MATRIX SALT SHIELD ASSEMBLY

V FRONT SALT SHIELD P/N MB104

A complete V Front Salt Shield consists of two plastic formed halves (corner support braces pre-assembled), one plastic formed nose cone, two aluminum center support braces, and a carton containing hardware as itemized at the end of these instructions. You will need a small slotted screwdriver, a medium or large slotted screwdriver, a 7/16” wrench or socket with ratchet, an 11/32” wrench or socket with ratchet, a measuring tape, and a drill with 1/4”, 9/32”, 3/16” and 5/16” drills bits to install your Salt Shield.

1. Remove the components of your V-Front Salt Shield from the carton. Begin assembly by locating the pre-drilled ¼” hole on the bottom center of the nose cone piece. This hole is designed to align directly over the trailer tongue. Assemble the eye bolt by first placing a hex nut on the eye bolt followed by one fender washer (1” outside dimension). Insert the eye bolt from the bottom of the nose cone. Place another 1” fender washer on the eye bolt and finish with a lock nut. The eye hangs down towards the tongue (see Figure 1).

Figure 1

2. Before taking the next step, you need to look carefully at the side profile of your trailer and at the two ‘Rail’ drawings below to determine your next step:

If your trailer has side rails that look like Figure Rails 1 : An ‘upside down J’ shaped profile on the sides (with the hook of the J at least 1/2” long),

go directly to Paragraph 3

(Figure: Rails 1)

OR

If your trailer has side rails that look like Figure Rails 2 or the hook of the “J” is less than 1/2” see paraagraph 2B:

(Figure: Rails 2)

2B. If your trailer has straight side rails or does not have at least a 1/2” hook on the ‘upside down J’ side rail, (see Figure: Rails 2), you will need to fasten the ‘J’ brackets provided in your hardware package to the side walls of your trailer. The channel of the ‘J’ bracket can face either in or out. (Note: if the channel faces out, you may be making your trailer over 102” wide which is the maximum width allowed by law.) Using the ‘J’ bracket as a template and placing it as far forward as possible on the side wall of your trailer, mark two holes 1/2” down from the top edge of the side wall. Drill two 1/4” holes where marked and fasten the ‘J’ bracket to your trailer using the two 1” round head screws provided. Repeat this process on the other side of the trailer. (See Figure 2B). If your trailer has a bead along the top of the side wall, nylon spacers are provided to space the bracket out from the side wall to avoid the bead. (See Figure 2C)       Now, proceed to Paragraph 3 below.

Figure 2B                   Figure 2C

3. Place all three plastic pieces on your trailer. Make sure the side halves of the shield are spread all the way out to the edge of the trailer and that the recessed areas on the shield halves are flush with the front edge of the trailer (Figure 3A). The point of the nose cone should now extend approximately 2½” past the nose of the trailer (Figure 3B).

Figure 3A                                       Figure 3B

4. Using the pre-drilled holes on the nose cone as a template, drill ¼” holes through the shield halves (Figure 4, holes ‘A’) and fasten the nose cone to the shield halves using a 1” round head screw, flat washer and lock nut in each ‘hole A’. After the nose cone is fastened to the shield halves on both sides through holes ‘A’, pull the nose cone tight against the side halves and repeat the process with holes ‘B’ (Figure 4).

Figure 4

5. The V-Front Salt Shield is equipped with two support braces that are to be mounted to the shield where the nose cone and the shield half overlaps. With the partially assembled shield sitting on your trailer, place one of the supplied braces behind the shield and carefully line up the holes in the brace on an imaginary line drawn from the screws already assembled in step 4 above (see Figure 5A). This will keep all screw heads showing on the front of the shield in a straight line. (Because Figure 5A is drawn three dimensionally, it appears that the braces are leaning. The braces are actually perpendicular to the trailer deck.)              
                      Figure 5A        

After making sure that the brace is pushed against the inside of the shield and that the heel of the brace is resting on the deck of the trailer (Figure 5B), use the brace as a template and carefully mark the two holes on the inside of the shield. Drill two ¼” holes through both the shield half and the nose cone. Fasten using 1 ½” round head screws and lock nuts.

                       Figure 5B

**CAUTION: Before drilling the holes, make sure that the holes in the brace are in line with the pre-drilled holes used in step 4 to prevent drilling too close to the edge of the nose cone.** Repeat the process on the other side with the second brace.

