STARTING AND OPERATING197
TRAILER TOWING
In this section you will find safety tips and
information 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
recommendations 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 Ú page 195.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus the weight
of all cargo, consumables and equipment
(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 permissible weight of your
vehicle and trailer when weighed in combination.
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 Úpage 195.
Tongue Weight (TW)
The TW is the downward force exerted on the hitch
ball by the trailer. You must consider this as part of
the load on your vehicle.
Frontal Area
The frontal area is the maximum height multiplied
by the maximum width of the front of a trailer.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) — If Equipped
The TSC is a telescoping link that can be installed
between the hitch receiver and the trailer tongue.
It typically provides adjustable friction associated
with the telescoping motion to dampen any
unwanted trailer swaying motions while traveling.
Weight-Carrying Hitch
A weight-carrying hitch supports the trailer tongue
weight, just as if it were luggage located at a hitch
ball or some other connecting point of the vehicle.
These kinds of hitches are commonly used to tow
small and medium sized trailers.
Weight-Distributing Hitch
A Weight-Distributing Hitch system works by
applying leverage through spring (load) bars. They
are typically used for heavier loads to distribute
trailer tongue weight to the tow vehicle's front axle
and the trailer axle(s). When used in accordance
with the manufacturer's directions, it provides for a
more level ride, offering more consistent steering
and brake control thereby enhancing towing
safety. The addition of a friction/hydraulic sway
control also dampens sway caused by traffic and
crosswinds and contributes positively to tow
vehicle and trailer stability. Trailer sway control and
WARNING!
If the gross trailer weight is 2,000 lb (907 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.
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STARTING AND OPERATING203
Towing Requirements — Tires
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to
the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle.
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.
Replacing tires with a higher load carrying
capacity will not increase the vehicle's GVWR
and GAWR limits.
For further information Úpage 395.
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 inadequate braking
and possible personal injury.
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.
NOTE:This vehicle has an aftermarket brake controller
connector under the dash to the left of the brake
pedal. This will be a four pin connector and will be
gray in color.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers
over 1,000 lb (453 kg) and required for trailers
in excess of 2,000 lb (907 kg).Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights And
Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer
size, stop lights and turn signals on the trailer are
required for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- and
seven-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved
trailer harness and connector.
NOTE:Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s wiring
harness.
The electrical connections are all complete to the
vehicle but you must mate the harness to a trailer
connector. Refer to the following illustrations.
NOTE:
Disconnect the trailer wiring connector from the
vehicle (or any other device plugged into
vehicle’s electrical connectors) before
launching a boat into water.
Be sure to reconnect once clear from water
area.
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your vehicle's
hydraulic brake lines. It can overload 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 stopping
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 lb (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.
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SAFETY281
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, striking objects or other vehicles.
NOTE:ERM is disabled any time the ESC is in “Full Off”
mode (if equipped). See Ú page 281 for a
complete explanation of the available ESC modes.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
The ESC system enhances directional control and
stability of the vehicle under various driving
conditions. ESC corrects for oversteering or
understeering of the vehicle by applying the brake of the appropriate wheel(s) to counteract the
above conditions. Engine power may also be
reduced to help the vehicle maintain the desired
path.
Oversteer — when the vehicle is turning more
than appropriate for the steering wheel position.
Understeer — when the vehicle is turning less
than appropriate for the steering wheel position.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the
vehicle path intended by the driver and compares
it to the actual path of the vehicle. When the actual
path does not match the intended path, ESC
applies the brake of the appropriate wheel to
assist in counteracting the oversteer or understeer
condition.
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
located in the instrument cluster will start to flash
as soon as the ESC system becomes active. The
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light also
flashes when the Traction Control System (TCS) is
active. If the ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light begins to flash during acceleration, ease up
on the accelerator and apply as little throttle as
possible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road conditions.
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 rollovers,
especially those that involve leaving the roadway
or striking objects or other vehicles. 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.
WARNING!
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle, nor can it increase the traction
afforded by prevailing road conditions. ESC
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, driving
on very slippery surfaces, or hydroplaning. ESC
also cannot prevent accidents resulting from
loss of vehicle control due to inappropriate
driver input for the conditions. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent acci -
dents. The capabilities of an ESC equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless or
dangerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
Vehicle modifications, or failure to properly
maintain your vehicle, may change the handling
characteristics of your vehicle, and may nega -
tively affect the performance of the ESC system.
Changes to the steering system, suspension,
braking system, tire type and size or wheel size
may adversely affect ESC performance. Improp -
erly inflated and unevenly worn tires may also
degrade ESC performance. Any vehicle modifi-
cation or poor vehicle maintenance that
reduces the effectiveness of the ESC system
can increase the risk of loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.
