Page 328 of 475

Gooseneck Hitch
The gooseneck hitch employs a pivoted coupling arm
which attaches to a ball mounted in the bed of a pickup
truck. The coupling arm connects to the hitch mounted
over the rear axle in the truck bed.
Trailer Hitch Classification
The rear bumper is intended to tow trailers up to 2,000
lbs (907 kg) without added equipment or alterations to
the 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 dealer for package content.
The following chart provides the industry standard for
the maximum trailer weight a given trailer hitch class can
tow and should be used to assist you in selecting the
correct trailer hitch for your intended towing condition.
Refer to “Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum TrailerWeight Ratings)” for the website address that contains
the necessary information for your specific drivetrain.
Trailer Hitch Classification
Class Max. GTW (Gross Trailer
Wt.)
ClassI-LightDuty 2,000lbs(907 kg)
Class II - Medium
Duty3,500 lbs (1587 kg)
Class III - Heavy Duty 5,000 lbs (2268 kg)
Class IV - Extra
Heavy Duty10,000 lbs (4540 kg)
Fifth Wheel/
GooseneckGreater than 10,000 lbs (4540
kg)
All trailer hitches should be professionally installed on
your vehicle.
328 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 329 of 475
Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight
Ratings)
NOTE:For additional trailer towing information (maxi-
mum trailer weight ratings) refer to the following website
addresses:
•http:// www.dodge.com/towing.
•http:// www.dodge.ca(Canada).
Trailer and Tongue Weight
Always load a trailer with 60% to 65% of the weight in
the front of the trailer. This places 10% to 15% of the
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) on the tow hitch of your
vehicle. Loads balanced over the wheels or heavier in the
rear can cause the trailer to swayseverelyside to side
which will cause loss of control of vehicle and trailer.
Failure to load trailers heavier in front is the cause of
many trailer accidents.Never exceed the maximum tongue weight stamped on
your bumper or trailer hitch.
Consider the following items when computing the
weight on the rear axle of the vehicle:
•The tongue weight of the trailer.
STARTING AND OPERATING 329
5
Page 330 of 475
•The weight of any other type of cargo or equipment
put in or on your vehicle.
•The weight of the driver and all passengers.
NOTE: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 Tire and Loading Information plac-
ard in the Tire Safety Information Section of this manual.
Towing Requirements
To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle driv-
etrain components the following guidelines are recom-
mended:
CAUTION!
•Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles (805
km) of vehicle operation. Doing so may damage
your vehicle.
•During the first 500 miles (805 km) of trailer
towing, limit your speed to 50 mph (80 km/h).
Perform the maintenance listed in Section 8 of this
manual. When towing a trailer, never exceed the GAWR,
or GCWR, ratings.
330 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 331 of 475

WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury accident.
Follow these guidelines to make your trailer towing
as safe as possible:
Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer
and will not shift during travel. When trailering
cargo that is not fully secured, dynamic load shifts
can occur that may be difficult for the driver to
control. You could lose control of your vehicle and
have an accident.
•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. With a manual transmission, shift the
transmission into reverse. And with four-wheel-drive
vehicles, make sure the transfer case is not in neutral.
Always, block orchockthe 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
STARTING AND OPERATING 331
5
Page 332 of 475

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
Tires–General Information section of this manual on
Tire Pressures for proper tire inflation procedures.
Also, check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire damage
before towing a trailer. Refer to the Tires–General
Information section of this manual on Tread Wear
Indicators for the proper inspection procedure.
When replacing tires refer to the Tires–General Infor-
mation section of this manual on Replacement Tires for
proper tire replacement procedures. Replacing tires
with a higher load carrying capacity will not increase
the vehicle’s GVWR and GAWR limits.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
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 electronically actuated trailer brake controller is
required when towing a trailer with electronically
332 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 464 of 475

Fuses........................172,398,402,405
Garage Door Opener (HomeLink) ........... 160
Gas Cap (Fuel Filler Cap)............314,316,363
Gas Gauge (Fuel Gauge)................... 185
Gasoline (Fuel)......................... 310
Gasoline, Reformulated................... 311
Gauges
Coolant Temperature.................... 185
Fuel................................ 185
Odometer........................... 189
Speedometer......................... 187
Tachometer.......................... 188
Gear Ranges........................... 254
General Information.................... 17,309
Glass Cleaning.......................... 397
Grease............................... 392
Gross Axle Weight Rating...............321,324
GrossCargoWeight ...................... 320Gross Vehicle Weight Rating................ 323
GVWR ............................320,323
Hands-Free Phone (UConnect™).............. 84
Hazard Warning Flasher................... 344
Headlights............................ 408
Cleaning............................ 396
Delay .............................. 133
High Beam........................... 137
High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch........ 137
Lights On Reminder.................... 134
Passing............................. 137
Replacing............................ 408
Heated Mirrors.......................... 83
Heated Seats........................... 112
Heater............................... 230
Heater, Engine Block..................... 253
High Beam Indicator..................... 186
High Beam/Low Beam Select (Dimmer) Switch . . 137
464 INDEX
Page 473 of 475

Tire Safety Information.................... 284
Tires ............................ 73,293,454
Aging(LifeofTires) .................... 300
Air Pressure.......................... 293
Alignment........................... 302
Chains.............................. 303
Changing............................ 346
Compact Spare........................ 297
General Information.................... 293
High Speed.......................... 296
Inflation Pressures..................... 294
Jacking............................. 347
LifeofTires .......................... 300
Load Capacity.....................289,290
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)........... 306
Pressure Warning Light.................. 193
Quality Grading....................... 454
Radial.............................. 297
Replacement......................... 301Rotation............................. 305
Safety...........................284,293
Sizes ............................... 286
Snow Tires........................... 304
Spare Tire........................... 346
Spinning ............................ 299
Tread Wear Indicators................... 300
Wheel Mounting....................... 347
Wheel Nut Torque..................... 350
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight.............. 329
Torque Converter Clutch.................. 258
Tow Hooks, Emergency................... 355
Towing ............................... 323
Disabled Vehicle....................... 356
Guide .............................. 329
Recreational.......................... 337
Weight .............................. 329
Traction .............................. 268
Traction Control......................190,277
INDEX 473
10
Page 474 of 475

TrailerTowing .......................... 323
Cooling System Tips.................... 336
Hitches............................. 328
Minimum Requirements................. 330
Trailer and Tongue Weight................ 329
Wiring .............................. 333
TrailerTowingGuide ..................... 329
TrailerWeight .......................... 329
Transaxle............................. 254
Automatic......................... 12,254
Operation........................... 254
Transfer Case........................... 391
Fluid ............................... 419
Transmission........................254,389
Automatic........................254,389
Filter ............................... 390
Fluid ............................390,419
Maintenance.......................... 389
Transmitter Battery Service (Remote Keyless Entry) . 25Transmitter, Garage Door Opener (HomeLink) . . 160
Transmitter Programming (Remote Keyless Entry) . 23
Tread Wear Indicators.................... 300
Trip Odometer.......................... 189
Trip Odometer Reset Button................ 195
Turn Signals......................135,185,409
UConnect™ (Hands-Free Phone).............. 84
Underhood Fuses........................ 402
Uniform Tire Quality Grades................ 454
Universal Transmitter..................... 160
Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses................. 386
VanityMirrors ........................... 83
Variance, Compass....................... 159
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)............ 7
Vehicle Information Center................. 152
Vehicle Loading......................290,320
Vehicle Modifications/Alterations.............. 8
474 INDEX