Dodge Challenger (2019 year). Manual

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 Hitch Classification Definitions

Class

Max. Trailer Hitch Industry Standards

Class I - Light Duty

2,000 lbs (907 kg)

Class II - Medium Duty

3,500 lbs (1,587 kg)

Class III - Heavy Duty

5,000 lbs (2,267 kg)

Class IV - Extra Heavy Duty

10,000 lbs (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.

Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings)

Engine/Transmission

Frontal Area

Max. GTW (Gross Trailer

Wt.)

Max. Tongue Wt.

3.6L Automatic

12 sq ft (1.11 sq m)

1,000 lbs (454 kg)

100 lbs (45 kg)

5.7L Automatic

12 sq ft (1.11 sq m)

1,000 lbs (454 kg)

100 lbs (45 kg)

Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds.

Trailer towing with the 6.4L engine is not recommended.

STARTING AND OPERATING

269

Trailer And Tongue Weight

Never exceed the maximum tongue weight stamped on
your bumper or trailer hitch.

CAUTION!

Always load a trailer with 60% of the weight in the
front of the trailer. This places 10% 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 severely side to side which will cause loss of

(Continued)

CAUTION! (Continued)

control of the vehicle and trailer. Failure to load trailers
heavier in front is the cause of many trailer collisions.

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.

Towing Requirements

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

Weight Distribution

270

STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!

Improper towing can lead to a collision. Follow these
guidelines to make your trailer towing as safe as possible:

• Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer

and will not shift during travel. When trailering
cargo that is not fully secured, dynamic load shifts
can occur that may be difficult for the driver to
control. You could lose control of your vehicle and
have a collision.

• When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not

overload your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can
cause a loss of control, poor performance or damage
to brakes, axle, engine, transmission, steering, sus-
pension, chassis structure or tires.

• 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. Always, block or

ⴖchockⴖ the trailer wheels.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• 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:

1. Max loading as defined on the “Tire and Loading
Information” placard.

2. GTW

3. GAWR

4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch utilized.

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

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)

STARTING AND OPERATING

271

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.

Towing Requirements — Tires
• 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
Maintenance” for the proper inspection procedure.

• When replacing tires, refer to “Tires” in “Servicing And

Maintenance” for the proper tire replacement proce-
dures. Replacing tires with a higher load carrying capac-
ity will not increase the vehicle’s GVWR and GAWR
limits.

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).

272

STARTING AND OPERATING

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 an accident.

• 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 an accident.

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.

Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights And Wiring

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 after clear from water area.

STARTING AND OPERATING

273

Four-Pin Connector

1 — Female Pins

4 — Park

2 — Male Pin

5 — Left Stop/Turn

3 — Ground

6 — Right Stop/Turn

Seven-Pin Connector

1 — Battery

5 — Ground

2 — Backup Lamps

6 — Left Stop/Turn

3 — Right Stop/Turn

7 — Running Lamps

4 — Electric Brakes

274

STARTING AND OPERATING

Towing Tips

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

Automatic Transmission — If Equipped

Select the DRIVE range when towing. The transmission
controls include a drive strategy to avoid frequent shifting
when towing. However, if frequent shifting does occur
while in DRIVE, you can use the AutoStick shift control to
manually select a lower gear.

NOTE:

Using a lower gear while operating the vehicle

under heavy loading conditions will improve performance
and extend transmission life by reducing excessive shifting
and heat buildup. This action will also provide better
engine braking.

Speed Control — If Equipped
• 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.

AutoStick
• When using the AutoStick shift control, select the high-

est gear that allows for adequate performance and
avoids frequent downshifts. For example, choose “5” if
the desired speed can be maintained. Choose “4” or “3”
if needed to maintain the desired speed.

• To prevent excess heat generation, avoid continuous

driving at high RPM. Reduce vehicle speed as necessary
to avoid extended driving at high RPM. Return to a
higher gear or vehicle speed when grade and road
conditions allow.

Cooling System

To reduce potential for engine and transmission overheat-
ing, 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.

STARTING AND OPERATING

275

RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME,
ETC.)

Recreational towing (with all four wheels on the ground, or
using a tow dolly) is NOT ALLOWED. The only accept-
able method for towing this vehicle (behind another ve-
hicle) is on a vehicle trailer with all four wheels OFF the
ground.

