News and Resources

November 14, 2022

12 STEPS TO SAFELY TAKING DOWN AND TOWING YOUR VER-MAC UNITS


With construction season coming to an end, many work zones will soon be taking their units off the road. Discover best practices to safely take them down, tow them away, and store them until next season.


Here are the 12 steps to follow:

1. Align your truck with the unit, in position for towing.


Make sure that:

  • There are no objects on the unit, nor obstacles around it.
  • The ground is levelled and suitable for towing.

position for towing


2. Turn the sign’s power off using the touch screen.


V-Touch


3. Remove the mast locking pin and lower the sign case enough to have access to the manual brake. (Ensure that there are no obstacles below the sign as you will need to turn it.)

  1. Release the manual brake (if your unit has one).
  2. Turn the sign into its transport position, just above the transportation cradles.
  3. Tighten the brake (if your unit has one).

Tighten the brake


4.
 Lower the unit onto the transportation cradles.

IMPORTANT
Do not hold the “down” button after the unit has been securely lowered. This will make oil leak out of the pump reservoir.
transportation


5. Check brakes and locks.

Make sure that:
  • All the pins are in place
  • The sign is in the cradle
  • The brake is engaged
  • All locks are engaged

mast brake locked


6. Do the following if you have a tilt-and-rotate solar panel system:
  1. Unlock the system.
  2. Align solar panels over the transportation cradles using the handle.
  3. Lower the jack down to set the panels firmly onto the transportation cradles.
  4. Re-engage the brake.
  5. Unlock system by releasing the hand brake.


Tighten and lock


Locked and unlocked brake

7. Position the unit for towing:

  1. Carefully back the tow vehicle as close as possible to the trailer and align the coupler with the hitch.
  2. Lower jacks and stabilizer legs until wheels are on the ground and the coupler is in place.
  3. To make sure your unit doesn’t roll away if it is on a slope, block the wheels with a wheel chock
  4. Swivel all but the front right jack into their horizontal travel position.

Position the unit


8. 
Attach the unit to tow vehicle:

  1. Attach the coupler/hitch securely and insert the adapter safety pin. Make sure the coupler fits snugly to the tow vehicle’s hitch ball.
  2. Once the hitch ball is on and secured, swivel the right front jack back into travel position.
  3. If your unit has a breakaway cable, attach it to the tow vehicle if the trailer is equipped with brakes. Make sure it is not taut, nor around the ball, nor caught in the chains.
  4. Connect the trailer to the truck’s power plug.
  5. Cross the safety chains under the hitch and attach the hooks to the tow vehicle from the underside. Please make sure the chains are not dragging on the ground.

Attach the unit
 

9. Perform a final walk-around check to ensure that:

  1. All the latches and pins are in place.
  2. The jacks are up and outriggers fully in and locked (if your unit has them).

final walk-around check
 

10. Make sure the trailer’s lights are operational.
 
trailer’s lights


11. Check if:

  1. Wheel bolts are tight and tire pressure is good.
  2. The adapter is properly attached and operational.

12. Towing procedures

Respect all towing procedures for single or nested trailers. Refer to your OSM manual for your unit’s specific instructions. Please drive safely.



Ready to put your unit away for the winter? Check out our storage tips.

Please contact customer support if you have any questions: support@ver-mac.com






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