trailer can result in death or serious injury.
Do not move the trailer until:
The coupler is secured and locked to hitch; the safety chains are secured to the tow
vehicle; and the trailer jack(s) are fully retracted.
Do not tow the trailer on the road until:
The trailer brakes are checked; the tires and wheels are checked; the breakaway switch
is connected to the tow vehicle; the load is secured to the trailer and the trailer lights are
connected and checked.
WARNING
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.
WARNING
A worn, cracked or corroded hitch ball can fail while towing, and may result in death or serious
injury.
Before coupling trailer, inspect the hitch ball for wear, corrosion or cracks. Replace worn or
damaged hitch ball.
WARNING
8
Couple the Yetti to the tow vehicle
If your Yetti does not have a jack, you will have to lift the coupler and place it over the ball.
If you have a jack, lower the Yetti tow tube until the coupler fully engages the hitch ball. If the coupler
does not line up with the hitch ball, adjust the position of the tow vehicle.
Engage the coupler locking mechanism. In the engaged position, the locking mechanism securely holds
the coupler to the hitch ball.
Insert a pin or lock through the hole in the locking mechanism.
Be sure the coupler is all the way on the hitch ball and the locking mechanism is engaged. A properly
engaged locking mechanism will allow the coupler to raise the rear of the tow vehicle. Using the Yetti
jack, test to see that you can raise the rear of the tow vehicle by 1 inch, after the coupler is locked to the
hitch
Lower the Yetti so that its entire tongue weight is held by the hitch, and continue retracting the jack to its
fully retracted position.
Uncoupling the Ball Hitch Yetti with Tongue Jack
Block tires to prevent rolling, before jacking the Yetti up.
Disconnect the electrical connector; safety chains; and unlock the coupler and open it
Before extending jack, make certain the ground surface below the jack pad will support the tongue load.
Slowly extend the jack and transfer the weight of the Yetti tongue to the jack.
Yetti Not Properly Coupled to the Hitch
It is critical that the Yetti be securely coupled to the hitch ball, and that the safety chains and emergency
break-away brake cable are correctly attached. Uncoupling may result in death or serious injury to you
and to others.
Overloading can damage the tongue jack. Do not use the tongue jack to raise the tow vehicle
more than one inch.
NOTICE
A loose hitch ball nut can result in uncoupling, leading to death or serious injury.
Be sure the hitch ball is tight to the hitch before coupling the trailer.
9
Rig the safety chains
Visually inspect the safety chains and hooks for wear or damage. Replace worn or damaged safety
chains and hooks before towing.
Rig the safety chains as shown
Worn Tires, Loose Wheels and Lug Nuts
If a tire has a bald spot, bulge, cut, cracks, or is showing any cords, replace the tire before towing. If a
tire has uneven tread wear, take the Yetti to a dealer service center for diagnosis. Uneven tread wear
can be caused by tire imbalance, axle misalignment or incorrect inflation.
Tires with too little tread will not provide adequate frictional forces on wet roadways and can result in loss
of control, leading to death or serious injury.
Improper tire pressure causes increased tire wear and may reduce Yetti stability, which can result in a tire
blowout or possible loss of control. Therefore, before each tow you must also check the tire pressure.
Remember, the proper tire pressure is listed on the Certification / VIN label, and should be checked when
tires are cold. Allow 3 hours cool-down after driving as much as 1 mile at 40 mph before checking tire
pressure.
The tightness of the lug nuts is very important in keeping the wheels properly seated to the hub.
Before each tow, check to make sure they are tight.
The proper tightness (torque) for lug nuts is listed in the “breaking-in a new trailer section of this manual.
If you do not have a torque wrench, use a lug wrench (from your tow vehicle) and tighten the nuts as
much as you can. At the first opportunity, have a service garage or Yetti dealer tighten the lug nuts to the
proper torque.
Improper rigging of the safety chains can result in loss of control of the trailer and tow
vehicle, leading to death or serious injury, if the trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle.
Fasten chains to the frame of the tow vehicle. Do not fasten chains to any part of the
hitch unless the hitch has holes or loops specifically for that purpose.
Cross chains underneath hitch and coupler with enough slack to permit turning and to
hold tongue jack up, if the Yetti comes loose.
WARNING
Improper tire pressure can result in a blowout and loss of control, which can lead to death
or serious injury.
Be sure that tires are inflated to pressure indicated on sidewall before towing
10
Failure to perform this check can result in a wheel separating from the Yetti and a crash, leading to death
or serious injury.
Improper Loading
The total weight of the load you put in, plus the empty weight of the Yetti itself, must not exceed
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). If you do not know the empty weight plus the cargo
weight, you must weigh the loaded Yetti at a commercial scale. In addition, you must distribute
the load in the Yetti such that the load on any axle does not exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). If your Yetti is equipped with a Tire & Loading Information Placard, mounted
next to the Certification / VIN label, the cargo capacity weight stated on that placard is only a
close estimate. The GVWR and GAWR’s are listed on the Certification / VIN label mounted on
the front left side of the Yetti.
Unsafe Load Distribution
Improper front / rear load distribution can lead to poor sway stability or poor tow vehicle
handling. Poor sway stability results from tongue weights that are too low, and poor tow vehicle
stability results from tongue weights that are too high. Refer to Chapter heading “Loading the
Yetti” for more information.
