Maintenance and safety
The trailer carries safety decals at every hazard. This page explains them and lists the checks that keep the unit dependable.
The decals
| Decal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Trailer level / not level | Level the trailer before raising the mast. Maximum installation angle: 11° fore-and-aft, 6° side-to-side. |
| Keep tension on the wires | Slack in the mast rope damages it and wears it fast. |
| Electricity storage inside | The cabinet holds batteries at voltages that can kill. Only a qualified electrician opens it for service. |
| Overhead wire | Contact with a power line will cause serious injury or death. Never place the trailer under one. |
| Crush hazard, mast | A falling mast can kill. Keep clear while it moves; never release the winch with the mast up. |
| Crush hazard, head | A falling camera head can kill. Same rules. |
| Jockey wheel horizontal | Swing and pin the jockey wheel up before towing. |
| Pin the mast | Fit the locking pin whenever the mast is fully extended. |
| Warning area | Stop the mast if the marked warning band appears; do not extend past it. |
| Pinch point | Keep hands clear of the marked area while parts move. |
| Anchor / tie-down | Use these points, and only these, to strap the trailer down. |
| Forklift here only | Lift only at the marked pockets. |
| 7-pin plug | Route the trailer plug over the drawbar to its stowed position after connecting. |
| Read the manual | Read and understand the guide before operating. |
Operating rules that are easy to forget
- Lower the mast when the trailer is not in use, and before high winds or storms.
- Never remove the safety pin or pull the mast locking pin while the mast is up.
- Never run the electric winch in neutral while the mast is extending.
- Once the locking-pin hole lines up during extension, stop the winch.
- Do not unplug any panel or the solar input while charging.
- Never take power straight from the batteries, and never rest metal objects on them.
- Insert the safety pin when you crank the outriggers up.
Service rules
- Before servicing anything electrical: solar, battery, and camera breakers off, panels and batteries disconnected.
- Standing water around the base of the mast means no service until it is gone.
- Never wash the trailer with a pressure washer or a high-pressure hose.
- Battery work needs goggles, insulating gloves, and an insulated wrench.
- The mast is never disassembled or repaired on uneven ground, and never without lifting equipment holding it.
- Tires, outriggers, and brakes are serviced on level ground only.
- The winch is never replaced with the mast extended.
Routine checks
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Every deployment | Ropes and pulleys, mast cord insulation, outriggers and pins, chocks, level. |
| Every tow | Tires, lug nuts, hitch and coupler, lights, chains, breakaway cable. Grease the coupler. |
| Monthly | Wipe the panels. Clean the exposed mast sections and ropes. Confirm the dashboard shows healthy solar input on a clear day. |
| Yearly | Lubricate the mast wire rope with a wire-rope lubricant. Inspect the cabinet seals and vents. |
| Generator | Follow the schedule on the Generator page. |
Who does what
- You: deploy, raise and lower, breakers, panel cleaning, towing checks, reading the dashboard.
- VanBelkum: anything inside the cabinet beyond the breakers, mast and winch service, battery work, camera configuration, and the preventative maintenance plan. Contact support or call (616) 974-8200.