towing JEEP WRANGLER 2023 User Guide

STARTING AND OPERATING139
The following indicators should be used to ensure that you
have properly engaged the transmission into the PARK
position:
When shifting into PARK, push the lock button on the
gear selector and firmly move the gear selector all the
way forward until it stops and is fully seated.
 Look at the transmission gear position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK position (P), and is not
blinking.
 With the brake pedal released, verify that the gear
selector will not move out of PARK.
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.
NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged
periods with the engine running. Apply the parking brake
and shift the transmission into PARK if you must exit the
vehicle. DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and downshifts,
and the best fuel economy. The transmission
automatically upshifts through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position should be used for all normal operating
conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading
conditions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head
winds, or while towing a heavy trailer), use the AutoStick
shift control to select a lower gear
Úpage 140. Under these conditions, using a lower gear will improve
performance and extend transmission life by reducing
excessive shifting and heat buildup.
During extremely cold temperatures (-22°F [-30°C] or
below), transmission operation may be modified
depending on engine and transmission temperature as
well as vehicle speed. Normal operation will resume once
the transmission temperature has risen to a suitable level.
MANUAL (M)
The MANUAL (M, +/-) position (beside the DRIVE position)
enables full manual control of transmission shifting also
known as AutoStick mode. Toggling the gear selector
forward (-) or rearward (+) while in the MANUAL (AutoStick)
position will manually select the transmission gear, and
will display the current gear in the instrument cluster
Úpage 140.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electronically for
abnormal conditions. If a condition is detected that could
result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home
mode is activated. In this mode, the transmission may
operate only in certain gears, or may not shift at all.
Vehicle performance may be severely degraded and the
engine may stall. In some situations, the transmission may
not re-engage if the engine is turned off and restarted. The
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may be illuminated. A
message in the instrument cluster will inform the driver of
the more serious conditions, and indicate what actions
may be necessary.
CAUTION!

Before moving the transmission gear selector out of
PARK, you must start the engine, and also press the
brake pedal. Otherwise, damage to the gear selector
could result.
 DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range, as this can
damage the drivetrain.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the ignition
to coast down a hill. These are unsafe practices that
limit your response to changing traffic or road
conditions. You might lose control of the vehicle and
have a collision.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other
reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL can cause
severe transmission damage.
 For Recreational Towing
Úpage 176.
 For Towing A Disabled Vehicle
Úpage 303.
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140STARTING AND OPERATING
In the event of a momentary problem, the transmission
can be reset to regain all forward gears by performing the
following steps:
NOTE:
In cases where the instrument cluster message indi -
cates the transmission may not re-engage after engine
shutdown, perform this procedure only in a desired
location (preferably, at an authorized dealer).
 Even if the transmission can be reset, we recommend
that you visit an authorized dealer at your earliest
possible convenience. An authorized dealer has diag-
nostic equipment to assess the condition of your trans -
mission.
 If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer
service is required.

1. Stop the vehicle.

2. Shift the transmission into PARK, if possible. If not, shift the transmission to NEUTRAL.
3. Push and hold the ignition switch until the engine turns off.
4. Wait approximately 30 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is no longer detected, the transmission will return to
normal operation.
AutoStick
AutoStick is a driver-interactive transmission feature
providing manual shift control, giving you more control of
the vehicle. AutoStick allows you to maximize engine
braking, eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts, and improve overall vehicle performance. This feature can
also provide you with more control during passing, city
driving, cold slippery conditions, mountain driving, trailer
towing, and many other situations.
Operation
To activate AutoStick mode, move the gear selector into
the MANUAL (M) position (beside the DRIVE position). The
current transmission gear will be displayed in the
instrument cluster. In AutoStick mode, you can use the
gear selector (in the MANUAL position) to manually shift
the transmission.
AutoStick mode has the following operational benefits:

