2019 RAM 2500 Owners Manual - TRAILER TOWING

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 infor- mation 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.

The following trailer towing related definitions will assist you in understanding the following information:

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.

The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus the weight of all cargo, consumables and equipment (permanent or tempo- rary) 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.

The GCWR is the total allowable weight of your vehicle and trailer when weighed in combination.

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. Refer to “Vehicle Loading/Vehicle Certification Label” in “Starting And Operating” for further information.

The tongue weight is the downward force exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer. You must consider this as part of the load on your vehicle.

The frontal area is the maximum height multiplied by the maximum width of the front of a trailer.

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.

A weight-distributing system works by applying leverage

through spring (load) bars. They are typically used for 5

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 friction asso- ciated with the telescoping motion to dampen any unwanted trailer swaying motions while traveling.

If equipped, the electronic Trailer Sway Control (TSC) recog- nizes a swaying trailer and automatically applies individual wheel brakes and/or reduces engine power to attempt to eliminate the trailer sway.

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 addi- tion 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 recom- mended for heavier Tongue Weights (TW) and may be required depending on vehicle and trailer configuration/ loading to comply with GAWR requirements.

With Weight-Distributing Hitch (Correct)

Without Weight-Distributing Hitch (Incorrect)

NOTE:

Normal Ride Height (NRH) or Alternate Trailer Height (ATH) can be used. The vehicle must remain in the engine running position while attaching a trailer for proper leveling of the air suspension system. It may not be possible to enter Alternate Trailer Height (ATH) while lightly loaded.

Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to ground, this is height H1.

Attach the trailer to the vehicle without the weight distri-

bution bars connected. 5

Improper Adjustment Of Weight-Distributing Hitch (Incorrect)

Recommended Distribution Hitch Adjustment Towing With 2500/3500 Air Suspension

1. Position the truck to be ready to connect to the trailer (do not connect the trailer).

Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to ground, this is height H2.

Install and adjust the tension in the weight distributing bars per the manufacturers’ recommendations so that the height of the front fender is approximately (H2-H1)/ 2+H1 (about 1/2 the difference between H2 and H1 above normal ride height [H1]).

Perform a visual inspection of the trailer and weight distributing hitch to confirm manufacturers’ recommen- dations have been met.

NOTE:

For all towing conditions, we recommend towing with tow haul mode engaged.

Towing With All Other 2500/3500 (Non-Air Suspension)

Position the truck to be ready to connect to the trailer (do not connect the trailer).

Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to ground, this is height H1.

Attach the trailer to the vehicle without the weight distri- bution bars connected.

Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to ground, this is height H2.

Install and adjust the tension in the weight distributing bars per the manufacturers’ recommendations so that the height of the front fender is approximately (H2-H1)/ 2+H1 (about 1/2 the difference between H2 and H1 above normal ride height [H1]).

Perform a visual inspection of the trailer and weight distributing hitch to confirm manufacturers’ recommen- dations have been met.

NOTE:

For all towing conditions, we recommend towing with tow haul mode engaged.

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.

Your truck may be equipped with a 5th wheel hitch option. Refer to the separately provided 5th wheel hitch safety, care, assembly, and operating instructions.

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.

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. 5

All trailer hitches should be professionally installed on your vehicle.

NOTE:

For trailer towing information (maximum trailer weight ratings) refer to the following website addresses:

ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/

ramtruck.ca (Canada)

rambodybuilder.com

Weight Distribution

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.

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 the “Tire And Loading Information” placard for the maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo for your vehicle.

To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drivetrain components, the following guidelines are recommended.

(Continued)

Perform the maintenance listed in the “Scheduled Servicing”. Refer to “Scheduled Servicing” in “Servicing And Maintenance” for the proper maintenance intervals. When towing a trailer, never exceed the GAWR or GCWR

WARNING! (Continued)

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

ratings.

four-wheel drive vehicles, make sure the transfer case 5

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.

(Continued)

Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact spare tire.

Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h) when towing while using a full size spare tire.

Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to the safe and satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Refer to “Tires” in “Servicing And Maintenance” 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” in “Servicing And Main- tenance” for the proper inspection procedure.

When replacing tires, refer to “Tires” in “Servicing And Maintenance” for the proper tire replacement procedures. Replacing tires with a higher load carrying capacity will not increase the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR limits.

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 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).

Your vehicle may have an Integrated Trailer Brake Module

(ITBM) for Electric and Electric Over Hydraulic (EOH) trailer 5

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 compatible with ITBM.

Integrated Trailer Brake Module (ITBM)

1 — GAIN Adjustment Button 2 — GAIN Adjustment Button

3 — Manual Brake Control Lever

The user interface consists of the following:

Manual Brake Control Lever

Slide the manual brake control lever to the left to activate power to the trailer's electric brakes independent of the tow vehicle's brakes. If the manual brake control lever is acti- vated while the brake is also applied, the greater of the two inputs determines the power sent to the trailer brakes.

The trailer and the vehicle’s stop lamps will come on when braking normally with the vehicle brake pedal. Only the trailer stop lamps will come on when the manual brake control lever is applied.