6
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SAFETY295
(Continued)
TPMS Warning Light. Driving the vehicle may cause
the tire pressure to rise to approximately 28 psi
(193 kPa), but the TPMS Warning Light will still be
on. In this situation, the TPMS Warning Light will
turn off only after the tires are inflated to the
vehicle’s recommended cold placard pressure
value.
NOTE:When filling warm tires, the tire pressure may need
to be increased up to an additional 4 psi (28 kPa)
above the recommended cold placard pressure in
order to turn the TPMS Warning Light off.
NOTE:
The TPMS is not intended to replace normal tire
care and maintenance, or to provide warning of
a tire failure or condition.
The TPMS should not be used as a tire pressure
gauge while adjusting your tire pressure, unless
your vehicle is equipped with a Tire Fill Alert
(TFA) system.
Driving on a significantly underinflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Underinflation also reduces fuel effi
-
ciency and tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
The TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility
to maintain correct tire pressure using an accu -
rate tire pressure gauge, even if underinflation
has not reached the level to trigger illumination
of the TPMS Warning Light.
Seasonal temperature changes will affect tire
pressure, and the TPMS will monitor the actual
tire pressure in the tire Ú page 432.
System Operation
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) uses
wireless technology with wheel rim mounted
electronic sensors to monitor tire pressure levels.
Sensors, mounted to each wheel as part of the
valve stem, transmit tire pressure readings to the
receiver module.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Display
CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures
and warning have been established for the tire
size equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable
system operation or sensor damage may
result when using replacement equipment
that is not of the same size, type, and/or style.
The TPMS sensor is not designed for use on
aftermarket wheels, and may contribute to a
poor overall system performance. Customers
are encouraged to use Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) wheels to ensure TPMS
feature operation.
Using aftermarket tire sealants may cause the
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
sensor to become inoperable. After using an
aftermarket tire sealant it is recommended
that you take your vehicle to an authorized
dealer to have your sensor function checked.
After inspecting or adjusting the tire pressure
always reinstall the valve stem cap. This will
prevent moisture and dirt from entering the
valve stem, which could damage the TPMS
sensor.
CAUTION!
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SAFETY297
Vehicles With A Full-Size Matching Spare
1. If your vehicle is equipped with a matching full-size spare wheel and tire assembly, it has
a Tire Pressure Monitoring System sensor,
and can be monitored by the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) when swapped
with a low pressure road tire.
2. In the event that the matching full-size spare tire is swapped with a low pressure road tire,
the next ignition switch cycle will still show the
TPMS Warning Light to be on, a chime to
sound, an “Inflate to XX” message to appear in
the instrument cluster, and the graphic display
will still show the low tire pressure value in a
different color.
3. Driving the vehicle for up to 20 minutes above 15 mph (24 km/h) will turn off the TPMS
Warning Light as long as none of road tires are
below the low pressure warning threshold.
TIRE FILL ALERT
This feature notifies the user when the placard tire
pressure is attained while inflating or deflating the
tire.
The customer may choose to disable or enable the
Tire Fill Alert feature in the apps menu of the
Uconnect system.
NOTE:
Only one tire can be filled at a time when using
the Tire Fill Alert system.
The Tire Fill Alert feature cannot be entered if an
existing TPMS system fault is set to “active” or if
the system is in deactivation mode (if equipped).
The system will be activated when the system
detects an increase in tire pressure while filling the
tire. The ignition must be in the ON/RUN mode with
the transmission in PARK for vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission. For vehicles
equipped with a manual transmission, the parking
brake must be applied.
NOTE:It is not required to have the engine running to
enter Tire Fill Alert mode.
The hazard lamps will come on to confirm the
vehicle is in Tire Fill Alert mode. If the hazard lamps
do not come on while inflating the tire, the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor may
be in an inoperative position, preventing the TPMS
sensor signal from being received. In this case, the
vehicle may need to be moved slightly forward or
backward. The Tire Fill Alert system will only inflate or deflate
one tire at a time. Wait until the hazard lights have
stopped flashing for 30 seconds after the desired
pressure is achieved in one tire before switching to
another.
When Tire Fill Alert mode is entered, the tire
pressure display screen will be displayed in the
instrument cluster.
Operation:
The horn will chirp once to let the user know
when to stop filling the tire, when it reaches
recommended pressure.
The horn will chirp three times if the tire is over
-
filled and will continue to chirp every five
seconds if the user continues to inflate the tire.
The horn will chirp once again when enough air
is let out to reach proper inflation level.
The horn will also chirp three times if the tire is
then underinflated and will continue to chirp
every five seconds if the user continues to
deflate the tire.