The transmission will automatically downshift as the
vehicle slows (to prevent engine lugging) and will
display the current gear.
 The transmission will automatically downshift to FIRST
gear when coming to a stop. After a stop, the driver
should manually upshift (+) the transmission as the
vehicle is accelerated.
 You can start out, from a stop, in FIRST or SECOND gear
(or THIRD gear, in 4L range). Tapping (+) (at a stop) will
allow starting in SECOND gear. Starting out in SECOND
or THIRD gear can be helpful in snowy or icy conditions.
 If a requested downshift would cause the engine to
overspeed, that shift will not occur.
 The system will ignore attempts to upshift at too low of
a vehicle speed.
 Holding the gear selector in the (-) position will down -
shift the transmission to the lowest gear possible at the
current speed. 
Transmission shifting will be more noticeable when
AutoStick is enabled.
 The system may revert to automatic shift mode if a
fault or overheat condition is detected.
NOTE:When Hill Descent Control is enabled, AutoStick is not
active.
To disengage AutoStick mode, return the gear selector to
the DRIVE position. You can shift in or out of the AutoStick
position at any time without taking your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
FOUR–WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a
slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their grip
and the vehicle could skid, causing a collision or
personal injury.
WARNING!
Failure to engage a transfer case position completely
can cause transfer case damage or loss of power and
vehicle control. You could have a collision. Do not drive
the vehicle unless the transfer case is fully engaged.

23_JL_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 140

STARTING AND OPERATING141
FOUR-POSITION TRANSFER CASE —
I
F EQUIPPED

Four-Wheel Drive Gear Selector

The transfer case provides four positions:
 2H — Two-Wheel Drive High Range
 4H — Four-Wheel Drive High Range
 N (Neutral)
 4L — Four-Wheel Drive Low Range
For additional information on the appropriate use of each
transfer case position, see the following:
2H
Two-Wheel Drive High Range — This range is for normal
street and highway driving on dry, hard surfaced roads.
4H
Four-Wheel Drive High Range — This range maximizes
torque to the front driveshaft, forcing the front and rear
wheels to rotate at the same speed. This range provides
additional traction for loose, slippery road surfaces only. N (Neutral)
N (Neutral) — This range disengages both the front and
rear driveshafts from the powertrain. To be used for flat
towing behind another vehicle Úpage 176.
4L
Four-Wheel Drive Low Range — This range provides low
speed four-wheel drive. It maximizes torque to the front
driveshaft, forcing the front and rear wheels to rotate at
the same speed. This range provides additional traction
and maximum pulling power for loose, slippery road
surfaces only. Do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
The transfer case is intended to be driven in the 2H
position for normal street and highway conditions, such as
hard-surfaced roads.
In the event that additional traction is required, the
transfer case 4H and 4L positions can be used to lock the
front and rear driveshafts together, forcing the front and
rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. The 4H and 4L
positions are intended for loose, slippery road surfaces
only and not intended for normal driving. Driving in the 4H and 4L positions on hard-surfaced roads will cause
increased tire wear and damage to the driveline
components. For further information on shifting into 4H or
4L
Úpage 141.
The instrument cluster alerts the driver that the vehicle is
in four-wheel drive, and the front and rear driveshafts are
locked together. The light will illuminate when the transfer
case is shifted into the 4H position.
When operating your vehicle in 4L, the engine speed will
be approximately three times (four times for Rubicon
models) that of the 2H or 4H positions at a given road
speed. Take care not to overspeed the engine.
Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles depends on
tires of equal size, type, and circumference on each wheel.
Any difference will adversely affect shifting and cause
damage to the transfer case.
Because four-wheel drive provides improved traction,
there is a tendency to exceed safe turning and stopping
speeds. Do not go faster than road conditions permit.
Shifting Procedures
2H TO 4H OR 4H TO 2H
Shifting between 2H and 4H can be made with the vehicle
stopped or in motion. The preferred shifting speed would
be 0 to 45 mph (72 km/h). With the vehicle in motion, the transfer case will engage/disengage faster if you
momentarily release the accelerator pedal after
completing the shift. Do not accelerate while shifting the
transfer case. Apply a constant force when shifting the
transfer case lever.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the (N)
Neutral position without first fully engaging the parking
brake. The transfer case (N) Neutral position
disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the
powertrain, and will allow the vehicle to roll, even if the
automatic transmission is in PARK (or manual
transmission is in gear). The parking brake should
always be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle.
4

