Changing the drive mode automaticallychanges the functionality of the followingsystems:
•Electronically power-assisted steeringsystem adjusts steering effort and feelbased on the mode you select. SeeSteering (page 280).
•Electronic stability control and tractioncontrol maintain your vehicle control inadverse conditions or high performancedriving. See Stability Control (page 233).
•Electronic throttle control enhances thepowertrain response to your inputs.
•Transmission controls optimize with shiftschedules tuned to each mode.
•Driveline settings optimize for eachmode.
Using the System
The system automatically tailors your vehicleconfiguration for each mode you select.
To change the drive mode setting, use thedrive mode selector on the center console.
Note:Mode changes are not available whenthe vehicle ignition is off or when the engineis not running.
•NORMAL – For everyday driving. Thismode is a perfect balance of excitement,comfort and convenience.
•EXCITE – For aggressive on-road driving.This mode increases throttle response,provides a sportier steering feel, alongwith quicker shifting. The suspensionstiffens, with an emphasis on handlingand control. The transmission also holdsgears longer, helping your vehicleaccelerate faster when shifting gears.
•CONSERVE – Enables efficient andresponsible driving. It helps delivermaximum fuel efficiency and increasesdriving range.
•NORMAL 4A – For general on-roaddriving. Use this mode on normal firmsurfaces such as dry or wet pavementand hard packed dirt or gravel roads.Delivers power to all four wheels, asrequired.
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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Towing trailersbeyond the maximum recommendedgross trailer weight exceeds the limitof your vehicle and could result inengine damage, transmission damage,structural damage, loss of vehiclecontrol, vehicle rollover and personalinjury.
WARNING: Do not exceed theGVWR or the GAWR specified on thecertification label.
Note: See Recommended TowingWeights (page 310).
Your vehicle may have electrical items,such as fuses or relays, related totowing. See Fuses (page 342).
Your vehicle's load capacity designationis by weight, not by volume, so youcannot necessarily use all availablespace when loading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extra load onyour vehicle's engine, transmission, axle,brakes, tires and suspension. Inspectthese components periodically during,and after, any towing operation.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer movementaffects your vehicle when driving:
•Load the heaviest items closest tothe trailer floor.
•Load the heaviest items centeredbetween the left and right side trailertires.
•Load the heaviest items above thetrailer axles or just slightly forwardtoward the trailer tongue. Do notallow the final trailer tongue weightto go above or below 10-15% of theloaded trailer weight.
•Select a ball mount with the correctrise or drop and load capacity. Whenboth the loaded vehicle and trailerare connected, the trailer frameshould be level, or slightly angleddown toward your vehicle, whenviewed from the side.
When driving with a trailer or payload, aslight takeoff vibration or shudder maybe present due to the increased payloadweight. Additional information regardingproper trailer loading and setting yourvehicle up for towing is located inanother chapter of this manual. SeeLoad Limit (page 293).
You can also find information in the RV& Trailer Towing Guide available at yourauthorized dealer, or online.
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1.Grab the trailer hitch cover at the bottomand pull towards the rear of the vehicleuntil the bottom of the trailer hitch coverunsnaps from the bumper.
2. Grab the trailer hitch cover at the edgeand rotate until the top of the trailer hitchcover unsnaps from the bumper, thenremove the trailer hitch cover.
To install the trailer hitch cover:
1. Line up the snaps on the trailer hitchcover to the holes on the bumper andpush forward until it snaps into place.
Hitches
WARNING: Do not cut, drill, weld ormodify the trailer hitch. Modifying the trailerhitch could reduce the hitch rating.
Do not use a hitch that either clamps ontothe bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of thetotal trailer weight is on the tongue.
Integrated Hitch Rating
WARNING: Towing trailers beyondthe maximum recommended gross trailerweight exceeds the limit of your vehicleand could result in engine damage,transmission damage, structural damage,loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover andpersonal injury.
The standard integrated hitch has two ratingsdepending on mode of operation:
•Weight-carrying mode requires a drawbar and hitch ball. The draw bar supportsall the vertical tongue load of the trailer.
•Weight-distributing mode requires anaftermarket weight-distributing system,which includes draw bar, hitch ball, springbars and snap-up brackets. This systemdistributes the vertical tongue load of thetrailer between the truck and the trailer.
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Maximum Tongue WeightMaximum Trailer WeightMode
600 lb (272 kg)6,000 lb (2,722 kg)Weight carrying
900 lb (408 kg)9,000 lb (4,082 kg)Weight distributing
Note:These are hitch ratings only. Actualvehicle ratings are dependent on engine,transmission and axle combinations.
Weight-distributing Hitch
WARNING: Do not adjust the springbars so that your vehicle's rear bumper ishigher than before attaching the trailer.Doing so will defeat the function of theweight-distributing hitch, which may causeunpredictable handling, and could resultin serious personal injury.
