2008 DODGE SPRINTER towing

308 OperationDriving tips
4
Attaching a trailerPlease observe the maximum permitted
trailer dimensions (width and length).
Most states and all Canadian provinces
require safety chains between your tow
vehicle and the trailer. The chains should
be crisscrossed under the trailer tongue.
They must be attached to the hitch re-
ceiver, and not to the vehicle’s bumper
or axle. Be sure to leave enough slack in
the chains to permit turning corners.
iMost states and all Canadian prov-
inces require a separate brake sys-
tem at various trailer weights.
Warning
G
Do not connect a trailer brake system (if
trailer is so equipped) directly to the vehi-
cle’s hydraulic brake system as your vehi-
cle is equipped with antilock brakes. If
you do, neither the vehicle’s brakes nor
the trailer’s brakes will function properly.
This could cause an accident resulting in
property damage, injury or death to you or
others.The provided vehicle electrical wiring har-
ness for trailer towing has a brake signal
wire for hook-up to a brake controller.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
Most states and all Canadian provinces
require a break-away switch on trailers
with a separate brake system. The switch
activates the trailer brakes in the possible
event that the trailer might separate from
the tow vehicle.You should consider using a trailer sway
control system. For further information,
see your authorized Sprinter Dealer.
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309 Operation
Driving tips
4
Towing a trailerThere are many different laws, including
speed limit restrictions, having to do
with trailer towing. Make sure that your
vehicle-trailer combination will be legal,
not only for where you reside, but also
for where you will be driving. A good
source for this information can be the
police or local authorities.
Before you start driving with the trailer,
check the trailer hitch, break-away
switch, safety chains, electrical connec-
tions, lighting and tires. Also adjust the
mirrors to permit an unobstructed view
beyond the rear of the trailer.If the trailer has electric brakes, start
your vehicle and trailer moving slowly,
and then apply only the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure that the
brakes are working properly.
When towing a trailer, check occasional-
ly to be sure that the load is secure, and
that lighting and trailer brakes (if so
equipped) are functioning properly.
Always secure items in the trailer to pre-
vent load shifts while driving.
Take into consideration that when tow-
ing a trailer, the handling characteristics
are different and less stable from those when operating the vehicle without a
trailer. It is important to avoid sudden
maneuvers.
The vehicle and trailer combination is
heavier, and therefore is limited in accel-
eration and climbing ability, and requires
longer stopping distances. It is more
prone to reacting to side wind gusts, and
requires more sensitive steering input.
In order to gain skill and an understand-
ing of the vehicle’s behavior, you should
practice turning, stopping and backing
up in an area which is free from traffic.
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310 OperationDriving tips
4
If possible, do not brake abruptly, but
rather engage the brake slightly at first
to permit the trailer to activate its brake.
Then increase the braking force.Warning
G
Take into consideration that when towing
a trailer, the handling characteristics are
different and less stable from those when
operating the vehicle without a trailer.
It is important to avoid sudden maneu-
vers. Sudden maneuvers may lead to loss
of control over the vehicle-trailer combi-
nation. This could cause an accident re-
sulting in property damage or injury to
you or others.
!
CAUTION
If the transmission hunts between
gears on inclines, manually shift to a
lower gear (select
"4", "3", "2"
or
"1"). A lower gear and reduction
of speed reduces the chance of the
engine overloading and / or over-
heating.
When going down a long hill, shift
into a lower gear and use the en-
gine’s braking effect. Avoid riding the
brakes, thus overheating the vehicle
and trailer brakes.
If the engine coolant rises to an ex-
tremely high temperature (coolant tem-
perature needle approaching the red
zone) when the air conditioner is on,
turn off the air conditioner. Engine cool-
ant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the cli-
mate control fan speed to high and set-
ting the temperature control to the
maximum hot position.
Extreme care must be exercised since
your vehicle with a trailer will require ad-
ditional passing distance ahead than
when driving without a trailer. Because
your vehicle and trailer is longer than
your vehicle alone, you will also need to
go much farther ahead of the passed ve-
hicle before you can return to your lane.
nf_BA.book Page 310 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

356 OperationTires and wheels
4
Step 4\1
The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the
“XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs and
there will be five 150 lbs passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity
is 650 lbs (1400-750 (5 x150) =
650 lbs).
Step 5
\1
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.
Step 6 (if applicable)
\1
If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this reduc-
es the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
The following table shows examples on
how to calculate total load, cargo load
and towing capacities with varying seat-
ing configurations and number and size
of occupants. The following examples
use a load limit of 1500 lbs.
This is for illustrative purposes only
. Make sure
you are using the actual load limit for
your vehicle stated on the vehicle’s tire
and loading information placard
(
\2
page 354).
The higher the weight of all occupants,
the less cargo and luggage load capacity
is available.
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360 OperationTires and wheels
4
To assure that your vehicle does not ex-
ceed the maximum permissible weight
limits (GVWR and GAWR for front and
rear axle and GCWR), have the loaded
vehicle (including driver, passengers and
all cargo and, if applicable, trailer fully
loaded) weighed on a suitable commer-
cial scale.
Trailer tongue loadThe tongue load (tongue weight at the
hitch ball) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the
load you can carry in your vehicle. If a
trailer is towed, the tongue load must be
added to the weight of all occupants
riding and any cargo you are carrying in
the vehicle to prevent exceeding your
Sprinter tow vehicle’s rear GAWR. The
tongue load is 10% of the trailer weight
and everything loaded in it.For example, if the trailer tongue load
equals 140 lbs (63.5 kg) and the deter-
mined available cargo/luggage and trail-
er tongue weight equals 500 lbs (227
kg), the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 360 lbs (500 –
140 = 360 lbs) (163.5 kg (227 – 63.5 =
163.5 kg)).
For further information on vehicle and
trailer weights and ratings, loading a
trailer and trailer towing, see “Trailer
towing” (
\2
page303).
nf_BA.book Page 360 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

429 Practical hints
5 Practical hints
What to do if .............. 430
Display messages........... 484
Where will I find...?........... 513
Changing bulbs........... 525
Changing the batteries........... 539
Fuel system........... 542
Replacing the wiper blades........... 545
Flat tire........... 547
Battery........... 573
Jump-starting........... 581
Towing........... 585
Fuses........... 589
nf_BA.book Page 429 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

464 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...
5
6
When towing a trailer:
The red brake system indicator
lamp is lit while the engine is run-
ning.
A signal also sounds.
WAR NING
G
The trailer's brake booster is malfunctioning.
The vehicle's driving and braking characteris-
tics may change. There is a risk of the trailer
overbraking.
\1Also observe the messages in the dis-
play on vehicles with steering wheel
buttons (\2page 489).
\1S t o p y o u r v e h i c l e a s s o o n a s i t i s s a f e t o
do so.
\1Do not drive any further.
\1Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Problem
Possible cause / result
Suggested solutions
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475 Practical hints
What to do if ...
5
•
The red coolant warning
lamp lights up while the en-
gine is running.
The coolant temperature is too high.
\1Do not drive any further.
\1Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
If the vehicle is switched off after being sub-
jected to extreme loads (for example driving
in mountainous terrain, trailer towing, etc.),
the coolant warning lamp may light up when
the ignition is switched on or the engine is
restarted. Run the engine for approximately
1 minute at idling speed.
Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer if the
coolant warning lamp remains lit.
A
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion.
The fuel level has fallen into the reserve range.
\1Refuel at the nearest refueling station
(\2page 316).
Problem
Possible cause / result
Suggested solutions
nf_BA.book Page 475 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM