towing capacity Ram 2500 2018 Owner's Manual

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 per-
sonal injury.
• An electronically actuated trailer brake controller is
required when towing a trailer with electronically actu-
ated 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 hy-
draulic brake lines. It can overload your brake sys-
tem 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 dis-
tance. 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.
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.
Integrated Trailer Brake Module — If Equipped
Your vehicle may have an Integrated Trailer Brake Module
(ITBM) for Electric and Electric Over Hydraulic (EOH)
trailer brakes.
NOTE: This module has been designed and verified with
electric trailer brakes and new electric over hydraulic
systems. Some previous EOH systems may not be compat-
ible with ITBM.
426 STARTING AND OPERATING

Tire And Loading Information Placard
This placard tells you important information about the:
1. Number of people that can be carried in the vehicle.
2. Total weight your vehicle can carry.
3. Tire size designed for your vehicle.
4. Cold tire inflation pressures for the front, rear, and sparetires.Loading
The vehicle maximum load on the tire must not exceed the
load carrying capacity of the tire on your vehicle. You will
not exceed the tire’s load carrying capacity if you adhere to
the loading conditions, tire size, and cold tire inflation
pressures specified on the Tire and Loading Information
placard in “Vehicle Loading” in the “Starting And Operat-
ing” section of this manual.
NOTE: Under a maximum loaded vehicle condition, gross
axle weight ratings (GAWRs) for the front and rear axles
must not be exceeded.
For further information on GAWRs, vehicle loading, and
trailer towing, refer to “Vehicle Loading” in the “Starting
And Operating” section of this manual.
To determine the maximum loading conditions of your
vehicle, locate the statement “The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs” on the Tire and Loading Information placard. The
combined weight of occupants, cargo/luggage and trailer
tongue weight (if applicable) should never exceed the
weight referenced here.
Tire And Loading Information Placard
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 565

Steps For Determining Correct Load Limit—
(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of
cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if “XXX”
amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400-750
(5x150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from
your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consultthis manual to determine how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
Metric Example For Load Limit
For example, if “XXX” amount equals 635 kg and there will
be five 68 kg passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is 295 kg (635-
340 (5x68) = 295 kg) as shown in step 4.
NOTE:
•
If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. The following
table shows examples on how to calculate total load,
cargo/luggage, and towing capacities of your vehicle
with varying seating configurations and number and
size of occupants. This table is for illustration purposes
only and may not be accurate for the seating and load
carry capacity of your vehicle.
• For the following example, the combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed 865 lbs
(392 kg).
566 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Child Restraint............................252
Child Restraints Booster Seats ............................256
Child Restraints ........................ .252
Child Seat Installation ..................268, 269
How To Stow An Unused ALR Seat Belt ........266
Infants And Child Restraints ................254
Locating The LATCH Anchorages .............262
Lower Anchors And Tethers For Children .......258
Older Children And Child Restraints ...........255
Seating Positions ........................ .257
Cigar Lighter ............................ .137
Clean Air Gasoline ........................ .597
Cleaning Wheels ............................... .578
Climate Control ............................86
Manual ................................86
Cold Weather Operation ..................... .294
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ................673
Compact Spare Tire ........................ .575
Contract, Service .......................... .678
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap) .............549
Cooling System ............................546
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) .................548
Coolant Capacity ........................ .603Coolant Level
....................546, 549, 551
Disposal Of Used Coolant ..................549
Drain, Flush, And Refill ....................547
Inspection ..........................549, 551
Points To Remember ..................... .551
Pressure Cap ............................549
Radiator Cap .......................... .549
Selection Of Coolant (Antifreeze) .......547, 603, 604
Corrosion Protection ........................584
Cruise Light ............................. .199
Cupholders ...............................132
Customer Assistance ........................676
Customer

Programmable Features ...............633
Daytime Running Lights ......................74
Dealer Service ............................ .527
Defroster, Rear Window .......................86
Defroster, Windshield .....................86, 280
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers ....................84
Diagnostic System, Onboard ...................200
Differential, Limited-Slip .....................375
Dipsticks Power Steering ..........................394
Disabled Vehicle Towing .....................510
684 INDEX