When hooking-up a trailer using aweight-distributing hitch, always use thefollowing procedure:
1. Park the loaded vehicle, without thetrailer, on a level surface.
2. Measure the height to the top of yourvehicle's front wheel opening on thefender. This is H1.
3. Attach the loaded trailer to your vehiclewithout the weight-distributing barsconnected.
4. Measure the height to the top of yourvehicle's front wheel opening on thefender a second time. This is H2.
5. Install and adjust the tension in theweight-distributing bars so that the heightof your vehicle's front wheel opening onthe fender is approximately half the waydown from H2, toward H1.
6. Check that the trailer is level or slightlynose down toward your vehicle. If not,adjust the ball height accordingly andrepeat Steps 2-6.
When the trailer is level or slightly nose downtoward the vehicle:
•Lock the bar tension adjuster in place.
•Check that the trailer tongue securelyattaches and locks onto the hitch.
•Install safety chains, lighting and trailerbrake controls as required by law or thetrailer manufacturer.
Safety Chains
Note:Do not attach safety chains to thebumper. Always connect the safety chainsto the frame or hook retainers of your trailerhitch.
Install trailer safety chains to the trailer hitchas recommended by the manufacturer. Crossthe chains under the trailer tongue and allowenough slack for turning tight corners. Donot allow the chains to drag on the ground.
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Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up toget the feel of your vehicle-trailercombination before starting on a trip. Whenturning, make wider turns so the trailerwheels clear curbs and other obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•Do not drive faster than 70 mph(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi(800 km).
•Do not make full-throttle starts.
•Check your hitch, electrical connectionsand trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly afteryou have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
•When stopped in congested or heavytraffic during hot weather, place thetransmission in park (P) to aid engine andtransmission cooling and to help A/Cperformance.
•Turn off the speed control when carryingheavy loads or in hilly terrain. The speedcontrol may turn off automatically whenyou are towing on long, steep grades.
•Shift to a lower gear when driving downa long or steep hill. Do not apply thebrakes continuously, as they mayoverheat and become less effective.
•If your transmission has a Grade Assistor Tow/Haul feature, use this featurewhen towing. This provides enginebraking and helps eliminate excessivetransmission shifting for optimum fueleconomy and transmission cooling.
•If your vehicle has AdvanceTrac withRSC, this system may turn on duringtypical cornering maneuvers with aheavily loaded trailer. This is normal.Turning the corner at a slower speedwhile towing may reduce this tendency.
•If your vehicle has Adaptive suspension,you can select NORMAL or SPORT drivecontrol modes for better experiencewhen towing a trailer. See InformationDisplays (page 119).
•If you are towing a trailer frequently inhot weather, hilly conditions, at the grosscombined weight rating (or anycombination of these factors), considerrefilling your rear axle with synthetic gearlubricant (if the axle is not already filledwith it). See Capacities andSpecifications (page 422).
•Allow more distance for stopping with atrailer attached. Anticipate stops andbrake gradually.
•Avoid parking on a grade. However, ifyou must park on a grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point yourvehicle tires away from traffic flow.
2. Set your vehicle parking brake.
3. Place the transmission in park (P).
4.Place wheel chocks in the front and backof the trailer wheels.
Note:Chocks are not included with yourvehicle.
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Your vehicle may be equipped with atemporary or conventional spare tire. Atemporary spare tire is different in size(diameter or width), tread-type (All-Seasonor All-Terrain) or is from a differentmanufacturer than the road tires on yourvehicle. Consult information on the tire labelor Safety Compliance label for limitationswhen using.
Launching or Retrieving a Boat orPersonal Watercraft (PWC)
Note:Disconnect the wiring to the trailerbefore backing the trailer into the water.
Note:Reconnect the wiring to the trailerafter removing the trailer from the water.
When backing down a ramp during boatlaunching or retrieval:
•Do not allow the static water level to riseabove the bottom edge of the rearbumper.
•Do not allow waves to break higher than6 in (15 cm) above the bottom edge ofthe rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water toenter vehicle components:
•Causing internal damage to thecomponents.
•Affecting driveability, emissions, andreliability.
Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime therear axle has been submerged in water.Water may have contaminated the rear axlelubricant, which is not normally checked orchanged unless a leak is suspected or otheraxle repair is required.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON FOUR
WHEELS
WARNING: If your vehicle has asteering wheel lock make sure the ignitionis in the accessory or on position whenbeing towed.
Recreational Towing
Note:Put your climate control system inrecirculated air mode to prevent exhaustfumes from entering your vehicle. SeeClimate Control (page 151).
Follow these guidelines if you have a needfor recreational towing, such as towing yourvehicle behind a motorhome. Theseguidelines are designed to prevent damageto your transmission.