23_JL_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 141

STARTING AND OPERATING143
N (Neutral)
Neutral — This range disengages both the front and rear
driveshafts from the powertrain. To be used for flat towing
behind another vehicle
Úpage 176.
4L
Four-Wheel Drive Low Range — This range provides low
speed four-wheel drive. It maximizes torque to the front
driveshaft, forcing the front and rear wheels to rotate at
the same speed. This range provides additional traction
and maximum pulling power for loose, slippery road
surfaces only. Do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
This transfer case is designed to be driven in the
two-wheel drive position (2H) or four-wheel drive position
(4H AUTO) for normal street and highway conditions on dry
hard surfaced roads.
For variable driving conditions, the 4H AUTO mode can be
used. In this mode, the front axle is engaged, but the
vehicle's power is sent to the rear wheels. Four-wheel drive
will be automatically engaged when the vehicle senses a loss of traction. Because the front axle is engaged, this
mode will result in lower fuel economy than the 2H mode.
In the event that additional traction is required, the
transfer case 4H and 4L positions can be used to lock the
front and rear driveshafts together, forcing the front and
rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. The 4H and 4L
positions are intended for loose, slippery road surfaces
only and not intended for normal driving. Driving in the 4H
and 4L positions on hard-surfaced roads will cause
increased tire wear and damage to the driveline
components. For further information on shifting into 4H or
4L
Úpage 143.
The instrument cluster alerts the driver that the vehicle is
in four-wheel drive, and the front and rear driveshafts are
locked together. The light will illuminate when the transfer
case is shifted into the 4H position.
When operating your vehicle in 4L, the engine speed will
be approximately three times (four times for Rubicon
models) that of the 2H or 4H positions at a given road
speed. Take care not to overspeed the engine.
Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles depends on
tires of equal size, type, and circumference on each wheel.
Any difference will adversely affect shifting and cause
damage to the transfer case.
Because four-wheel drive provides improved traction,
there is a tendency to exceed safe turning and stopping
speeds. Do not go faster than road conditions permit.
Shifting Procedures
2H TO 4H AUTO OR 4H AUTO TO 2H
Shifting between 2H and 4H AUTO can be made with the
vehicle stopped or in motion. The preferred shifting speed would be 0 to 45 mph (72 km/h). With the vehicle in
motion, the transfer case will engage/disengage faster if
you momentarily release the accelerator pedal after
completing the shift. Do not accelerate while shifting the
transfer case. Apply a constant force when shifting the
transfer case lever.
2H/4H AUTO TO 4H PART TIME OR 4H PART
TIME TO 2H/4H AUTO
Shifting between 2H/4H AUTO to 4H PART TIME can be
made with the vehicle stopped or in motion. The preferred
shifting speed would be 0 to 45 mph (72 km/h). With the
vehicle in motion, the transfer case will engage/disengage
faster if you momentarily release the accelerator pedal
after completing the shift. Do not accelerate while shifting
the transfer case. Apply a constant force when shifting the
transfer case lever.
NOTE:
 Do not attempt to make a shift while only the front or
rear wheels are spinning. The front and rear driveshaft
speeds must be equal for the shift to take place.
Shifting while only the front or rear wheels are spinning
can cause damage to the transfer case.
 Delayed shifts out of four-wheel drive may be experi -
enced due to uneven tire wear, low or uneven tire pres -
sures, excessive vehicle loading, or cold temperatures.
 Shifting effort will increase with speed, this is normal.
During cold weather, you may experience increased effort
in shifting until the transfer case fluid warms up. This is
normal.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the (N)
Neutral position without first fully engaging the parking
brake. The transfer case (N) Neutral position
disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the
powertrain, and will allow the vehicle to roll, even if the
automatic transmission is in PARK (or manual
transmission is in gear). The parking brake should
always be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle.
4

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STARTING AND OPERATING153
(Continued)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Operation
The buttons on the right side of the steering wheel operate
the ACC system.

