2007 DODGE CARAVAN spare tire

•When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not over-
load your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can cause a
loss of control, poor performance or damage to brakes,
axle, engine, transmission, steering, suspension, chas-
sis structure or tires.
•Safety chains must always be used between your
vehicle and trailer. Always connect the chains to the
frame or hook retainers of the vehicle hitch. Cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning corners.
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade.
When parking, apply the parking brake on the tow
vehicle. Put the tow vehicle automatic transmission in
P for Park. Always, block or chockthe trailer wheels.
•GCWR must not be exceeded.
•Total weight must be distributed between the tow
vehicle and the trailer such that the following four
ratings are not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. 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).
Towing Requirements — Tires

Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact
spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to the safe
and satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Refer to the
STARTING AND OPERATING 377
5

WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, see Section 7, Maintenance, of this
manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
•Getting under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous.
The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on
you. You could be crushed. Never get any part of
your body under a vehicle that is on a jack. If
you need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to
a service center where it can be raised on a lift.
•The jack is designed to use as a tool for chang-
ing tires only. The jack should not be used to lift
the vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle
should be jacked on a firm level surface only.
Avoid ice or slippery areas.
•For vehicles equipped with Stow ’n Go seating,
if it is necessary to retrieve the spare tire from
under the vehicle on the side of the vehicle close
to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to
avoid the danger of being hit.
386 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Jacking Instructions — Stow ’n Go Seating
Preparations For Jacking
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to help prevent
personal injury or damage to your vehicle:
•Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the vehicle close
to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to avoid the
danger of being hit when operating the jack or changing the
wheel.
•Always park on a firm, level surface before raising the vehicle.•Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to be raised.•Apply the parking brake firmly before jacking.•Never start the engine with the vehicle on a jack.•Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a jack.•Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack.•Only use the jack in the positions indicated.•If working on or near a roadway, be extremely careful of motor
traffic.
•To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated are securely stowed,
spares must be stowed with the value stem facing the ground.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off
the road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
•Turn on the Hazard Warning Flasher.
•Block both the front and rear
of the wheel diagonally oppo-
site the jacking position. For
example, if changing the right
front tire, block the left rear
wheel.
•Passengers should not remain in the vehicle when the
vehicle is being jacked.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 387
6

Jack Location — Stow ’n Go Seating
The jack, jack handle and winch handle tools are stowed
behind the rear left side trim panel in the rear cargo area.
Pull up on the lever to release the cover. Remove the scissors jack and jack handle by rotating the
small wing nut to the left. Also remove the tool pouch
containing the spare tire winch handle tools, which is
located next to the jack and jack handle.
Jack LocationJack Removal/Installation
388 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Spare Tire Stowage — Stow ’n Go Seating
For vehicles equipped with Stow ’n Go seating, the spare
tire is stowed inside a protective cover located under the
center of the vehicle by means of a cable winch mecha-
nism. The “spare tire drive” nut is located on the floor,
under a plastic cap between the front seats.
The tool pouch contains three pieces and can be as-
sembled into a Spare Tire Hook to remove the compact
spare tire/cover assembly from under the vehicle or a
Winch “T” Handle to raise/lower the compact spare
tire/cover assembly.
Stow ’n Go Tools
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 389
6

Jacking Instructions — Stow ’n Go Seating
1. Loosen (but do not remove) the wheel lug nuts by
turning them to the left one turn while the wheel is still
on the ground.
2. To remove the compact spare tire/cover assembly,
assemble the winch handle extensions to form a “T’ and
fit the winch “T” handle over the drive nut. Rotate the
nut to the left until the winch mechanism stops turning
freely, this will allow enough slack in the cable to allow
you to pull the spare tire out from under the vehicle.
Spare Tire Removal
390 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!
The winch mechanism is designed for use with the
winch “T” handle only. Use of an air wrench or other
power tools is not recommended and can damage the
winch.
3. Assemble the winch handle extensions to form the
Spare Tire Hook and pull the compact spare tire/cover
assembly from under the vehicle.
WARNING!
Getting under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The
vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never get any part of your body
under a vehicle that is on a jack. If you need to get
under a raised vehicle, take it to a service center
where it can be raised on a lift.
NOTE: If either front tire is flat, it may be necessary to
jack up the vehicle to remove the compact spare tire/
cover assembly from under the vehicle. Refer to jack
engagement locations in the following steps for proper
jack placement.
Spare Tire Hook & Removal
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 391
6

4. When the compact spare tire/cover assembly is clear
of the vehicle, stand the tire/cover assembly upright and
remove the wheel spacer by squeezing the two retaining
tabs together. 5. There are two jack engagement locations on each side
of the body, refer to the following illustration.
Squeezing Winch Retainer Tabs
392 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES