Cub Cadet Challenger 400LX Operation Manual - Page 11

Raising & Lowering the Tailgate 1. Unlatch the tailgate from cargo bed and lower. See Figure 4-2 & Figure 4-3. 1 2 Figure 4-2 Figure 4-3 2. Raise and relatch the tailgate to the cargo bed. See Figure 4-3 & Figure 4-4. Do not drive the vehicle with tailgate in the lowered position. 2 1 Figure 4-4 Raising & Lowering Cargo Bed (Dumping Loads) WARNING: To prevent the possibility of bodily injury from unintentional lowering of the cargo bed, be sure vehicle is on a level and stable surface and parking brake is set before raising cargo bed. WARNING: A loaded cargo bed can be very heavy. Do not attempt to dump a heavily loaded cargo bed. 1. Park the vehicle safely on level ground and set parking brake. 2. Empty heavy cargo by hand. 3. For light loads, unlatch cargo bed by pushing forward on the cargo bed latch lever. While holding the latch lever forward with one hand, lift the cargo bed with your other hand. See Figure 4-5. Cargo Bed Latch Lever Lift Up Cargo Bed From Here Figure 4-5 4. Once unloaded, lower bed and securely latch before operating unit. Do not drive the vehicle with cargo bed in the raised position. Towing Loads WARNING: To help prevent personal injury due to loss of control or tipping, always tow a load slow enough to maintain control. 1. Do not tow a load that exceeds 500 lb (226 kg) rolling weight (i.e. trailer plus cargo) and never exceed 85 lb (38 kg) tongue weight. 2. Go slow when towing a heavy load. Allow for increased braking distance. Tow load at a speed slow enough to maintain control. 3. Do not tow on slopes greater than 5°. 4. Be cautious when towing downhill, even on a gradual slope or when turning. The extra weight tends to push the tow vehicle and may cause you to lose control (braking and steering ability are reduced; towed equipment may jack-knife). IMPORTANT: Extreme angles such as high railroad crossings can place high bending loads on hitch connection. 5. Do not modify the hitch in any way. How to load a Utility Vehicle into a Truck or onto a Trailer WARNING: Always park the truck or trailer in a flat area, set the parking brake, turn the ignition off and chock the wheels to prevent any unexpected movement while loading the utility vehicle. WARNING: Fully secure the loading ramps to the truck or trailer with tiedown straps or cables to prevent the ramps from sliding off while loading. Keep bystanders and/or helpers away from ramps while loading. Due to the overall size and dimensions, loading a utility vehicle into a truck or onto a trailer is a task that requires precision and the proper equipment to be achieved safely. By following the steps outlined below you'll be able to select the proper equipment to do the job and safely load and unload your utility vehicle. Determine if your truck or trailer is sufficient for the task Loading a utility vehicle into a truck or trailer that can't support its weight is extremely dangerous. It is important that before any actual loading is done, make sure your truck or trailer and loading ramps are sufficient for loading and hauling the utility vehicle. Here are some of the variables you need to take into account: • Length and width: Measure the size of your truck or trailer by taking width and length measurements at the floor level. Compare these measurements to the width and length of your utility vehicle to make sure it will fit comfortably. • Weight Capacity: Making sure your truck or trailer can handle the payload of your utility vehicle is another critical task before any loading is done. If using a truck, the payload capacity must be a minimum of ¾ ton. If hauling on a trailer, remember that the towing capacity of the vehicle will be reduced by the added weight of the utility vehicle. • Tailgate Considerations: If the payload capacity is sufficient for hauling in a truck, the last thing left to consider is your truck's bed length. Make certain that your truck bed is long enough to allow the truck's tailgate to close completely when the utility vehicle is loaded into the truck bed. Choosing the proper loading ramp(s) Choosing a reliable ramp and understanding how to properly use it is far and above the best option for safely loading a utility vehicle into your truck or onto your trailer. Take a look at the considerations you should have in mind when choosing the proper ramp(s): • Capacity: Utility vehicles are not evenly balanced, meaning it's necessary to check the axle weights before you make any choices regarding ramps. A typical ramp's capacity is based upon two axles with equally distributed loads. We recommend 3,000-lb minimum capacity ramp(s) as the appropriate option for your two-person utility vehicle. • Offset track widths: Your utility vehicle has an offset track width front and rear, it's important to factor this in to your ramp placement and ramp width needs. Ramps need to be wide enough to accommodate the difference in the distances between the front two wheels and the rear two wheels. Section 4 - Operation 11