Briefing Trailer/Operations

From PCSAR

Revision as of 23:38, 13 September 2017

These instructions are in a preliminary form. Please update them. They likely do not have all the information people will need.

Before leaving the firehall

Will you need more than the trailer?

Is there anything else you need to bring beside the trailer? Common requests are:

• The SAR Truck, to haul it. You'll need the keys from the Fire Hall cabinet. See the separate checklist and instructions for that vehicle.
• A vehicle-mounted 2-way radio (mobile radio) for the truck driver.
• A generator, plus a 16-guage extension cord to keep the generator noise well away from the trailer.

Gather the keys

• The keys to the trailer are in the SAR cabinet upstairs in the firehall
  • There are three keys on the ring.
    • black plastic handle and a red mark is for the rear door
    • black plastic handle and no red mark is for the front door
    • silver key is for the cubbyhole accessible from the outside at front from either side
• The key to the trailer hitch is on a separate key chain. I found it in the Mobile Command Post. This is not a very good place for it, as the MCP may be in a different place when the trailer needs to be moved. If there's not a duplicate in the firehall cabinet, we may move it there.

Inspect

Walk around the trailer looking for any problems

• check for anything in the way
• note that there should be a block between the tires
• check the conditions of the tires
• verify the stabilizing feet are raised
• remove the hitch lock and place inside the trailer. Keep the key with the hitch lock

Check inside to see if anything needs to be secured for movement.

Attach the truck

We often use the SAR Truck to haul the Briefing Trailer. The truck is usually left attached to the Equipment Trailer because we most often need that first. You'll need to disconnect it from the Equipment Trailer. (See separate instructions, if needed.)

• Carefully align and back the truck hitch ball to the corresponding socket on the trailer. This is much faster to do if you have someone outside to direct you.
  • If necessary, raise the trailer socket so the ball can be positioned under it
  • Park the truck with the ball under the hitch
• Release the hitch latch which will secure the ball into the socket
  • Slide the latch towards the front and pull out the cotter pin
  • Slide the latch towards the rear to open up room for the ball
• Lower the trailer socket onto the truck's hitch ball. Visually inspect that it's fully seated.
• Move the latch forward and replace the cotter pin
• Raise the foot as far as it will go.
• Attach the safety chains to the truck hitch. Many people recommend for additional safety that the chains be crossed. Left chain goes to right side of hitch and vice versa.
• Connect the wiring cable into the socket at the rear of the truck
• Take the bricks that the foot was resting on and place in the trailer
• Take the block that's between the trailer tires and place in the trailer
• Secure the doors of the trailer
• Start the truck and test the signal lights. Get out and check that the signals at the back of trailer work.

Setup in field

Choose your spot

To do

• verify we have extra copies of keys
  • 3 different keys to trailer
  • hitch lock keys