CAUTION!

Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require-
ments can cause severe engine, transmission and/or
transfer case damage. Damage from improper towing
is not covered under the New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty.

DRIVING TIPS

Driving On Slippery Surfaces

Information in this section will aid in safe controlled
launches in adverse conditions.

Acceleration

Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slippery
surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull erratically to

the right or left. This phenomenon occurs when there is a
difference in the surface traction under the rear (driving)
wheels.

WARNING!

Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the rear
wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle and
possibly have a collision. Accelerate slowly and care-
fully whenever there is likely to be poor traction (ice,
snow, wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).

Traction

When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is known as hydroplaning and may cause
partial or complete loss of vehicle control and stopping
ability. To reduce this possibility, the following precautions
should be observed:

• Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are

slushy.

• Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.

276

STARTING AND OPERATING

• Replace tires when tread wear indicators first become

visible.

• Keep tires properly inflated.
• Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and

the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.

Your vehicle may be equipped with a Limited Slip Differ-
ential (LSD) that reduces, but does not eliminate, the
amount of wheel slip across a given axle for improved
handling.

Driving Through Water

Driving through water more than a few inches/centimeters
deep will require extra caution to ensure safety and pre-
vent damage to your vehicle.

Flowing/Rising Water

WARNING!

Do not drive on or across a road or path where water is
flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flowing
water can wear away the road or path’s surface and
cause your vehicle to sink into deeper water. Further-
more, flowing and/or rising water can carry your ve-
hicle away swiftly. Failure to follow this warning may
result in injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your
passengers, and others around you.

STARTING AND OPERATING

277

Shallow Standing Water

Although your vehicle is capable of driving through shal-
low standing water, consider the following Cautions and
Warnings before doing so.

WARNING!

• Driving through standing water limits your vehicle’s

traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h)
when driving through standing water.

• Driving through standing water limits your vehicle’s

braking capabilities, which increases stopping dis-
tances. Therefore, after driving through standing
water, drive slowly and lightly press on the brake
pedal several times to dry the brakes.

• Failure to follow these warnings may result in inju-

ries that are serious or fatal to you, your passengers,
and others around you.

CAUTION!

• Always check the depth of the standing water before

driving through it. Never drive through standing
water that is deeper than the bottom of the tire rims
mounted on the vehicle.

• Determine the condition of the road or the path that

is under water and if there are any obstacles in the
way before driving through the standing water.

• Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving through

standing water. This will minimize wave effects.

• Driving through standing water may cause damage

to your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Always in-
spect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, transmis-
sion, axle, etc.) for signs of contamination (i.e., fluid
that is milky or foamy in appearance) after driving
through standing water. Do not continue to operate
the vehicle if any fluid appears contaminated, as this
may result in further damage. Such damage is not
covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can cause

it to lock up and stall out, and cause serious internal
damage to the engine. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

278

STARTING AND OPERATING

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS

The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located on the
instrument panel, below the radio.

Push the switch to turn on the Hazard Warning
flasher. When the switch is activated, all direc-
tional turn signals will flash on and off to warn
oncoming traffic of an emergency. Push the

switch a second time to turn off the Hazard Warning
flashers.

This is an emergency warning system and it should not be
used when the vehicle is in motion. Use it when your
vehicle is disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for
other motorists.

When you must leave the vehicle to seek assistance, the
Hazard Warning flashers will continue to operate even
though the ignition is placed in the OFF position.

NOTE:

With extended use, the Hazard Warning flashers

may wear down your battery.

ASSIST AND SOS MIRROR — IF EQUIPPED

If equipped, the rearview mirror contains an ASSIST and a
SOS button.

WARNING!

ALWAYS obey traffic laws and pay attention to the
road. ALWAYS drive safely with your hands on the

(Continued)

Assist And SOS Mirror

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

281

WARNING! (Continued)

steering wheel. You have full responsibility and as-
sume all risks related to the use of the Uconnect and
SiriusXM Guardian features and applications in this
vehicle. Only use Uconnect features and SiriusXM
Guardian services when it is safe to do so. Failure to do
so may result in an accident involving serious injury or
death.

NOTE:
• Your vehicle may be transmitting data as authorized by

the subscriber.

