2010 DODGE CALIBER weight

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 GTW
on the tow hitch of your vehicle. Loads balanced over the
wheels or heavier in the rear can cause the trailer to sway
severelyfrom side-to-side which will cause loss of con-
trol 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.
•The weight of any other type of cargo or equipment
put in or on your vehicle.
•The weight of the driver and all passengers.
362 STARTING AND OPERATING

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
Placard” in “Tire Safety Information” for the maximum
combined weight of occupants and cargo for your
vehicle.
Towing Requirements
To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drive-
train components, the following guidelines are recom-
mended:
CAUTION!
•Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(805 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
•Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that a
trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph
(80 km/h) and do not make starts at full throttle.
This helps the engine and other parts of the
vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
Perform the maintenance listed in the Maintenance
Schedule. Refer to “Maintenance Schedule” for further
information. When towing a trailer, never exceed the
GAWR or GCWR ratings.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 363

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
overload your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can
cause a loss of control, poor performance or dam-
age to the brakes, axle, engine, transmission, steer-
ing, suspension, chassis structure or tires.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•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 PARK. With a manual transmis-
sion, shift the transmission into REVERSE. Al-
ways 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
(Continued)
364 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING! (Continued)
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
“Tires – General Information” in “Starting and Oper-
ating” for proper tire inflation procedures.
Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation pres-
sures before trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire damage
before towing a trailer. Refer to “Tires – General
Information” in “Starting and Operating” for the
proper inspection procedure.
When replacing tires, refer to “Tires – General Infor-
mation” in “Starting and Operating” 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

Donot interconnect 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
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 365

Odometer........................... 197
Tachometer .......................... 196
Gearshift .............................. 300
General Information ................. 17,127,348
General Maintenance ..................... 396
Glass Cleaning .......................... 421
Glove Compartment ...................... 175
Gross Axle Weight Rating .................. 358
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating .............356,357
Hands-Free Phone (Uconnect™) .............. 99
Hazard Driving Through Flowing, Rising, or
Shallow Standing Water ................. 305
Hazard Warning Flasher ................... 372
Head Restraints ......................... 139
Headlights ............................ 427
Cleaning ............................ 421
High Beam .......................... 148 High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch
........ 148
Passing ............................. 148
Replacing ........................... 427
Switch .............................. 146
Heated Mirrors .......................... 98
Heated Seats ........................... 137
Heater ............................... 276
Heater, Engine Block ..................... 295
Hill Start Assist ......................... 316
Hitches Trailer Towing ........................ 360
HomeLink (Garage Door Opener) Transmitter . . . 158
Hood Release .......................... 144
Ignition ............................... 12
Key ................................ 12
Ignition Key Removal ..................... 12
Immobilizer (Sentry Key) ................... 14
Infant Restraint .......................... 75
472 INDEX

Tire Markings.......................... 321
Tire Safety Information .................... 321
Tires ............................ 89,330,462
Aging (Life of Tires) .................... 336
Air Pressure .......................... 330
Chains .............................. 338
Changing ............................ 374
Compact Spare ........................ 333
Flat Changing ........................ 380
General Information .................... 330
High Speed .......................... 333
Inflation Pressures ..................... 331
Jacking ............................. 374
Life of Tires .......................... 336
Load Capacity ..................... 326,327
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ........... 339
Pressure Warning Light .................. 201
Quality Grading ....................... 462
Radial .............................. 333 Replacement
......................... 336
Rotation ............................ 338
Safety ........................... 321,330
Sizes ............................... 322
Snow Tires ........................... 338
Spare Tire ........................... 374
Spinning ............................ 334
Tread Wear Indicators ................... 335
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight .............. 362
Towing ............................... 357
24-Hour Towing Assistance ............... 113
Disabled Vehicle ....................... 386
Guide .............................. 361
Recreational .......................... 369
Weight .............................. 361
Towing Assistance ....................... 113
Traction .............................. 304
Trailer Towing .......................... 357
Cooling System Tips .................... 369
480 INDEX

Hitches............................. 360
Minimum Requirements ................. 363
Trailer and Tongue Weight ............... 362
Wiring .............................. 367
Trailer Towing Guide ..................... 361
Trailer Weight .......................... 361
Transaxle ............................. 298
Automatic .................... 12,293,298,416
Autostick ............................ 302
Manual .......................... 293,296
Operation ........................... 298
Overdrive ........................... 302
Selection of Lubricant ................... 416
Transmission Range Indicator ....................... 197
Transmitter Battery Service
(Remote Keyless Entry) .................... 24
Transmitter, Garage Door Opener (HomeLink) . . 158
Transporting Pets ........................ 84 Tread Wear Indicators
.................... 335
Trip Odometer .......................... 197
Trip Odometer Reset Button ................ 199
Turn Signals ...................... 148,200,429
UCI Connector ......................... 262
Uconnect™ (Hands-Free Phone) .............. 99
Understanding Your Instrument Panel ......... 189
Uniform Tire Quality Grades ................ 462
Universal Consumer Interface (UCI) Connector . . . 262
Universal Transmitter ..................... 158
Unleaded Gasoline ....................... 348
Vanity Mirrors ........................... 98
Vehicle Certification Label ................. 355
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) ............ 6
Vehicle Loading ................... 327,355,357
Vehicle Modifications/Alterations .............. 7
Vehicle Storage ....................... 285,427
10
INDEX 481