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Dodge 2004 Ram Pickup 3500 User Manual

Page 275

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• Use an approved wiring harness connector on the

trailer. Standard equipment on all RAM pickup mod-
els provides a 4-way trailer tow connector located
under the bumper. This connector contains the follow-
ing vehicle circuits: park/tail lamps, left stop/turn
lamp, right stop/turn lamp, and ground. With the
optional Trailer Tow Prep package a 7-way connector
is provided with the following additional circuits:
backup lamp, trailer battery and electric brake.

NOTE:

Connect trailer lighting and brakes using factory

harnesses only. Do not cut or splice wiring to the brake
circuits.

• Be sure the trailer is loaded heavier in front, with 60%

to 65% of the weight in front of the axle(s). Loads
balanced over the wheels or heavier in the rear can
cause the trailer to sway severely side to side which
will cause loss of control of vehicle and trailer. Failure

to load trailers heavier in front is the cause of many
trailer accidents. (For a

Љ5th WheelЉ style trailer, this

range of loading on the

ЉKing PinЉ should be between

15% and 25%.)

• Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer and

will not shift during travel. When towing cargo such
as livestock, dynamic load shifts can occur that require
the driver to maintain attention.

Trailer Towing — Hitches

With a Class I Hitch, your vehicle can be equipped to tow
trailers with a Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) of 2,000 lbs
(907 kg) maximum.

With a Class II Hitch, your vehicle can be equipped to
tow trailers with a Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) of 3,500
lbs (1 587 kg) maximum. Tongue weight must be equal to
at least 10% of GTW, but no more than 15% of GTW.

STARTING AND OPERATING

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