Adaptive Cruise Control Buttons

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Menu
The instrument cluster display will show the current ACC
system settings. The information it displays depends on
ACC system status.
Push the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) on/off button until
one of the following appears in the instrument cluster
display:
WARNING!
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is a convenience
system. It is not a substitute for active driver involve -
ment. It is always the driver’s responsibility to be
attentive of road, traffic, and weather conditions,
vehicle speed, distance to the vehicle ahead and,
most importantly, brake operation to ensure safe
operation of the vehicle under all road conditions.
Your complete attention is always required while
driving to maintain safe control of your vehicle.
Failure to follow these warnings can result in a colli -
sion and death or serious personal injury.
 The ACC system:
 Does not react to pedestrians, oncoming vehi -
cles, and stationary objects (e.g., a stopped
vehicle in a traffic jam or a disabled vehicle).
 Cannot take street, traffic, and weather condi -
tions into account, and may be limited upon
adverse sight distance conditions.
 Does not always fully recognize complex driving
conditions, which can result in wrong or missing
distance warnings.On vehicles with an automatic transmission, will
bring the vehicle to a complete stop while
following a vehicle ahead and hold the vehicle
for two seconds in the stop position. If the
vehicle ahead does not start moving within two
seconds, the ACC system will display a message
that the system will release the brakes and that
the brakes must be applied manually. An
audible chime will sound when the brakes are
released.
 You should not utilize the ACC system:
 When driving in fog, heavy rain, heavy snow,
sleet, heavy traffic, and complex driving situa-
tions (i.e., in highway construction zones).
 When entering a turn lane or highway off-ramp;
when driving on roads that are winding, icy,
snow-covered, slippery, or have steep uphill or
downhill slopes.
 When towing a trailer up or down steep slopes.
 When circumstances do not allow safe driving at
a constant speed.
WARNING!
1 — Distance Setting Increase
2 — Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) On/Off
3 — Distance Setting Decrease
4

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158STARTING AND OPERATING
“CLEAN FRONT WINDSHIELD” WARNING
The “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean Front
Windshield” warning will display and a chime will sound
when conditions temporarily limit system performance.
This most often occurs at times of poor visibility, such as
in snow or heavy rain and fog. The ACC system may also
become temporarily blinded due to obstructions, such as
mud, dirt, or ice on windshield and fog on the inside of
glass. In these cases, the instrument cluster display will
display “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean Front
Windshield” and the system will have degraded
performance.
The “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean Front
Windshield” message can sometimes be displayed while
driving in adverse weather conditions. The ACC/FCW
system will recover after the vehicle has left these areas.
Under rare conditions, when the camera is not tracking
any vehicles or objects in its path this warning may
temporarily occur.
If weather conditions are not a factor, the driver should
examine the windshield and the camera located on the
back side of the inside rear view mirror. They may require
cleaning or removal of an obstruction.
When the condition that created limited functionality is no
longer present, the system will return to full functionality.
NOTE:If the “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean Front Wind -
shield” message occurs frequently (e.g. more than once
on every trip) without any snow, rain, mud, or other
obstruction, have the windshield and forward facing
camera inspected at an authorized dealer.
“SERVICE ACC/FCW” WARNING
If the system turns off, and the instrument cluster displays
“ACC/FCW Unavailable Service Required” or “Cruise/FCW
Unavailable Service Required”, there may be an internal
system fault or a temporary malfunction that limits ACC
functionality. Although the vehicle is still drivable under
normal conditions, ACC will be temporarily unavailable. If
this occurs, try activating ACC again later, following an
ignition cycle. If the problem persists, see an authorized
dealer.
Precautions While Driving With ACC
In certain driving situations, ACC may have detection
issues. In these cases, ACC may brake late or
unexpectedly. The driver needs to stay alert and may need
to intervene. The following are examples of these types of
situations:
TOWING A TRAILER
Towing a trailer is not recommended when using ACC.
OFFSET DRIVING
ACC may not detect a vehicle in the same lane that is
offset from your direct line of travel, or a vehicle merging
in from a side lane. There may not be sufficient distance
to the vehicle ahead. The offset vehicle may move in and
out of the line of travel, which can cause your vehicle to
brake or accelerate unexpectedly.

Offset Driving Condition Example

TURNS AND BENDS
When driving on a curve with ACC engaged, the system
may decrease the vehicle speed and acceleration for
stability reasons, with no vehicle in front detected. Once
the vehicle is out of the curve the system will resume your
original set speed. This is a part of normal ACC system
functionality.
NOTE:On tight turns ACC performance may be limited.

