2005 DODGE POWER WAGON towing

TRAILER TOWING
All Dodge Ram Pickup trucks are intended to tow trailers
up to 2,000 lbs (907 kg) without added equipment or
alterations to standard equipment. Your vehicle may be
factory equipped for safe towing of trailers weighing
over 2,000 lbs (907 kg) with the optional Trailer Tow Prep
Package. See your Dodge dealer for package content.
To Maintain Warranty Coverage
Follow the requirements and recommendations in this
manual concerning vehicles used for trailer towing.
Definitions
The following trailer towing related terminology defini-
tions will assist in understanding the subsequent sec-
tions:GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING (GCWR)
is the total permissible weight of your vehicle and trailer
when weighed in combination. (Note that GCWR ratings
include a 150 lb (68 kg) allowance for the presence of a
driver.) Tongue Weight (of a trailer) is the weight placed
on a vehicle’s trailer hitch by the trailer.
GROSS TRAILER WEIGHT (GTW)is the weight of the
trailer plus the weight of all cargo, consumables and
equipment (permanent or temporary) loaded in or on the
trailer in itsloaded and ready for operationcondition.
TRAILER SWAY CONTROLis a telescoping link that
can be installed between the hitch receiver and the trailer
tongue that typically provides adjustable friction associ-
ated with the telescoping motion to dampen any un-
wanted trailer swaying motions while traveling.
318 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION!
•During the first 500 miles (805 km) your new
vehicle is driven, do not tow a trailer. Doing so
may damage your vehicle.
•When first towing a trailer, limit your speed to 50
mph (80 km/h) during the first 500 miles (805 km)
of towing.
Consider the following items when computing the
weight on the rear axle:
•the tongue weight of the trailer
•the weight of any other type of cargo or equipment put
in or on your vehicleNOTE:Remember that everything put into or on the
trailer adds to the load on your vehicle. Also, additional
factory-installed options, or dealer-installed options,
must be considered as part of the total load on your
vehicle. Refer to the Certification label located at the
driver’s door for the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury accident.
Follow these guidelines to make your trailer towing
as safe as possible:
Perform the maintenance listed in the“Maintenance
Schedules”section of this manual (Section 8). When
towing a trailer, never exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR), or Gross Combined Vehicle Weight
(GCVW).
STARTING AND OPERATING 319
5

CAUTION!
When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not
overload your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can
cause a loss of control, poor performance or damage
to brakes, axle, engine, transmission, steering, sus-
pension, body structure or tires.
Axle Lubricant and Trailer Towing
Power Wagon Models
•
The Axles on Power Wagon Modelsare trailer tow
ready andDO NOT REQUIREany special axle lubes
or additives.
Trailer Towing Recommendations
•
All trailer hitches should be professionally installed on
your vehicle.
•Safety chains must always be used between your
vehicle and trailer.
•Donotinterconnect the hydraulic brake system or
vacuum system of your vehicle with that of the trailer.
This could cause inadequate braking and possible
personal injury. An electrically–actuated electric trailer
brake controller is recommended.
•Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers over 1000
lbs (454 kg) and are required for trailers in excess of
2,000 lbs (907 kg)
320 STARTING AND OPERATING