NOTE:The Tire Fill Alert feature is set to “Disabled” every
time the ignition is turned to “OFF”. To re-enable
the Tire Fill Alert feature at the next ignition “RUN”
state, the customer must re-enable the feature
through use of the customer settings in the radio.
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE395
LED Front Fog Lamp
If your vehicle is equipped with LED fog lamps they
are replaced as an assembly.
NOTE:We recommend seeing an authorized dealer for
service.
REAR TAIL, STOP, TURN SIGNAL, AND BACKUP
LAMP — IF EQUIPPED
See the following steps to replace:
1. Remove the two screws that pass through the bed sheet metal.
Tail Lamp Screws
2. Pull the outboard side of the lamp rearward,
far enough to unsnap the two receptacles on
the outboard side of the lamp housing, from
the two plastic snap post retainers in the outer
box side panel.
3. Once removed, locate and rotate the appropriate socket a quarter turn counter -
clockwise, then remove it from the housing.
4. Pull the bulb straight from the socket to replace.
5. To install a new bulb, reverse the procedure above.
CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL)
The stop lamp is mounted on the tailgate. If service
is needed, obtain the LED assembly from an
authorized dealer.
LICENSE PLATE LAMPS — IF EQUIPPED
NOTE:
To install a new bulb, reverse the procedure above.
When installing the new bulb, care should be taken
to not allow bare skin to come in contact with the
bulb.
See an authorized dealer to replace LED lamps.
TIRES
TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION
Tire safety information will cover aspects of the
following information: Tire Markings, Tire
Identification Numbers, Tire Terminology and
Definitions, Tire Pressures, and Tire Loading.
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with bead-lock wheels,
please refer to your vehicles bead-lock specific
part number for additional information and instruc -
tions on mopar.com or by contacting an authorized
dealer.
CAUTION!
Do not touch the new bulb with your fingers.
Oil contamination will severely shorten bulb
life. If the bulb comes in contact with any oily
surface, clean the bulb with rubbing alcohol.
Always use the correct bulb size and type for
replacement. An incorrect bulb size or type
may overheat and cause damage to the lamp,
the socket or the lamp wiring.8
23_JT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 395
396SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Tire Markings
Tire Markings
NOTE:
P (Passenger) — Metric tire sizing is based on US
design standards. P-Metric tires have the letter
“P” molded into the sidewall preceding the size
designation. Example: P215/65R15 95H.
European — Metric tire sizing is based on Euro -
pean design standards. Tires designed to this
standard have the tire size molded into the side -
wall beginning with the section width. The letter
“P” is absent from this tire size designation.
Example: 215/65R15 96H.
LT (Light Truck) — Metric tire sizing is based on
US design standards. The size designation for
LT-Metric tires is the same as for P-Metric tires
except for the letters “LT” that are molded into
the sidewall preceding the size designation.
Example: LT235/85R16.
Temporary spare tires are designed for tempo -
rary emergency use only. Temporary high pres -
sure compact spare tires have the letter “T” or
“S” molded into the sidewall preceding the size
designation. Example: T145/80D18 103M.
High flotation tire sizing is based on US design
standards and it begins with the tire diameter
molded into the sidewall.
Example: 31x10.5 R15 LT.
1 — US DOT Safety Standards Code (TIN)
2 — Size Designation
3 — Service Description
4 — Maximum Load
5 — Maximum Pressure
6 — Treadwear, Traction and
Temperature Grades
23_JT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 396
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE397
TIRE SIZING CHART
EXAMPLE:
Example Size Designation: P215/65R15XL 95H, 215/65R15 96H, LT235/85R16C, T145/80D18 103M, 31x10.5 R15 LT
P = Passenger car tire size based on US design standards, or
"....blank...." = Passenger car tire based on European design standards, or
LT = Light truck tire based on US design standards, or
T or S = Temporary spare tire, or
31 = Overall diameter in inches (in)
215, 235, 145 = Section width in millimeters (mm)
65, 85, 80 = Aspect ratio in percent (%)
Ratio of section height to section width of tire, or
10.5 = Section width in inches (in)
R = Construction code
"R" means radial construction, or
"D" means diagonal or bias construction
15, 16, 18 = Rim diameter in inches (in)
Service Description:
95 = Load Index
A numerical code associated with the maximum load a tire can carry
H = Speed Symbol
A symbol indicating the range of speeds at which a tire can carry a load corresponding to its load index under certain operating conditions
The maximum speed corresponding to the speed symbol should only be achieved under specified operating conditions (i.e., tire pressure, vehicle loading,
road conditions, and posted speed limits)
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