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Fifth-Wheel Hitch
A special high platform with a coupling that mounts over
the rear axle of the tow vehicle in the truck bed. Connects
a vehicle and fifth-wheel trailer with a coupling king pin.
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 cantow and should be used to assist you in selecting the
correct trailer hitch for your intended towing condition.
Refer to ªTrailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings)º for the website address that contains
the necessary information for your specific drivetrain.
Trailer Hitch Classification
Class Max. GTW
(Gross Trailer Wt.)
Class I - Light Duty 2,000 lbs (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.
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Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight
Ratings)
NOTE:For additional trailer towing information (maxi-
mum trailer weight ratings) refer to the following website
addresses:
²http:// www.dodge.com/towing.
²http:// 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:
²The tongue weight of the trailer.
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²The weight of any other type of cargo or equipment
put in or on your vehicle.
²The 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!
²Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles (805
km) of vehicle operation. Doing so may damage
your vehicle.
²During 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.
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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.
²When 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.
²Safety 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.
²Vehicles 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 or9chock9the trailer wheels.
²GCWR must not be exceeded.
²Total weight must be distributed between the tow
vehicle and the trailer such that the following four
ratings are not exceeded:
1. GVWR
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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 Ð Tires
þ
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact
spare tire.
þProper 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.
þAlso, check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
þCheck 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.
þWhen 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 Ð Trailer Brakes
þ
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.
þAn electronically actuated trailer brake controller is
required when towing a trailer with electronically
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Page 468 of 481

Engine Oil........................... 391
Power Steering........................ 399
Transfer Case......................... 414
Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts.......... 440
Fog Lights..........................141,438
Folding Rear Seat.....................123,126
Four Wheel Drive....................... 281
Operation........................... 281
Four-Way Hazard Flasher.................. 366
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle................... 377
Front Axle (Differential)................... 415
Fuel................................. 332
Filler Cap (Gas Cap).................336,338
Filter............................... 396
Gauge.............................. 193
Octane Rating......................332,440
Requirements......................332,439
Tank Capacity........................ 439
Fuel, Flexible.............See Flexible Fuel VehiclesFuel System Caution..................... 338
Fuses.....................180,420,421,424,427
Garage Door Opener (HomeLinkt) ........... 168
Gas Cap (Fuel Filler Cap)............336,338,388
Gas Gauge (Fuel Gauge)................... 193
Gasoline (Fuel)......................... 332
Gasoline, Reformulated................... 333
Gauges
Coolant Temperature.................... 193
Fuel................................ 193
Odometer.........................196,198
Speedometer......................... 195
Tachometer.......................... 196
Gear Ranges........................... 276
General Information.................16,114,332
Glass Cleaning.......................... 419
Gross Axle Weight Rating...............344,347
Gross Cargo Weight...................... 343
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Gross Vehicle Weight Rating................ 346
GVWR............................343,346
Hands-Free Phone (UConnectŸ)........87,236,237
Hard Drive (HDD)....................206,236
Hazard
Driving Through Flowing, Rising, or Shallow
Standing Water........................ 288
Hazard Warning Flasher................... 366
Headlights............................ 430
Cleaning............................ 418
Delay.............................. 139
High Beam........................... 143
High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch........ 143
Lights On Reminder.................... 141
Passing............................. 143
Replacing............................ 430
Heated Mirrors.......................... 87
Heated Seats........................... 118Heater............................... 251
Heater, Engine Block..................... 276
High Beam Indicator..................... 194
High Beam/Low Beam Select (Dimmer) Switch . . 143
Hitches
Trailer Towing........................ 351
HomeLinkt(Garage Door Opener) Transmitter . . . 168
Hood Release.......................... 135
Hoses................................ 409
Ignition.............................12,17
Key ................................. 12
Lock................................ 17
Ignition Key Removal..................... 12
Illuminated Entry........................ 20
Immobilizer (Sentry Key)................... 13
Infant Restraint........................64,65
Inflation Pressure Tires.................... 322
Information Center...................... 159
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Tires ............................77,313,458
Aging (Life of Tires).................... 319
Air Pressure.......................... 313
Alignment........................... 321
Chains.............................. 322
Changing............................ 368
Compact Spare........................ 317
General Information.................... 313
High Speed.......................... 316
Inflation Pressures..................... 314
Jacking............................. 370
Life of Tires.......................... 319
Load Capacity.....................309,310
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)........... 325
Pressure Warning Light.................. 201
Quality Grading....................... 458
Radial.............................. 316
Replacement......................... 320
Rotation............................. 324Safety...........................305,313
Sizes............................... 306
Snow Tires........................... 323
Spare Tire........................... 368
Spinning............................ 318
Tread Wear Indicators................... 319
Wheel Mounting....................... 370
Wheel Nut Torque..................... 373
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight.............. 352
Torque Converter Clutch.................. 280
Tow Hooks, Emergency................... 377
Towing............................... 346
Disabled Vehicle....................... 378
Guide.............................. 352
Recreational.......................... 360
Weight.............................. 352
Traction.............................. 287
Traction Control......................198,298
Trailer Towing.......................... 346
478 INDEX