2019 Ram 1500 trailer

Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM)
This system anticipates the potential for wheel lift by
monitoring the driver ’s steering wheel input and the speed
of the vehicle. When ERM determines that the rate of
change of the steering wheel angle and vehicle’s speed are
sufficient to potentially cause wheel lift, it then applies the
appropriate brake and may also reduce engine power to
lessen the chance that wheel lift will occur. ERM can only
reduce the chance of wheel lift occurring during severe or
evasive driving maneuvers; it cannot prevent wheel lift
due to other factors, such as road conditions, leaving the
roadway, or striking objects or other vehicles.
NOTE:ERM is disabled anytime the ESC is in “Full Off”
mode (if equipped). Refer to “Electronic Stability Control
(ESC)” in this section for a complete explanation of the
available ESC modes.
WARNING!
Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road conditions
and driving conditions, influence the chance that
wheel lift or rollover may occur. ERM cannot prevent
all wheel lift or roll overs, especially those that involve
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
leaving the roadway or striking objects or other ve-
hicles. The capabilities of an ERM-equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
TSC uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize an excessively
swaying trailer and will take the appropriate actions to
attempt to stop the sway. TSC will become active automati-
cally once an excessively swaying trailer is recognized.
NOTE:TSC cannot stop all trailers from swaying. Always
use caution when towing a trailer and follow the trailer
tongue weight recommendations. Refer to “Trailer Tow-
ing” in “Starting And Operating” for further information.
When TSC is functioning, the “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” will flash, the engine power
may be reduced and you may feel the brakes being applied
to individual wheels to attempt to stop the trailer from
swaying. TSC is disabled when the ESC system is in the
“Partial Off” or “Full Off” modes.
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SAFETY 207

WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow the vehicle down,
stop at the nearest safe location, and adjust the trailer
load to eliminate trailer sway.
Hill Descent Control (HDC) — If Equipped
HDC is intended for low speed off road driving while in
4WD Low Range. HDC maintains vehicle speed while
descending hills during various driving situations. HDC
controls vehicle speed by actively controlling the brakes.
HDC Has Three States:
1. Off (feature is not enabled and will not activate).
2. Enabled (feature is enabled and ready but activationconditions are not met, or driver is actively overriding
with brake or throttle application).
3. Active (feature is enabled and actively controlling ve- hicle speed).
Enabling HDC
HDC is enabled by pushing the HDC switch, but the
following conditions must also be met to enable HDC:
• Driveline is in 4WD Low Range. •
Vehicle speed is below 5 mph (8 km/h).
• Parking brake is released.
• Driver door is closed.
Activating HDC
Once HDC is enabled it will activate automatically if
driven down a grade of sufficient magnitude. The set speed
for HDC is selectable by the driver, and can be adjusted by
using the gear shift +/-. The following summarizes the
HDC set speeds:
HDC Target Set Speeds
• P = No set speed. HDC may be enabled but will not
activate.
• R = 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
• N = 1.2 mph (2 km/h)
• D = 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
• 1st = 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
• 2nd = 1.2 mph (2 km/h)
• 3rd = 1.8 mph (3 km/h)
• 4th = 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
208 SAFETY

The BSM system will not alert you of objects that are
traveling in the opposite direction of the vehicle in adjacent
lanes.
For information on how Blind Spot Monitoring functions
when pulling a trailer, refer to “Trailer Merge Assist” in this
section.WARNING!
The Blind Spot Monitoring system is only an aid to
help detect objects in the blind spot zones. The BSM
system is not designed to detect pedestrians, bicyclists,
or animals. Even if your vehicle is equipped with the
BSM system, always check your vehicle’s mirrors,
glance over your shoulder, and use your turn signal
before changing lanes. Failure to do so can result in
serious injury or death.
Opposing Traffic
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SAFETY 215

Modes Of Operation
Three selectable modes of operation are available in the
Uconnect System.
Refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Multimedia” for further
information.
Blind Spot Alert Lights Only
When operating in Blind Spot Alert mode, the BSM system
will provide a visual alert in the appropriate side view
mirror based on a detected object. However, when the
system is operating in Rear Cross Path (RCP) mode, the
system will respond with both visual and audible alerts
when a detected object is present. Whenever an audible
alert is requested, the radio is muted.
Blind Spot Alert Lights/Chime
When operating in Blind Spot Alert Lights/Chime mode,
the BSM system will provide a visual alert in the appro-
priate side view mirror based on a detected object. If the
turn signal is then activated, and it corresponds to an alert
present on that side of the vehicle, an audible chime will
also be sounded. Whenever a turn signal and detected
object are present on the same side at the same time, both
the visual and audible alerts will be issued. In addition to
the audible alert the radio (if on) will also be muted.NOTE:
Whenever an audible alert is requested by the BSM
system, the radio is also muted.
When the system is in RCP, the system shall respond with
both visual and audible alerts when a detected object is
present. Whenever an audible alert is requested, the radio
is also muted. Turn/hazard signal status is ignored; the
RCP state always requests the chime.
Blind Spot Alert Off
When the BSM system is turned off there will be no visual
or audible alerts from either the BSM, RCP, or Trailer Merge
Assist systems.
NOTE: The BSM system will store the current operating
mode when the vehicle is shut off. Each time the vehicle is
started the previously stored mode will be recalled and
used.
Trailer Merge Assist
NOTE: When Trailer Merge Assist is activated, Rear Cross
Path is disabled.
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Trailer Merge Assist is a function of the Blind Spot Moni-
toring (BSM) system that extends the blind spot zone to
work while pulling a trailer. Trailer Merge Assist consists of
three sub functions:
•Automatic Trailer Detection
• Trailer Length Detection
• Trailer Merge Warning Automatic Trailer Detection
There are two modes of operation for the detection of the
trailer length:
•
Automatic Mode — When “Auto Mode” is selected, the
system will use the blind spot sensors to automatically
determine the presence and length of a trailer. The
presence of a trailer will be detected using the blind spot
radar within 90 seconds of forward movement of the
vehicle. The vehicle must be moving above 6 mph
(10 km/h) to activate the feature. Once the trailer has
been detected, the system will default to the maximum
blind spot zone until the length has been verified. You
will see “Auto” in the instrument panel cluster
.
• Max Mode — When “Max Mode” is selected, the system
will default to the maximum blind spot zone regardless
of what size trailer is attached
NOTE: Selected setting is stored when the ignition is
cycled OFF. To change this setting, it must be selected
through the Uconnect Settings. Refer to “Uconnect Set-
tings” in “Multimedia” for further information.
Blind Spot Zones With Trailer Merge Assist
218 SAFETY

