weight DODGE DURANGO 2004 2.G Owner's Manual

²Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers over 1,000
lbs (454 kg) and required for trailers in excess of 2,000
lbs. (907 kg).
²Use an approved trailer harness and connector. If a
hitch is ordered, the proper wiring will be provided.
²When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not over-
load your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can cause a
loss of control, poor performance or damage to brakes,
axle, engine, transmission, steering, suspension, chas-
sis structure or tires.
²Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer and
will not shift during travel. When trailering cargo that
cannot be fully secured, dynamic load shifts can occur
that may be difficult for the driver to control.
²All trailer hitches should be professionally installed on
your vehicle.
²Safety chains must always be used between your
vehicle and trailer.
²Connect trailer lighting and brakes using factory har-
nesses only. Do not cut or splice any wiring to the
brake circuits.
Trailer and Tongue Weight
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) means the maximum allow-
able weight of the trailer plus the weight of all cargo and
equipment loaded on the trailer when in actual under-
way towing condition. The recommended way to mea-
sure GTW is to put your fully loaded trailer on a vehicle
scale. The entire weight of the trailer must be supported
by the scale.
Tongue Weight is the weight placed on the vehicle's
trailer hitch by the trailer. Always load a trailer with 60%
to 65% of the weight in the front of the trailer. This places
10% to 15% of the GTW on the tow hitch of your vehicle.
256 STARTING AND OPERATING

Trailer sway control and equalizing hitch are required for
tongue weights above 350 lbs. (159 kg).
Also, there are maximum tongue weight ratings that are
not to be exceeded, as follows:
²Class IV (the receiver hitch type) 1200 lbs (544 kg)
Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCWR)
The Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCWR) is
theMAXIMUMallowable weight of the towing vehicle,
including passengers and cargo, and the weight of the
loaded trailer. Calculate the maximum trailer weight
(MTW) by subtracting the towing vehicle's weight, in-
cluding passengers, and cargo from GCWR.
Trailer TowingÐHitches:
With a Class IV Hitch, you can tow a trailer with a Gross
Trailer Weight of up to 8, 900 lbs. (4037 kg.) depending on
your vehicle equipment. The Trailer Tow Package in-
cludes the platform hitch receiver, and a 7 lead wiring
harness mounted on the hitch. Tongue weight must be
equal to at least 10% of GTW, but no more that 15% of
GTW.
NOTE: When towing a trailer, the following require-
ments must be adhered to:
²GCWR must not be exceeded
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²Total weight must be distributed between the tow
vehicle and the trailer such that the following four
(4) ratings are not exceeded:
1.GVWR
2.GTW
3.Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch utilized
(This requirement may limit the ability to always
achieve the 10% to 15% range of tongue weight as a
percentage of total trailer weight.)
4.GAWR ratings
Trailer Towing Information (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings)
(Trailer Towing Guide(
NOTE:For trailer towing information (maximum trailer
weight ratings) refer to the following website address:
http:// www.dodge.com/towing.In Canada, refer to the following website address:http://
www.dodge.ca.
Trailer Towing Requirements
All Dodge Durango trucks are intended to tow trailers up
to 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) without added equipment or
alterations to standard equipment. Your vehicle may be
factory equipped for safe towing of trailers over 2,000 lbs.
(907 kg) with the trailer tow package.The electrical part of
this package includes an instruction sheet and wiring
pigtail for an aftermarket electric trailer brake controller.
These items are stored in the glove box.
If you regularly pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,
stop and turn signals on the trailer are recommended for
motoring safety.
When the additional trailer lighting is connected to the
vehicle, the flasher does not provide an indication of
258 STARTING AND OPERATING

Transfer Case......................... 319
Fog Lights..........................107,335
Folding Rear Seat......................91,93
Four Wheel Drive....................... 208
Operation........................... 208
Four-Way Hazard Flasher.................. 270
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle................... 221
Front Axle............................. 320
Fuel................................. 242
Adding............................. 245
Filter............................... 299
Gauge.............................. 146
Octane Rating......................242,337
Requirements......................242,335
Tank Capacity........................ 335
Fueling............................... 245
Fuses................................ 325
Garage Door Opener..................... 126GasCap .............................. 246
Gas Gauge............................ 146
Gasoline.............................. 242
Gasoline, Reformulated................... 243
Gauges
Coolant Temperature.................... 146
Fuel................................ 146
Odometer........................... 153
Speedometer......................... 148
Tachometer.......................... 149
Gear Ranges........................... 203
Glass Cleaning.......................... 324
Grease............................... 320
Gross Axle Weight Rating.................. 251
Gross Cargo Weight...................... 250
GVWR............................251,253
Hands-Free Phone........................ 74
Hazard Warning Flasher................... 270
INDEX 375
10

Jacking............................. 275
Load Capacity.....................226,227
Radial.............................. 234
Replacement......................... 237
Rotation............................. 241
Safety...........................221,230
Sizes............................... 223
Snow Tires........................... 240
Spare Tire........................... 273
Spinning............................ 236
Tread Wear Indicators................... 236
Wheel Mounting....................... 275
Wheel Nut Torque..................... 278
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight.............. 256
Torque Converter Clutch.................. 207
Towing............................... 254
Disabled Vehicle....................... 282
Guide.............................. 258
Recreational.......................... 262Weight.............................. 258
Traction.............................. 267
Traction Control...................... 112,150
Traction Control Switch................... 112
Trailer Towing.......................... 254
Cooling System Tips.................... 260
Hitches............................. 257
Minimum Requirements................. 258
Trailer and Tongue Weight................ 256
Wiring.............................. 259
Trailer Towing Guide..................... 258
Trailer Weight.......................... 258
Transaxle............................. 203
Automatic........................... 203
Operation........................... 203
Transfer Case........................... 319
Fluid............................... 338
Transmission........................203,315
Automatic........................203,315
384 INDEX

Filter............................... 318
Fluid............................318,338
Maintenance.......................... 315
Transmitter Battery Service.................. 24
Transmitter, Garage Door Opener............ 126
Transmitter Programming................... 22
Tread Wear Indicators.................... 236
Trip Computer.......................... 120
Trip Odometer.......................... 153
Trip Odometer Reset Button................ 154
Turn Signals......................108,146,329
Universal Transmitter..................... 126
Unlock, Auto........................... 16
Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses.................. 311
Vanity Mirrors........................... 73
Variance, Compass....................... 125
Vehicle Identification Number................ 5Vehicle Loading......................227,250
Vehicle Modifications/Alterations.............. 6
Vehicle Storage......................... 326
Warning Lights (Instrument Cluster Description) . 146
Warnings and Cautions..................... 5
Warranty Information..................... 363
Washers, Windshield..................... 111
Washing Vehicle......................... 321
Weight Load Carrying.................... 250
Wheel Alignment and Balance............... 238
Wheel and Wheel Trim.................... 322
Wheel Changing........................ 272
Wheel Mounting........................ 275
Wheel Nut Torque....................... 278
Wind Buffeting......................... 134
Window Fogging........................ 191
Windows.............................. 27
Power............................... 27
INDEX 385
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