Your spare tire carrier is behind the tailgate. If your
hitch extension is too short, the spare tire may interfere
with trailer coupling or trailer tongue jack operation
on some types of trailers.
After you have loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in the trailer.
Trailering may also be limited by the vehicle’s ability to
carry tongue weight. Tongue weight cannot cause
the vehicle to exceed the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) or the RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating). The effect of additional weight may reduce
your trailering capacity more than the total of the
additional weight.Consider the following example:
A vehicle model base weight is 5,500 lbs (2 495 kg);
2,800 lbs (1 270 kg) at the front axle and 2,700 lbs
(1 225 kg) at the rear axle. It has a GVWR of 7,200 lbs
(3 266 kg), a RGAWR of 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) and a
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) of 14,000 lbs
(6 350 kg). The trailer rating should be:
You can expect tongue weight to be at least 10 percent of
trailer weight (850 lbs (386 kg)) and because the weight
is applied well behind the rear axle, the effect on the rear
axle will be greater than just the weight itself, as much as
1.5 times as much. The weight at the rear axle could be
850 lbs (386 kg) X 1.5 = 1,275 lbs (578 kg). Since the
rear axle already weighs 2,700 lbs (1 225 kg), adding
1,275 lbs (578 kg) brings the total to 3,975 lbs (1 803 kg).
This is very close to, but within the limit for RGAWR as
well. The vehicle is set to trailer up to 8,500 lbs (3 856 kg).
4-60
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the liftgate or tailgate. SeeLiftgate (SUV)
on page 2-13orTailgate/Spare Tire Carrier on
page 2-16for more information.
2. If your vehicle has the taillamp guard, remove it by
removing the four retaining screws. Do not remove
the plastic retainers.
3. Remove the two
screws from the rear
lamp assembly
and remove the rear
lamp assembly.4. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it
from the taillamp housing.
5. Pull the bulb straight out from the socket.
6. Press a new bulb into the socket, insert it into the
taillamp housing and turn the socket
counterclockwise until it is locked in place.
7. Reinstall the rear lamp assembly and tighten the
screws.
8. Reinstall the taillamp guard by lining up the guard
with the holes in vehicle. Then install and tighten
the four screws.
5-52
Removing the Spare Tire (SUT)
The spare tire is attached to the tire carrier. To remove
the spare tire:
In order to remove the spare tire, you may need
someone to assist you.
1. Open the tire carrier. SeeTailgate/Spare Tire
Carrier on page 2-16for tire carrier operation.
2. Unscrew the wing nut on the back of the tire carrier.3. Pull off the license plate holder from the spare tire.
4. Attach the wheel wrench to the wheel wrench
extender to remove the wheel nuts.
5. Turn the wheel wrench with the wheel wrench
extender counterclockwise to loosen the wheel nuts.
5-83
Removing the Spare Tire (SUV)
The spare tire is attached to the tire carrier. To remove
the spare tire:
In order to remove the spare tire, you may need
someone to assist you.
1. Open the tire carrier. SeeTailgate/Spare Tire
Carrier on page 2-16for tire carrier operation.
2. Unscrew the wing nut on the back of the tire carrier.3. Pull off the license plate holder from the spare tire.
4. Attach the wheel wrench to the wheel wrench
extender to remove the wheel nuts. Turn the
wheel wrench with the wheel wrench extender
counterclockwise to loosen the wheel nuts.
5-87