tow Ram 2500 2013 Manual Online

CAUTION!(Continued)
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.
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. 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 equipment (permanent or tem-
porary) loaded in or on the trailer in its loaded and
ready for operation condition. The recommended way to
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Trailer Sway Control
The trailer sway control can be a mechanical telescoping
link that can be installed between the hitch receiver and
the trailer tongue that typically provides adjustable fric-
tion associated with the telescoping motion to dampen
any unwanted trailer swaying motions while traveling.
If equipped, the electronic Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
recognizes a swaying trailer and automatically applies
individual wheel brakes and/or reduces engine power to
attempt to eliminate the trailer sway.
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 the most popular on the market today and
they are commonly used to tow small and medium sized
trailers.
Weight-Distributing Hitch
A weight-distributing system works by applying lever-
age 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 pro-
vides 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 GAWR
requirements.
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Fifth-Wheel Hitch
The fifth-wheel hitch is a special high platform with a
coupling that mounts over the rear axle of the tow vehicle
in the truck bed. It connects a vehicle and fifth-wheel
trailer with a coupling king pin.
EXAMPLE — With Weight-Distributing Hitch (Correct)EXAMPLE — Improper Adjustment of Weight-Distributing Hitch (Incorrect)
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Gooseneck Hitch
The gooseneck hitch employs a pivoted coupling arm
which attaches to a ball mounted in the bed of a pickup
truck. The coupling arm connects to the hitch mounted
over the rear axle in the truck bed.
Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer Weight
The following chart provides the maximum trailer
weight a given factory equipped trailer hitch type can
tow and should be used to assist you in selecting the
correct trailer hitch for your intended towing condition.
Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer WeightHitch Type Max. Trailer Hitch Max. Trailer Weight
Class III Bumper
Hitch - 1500 Model 5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer Weight
Class IV - 1500
Model 11,000 lbs (4 989 kg)
Class V - 2500/3500
Models 17,000 lbs (7 711 kg)
Fifth Wheel - 2500/
3500 Models 25,000 lbs (11 339 kg)
Gooseneck - 2500
Model 20,000 lbs (9 071 kg)
Gooseneck - 3500
Model 30,000 lbs (13 636 kg)
Refer to the “Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum
Trailer Weight Ratings)” for the Maximum Gross
Trailer Weight (GTW) towable for your given drive- train.
All trailer hitches should be professionally installed on
your vehicle.
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Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight
Ratings)
The rear bumper is intended to tow trailers up to a
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg) without added equipment or altera-
tions to the standard equipment.
Ram 1500 4x2
STSLT/Outdoorsman Sport/Laramie
3.6L V-6 8–Speed Auto- matic Transmission Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 6,500 lbs (2 948 kg)
Max Payload: 1,910 lbs (866 kg) Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 6,500 lbs (2 948 kg)
Max Payload: 1,890 lbs (857 kg) –5
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STSLT/Outdoorsman Sport/Laramie
4.7L V-8 6–Speed Auto- matic Transmission Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 7,700 lbs (3 492 kg)
Max Payload: 1,750 lbs (793 kg) Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 7,700 lbs (3 492 kg)
Max Payload: 1,720 lbs (780 kg) –
5.7L HEMI® V-8 6–Speed Automatic Transmission Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 10,450 lbs (4 740 kg)
Max Payload: 1,710 lbs (775 kg) Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 10,450 lbs (4 740 kg)
Max Payload: 1,690 lbs (766 kg) Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 10,300 lbs (4 672 kg)
Max Payload: 1,550 lbs (703 kg)
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Ram 1500 4x4
STSLT/Outdoorsman Sport/Laramie
3.6L V-6 8–Speed Auto- matic Transmission Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 6,300 lbs (2 857 kg)
Max Payload: 1,930 lbs (875 kg) Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 6,250 lbs (2 834 kg)
Max Payload: 1,900 lbs (861 kg) –
4.7L V-8 6–Speed Auto- matic Transmission Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 7,500 lbs (3 401 kg)
Max Payload: 1,570 lbs (712 kg) Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 7,450 lbs (3 379 kg)
Max Payload: 1,530 lbs (694 kg) –
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STSLT/Outdoorsman Sport/Laramie
5.7L HEMI® V-8 6–Speed Automatic Transmission Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 10,350 lbs (4 694 kg)
Max Payload: 1,480 lbs (671 kg) Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 10,300 lbs (4 672 kg)
Max Payload: 1,450 lbs (657 kg) Standard Towing:
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
Max Towing: 10,050 lbs (4 558 kg)
Max Payload: 1,380 lbs (625 kg)
Ram 2500 And 3500
ST SLT/Outdoorsman/Sport Laramie
5.7L HEMI® V-8 6–Speed Automatic Transmission Max Towing: 10,100 lbs
(4 581 kg)
Max Payload: 1,780 lbs (807 kg) Max Towing: 12,300 lbs
(5 579 kg)
Max Payload: 3,120 lbs (1 415 kg) –
NOTE: For additional trailer towing information (maxi-
mum trailer weight ratings) refer to the following website
addresses: •
http://www.ramtrucks.com
• http://www.ramtruck.ca (Canada)
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Trailer And Tongue Weight
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. Loads balanced over the
wheels or heavier in the rear can cause the trailer to sway
severelyside to side which will cause loss of control of
the vehicle and trailer. Failure to load trailers heavier in
front is the cause of many trailer collisions. Never exceed
the maximum tongue weight stamped on your trailer
hitch.
Consider the following items when computing the
weight on the rear axle of the vehicle:
•The tongue weight of the trailer
• The weight of any other type of cargo or equipment
put in or on your vehicle
• The weight of the driver and all passengers.
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NOTE:Remember that everything put into or on the
trailer adds to the load on your vehicle. Also, additional
factory-installed options or dealer-installed options must
be considered as part of the total load on your vehicle.
Refer to “Tire Safety Information/Tire and Loading In-
formation Placard” in “Starting and Operating” for fur-
ther information.
Towing Requirements
To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drive-
train components the following guidelines are recom-
mended:
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.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•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.
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to a collision. Follow these
guidelines to make your trailer towing as safe as
possible:
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