274STARTING AND OPERATING
TRAILER TOWING
In this section you will find safety tips and infor -
mation on limits to the type of towing you can
reasonably do with your vehicle. Before towing a
trailer, carefully review this information to tow
your load as efficiently and safely as possible.
To maintain the New Vehicle Limited Warranty
coverage, follow the requirements and recom -
mendations in this manual concerning vehicles
used for trailer towing.
Common Towing Definitions
The following trailer towing related definitions
will assist you in understanding the following
information:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The GVWR is the total allowable weight of your
vehicle. This includes driver, passengers, cargo
and tongue weight. The total load must be
limited so that you do not exceed the GVWR.
Refer to “Vehicle Loading/Vehicle Certification
Label” in “Starting And Operating” for further
information.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus the
weight of all cargo, consumables and equip -
ment (permanent or temporary) loaded in or on
the trailer in its "loaded and ready for operation"
condition.
The recommended way to measure GTW is to
put your fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale.
The entire weight of the trailer must be
supported by the scale.
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR)
The GCWR is the total allowable weight of your
vehicle and trailer when weighed in combina -
tion.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
The GAWR is the maximum capacity of the front
and rear axles. Distribute the load over the front
and rear axles evenly. Make sure that you do
not exceed either front or rear GAWR. Refer to
“Vehicle Loading/Vehicle Certification Label” in
“Starting And Operating” for further informa -
tion.
Tongue Weight (TW)
The tongue weight is the downward force
exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer. You must
consider this as part of the load on your vehicle.
CAUTION!
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR or the maximum front and rear GAWR.
If you do, parts on your vehicle can break, or
it can change the way your vehicle handles.
This could cause you to lose control. Also
overloading can shorten the life of your
vehicle.
WARNING!
If the gross trailer weight is 5,000 lbs
(2,267 kg) or more, it is recommended to use
a weight-distributing hitch to ensure stable
handling of your vehicle. If you use a standard
weight-carrying hitch, you could lose control
of your vehicle and cause a collision.
WARNING!
It is important that you do not exceed the
maximum front or rear GAWR. A dangerous
driving condition can result if either rating is
exceeded. You could lose control of the
vehicle and have a collision.
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280STARTING AND OPERATING
(Continued)
Towing Requirements — Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire.
Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h) when towing while using a full size spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential
to the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle. Refer to “Tires” in “Servicing And
Maintenance” for proper tire inflation proce -
dures.
Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire
damage before towing a trailer. Refer to
“Tires” in “Servicing And Maintenance” for
the proper inspection procedure.
When replacing tires, refer to “Tires” in
“Servicing And Maintenance” for the 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
Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake
system or vacuum system of your vehicle
with that of the trailer. This could cause inad -
equate braking and possible personal injury.
WARNING!
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 a colli -
sion.
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, suspension,
chassis structure or tires.
Safety chains must always be used
between your vehicle and trailer. Always
connect the chains to the 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 transmission in PARK. For
four-wheel drive vehicles, make sure the
transfer case is not in NEUTRAL. Always,
block or "chock" the 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 :
GVWR
GTW
GAWR
Tongue weight rating for the trailer
hitch utilized.
WARNING! (Continued)
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STARTING AND OPERATING281
An electronically actuated trailer brake
controller is required when towing a trailer
with electronically actuated brakes. When
towing a trailer equipped with a hydraulic
surge actuated brake system, an electronic
brake controller is not required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers
over 1,000 lbs (453 kg) and required for
trailers in excess of 2,000 lbs (907 kg).
Integrated Trailer Brake Module — If
Equipped
Your vehicle may have an Integrated Trailer
Brake Module (ITBM) for Electric and Electric
Over Hydraulic (EOH) trailer brakes.
NOTE:
This module has been designed and verified
with electric trailer brakes and new EOH
systems. Some previous EOH systems may not
be compatible with ITBM.
Integrated Trailer Brake Module (ITBM)
The user interface consists of the following:
Manual Brake Control Lever
Slide the manual brake control lever to the left
to activate power to the trailer's electric brakes
independent of the tow vehicle's brakes. If the
manual brake control lever is activated while
the brake is also applied, the greater of the two
inputs determines the power sent to the trailer
brakes.WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your
vehicle's hydraulic brake lines. It can over -
load your brake system and cause it to fail.
You might not have brakes when you need
them and could have an accident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stop -
ping distance. When towing, you should
allow for additional space between your
vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
Failure to do so could result in an accident.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs
(453 kg) loaded, it should have its own
brakes and they should be of adequate
capacity. Failure to do this could lead to
accelerated brake lining wear, higher brake
pedal effort, and longer stopping distances.
