
Dodge Durango
Owners Manual
Starting and operating » Trailer towing
Towing Requirements
To 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.
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Perform the maintenance listed in the "Maintenance
Schedule". Refer to "Maintenance Schedule" for the proper maintenance intervals.
When towing a trailer,
never exceed the GAWR or GCWR ratings.
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to a collision. 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, dynamic load shifts
can occur that may be difficult for the driver to
control. You could lose control of your vehicle and
have a collision.
- When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not
overload your vehicle or trailer. Overloading 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.
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Towing Requirements - Tires
- Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact
spare tire.
- Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to the safe
and satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Refer to
"Tires - General Information" in "Starting And Operating"
for proper tire inflation procedures.
- 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 - General
Information" in "Starting And Operating" for the
proper inspection procedure.
- When replacing tires, refer to "Tires - General Information"
in "Starting And Operating" 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 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.
- Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers over
1,000 lbs (453 kg) and required for trailers in excess of
2,000 lbs (907 kg).
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 a collision.
- 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 a
collision.
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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. |
Towing Requirements - Trailer Lights And Wiring
(If Equipped)
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,
stoplights and turn signals on the trailer are required for
motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- and sevenpin
wiring harness. Use a factory approved trailer harness
and connector.
NOTE: Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicles
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.
Four-Pin Connector
1 - Female Pins
2 - Male Pin
3 - Ground
4 - Park
5 - Left Stop/Turn
6 - Right Stop/Turn
Seven-Pin Connector
1 - Battery
2 - Backup Lamps
3 - Right Stop/Turn
4 - Electric Brakes
5 - Ground
6 - Left Stop/Turn
7 - Running Lamps
More about «Trailer towing»:
Towing Requirements