Trailer Pick-Up Experience
I'm trying to chronicle every step and detail, as no one else has done this. So I picked up the first trailer yesterday. I tried to hurry, in case I could get them both in one day, but I only had time to get one.
Paperwork: Bring your GovPlanet
Paid Invoice, and your
Item Release. Technically, you only need your Item Release, because this is only available once paid for in full.
Military Base Visitors Pass: These came from Foot Hood, which is one of the easiest bases to deal with. They don't require a scheduled pickup with 5-8 days notice like some bases, so keep that in mind if you get a trailer from another base. Just go to the visitor's Center at the main gate to get a pass. The process took about 20 minutes. They do have a few requirements, so I will cover what you need. You must have
(A): Valid (Not Expired) Proof of Insurance (B): Current Vehicle Registration (C): Driver's License of Driver. I was borrowing my Dad's truck, because it will be a month or two before I buy my new 4Runner. Unfortunately, the Printed Vehicle Registration and Proof of Insurance both expired the previous month. For the Vehicle Registration, they allowed me to simply show them a photo of the Window Sticker, which was up to date. For the insurance, they accept proof from a Mobile App, which I didn't have set up, or over the phone confirmation from my Insurance Company. They confirmed our insurance was up to date over the phone and we were ready to go. They offer day passes, or up to 1x week. They gave me a week long pass because I wasn't sure when I could make it back for the other trailer.
You only need the Driver's ID for a Visitor's Pass, but you MUST have IDs for every passenger of the vehicle when entering at the main gate.
Pick Up and Loading: These things are definitely tall, but I was able to pick it up with a stock Ford Explorer Sport Track, which is about as low to the ground as you can imagine. You should bring a number of items, just in case you need them.
Appropriate Hitch: You will need a
Pintle Hitch,
or Ball/Pintle Combo Hitch. Military Pintles use 3" Lunettes, but a Civi 2.5" Pintle or combo hitch works fine. There is a bit of slop, but the Surge Brake's Master Cylinder (Which is built into the Tongue) absorbs most of that.
Wiring Adaptor or Magnetic Towing Lights: For the Built in lights to function, you will need a Wiring Harness Adaptor(s) to get from the 12 Pin NATO/Military plug to your Standard 7-Pin RV Connector or 4-Pin Flat connector. Even if you have an adaptor, the 24v military lights will be dim running off your truck's 12v electrics. You will unlikely already have an adaptor at this stage, so the better option is to use Magnetic Towing Lights. Magnetic Towing Lights are $50 at Auto parts stores, but Walmart has several options ranging from $18-$40 a pair. These are mostly aluminum trailers, so there are many steel components for mounting options. If you bought a trailer with a complete soft top, or at least the Bow Mounts to attach a Soft Top, the 8 Bow Mounts are steel. However, the Magnetic Lights are wired together, with a single lead to your Tow Vehicle'e Trailer Plug. These trailers are 8" wide, so most magnetic lights won't reach the outside corners of the steel bow mounts. You can mount them to the steel frame which is at the bottom of the trailer, or bring clamps to old them to the top of Aluminum Trailer.
Safety Chains: You will need sections of chain and Chain Quick Links that are larger than you would think. They have safety chains (very thick/heavy chains), but they are not long enough to reach the chain attaching points on most standard bumpers. Since your Pintle Hitch extends 12-20 inches from the bumper, they won't reach. The chains on the trailer are only about as long as the Lunette (Loop) of the hitch because most military Pintle Hitches are mounted directly to the bumper next to Safety Chain Attachments, or they have a Safety Chain Pintle Plate if mounted at the end of a Pintle Extension.
Air Tank: You may need to air up the tires, so you may want to bring an air tank, or portable 12v compressor. The tires are made for 45psi, with a 50psi MAX. Worst off, they have run flat inserts, so you could drive off base to a nearby gas station to air them up for the drive home.
Small Jack: The trailers have jacks, but they don't go low enough for many peoples bumpers. Also, one of my like new trailers had a bad jack, so be prepared. Even though the one trailer had a working jack, I had to jack it up and rest it on a length of 4x4" wood block, and lower it to take off the hitch. I had to lift it off the block, down to the ground, and it took me two or three tries to get it up to my hitch, which was very low to the ground. Even then, I'm sore a day later. Bring a scissor jack and some blocks of wood, trust me!
Check Hand Brakes: Make sure the hand brakes are disengaged on BOTH wheels. Each wheel has it's own Hand Brake.
Towing Brakes: Even if you don't have the adaptor to connect the trailer cable to your vehicle's trailer connector, the Surge Brakes are non electrical, and will still work. They were so smooth, I didn't even realize they were functioning until I got home. It was empty, but even when backing up several times, the surge brakes never activated in reverse. I'm not sure how much weight it would take for the surge brakes to be activated? That said, and because I don't plan on ever carrying much weight in it, I will likely be keeping the Surge Brakes instead of switching to Electric Brakes.
Extra Clamps, Zip Ties, and Duct Tape: You never know what you may need to tie down, so bring some if they aren't items you keep in your truck already. I used clamps to clamp the wires of the Magnetic Towing Lights, so the wires didn't whip around in the wind too much.
If I think of anything else pick up related, I will add it... Next Post: Pictures!!!