1 — GAIN Adjustment Button
2 — GAIN Adjustment Button
3 — Manual Brake Control Lever
5
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380SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
For further information on GAWRs, vehicle
loading, and trailer towing, refer to “Vehicle
Loading” in the “Starting And Operating”
section of this manual.
To determine the maximum loading conditions
of your vehicle, locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on the
Tire and Loading Information placard. The
combined weight of occupants, cargo/luggage
and trailer tongue weight (if applicable) should
never exceed the weight referenced here.
Steps For Determining Correct Load
Limit—
(1) Locate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your
vehicle's placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs. (4) The resulting figure equals the avail
-
able amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five
150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400-750
(5x150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces the avail -
able cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
Metric Example For Load Limit
For example, if “XXX” amount equals 635 kg
and there will be five 68 kg passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 295 kg (635-340
(5x68) = 295 kg) as shown in step 4.
NOTE:
If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. The following table shows examples
on how to calculate total load, cargo/
luggage, and towing capacities of your
vehicle with varying seating configurations
and number and size of occupants. This table
is for illustration purposes only and may not
be accurate for the seating and load carry
capacity of your vehicle.
For the following example, the combined
weight of occupants and cargo should never
exceed 865 lbs (392 kg).
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507
Four-Way Hazard Flasher
.........................294Freeing A Stuck Vehicle...........................324Front Axle (Differential)...........................370Fuel.................................... 269, 399, 402Adding.............................................268Additives..........................................400Capacity...........................................405Clean Air..........................................399Diesel.............................. 269, 402, 410Ethanol............................................400Filler Cap (Gas Cap)............................268Filter....................................... 354, 407Gasoline..........................................399Light...............................................113Materials Added.................................400Methanol.........................................400Octane Rating...................................399Requirements........................... 399, 402Specifications....................................402Tank Capacity....................................405Fuses..................................................305
G
Garage Door Opener (HomeLink).................67Gas Cap (Fuel Filler Cap).........................268Gasoline, Clean Air.................................399Gasoline, Reformulated...........................399Gauges Voltage............................................194Gear Ranges.........................................207
Gear Selector Override............................ 322General Information....................... 132, 140Glass Cleaning...................................... 396Gross Axle Weight Rating......................... 274Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.................... 274GuideBody Builders...................................... 11GVWR................................................. 273
H
HazardDriving Through Flowing, Rising, Or Shallow Standing Water
.............................. 292Hazard Warning Flashers........................ 294Head Restraints...................................... 36Head Rests............................................ 36Headlights........................................... 301Automatic High Beam........................... 45Cleaning.......................................... 394High Beam......................................... 45Lights On Reminder.............................. 47Passing............................................. 46Switch............................................... 44Heated Mirrors....................................... 43Hill Descent Control............................... 128Hill Descent Control Indicator................... 128Hill Start Assist..................................... 122HitchesTrailer Towing................................... 278Hoisting.............................................. 374
HomeLink (Garage Door Opener)................ 67Hood Prop............................................. 66Hood Release......................................... 66Hub Caps............................................ 318
I
Idle-Up Feature..................................... 198Ignition................................................. 17Switch............................................... 17Illuminated Entry..................................... 49In Vehicle HelpVehicle User Guide............................... 12Inside Rearview Mirror...................... 40, 294Instrument Cluster.................87, 88, 90, 91Descriptions..................................... 117Display.............................................. 92Engine Oil Reset.................................. 93Instrument Panel Lens Cleaning............... 396Integrated Trailer Brake Control................ 281Interior Appearance Care........................ 395Interior Lights......................................... 48Intermittent Wipers (Delay Wipers).............. 50Intervention Regeneration Strategy... 103, 359Inverter Outlet (115V).............................. 80iPod/USB/MP3 Control........................... 481
J
Jack Location....................................... 314Jack Operation..................................... 314Jacking And Tire Changing....................... 314
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509
Methanol
.............................................400Mirrors..................................................40Electric Powered..................................41Heated..............................................43Memory.............................................32Outside..............................................41Rearview.................................... 40, 294Trailer Towing......................................42Modifications/Alterations Vehicle..............................................11Monitor, Tire Pressure System..................132Mopar Accessories.................................413Mopar Parts.........................................502MP3 Control.........................................481Multi-Function Control Lever.......................44
N
Navigation System (Uconnect GPS)............258New Vehicle Break-In Period.....................202Noise ControlMaintenance.....................................371Tampering Prohibited..........................372Noise Emission Warranty.................371, 372
O
Occupant Restraints...............................141Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel)..................399Oil Change Indicator...............................335Oil Filter, Change...................................349Oil Filter, Selection.................................349