Two-wheel Drive Vehicles
You cannot tow a two-wheel drive vehiclewith any wheels on the ground as vehicle ortransmission damage may occur. You musttow your vehicle with all four wheels off theground, for example when using acar-hauling trailer.
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Four-wheel Drive Vehicles Without 4x4LOW
If your vehicle does not have 4x4 Low, youcannot tow your vehicle with any wheels onthe ground or vehicle damage may occur.You must tow your vehicle with all fourwheels off the ground, for example whenusing a car-hauling trailer.
Four-wheel Drive Vehicles With 4x4 LOW
You can only tow a vehicle with 4X4 LOWwith all wheels on the ground by placing thetransfer case in its neutral position andengaging the four wheel down towingfeature. Perform the steps outlined in thefollowing section after positioning yourvehicle behind the tow vehicle and properlysecuring them together.
Four-wheel-down Towing
Note:If completed successfully, theinformation display shows Neutral TowEnabled Leave Transmission in Neutral.This indicates that your vehicle is safe to towwith all wheels on the ground.
Note:If you do not see the message in theinformation display, you must perform theprocedure again from the beginning.
Note:Make sure you properly secure yourvehicle to the tow vehicle.
1. Start your vehicle.
2. Confirm that your vehicle is in NORMALmode. See Drive Mode Control (page285).
3. Place your vehicle in stay in neutralmode. See Automatic Transmission(page 210).
4. Switch your vehicle off by pressing theengine START/STOP button once. ATransmission Not in Park messageappears in the information display.
5.Place your vehicle in accessory mode bypressing the start button once withoutpressing the brake pedal.
6. Press and hold the brake pedal.
7. Enable neutral tow through theinformation display by selecting Settingsfrom the menu. See General Information(page 119).
8. Then select Advanced Settings.
9. Then select Vehicle.
10. Then select Neutral Tow.
11. Press and hold the OK button until theinformation display states Neutral TowEnabled Leave Transmission inNeutral.
Note:If completed successfully, theinformation display shows Neutral TowEnabled Leave Transmission in Neutral.This indicates that your vehicle is safe to towwith all wheels on the ground.
Note:If you do not see the message in theinformation display, you must perform theprocedure again from the beginning.
Note:You may hear an audible noise as thetransfer case shifts into neutral, this isnormal.
12. Leave the transmission in neutral (N)and switch the ignition off by pressingthe engine START/STOP button oncewithout pressing the brake pedal. Youdo not need to leave your keys in thevehicle. You can lock and unlock yourvehicle as you normally do.
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WARNING: Do not disconnect thebattery during recreational towing. Itprevents the transfer case from shiftingproperly and may cause the vehicle to roll,even if the transmission is in park (P).
WARNING: Shifting the transfer caseto its neutral position for recreationaltowing may cause the vehicle to roll, evenif the transmission is in park (P). It mayinjure the driver and others. Make sure youpress the foot brake and the vehicle is ina secure, safe position when you shift toneutral (N).
Note:Failing to put the transfer case in itsneutral position can damage vehiclecomponents.
Note:You can check four-wheel-downtowing status at any time by opening thedriver's door or turning the ignition to theaccessory or on position. A messageappears in the information display confirmingyour vehicle is in neutral tow.
To exit four-wheel-down towing and returnthe transfer case to its 2H position:
1. With your vehicle still properly securedto the tow vehicle, press the brake pedaland start the engine.
2. Switch your vehicle off by pressing theengine START/STOP button once.
3.Place your vehicle in accessory mode bypressing the start button once withoutpressing the brake pedal.
4. Press the brake pedal.
5.Place the transmission back into park (P).
6. Release the brake pedal.
Note:If completed successfully, theinformation display shows 2H and NeutralTow Disabled.
Note:If the indicator light and message donot display, you must perform the procedureagain from the beginning.
Note:You may hear an audible noise as thetransfer case shifts out of its neutral position,this is normal.
Note:If Shift Delayed Pull Forward displaysin the instrument cluster, transfer case geartooth blockage is present. See theinstructions following this section.
7.Apply the parking brake, then disconnectyour vehicle from the tow vehicle.
8. Release the parking brake, start theengine, and shift the transmission intodrive (D) to make sure the transfer caseis out of the neutral tow position.
9.If the transfer case does not successfullyshift out of neutral (N), set the parkingbrake until you can have your vehicleserviced.
Resolving the Shift Delayed Pull Forwardor To Exit 4x4 LOW Shift to N Message
If the instrument cluster displays thesemessages, perform the following:
1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2.Put the transmission into neutral (N), thenstart the engine.
3. With the engine running, shift thetransmission into drive (D) and let thevehicle roll forward, up to 3 ft (1 m). Youmay hear an audible noise as the transfercase shifts out of its neutral position. Thisis normal.
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