2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Load weight

Cargo Tie-Down Hooks
The tie-downs located on cargo area floor should be used
to safely secure loads when vehicle is moving.WARNING!
Cargo tie-down hooks are not safe anchors for a
child seat tether strap. In a sudden stop or collision
a hook could pull loose and allow the child seat to
come loose. A child could be badly injured. Use only
the anchors provided for child seat tethers.
WARNING!
The weight and position of cargo and passengers can
change the vehicle center of gravity and vehicle
handling. To avoid loss of control resulting in per-
sonal injury, follow these guidelines for loading
your vehicle:
Cargo Tie-Down Hooks
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 153
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•Do not carry loads which exceed the load limits
described on the label attached to the left door or left
door center pillar. Refer to “Vehicle Loading” in Sec-
tion 5 for additional information on cargo weights.
•Always place cargo evenly on the cargo floor. Put
heavier objects as low and as far forward as possible.
•Place as much cargo as possible in front of the rear
axle. Too much weight or improperly placed weight
over or behind the rear axle can cause the rear of the
vehicle to sway.
•Do not pile luggage or cargo higher than the top of the
seatback. This could impair visibility or become a
dangerous projectile in a sudden stop or collision.
WARNING!
To help protect against personal injury, passengers
should not be seated in the rear cargo area. The rear
cargo space is intended for load carrying purposes
only, not for passengers, who should sit in seats and
use seat belts.
Cargo Load Floor
The panel in the load floor is reversible for added utility.
One side is carpeted and the other side features a plastic
lined tray which holds a variety of items.
154 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

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 vehicle
4) 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).
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manual. When your vehicle is used for trailer towing,
never exceed the gross axle weight rating (GAWR) by the
addition of:
•The tongue weight of the trailer.
•The weight of any other type of cargo or equipment
put in or on your vehicle.
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury accident.
Follow these guidelines to make your trailer towing
as safe as possible:
•Be sure a trailer is loaded heavier in front, about 10%
to 15% of gross trailer weight. Loads balanced over the
wheels or heavier in the rear cause the trailer to sway
severelyside to side which will cause loss of control ofthe vehicle and trailer. Failure to load trailers heavier
in front is the cause of many trailer related accidents.
•Donotinterconnect the hydraulic brake system of
your vehicle with that of the trailer. This could cause
inadequate braking and possible personal injury.
•Trailer brakes are required for trailers in excess of
2,000 lbs (907 kg).
•Donotconnect a trailer lighting system directly to the
lighting system of your vehicle. Use an approved
trailer wiring harness. Failure to do so could damage
the vehicle electrical system and/or result in personal
injury.
•When hauling cargo or towing a trailer,do notover-
load your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can cause a
loss of control, poor performance or damage to brakes,
axle, engine, transmission, steering, suspension, body
structure or tires.
284 STARTING AND OPERATING

•Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer and
will not shift during travel.
•It is recommended thatanyhitches installed on your
vehicle be factory installed, or installed by a dealer
using factory approved parts. Factory approved parts
are specifically engineered with your vehicle’s perfor-
mance in mind, including the possibility that it will be
involved in an accident. Other hitches may not have
been so engineered. Vehicle performance, including
vehicle damage in an accident situation, may therefore
be different.
•If trailer towing is required and your vehicle is not
equipped with a trailer tow package, the Mopar
accessory towing harnesses are the only approved
method to provide for trailer lights. These harnesses
are designed to provide current to the trailer lights but
bypass the module designed to monitor tail lights.
Refer to the package instructions for details.
Trailer and 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 best way to measure GTW is
to put your fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale. The
entire weight of the trailer must be supported by the
scale.
Always load a trailer with 60% of the cargo weight in the
front of the trailer. This places approximately 10% to 15%
of the GTW on the tow hitch of your vehicle. This portion
of the GTW becomes the tongue weight.
Trailer sway control and equalizing hitch are required for
tongue weights above 350 lbs (159 kg)., i.e., trailer
weights heavier than 3,500 lbs (1 587 kg).
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TRAILER TOWING CAPABILITY
Engine Model GVWR
(Gross Vehice Wt.
Rating)GCWR
(Gross Combined
Wt. Rating)Hitch Type Max. GTW
(Gross Trailer Wt.)Max. Tongue Wt.
(See Note 1)
3.7L 4x2 5,700 lbs (2 585 kg) 8,000 lbs (3 629 kg) Class II 3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) 525 lbs (238 kg)
3.7L 4x4 5,900 lbs (2 676 kg) 8,200 lbs (3 719 kg) Class II 3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) 525 kbs (238 kg)
4.7L 4x2 6,010 lbs (2 726 kg) 11,200 lbs (5 080 kg) Class IV 6,500 lbs (2 948 kg) 720 lbs (327 kg)
4.7L 4x4 6,100 lbs (2 767 kg) 11,450 lbs (5 194 kg) Class IV 6,500 lbs (2 948 kg) 720 lbs (327 kg)
5.7L 4x4 6,150 lbs (2 789 kg) 12,200 lbs (5 534 kg) Class IV 7,200 lbs (3 266 kg) 720 lbs (327 kg)
Note 1 – The towing vehicle payload should be reduced
by the tongue load (for a dead weight hitch) to keep the
rear axle loading below GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) of 3,200 lbs (1 451 kg).
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