23_JL_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 158

STARTING AND OPERATING163
CLEANING THE PARKSENSE SYSTEM
Clean the Rear Park Assist sensors with water, car wash
soap and a soft cloth. Do not use rough or hard cloths. In
washing stations, clean sensors quickly keeping the vapor
jet/high pressure washing nozzles at least 4 inches (10
cm) from the sensors. Do not scratch or poke the sensors.
PARKSENSE SYSTEM USAGE
P
RECAUTIONS
NOTE:
 Ensure that the rear fascia/bumper is free of snow, ice,
mud, dirt and debris to keep the ParkSense system
operating properly.
 Jackhammers, large trucks, and other vibrations could
affect the performance of ParkSense.
 When you turn ParkSense off, the instrument cluster
display will read “PARKSENSE OFF.” Furthermore, once
you turn ParkSense off, it remains off until you turn it
on again, even if you cycle the ignition.
 ParkSense, when on, will reduce the volume of the
radio when it is sounding a tone.
 Clean the ParkSense sensors regularly, taking care not
to scratch or damage them. The sensors must not be
covered with ice, snow, slush, mud, dirt or debris.
Failure to do so can result in the system not working
properly. The ParkSense system might not detect an
obstacle behind the fascia/bumper, or it could provide
a false indication that an obstacle is behind the fascia/
bumper. 
Use the ParkSense switch to turn the ParkSense
system off if objects such as bicycle carriers, trailer
hitches, etc. are placed within 12 inches (30 cm) of the
rear fascia/bumper. Failure to do so can result in the
system misinterpreting a close object as a sensor
problem, causing the “PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE
SERVICE REQUIRED” message to be displayed in the
instrument cluster display.
PARKVIEW REAR BACK UP CAMERA
The ParkView Rear Back Up Camera allows you to see an
on-screen image of the rear surroundings of your vehicle
whenever the gear selector is put into REVERSE. The
image will be displayed in the touchscreen display along
with a caution note to “Check Entire Surroundings” across
the top of the screen. After five seconds this note will
disappear. The ParkView camera is located on the rear of
the vehicle in the center of the spare tire.
Manual Activation Of The Rear View Camera

1. Press the Controls button located on the bottom of
the Uconnect display.

2. Press the Back Up Camera button to turn the Rear View Camera system on.
WARNING!
Drivers must be careful when backing up even when
using ParkSense. Always check carefully behind your
vehicle, look behind you, and be sure to check for
pedestrians, animals, other vehicles, obstructions,
and blind spots before backing up. You are respon -
sible for safety and must continue to pay attention to
your surroundings. Failure to do so can result in
serious injury or death.
 Before using ParkSense, it is strongly recommended
that the ball mount and hitch ball assembly be
disconnected from the vehicle when the vehicle is
not used for towing. Failure to do so can result in
injury or damage to vehicles or obstacles because
the hitch ball will be much closer to the obstacle than
the rear fascia when the vehicle sounds the contin -
uous tone. Also, the sensors could detect the ball
mount and hitch ball assembly, depending on its size
and shape, giving a false indication that an obstacle
is behind the vehicle.
CAUTION!
 ParkSense is only a parking aid and it is unable to
recognize every obstacle, including small obstacles.
Parking curbs might be temporarily detected or not
detected at all. Obstacles located above or below the
sensors will not be detected when they are in close
proximity.
 The vehicle must be driven slowly when using Park -
Sense in order to be able to stop in time when an
obstacle is detected. It is recommended that the
driver looks over his/her shoulder when using Park -
Sense.
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170STARTING AND OPERATING
Payload
The payload of a vehicle is defined as the allowable load
weight a truck can carry, including the weight of the driver,
all passengers, options and cargo.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible load on the front
and rear axles. The load must be distributed in the cargo
area so that the GAWR of each axle is not exceeded.
Each axle GAWR is determined by the components in the
system with the lowest load carrying capacity (axle,
springs, tires or wheels). Heavier axles or suspension
components sometimes specified by purchasers for
increased durability do not necessarily increase the
vehicle's GVWR.
Tire Size
The tire size on the Vehicle Certification Label represents
the actual tire size on your vehicle. Replacement tires
must be equal to the load capacity of this tire size.
Rim Size
This is the rim size that is appropriate for the tire size
listed.
Inflation Pressure
This is the cold tire inflation pressure for your vehicle for
all loading conditions up to full GAWR.
Curb Weight
The curb weight of a vehicle is defined as the total weight
of the vehicle with all fluids, including vehicle fuel, at full
capacity conditions, and with no occupants or cargo
loaded into the vehicle. The front and rear curb weight values are determined by weighing your vehicle on a
commercial scale before any occupants or cargo are
added.
Loading
The actual total weight and the weight of the front and rear
of your vehicle at the ground can best be determined by
weighing it when it is loaded and ready for operation.
The entire vehicle should first be weighed on a commercial
scale to ensure that the GVWR has not been exceeded.
The weight on the front and rear of the vehicle should then
be determined separately to be sure that the load is
properly distributed over the front and rear axle. Weighing
the vehicle may show that the GAWR of either the front or
rear axles has been exceeded but the total load is within
the specified GVWR. If so, weight must be shifted from
front to rear or rear to front as appropriate until the
specified weight limitations are met. Store the heavier
items down low and be sure that the weight is distributed
equally. Stow all loose items securely before driving.
Improper weight distributions can have an adverse effect
on the way your vehicle steers and handles and the way
the brakes operate.
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
Úpage 169.
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.
WARNING!
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.
Overloading can shorten the life of your vehicle.