Oil Pressure Light.................................. 110Oil Reset............................................... 93Oil, Engine........................... 347, 407, 410Capacity.......................................... 405Change Interval................................. 347Dipstick........................................... 345Disposal.......................................... 349Filter............................... 349, 407, 410Filter Disposal................................... 349Identification Logo..................... 347, 348Materials Added To............................ 349Pressure Warning Light....................... 110Recommendation.............................. 347Synthetic......................................... 349Viscosity.......................................... 348Onboard Diagnostic System..................... 118Operating Precautions............................ 118Operator ManualOwner's Manual........................... 11, 503Outside Rearview Mirrors.......................... 41Overdrive............................................. 212Overdrive OFF Switch............................. 212Overheating, Engine............................... 321
P
Paint Care........................................... 393Panic Alarm............................................ 14Parking Brake....................................... 204ParkSense System, Rear................. 246, 250Passive Entry.......................................... 26
Pedals, Adjustable................................... 39Pets................................................... 179Placard, Tire And Loading Information........ 379PowerDistribution Center (Fuses).................. 306Door Locks......................................... 26Mirrors.............................................. 41Outlet (Auxiliary Electrical Outlet)....... 78, 80Seats................................................ 31Sliding Rear Window............................. 66Steering.................................... 41, 229Take-Off Adapter............................... 228Take-Off Operation............................. 228Windows........................................... 64Power SeatsDown................................................ 31Forward............................................. 31Rearward........................................... 31Recline.............................................. 31Tilt................................................... 31Up.................................................... 31Power Steering Fluid.............................. 409Pregnant Women And Seat Belts.............. 149Preparation For Jacking.......................... 314PTO (Power Take-Off)............................. 228
R
Radial Ply Tires..................................... 384Radiator Cap (Coolant Pressure Cap). 363, 365Radio Operation.................................... 483
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511
Snow Chains (Tire Chains)
.......................390Snow Plow...........................................286Snow Tires...........................................387Spare Tires...................................387, 388Spark Plugs..........................................407Speed Control Accel/Decel......................................231Cancel.............................................231Resume...........................................231Speed Control (Cruise Control)..........230, 232Starting............................... 183, 184, 187Automatic Transmission............... 183, 187Button...............................................17Cold Weather....................................187Engine Block Heater...........................190Engine Fails To Start...........................186Starting And Operating............................184Starting Procedures........................184, 187Starting Procedures (Diesel Engines)..........187Starting Procedures (Gas Engines).............183SteeringPower..............................................229Tilt Column.........................................38Wheel, Heated.....................................38Wheel, Tilt..........................................38Steering Wheel Audio Controls..................481Steering Wheel Mounted Sound
System Controls....................................481Storage.................................................72Storage Compartment, Center Seat..............73
Storage, Vehicle.............................. 63, 393Storing Your Vehicle............................... 393Sunglasses Storage................................. 81Sway Control, Trailer.............................. 127Synthetic Engine Oil............................... 349
T
Telescoping Steering Column..................... 38Temperature Control, Automatic (ATC).......... 62TiltDown................................................ 31Up.................................................... 31Tilt Steering Column................................. 38Tip Start...................................... 183, 188Tire And Loading Information Placard......... 379Tire Markings....................................... 375Tire Safety Information........................... 374Tires........................... 182, 382, 387, 392Aging (Life Of Tires)............................ 385Air Pressure...................................... 382Chains............................................. 390Changing......................................... 314Compact Spare................................. 387Dual............................... 317, 391, 398General Information................... 382, 387High Speed....................................... 383Inflation Pressure............................... 383Jacking............................................ 314Life Of Tires...................................... 385Load Capacity................................... 379
Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS)................................ 113, 132Quality Grading................................. 392Radial............................................. 384Replacement.................................... 385Rotation.......................................... 391Safety..................................... 374, 382Sizes.............................................. 376Snow Tires....................................... 387Spare Tires.............................. 387, 388Spinning.......................................... 384Trailer Towing................................... 280Tread Wear Indicators......................... 385Wheel Nut Torque.............................. 397To Open Hood........................................ 66Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight.................. 279Torque Converter Clutch......................... 212Towing........................................ 274, 326Disabled Vehicle................................ 326Guide.............................................. 279Recreational..................................... 288Weight............................................ 279Towing Behind A Motorhome................... 288Traction.............................................. 292Traction Control.................................... 124Traction Control Switch........................... 124Trailer Sway Control (TSC)....................... 127Trailer Towing....................................... 274Cooling System Tips........................... 285Hitches........................................... 278
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