In the table below, the second column shows the rule of thumb percentage of total weight of the
Yetti plus its cargo (Gross Yetti Weight, or “GTW”) that appears on the tongue of the Yetti.
Lug nuts are prone to loosen after initial installation, which can lead to death or serious
injury.
Check lug nuts for tightness on a new Yetti or when wheel(s) have been remounted after
the
WARNING
Improper lug nut torque can cause a wheel separating from the trailer, leading to death
or serious injury.
Be sure lug nuts are tight before each tow
WARNING
An overloaded trailer can result in loss of control of the trailer, leading to death or serious
injury.
Do not exceed the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR).
Do not load a trailer so that the weight on any tire exceeds its rating.
WARNING
11
After loading, be sure to check that none of the axles are overloaded.
Tongue Weight as a Percentage of Loaded Yetti Weight
Type of Hitch
Percentage
Ball Hitch (or Bumper Hitch)
10–15%for large Trailers
6-10% for smaller utility and cargo Trailers
The numbers quoted above are for example purposes only and should be tailored to the specific
Yetti. For questions regarding the actual percent of tongue weight for the Yetti, check with the
manufacturer for specifics.
Uneven left / right load distribution can cause tire, wheel, axle or structural failure. Be sure your
Yetti is evenly loaded left / right. Towing stability also depends on keeping the center of gravity
as low as possible.
Shifting Cargo
Since the Yetti “ride” can be bumpy and rough, you must secure your cargo so that it does not shift while
the Yetti is being towed.
If the door latch is equipped with a deadbolt, use the deadbolt to prevent the door latch from opening.
Improper tongue weight (load distribution) can result in loss of control of the trailer,
leading to death or serious injury.
Make certain that tongue weight is within the allowable range.
Be sure to:
Distribute the load front-to-rear to provide proper tongue weight (see chart); Distribute the
load evenly, right and left, to avoid tire overload and keep the center of gravity low.
WARNING
Shifting cargo can result in loss of control of the trailer, and can lead to death or serious
injury.
Tie down all loads with proper sized fasteners, ropes, straps, etc.
WARNING
If the door opens, your cargo may be ejected onto the road, resulting in death or serious
injury to other drivers.
Always secure the door latch after closing. Use the door’s deadbolt.
WARNING
12
Inappropriate Cargo
A utility Yetti must not be used to carry certain items, such as people, containers of hazardous substances or containers of
flammable substances.
Inoperable Brakes, Lights or Mirrors
Be sure that the electric brakes, if so equipped, and all of the lights on your Yetti are functioning properly
before towing. Electric brakes and lights on a Yetti are controlled via a connection to the tow vehicle,
generally a multi-pin electrical connector. Check the Yetti’s tail lights by turning on your tow vehicle
headlights. Check the Yetti brake lights by having someone step on the tow vehicle brake pedal while
you look at Yetti lights. Do the same thing to check the turn signal lights.
If your Yetti has electric brakes, your tow vehicle will have an electric brake controller that sends power to
the Yetti’s brakes. Before towing, you must operate the brake controller while trying to pull the Yetti in
order to confirm that the electric brakes operate. While towing the Yetti at less than 5 mph, manually
operate the electric brake controller in the tow vehicle cab. You should feel the operation of the Yetti
brakes.
Standard mirrors usually do not provide adequate visibility for viewing traffic to the sides and rear a towed
Yetti. You must provide mirrors that allow you to safely observe approaching traffic.
Hazards From Modifying Your Yetti
Essential safety items can be damaged by altering your Yetti. Even simply driving a nail or screw to hang
something can damage an electrical circuit, LP gas line or other feature.
Before making any alteration, contact your dealer and describe the alteration you are contemplating.
Do not transport people inside the trailer, even if it has living quarters. The transport of
people puts their lives at risk and may be illegal.
WARNING
Do not transport flammable, explosive, poisonous or other dangerous materials in your
trailer.
Exceptions: Fuel stored in proper containers used in trailer living quarters for cooking.
WARNING
Improper electrical connection between the tow vehicle and the Yetti will result in
inoperable lights and electric brakes, and can lead to collision.
Before each tow:
Check the taillights, brake lights and turn signals, check the electric brakes work by
operating the brake controller inside the tow vehicle.
WARNING
13
Alteration of the Yetti structure or modification of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating or other
systems must be performed only by qualified technicians who are familiar with the system as installed.
Hazards from Accessories
Read and follow all of these instructions before operating the accessories. The major hazards from some
of these accessories are:
Generator
If your Yetti is equipped with a gasoline or diesel generator, you must have and follow the generator
manufacturer’s instructions. You must also have one or more carbon monoxide detectors in the Yetti's
accommodation spaces.
Carbon Monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause death. Be certain exhaust from a running generator
does not accumulate in or around your Yetti, by situations such as:
Being drawn in by fans or ventilators operated in a Yetti; Prevailing wind;
Being trapped between your Yetti and other trailers, vehicles or buildings; snow bank, or
other nearby objects
Do not use a vent less heat source in your Yetti. The structure is very tight. If you use an unvented heat
source oxygen may be depleted and serious injury or death may occur.
Operating gasoline and diesel generators can lead to death or serious injury by:
Carbon Monoxide; Fire and explosion; Electrocution
Have a working carbon monoxide detector in the accommodation spaces before
operating a generator.
Do not refuel near ignition sources.
WARNING
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