Frontal Area
The frontal area is the maximum height multi-
plied by the maximum width of the front of a
trailer.
Breakaway Cable AttachmentEuropean braking regulations for braked trail-
ers up to 7,700 lbs (3 500 kg), require trailers to
be fitted with either a secondary coupling or
breakaway cable.
The recommended location for attaching the
normal trailer’s breakaway cable is in the
stamped slot located on the sidewall of the
hitch receiver.With Attachment Point
•
For detachable tow bar pass the cable
through the attachment point and clip it back
onto itself or attach the clip directly to the
designated point. •
For fixed ball tow bar attach the clip directly
to the designated point. This alternative must
be specifically permitted by the trailer manu-
facturer since the clip may not be sufficiently
strong for use in the way.
Detachable Ball Clip Loop MethodFixed Ball Clip Loop Method
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Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings)The following chart provides the maximum trailer weight ratings towable for your given drivetrain.
Engine/Transmission Max. GTW (Gross Trailer Wt.) — withTrailer BrakeMax. GTW (Gross Trailer Wt.) —
without Trailer Brake Tongue Wt. (See Note)
3.6L Gasoline 5,000 lbs (2 268 kg) 1,653 lbs (750 kg) 249 lbs (113 kg)
5.7L Gasoline 7,716 lbs (3 500 kg) 1,653 lbs (750 kg) 386 lbs (175 kg) 3.0L Diesel 7,716 lbs (3 500 kg) 1,653 lbs (750 kg) 386 lbs (175 kg)
Maximum trailer towing speed is limited to 62 mph (100 km/h) unless local laws require a lower speed.
NOTE:
The trailer tongue weight must be considered as part of the combined weight of occupants and cargo, and should never exceed the weight
referenced on the Tire and Loading Information placard. Refer to “Tires – General Information” in “Starting and Operating” for further information.
Trailer And Trailer Tongue WeightAlways load a trailer with 60% of the weight in
the front of the trailer. Loads balanced over the
wheels, or heavier in the rear, can cause the
trailer to sway severelyside-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
trailer hitch. Consider the following items when computing
the weight on the front/rear axles of the vehicle:
•
The trailer 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.
NOTE:
Remember that everything put into or on the
trailer adds to the load on your vehicle. Also,
additional factory-installed options, or au-
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thorized dealer-installed options, must be
considered as part of the total load on your
vehicle.
Towing RequirementsTo promote proper break-in of your new vehicle
drivetrain components, the following guidelines
are recommended.
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 “Mainte-
nance Schedule.” Refer to “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance inter-
vals. When towing a trailer, never exceed the
GAWR or GCWR ratings.
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury acci-
dent. 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, dy-
namic 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. Over-
loading can cause a loss of control, poor
performance or damage to brakes, axle,
engine, transmission, steering, suspen-
sion, chassis structure or tires.
• Safety chains must always be used be-
tween your vehicle and trailer. Always con-
nect the chains to the hook retainers of the
vehicle hitch. Cross the chains under the
trailer tongue and allow enough slack for
turning corners.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
• Vehicles with trailers should not be parked
on a grade. When parking, apply the park-
ing brake on the tow vehicle. Put the tow
vehicle transmission in PARK. For four-
wheel drive vehicles, make sure the trans-
fer case is not in NEUTRAL. Always, block
or chock the trailer wheels.
• GCWR must not be exceeded.
• Total weight must be distributed be-
tween the tow vehicle and the trailer
such that the following four ratings are
not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Trailer tongue weight rating for the trailer
hitch utilized.
Towing Requirements – Tires
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle. Refer to “Tires – General Informa-
tion” in “Starting and Operating” for proper
tire inflation procedures.
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