Materials Added........................ .597
Methanol ............................. .598
Octane Rating ........................596, 604
Requirements ........................596, 603
Tank Capacity .......................... .603
Fuel, Flexible ............................. .600
Fuses .................................. .461
Garage Door Opener (HomeLink) ............114,119
Gas Cap (Fuel Filler Cap) .....................414
Gasoline, Clean Air ........................ .597
Gasoline, Reformulated ..................... .597
Gear Ranges .......................... .307, 316
Gear Select Lever Override ....................506
General Information ........................ .222
Glass Cleaning ............................590
Grocery Bag Retainer .........................58
Gross Axle Weight Rating .....................417
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................416
Guide, Body Builders .........................7
GVWR ................................. .414
Hazard Driving Through Flowing, Rising, Or Shallow Standing
Water .................................442 Hazard Warning Flasher
..................... .447
Headlights ...............................454
Automatic ..............................76
Cleaning ...............................585
High Beam ..............................74
High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch ...........74
Passing ................................76
Switch .................................73
Head Restraints ............................58
Heated Mirrors .............................71
Heater, Engine Block ........................294
High Beam/Low Beam Select (Dimmer) Switch ......74
Hill Descent Control ........................214
Hill Descent Control Indicator .................214
Hill Start Assist ............................206
Hitches Trailer Towing .......................... .422
Hoisting .................................558
HomeLink (Garage

Door Opener) ...............114
Hood Prop ...............................112
Hood Release .............................112
Hub Caps ............................... .501
Ignition ..................................28
Key ...................................28
12
INDEX 687

Memory Seats And Radio.....................44
Methanol ............................... .598
Mirrors ..................................64
Electric Powered ..........................67
Heated .................................71
Memory ................................49
Outside ................................66
Rearview ........................ .64, 65, 447
Trailer Towing ...........................70
Modifications/Alterations, Vehicle ................7
Monitor, Tire Pressure System ..................216
Mopar Parts ............................. .679
Multi-Function Control Lever ...................74
Navigation System (Uconnect GPS) ..............410
New Vehicle Break-In Period ..................295
Occupant Restraints ........................ .223
Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel) .................596
Off-Pavement Driving (Off-Road) ............362, 443
Off-Road Driving (Off-Pavement) ............362, 443
Oil, Engine ............................528, 604
Capacity ...............................603
Change Interval ........................ .528
Dipstick ...............................526 Disposal
...............................530
Filter ............................. .530, 604
Filter Disposal .......................... .530
Identification Logo .......................529
Materials Added To .......................530
Pressure Warning Light ....................191
Recommendation .....................528, 603
Synthetic ............................. .530
Viscosity ........................529, 530, 603
Oil Filter, Change ..........................530
Oil Filter, Selection ..........................530
Oil Pressure Light ..........................191
Onboard Diagnostic System ...................200
Operating Precautions ...................... .200
Operator Manual

(Owner’s Manual) ...............5
Outside Rearview Mirrors .....................66
Overdrive ............................313, 322
Overdrive OFF Switch ....................313, 322
Overheating, Engine ........................505
Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual) ...........5,680
Paint Care ............................... .584
Panic Alarm ...............................23
Parking Brake ............................ .295
ParkSense System, Rear ...................398, 404
690 INDEX

Steering Wheel Audio Controls.................653
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System Controls . . . .653
Storage Compartment, Center Seat ..............123
Storage, Vehicle ........................105, 584
Storing Your Vehicle ........................584
Sun Roof .................................110
Suspension, Air ........................344, 350
Sway Control, Trailer ........................213
Synthetic Engine Oil ........................530
Tailgate .................................153
Telescoping Steering Column ...................61
Temperature Control, Automatic (ATC) ...........104
Tilt Down ...............................47, 49
Up .................................47, 49
Tilt Steering Column .........................61
Tip Start .................................289
Tire And Loading Information Placard ............564
Tire Markings ............................ .558
Tires......................... .281, 568, 575, 583
Aging (Life Of Tires) ..................... .572
Air Pressure ............................568
Chains ............................... .579
Changing ............................. .468Compact Spare
..........................575
Dual ............................. .582, 594
General Information ...................568, 575
High Speed ............................ .570
Inflation Pressures ........................569
Jacking ............................... .468
Life Of Tires ............................572
Load Capacity .......................564, 565
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) .............216
Pressure Warning Light ....................194
Quality Grading ........................ .583
Radial ............................... .570
Replacement ............................573
Rotation ...............................580
Safety ............................ .558,568
Sizes .................................560
Snow

Tires ............................ .575
Spare Tire ..........................575, 577
Spinning ...............................571
Trailer Towing .......................... .425
Tread Wear Indicators .....................572
Wheel Nut Torque ........................594
Tire Safety Information .......................558
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight .................423
694 INDEX