23_JL_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 170

STARTING AND OPERATING171
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 169.
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 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 a Weight-Distributing (load equalizing) Hitch
are recommended for heavier Tongue Weights (TW) and
may be required depending on vehicle and trailer
configuration/loading to comply with Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) requirements.
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.
WARNING!

An improperly adjusted Weight Distributing Hitch
system may reduce handling, stability, braking
performance, and could result in a collision.
 Weight-Distributing Hitch Systems may not be
compatible with surge brake couplers. Consult with
your hitch and trailer manufacturer or a reputable
Recreational Vehicle dealer for additional informa -
tion.
4

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172STARTING AND OPERATING
TRAILER HITCH CLASSIFICATION
The following chart provides the industry standard for the maximum trailer weight a given trailer hitch class can tow and should be used to assist you in selecting the correct trailer hitch
for your intended towing condition.
TRAILER TOWING WEIGHTS (MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS)
NOTE:The trailer tongue weight must be considered as part of the combined weight of occupants and cargo (i.e., the GVWR), and the GVWR should never exceed the weight referenced on
the Tire And Loading Information Placard Úpage 345.
Trailer Hitch Classification Definitions
Class Max. Trailer Hitch Industry Standards
Class I - Light Duty 2,000 lb (907 kg)
Class II - Medium Duty 3,500 lb (1,587 kg)
Class III - Heavy Duty 6,000 lb (2,721 kg)
Class IV - Extra Heavy Duty 10,000 lb (4,535 kg)
Refer to the “Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings)” chart for the Maximum Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) towable for your given drivetrain.
All trailer hitches should be professionally installed on your vehicle.
Engine/Transmission Model GCWRFrontal Area Maximum GTW Maximum Trailer TW
(See Note)
2.0L Two–Door
8,016 lb (3,636 kg) 20 ft2 (1.86 m2) 2,000 lb (907 kg)200 lb (91 kg)
Four–Door 8,117 lb (3,682 kg) 30 ft2 (2.79 m2) 3,500 lb (1,587 kg)350 lb (158 kg)
3.6L Two–Door
8,016 lb (3,636 kg) 20 ft2 (1.86 m2) 2,000 lb (907 kg)200 lb (91 kg)
Four–Door 8,117 lb (3,682 kg) 30 ft2 (2.79 m2) 3,500 lb (1,587 kg)350 lb (158 kg)
3.0L Diesel Four–Door8,427 lb (3,822 kg) 30 ft2 (2.79 m2) 3,500 lb (1,587 kg)350 lb (158 kg)
Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds.

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