Trailer Length Detection
Once the trailer presence has been established. The trailer
length will be established (by making a 90 degree turn) and
then the trailer length category (example 10-20 ft (3 m to
6 m)) will be displayed. This can take up to 30 seconds after
completing the turn.
NOTE:During the same ignition cycle, if the vehicle is at a
standstill for a minimum of 90 seconds, a new “trailer
detection request” is enabled by the system once the
vehicle resumes motion.
Maximum length supported by the Trailer Merge Assist
feature is 39.5 ft (12 m). Trailer length is considered the
forward most portion of the trailer hitch to the rearward
most portion of the body, bumper, or ramp of the trailer.
Maximum width supported by the Trailer Merge Assist
feature is 8.5 ft (2.59 m). Trailer width is measured at the
widest portion of the trailer and may include wheels, tires,
finders, or rails.
NOTE: Fifth wheel or gooseneck trailers are not supported
by Trailer Merge Assist. Trailer length will be identified and placed into one of the
following categories:
•
Trailer length up to 10 ft (3 m) — Blind spot zone will be
adjusted to 10 ft (3 m)
.
• Trailer length between 10 ft to 20 ft (3 m to 6 m) — Blind
spot zone will be adjusted to 20 ft (6 m)
.
Trailer Length Detection
1 — Trailer Length
2 — Trailer Width
3 — Trailer Hitch
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SAFETY 219

•Trailer length between 20 ft to 30 ft (6 m to 9 m) — Blind
spot zone will be adjusted to 30 ft (9 m)
.
• Trailer length between 30 ft and 39.5 ft (9 m to 12 m) —
Blind spot zone will be adjusted to MAX distance
.
NOTE: Trailer length is determined within +/- 3 feet
(1 meter) of actual length. Trailers that are the same size as
the category limit, 10/20/30 ft (3/6/9 m), could be subject
to being placed in the category above or below the correct
one.
Trailer Merge Warning
Trailer Merge Warning is the extension of the blind spot
function to cover the length of the trailer, plus a safety
margin, to warn the driver when there is a vehicle in the
adjacent lane. The driver is alerted by the illumination of
the BSM warning light located in the outside mirror on the
side the other vehicle is detected. In addition, an audible
(chime) alert will be heard and radio volume reduced.
Refer to “Modes Of Operation” in this section for further
information. NOTE:
•
The Trailer Merge Alert system DOES NOT alert the
driver about rapidly approaching vehicles that are out-
side the detection zones.
• The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system may experi-
ence drop outs (blinking on and off) of the side mirror
warning indicator lamps when a motorcycle or any
small object remains at the side of the vehicle for
extended periods of time (more than a couple of sec-
onds).
• Crowded areas such as parking lots, neighborhoods, etc.
May lead to an increased amount of false alerts. This is
normal operation.
WARNING!
The Blind Spot Monitoring system is only an aid to
help detect objects in the blind spot zones. The BSM
system is not designed to detect pedestrians, bicyclists,
or animals. Even if your vehicle is equipped with the
BSM system, always check your vehicle’s mirrors,
glance over your shoulder, and use your turn signal
before changing lanes. Failure to do so can result in
serious injury or death.
220 SAFETY

REFUELING THE VEHICLE ................404
 VEHICLE LOADING .....................406
▫ Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ........406
▫ Payload ............................. .406
▫ Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) ..........406
▫ Tire Size ............................ .406
▫ Rim Size ............................ .406
▫ Inflation Pressure ...................... .406
▫ Curb Weight ......................... .407
▫ Loading ............................ .407
 TRAILER TOWING ..................... .407
▫ Common Towing Definitions ...............408
▫ Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer
Weight ............................. .413
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight
Ratings) ............................ .414▫
Trailer And Tongue Weight ...............414
▫ Towing Requirements ...................414
▫ Towing Tips ......................... .422
 SNOWPLOW .......................... .423
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ....................424
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle. . . .424
▫ Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models ............................. .425
▫ Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ............................. .425
 DRIVING TIPS ......................... .429
▫ Driving On Slippery Surfaces ..............429
▫ Driving Through Water ..................430
▫ Of

f-Road Driving Tips ...................431
292 STARTING AND OPERATING