2005 DODGE CARAVAN towing capacity

Tire and Loading Information Placard
This placard tells you important information about the,
1) number of people that can be carried in the vehicle
2) the total weight your vehicle can carry
3) the tire size designed for your vehicle4) the cold tire inflation pressures for the front, rear
and spare tires.
Loading
The vehicle maximum load on the tire must not exceed the
load carrying capacity of the tire on your vehicle. You will
not exceed the tire’s load carrying capacity if you adhere to
the loading conditions, tire size and cold tire inflation
pressures specified on the Tire and Loading Information
placard and the Vehicle Loading section of this manual.
NOTE:Under a maximum loaded vehicle condition,
gross axle weight ratings (GAWR’s) for the front and rear
axles must not be exceeded. For further information on
GAWR’s, vehicle loading and trailer towing, see the
Vehicle Loading section of this manual.
To determine the maximum loading conditions of your
vehicle, locate the statement“The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX
lbs.”on the Tire and Loading Information placard. The
Tire and Loading Information
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combined weight of occupants, cargo/luggage and
trailer tongue weight (if applicable) should never exceed
the weight referenced here.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement“The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never exceed XXX pounds”on
your vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and pas-
sengers from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of
cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if“XXX”
amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb.
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 650 lb. (since 5 x 150 = 750,
and 1400–750 = 650 lb.)5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
NOTE:The following table shows examples on how to
calculate total load, cargo/luggage and towing capacities
of your vehicle with varying seating configurations and
number and size of occupants. This table is for illustra-
tion purposes only and may not be accurate for the
seating and load carry capacity of your vehicle.
NOTE:For the following example the combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never exceed 865 lbs. (392
Kg).
314 STARTING AND OPERATING

A load equalizing hitch is recommended for loaded
trailer weights above 1,000 lbs (454 kg) and required for
weights above 2,000 lbs (907 kg).
Special care should be taken when towing a trailer with
heavy duty trailer tow package, without a load equaliz-
ing hitch, and with 6 to 7 passengers, to insure the rear
GAWR is not exceeded. Depending on your vehicle
model and options, the maximum trailer weight could
range from 0 to 2000 pounds.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs (454 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do this
could lead to accelerated brake lining wear, higher
brake pedal effort, and longer stopping distances.
WARNING!
Connecting trailer brakes to your vehicle’s hydraulic
brake lines can overload your brake system and
cause it to fail. You might not have brakes when you
need them and could have an accident.
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Compact Spare........................ 320
Flat Changing........................ 355
General Information.................... 316
High Speed.......................... 319
Inflation Pressures..................... 317
Jacking........................346,347,359
Load Capacity.....................312,313
Pressure Monitor System................. 325
Quality Grading....................... 455
Radial.............................. 320
Replacement......................... 323
Rotation............................. 329
Safety...........................308,316
Sizes............................... 309
Snow Tires........................... 329
Spare Tire.........................349,360
Spinning............................ 322
Tread Wear Indicators................... 322Towing............................... 338
Disabled Vehicle....................... 369
Trailering............................ 338
Traction Control...................143,203,306
Traction Control Switch.................143,306
Trailer Towing.......................... 338
Minimum Requirements................. 339
Trailer and Tongue Weight................ 339
Transaxle............................. 297
Automatic........................... 297
Operation........................... 297
Overdrive........................... 300
Selection of Lubricant................403,423
Transmission........................... 402
Automatic........................... 402
Filter............................... 405
Fluid............................403,423
Transmitter Battery Service.................. 26
INDEX 473
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