Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Airstream A-Frames

The A-Frame

Outside your Airstream, up at the front. This area is called the A-frame, and this is the "business end" of your Airstream. where a lot of stuff happens.

The very tip of the A-frame has the hitch coupler, where the tow ball from your vehicle attaches. Because hitch brands and styles vary so much, we'll talk about the hitch later.

Just behind the hitch coupler you'll see the electric hitch jack (on most models). Push the switch and up goes your trailer's tongue. Reverse the switch to go down. You might even have a little courtesy light on there, for nighttime use.

If the electric hitch jack ever fails, there's a way to operate it with a wrench-like tool.

Also mounted to the A-frame is a black box with a cable leading to it. This is the breakaway switch. It activates the trailer's brakes if the trailer ever becomes separated from the tow vehicle. You attach the loose end of the cable to the tow vehicle. With a strong tug, the cable will come out of the black box and activate the brakes. Don't use this device as a parking brake, since long-term operation will cause damage to the brakes. It's only for emergencies.