•Use an approved wiring harness connector on the
trailer. Standard equipment on all RAM pickup mod-
els provides a 4-way trailer tow connector located
under the bumper. This connector contains the follow-
ing vehicle circuits: park/tail lamps, left stop/turn
lamp, right stop/turn lamp, and ground. With the
optional Trailer Tow Prep package a 7-way connector
is provided with the following additional circuits:
backup lamp, trailer battery and electric brake.
NOTE:Connect trailer lighting and brakes using factory
harnesses only. Do not cut or splice wiring to the brake
circuits.
•Be sure the trailer is loaded heavier in front, with 60%
to 65% of the weight in front of the axle(s). Loads
balanced over the wheels or heavier in the rear can
cause the trailer to sway severely side to side whichwill cause loss of control of vehicle and trailer. Failure
to load trailers heavier in front is the cause of many
trailer accidents.
•Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer and
will not shift during travel. When towing cargo such
as livestock, dynamic load shifts can occur that require
the driver to maintain attention.
Trailer Towing—Hitches
With a Class I Hitch, your vehicle can be equipped to tow
trailers with a Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) of 2,000 lbs
(907 kg) maximum.
With a Class II Hitch, your vehicle can be equipped to
tow trailers with a Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) of 3,500
lbs (1 587 kg ) maximum. Tongue weight must be equal to
at least 10% of GTW, but no more than 15% of GTW.
STARTING AND OPERATING 321
5

CAUTION!
Adding lights or electrical devices to the headlamp/
park lamp circuit can be accomplished by connecting
to the standard 4-way trailer tow connector located
behind the rear bumper. The maximum current ca-
pacity for the park lamp circuit should not exceed 15
amps total (a typical park lamp bulb can draw from
0.5 to 1.0 amperes of current).
No connections can be made to the headlamp switch
itself, because it is not designed for high current
applications. Connections to the headlamp switch
will cause the exterior lights to malfunction.
CAUTION!
Connect trailer lighting and brakes using factory
harnesses only. Do not cut or splice wiring to the
brake circuits. Use an approved wiring harness con-
nector on the trailer.
Trailer Weight and Trailer Tongue Weight
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) means the weight of the
trailer plus the weight of all cargo, consumables and
equipment loaded on the trailer when in actual under-
way towing condition. The recommended way to mea-
sure GTW is to put your fully loaded trailer on a vehicle
scale. The entire weight of the trailer must be supported
by the scale.
STARTING AND OPERATING 323
5

Tongue Weight is the weight placed on the vehicle’s
trailer hitch by the trailer. Always load a trailer with 60%
to 65% of the weight in the front of the trailer. This places
10% to 15% of the GTW on the tow hitch of your vehicle.
Trailer sway control and equalizing hitch are required for
Class III or IV trailer hitches and tongue weights above
350 lbs (159 kg).Tongue weight must be equal to at least 10% of GTW, but
no more than 15% of GTW.
Also, there are maximum tongue weight ratings that are
not to be exceeded, as follows:
•Class III (the bumper ball type) 500 lbs (227 kg)
•Class IV (the receiver hitch type) 1200 lbs (544 kg)
NOTE: When towing a trailer, the following require-
ments must be adhered to:
•GCWR must not be exceeded
324 STARTING AND OPERATING

•Total weight must be distributed between the tow
vehicle and the trailer such that the following four
(4) ratings are not exceeded:
1.GVWR
2.GTW
3.Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch utilized
(This requirement may limit the ability to always
achieve the 10% to 15% range of tongue weight as a
percentage of total trailer weight.)
4.GAWR ratingsTrailer Towing Information (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings)
Trailer Towing Guide
NOTE:For trailer towing information (maximum trailer
weight ratings) refer to the following website address:
http:// www.dodge.com/towing.
In Canada, refer to the following website address:http://
www.dodge.ca.
NOTE:For additional general trailer towing informa-
tion refer to the following National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) website address:http://
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/Equipment/towing/
index.htm.
STARTING AND OPERATING 325
5

Trailer Towing Mirrors—If Equipped
These mirrors are designed with an adjustable mirror
head to provide a greater vision range when towing
extra-wide loads. To change position inboard or out-
board, the mirror head should be rotated (flipped Out or
In). A small blindspot mirror is integrated onto the main
mirror surface.
Cooling System Tips—Trailer Towing
To reduce potential for engine and transmission over-
heating, take the following actions:
•City Driving—when stopped, put the transmission in
N (Neutral) and increase the engine idle speed.
•Highway Driving—reduce your speed.
326 STARTING AND OPERATING