6. After braces are fastened to the shield, once again using the brace as a template, drill a ¼” hole at the bottom of the brace through the shield (side half and nose cone) and fasten with one 1” flat head screw and lock nut.

7. Take one of the side brackets and slide the slot all the way onto the lip of the trailer (refer to Figure: Rails 1 in paragraph 2) or the installed ‘J’ Bracket (refer to Figures 2B & 2C). Position the shield so that while the side bracket is pushed all the way back onto the lip of the trailer, the two holes in the side bracket are as far forward on the shield as possible. Using the bracket as a template, drill two 9/32” holes through the wall of the Salt Shield. Mounting the side bracket as far forward as possible on the shield will ensure maximum stability of the shield. Fasten the bracket to the Salt Shield using two 3/4" round head screws, flat washers and lock nuts. (See Figure 6.) Repeat on the other side.
                               Figure 6     

8. Assemble the hold downs by putting the small end of the "S" hook into the hole in the rubber latch/bungee and slide the thin edge of the rubber latch/bungee into the plastic cup so the middle knob seats in the cup.

9. Step 9 is a CRITICAL STEP. The correct placement of the cup ensures stability of your salt shield while on the road: With the Salt Shield mounted on the trailer and the side brackets seated all the way back, drill a 5/16" hole in the lip of the trailer (or in the framework if the trailer has no lip) approximately 2” behind the back edge of the Salt Shield. Slide the thin edge of the rubber latch/bungee into the plastic cup and insert the large end of the "S" hook into the 5/16" hole.

Pull the free end of the latch/bungee with the plastic cup up and towards the front of the trailer so the cup is just forward of the aluminum side bracket riveted to the shield and while pulling tight (but not too tight) trace the location of the cup on the Salt Shield. (See figure 9.)The cup should be located far enough from the 5/16" hole so that the rubber latch/bungee is stretched approximately 1/4” to 1/2" when it is connected to the cup. DO NOT STRETCH RUBBER LATCH/BUNGEE BEYOND 1/2”. Once you are sure the cup is in the right position (angled towards the 5/16" hole), using the cup as a template, drill two 3/16" holes through the side of the Salt Shield and fasten securely using the 3/4" (small) flat head screws and small lock nuts. Repeat on the other side. NOTE: Always put the thin edge of the rubber latch/bungee into the plastic cup. See Figure 7
                               Figure 7

10. To assemble the strap and hooks, first push 5 inches of the flat strap up through the eye and then over the bar and down through the slot. Bring the flat strap back over the top and back down through the eye. Pull it tight. A proper connection will not slip under the load. See Figure 8.

Figure 8

Attach the second hook according to the length of the flat strap required. The flat strap should be stretched to 1½ times the assembled length for best tension. This flat strap/bungee set-up goes under and around the tongue and hooks into the eye bolt to stabilize the shield. See Figure 9.

Figure 9

You should receive the following components in the hardware carton:

1 - SET OF INSTRUCTIONS

2 - RUBBER LATCHES/BUNGEE

1 - 18” FLAT STRAP/BUNGEE

2 - SIDE BRACKETS

2 - PLASTIC CUPS

2 - ‘J’ BRACKETS

4 - NYLON SPACERS (1/2” O.D.)

1 - ¼-20 x 1” EYE BOLT

2 - “S” HOOKS

2 - END HOOKS FOR FLAT STRAP/BUNGEE 4 - ¼-20 x ¾” TRUSS HEAD MACHINE SCREWS

4 - 8-32 x ¾” SMALL FLAT HEAD SCREWS

8 - ¼-20 x 1” TRUSS HEAD MACHINE SCREWS

2 - ¼-20 x 1” FLAT HEAD SCREWS

4 - ¼-20 x 1½” TRUSS HEAD MACHINE SCREWS

8 - ¼” FLAT WASHERS (3/4” O.D.)

2 - 1” O.D. FENDER WASHERS

4 - 8-32 SMALL LOCK NUTS

1 - ¼-20 HEX NUT

19 - ¼-20 LOCK NUTS

Great care has been taken to include all of the above hardware in your hardware carton.

However, if you find that you are missing any hardware, please call us and we will contact the manufacturer.

Call 517-673-6443 or Email us at sales-info@d-jsales.com

Please put Matrix Salt Shield Assembly in the subject line.

MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY
This product will be repaired or replaced up to 3 years from date of purchase
if due to defective material or workmanship.