Trailer Brake Status Indicator Light

This light indicates the trailer electrical connection status.

If no electrical connection is detected after the ignition is turned on, pushing the GAIN adjustment button or sliding the manual brake control lever will display the GAIN setting for 10 seconds and the “Trailer Brake Status Indicator Light” will not be displayed.

If a fault is detected in the trailer wiring or the Integrated Trailer Brake Module (ITBM), the “Trailer Brake Status Indi- cator Light” will flash.

GAIN Adjustment Buttons (+/-)

Pushing these buttons will adjust the brake control power output to the trailer brakes in 0.5 increments. The GAIN setting can be increased to a maximum of 10 or decreased to a minimum of 0 (no trailer braking).

GAIN

The GAIN setting is used to set the trailer brake control for the specific towing condition and should be changed as towing conditions change. Changes to towing conditions include trailer load, vehicle load, road conditions and weather.

Adjusting GAIN

NOTE:

This should only be performed in a traffic free environment at speeds of approximately 20–25 mph (30–40 km/h).

Make sure the trailer brakes are in good working condi- tion, functioning normally and properly adjusted. See your trailer dealer if necessary.

Hook up the trailer and make the electrical connections according to the trailer manufacturer's instructions.

When a trailer with electric/EOH brakes is plugged in, the trailer connected message should appear in the instrument cluster display (if the connection is not recog- nized by the ITBM, braking functions will not be avail- able), the GAIN setting will illuminate and the correct type of trailer must be selected from the instrument cluster display options.

Push the UP or DOWN button on the steering wheel until “TRAILER TOW” appears on the screen.

Push the RIGHT arrow on the steering wheel to enter “TRAILER TOW”.

Push the UP or DOWN buttons until the Trailer Brake Type appears on the screen.

Push the RIGHT arrow and then push the UP or DOWN buttons until the proper Trailer Brake Type appears on

In a traffic-free environment, tow the trailer on a dry, level surface at a speed of 20–25 mph (30–40 km/h) and squeeze the manual brake control lever completely.

If the trailer wheels lockup (indicated by squealing tires), reduce the GAIN setting; if the trailer wheels turn freely, increase the GAIN setting.

Repeat steps 8 and 9 until the GAIN setting is at a point just below trailer wheel lockup. If towing a heavier trailer, trailer wheel lockup may not be attainable even with the maximum

the screen.

GAIN setting of 10. 5

* The suggested selection depends and may change depending on the customer preferences for braking perfor- mance. Condition of the trailer brakes, driving and road state may also affect the selection.

Display Messages

The trailer brake control interacts with the instrument cluster display. Display messages, along with a single chime, will be displayed when a malfunction is determined in the trailer connection, trailer brake control, or on the trailer. Refer to “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know Your Instrument Panel” for further information.

NOTE:

An aftermarket controller may be available for use with trailers with air or electric-over-hydraulic trailer brake systems. To determine the type of brakes on your trailer and the availability of controllers, check with your trailer manufacturer or dealer.

Removal of the ITBM will cause errors and it may cause damage to the electrical system and electronic modules of the vehicle. See your authorized dealer if an aftermarket module is to be installed.

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 seven-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved trailer harness and connector.

NOTE:

Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s 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.

NOTE:

Disconnect trailer wiring connector from the vehicle before launching a boat (or any other device plugged into vehicle’s electrical connect) into water.

Be sure to reconnect once clear from water area.

5

Seven-Pin Connector

— Battery 5 — Ground

— Backup Lamps 6 — Left Stop/Turn

— Right Stop/Turn 7 — Running Lamps 4 — Electric Brakes

Four-Pin Connector

— Female Pins 4 — Park

— Male Pin 5 — Left Stop/Turn

— Ground 6 — Right Stop/Turn

Before setting out on a trip, practice turning, stopping, and backing up the trailer in an area located away from heavy traffic.

The DRIVE range can be selected when towing. The trans- mission controls include a drive strategy to avoid frequent shifting when towing. However, if frequent shifting does occur while in DRIVE, select TOW/HAUL mode or select a lower gear range (using the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control).

NOTE:

Using TOW/HAUL mode or selecting a lower gear range (using the ERS shift control) while operating the vehicle under heavy loading conditions will improve performance and extend transmission life by reducing excessive shifting and heat build up. This action will also provide better engine braking.

To reduce potential for automatic transmission overheating, activate TOW/HAUL mode when driving in hilly areas, or

select a lower gear range (using the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control) on more severe grades.

Do not use on hilly terrain or with heavy loads.

When using the speed control, if you experience speed drops greater than 10 mph (16 km/h), disengage until you can get back to cruising speed.

Use speed control in flat terrain and with light loads to maximize fuel efficiency.

To reduce potential for engine and transmission over- heating, take the following actions:

City Driving

In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmission in NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.

Highway Driving

Reduce speed.

Temporarily turn off air conditioning.

To aid in attaching/detaching the trailer from the vehicle, the air suspension system can be used. Refer to “Air Suspen- sion System” in “Starting And Operating” for further infor- mation.

NOTE:

The vehicle must remain in the engine running position while attaching a trailer for proper leveling of the air suspen- sion system.