• The SOS and ASSIST buttons will only function if you

are connected to an operable LTE (voice/data) or 4G
(data) network. Other Uconnect services will only be
operable if your SiriusXM Guardian service is active and
you are connected to an operable LTE (voice/data) or 4G
(data) network.

ASSIST Call

The ASSIST Button is used to automatically connect you to
any one of the following support centers:
• Roadside Assistance – If you get a flat tire, or need a tow,

just push the ASSIST button and you will be connected

to a representative for assistance. Roadside Assistance
will know what vehicle you’re driving and its location.
Additional fees may apply for roadside Assistance.

• SiriusXM Guardian Customer Care – In-vehicle support

for SiriusXM Guardian.

• Vehicle Customer Care – Total support for all other

vehicle issues.

SOS Call

1. Push the SOS Call button on the Rearview Mirror.

NOTE:

In case the SOS Call button is pushed in error, there

will be a ten second delay before the SOS Call system
initiates a call to a SOS operator. To cancel the SOS Call
connection, push the SOS call button on the Rearview
Mirror or press the cancellation button on the Device
Screen. Termination of the SOS Call will turn off the green
LED light on the Rearview Mirror.

2. The LED light located between the ASSIST and SOS

buttons on the Rearview Mirror will turn green once a
connection to a SOS operator has been made.

282

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

3. Once a connection between the vehicle and a SOS

operator is made, the SOS Call system may transmit the
following important vehicle information to a SOS op-
erator:

• Indication that the occupant placed a SOS Call.
• The vehicle brand.
• The last known GPS coordinates of the vehicle.

4. You should be able to speak with the SOS operator

through the vehicle audio system to determine if addi-
tional help is needed.

WARNING!

ALWAYS obey traffic laws and pay attention to the
road. ALWAYS drive safely with your hands on the
steering wheel. You have full responsibility and as-
sume all risks related to the use of the Uconnect and
SiriusXM Guardian features and applications in this
vehicle. Only use Uconnect features and SiriusXM
Guardian services when it is safe to do so. Failure to do
so may result in an accident involving serious injury or
death.

NOTE:

• Your vehicle may be transmitting data as authorized

by the subscriber.

• Once a connection is made between the vehicle’s SOS

Call system and the SOS operator, the SOS operator may
be able to open a voice connection with the vehicle to
determine if additional help is needed. Once the SOS
operator opens a voice connection with the vehicle’s
SOS Call system, the operator should be able to speak
with you or other vehicle occupants and hear sounds
occurring in the vehicle. The vehicle’s SOS Call system
will attempt to remain connected with the SOS operator
until the SOS operator terminates the connection.

5. The SOS operator may attempt to contact appropriate

emergency responders and provide them with impor-
tant vehicle information and GPS coordinates.

WARNING!

• If anyone in the vehicle could be in danger (e.g., fire

or smoke is visible, dangerous road conditions or
location), do not wait for voice contact from an

(Continued)

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

283

WARNING! (Continued)

Emergency Services Agent. All occupants should exit
the vehicle immediately and move to a safe location.

• Never place anything on or near the vehicle’s oper-

able network and GPS antennas. You could prevent
operable network and GPS signal reception, which
can prevent your vehicle from placing an emergency
call. An operable network and GPS signal reception
is required for the SOS Call system to function
properly.

• The SOS Call system is embedded into the vehicle’s

electrical system. Do not add aftermarket electrical
equipment to the vehicle’s electrical system. This
may prevent your vehicle from sending a signal to
initiate an emergency call. To avoid interference that
can cause the SOS Call system to fail, never add
aftermarket equipment (e.g., two-way mobile radio,
CB radio, data recorder, etc.) to your vehicle’s electri-
cal system or modify the antennas on your vehicle. IF
YOUR VEHICLE LOSES BATTERY POWER FOR
ANY REASON (INCLUDING DURING OR AFTER
AN ACCIDENT), THE UCONNECT FEATURES,

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

APPS AND SERVICES, AMONG OTHERS, WILL
NOT OPERATE.

• Modifications to any part of the SOS Call system

could cause the air bag system to fail when you need
it. You could be injured if the air bag system is not
there to help protect you.

SOS Call System Limitations

Vehicles sold in Mexico DO NOT have SOS Call system
capabilities.

SOS or other emergency line operators in Mexico may not
answer or respond to SOS system calls.

If the SOS Call system detects a malfunction, any of the
following may occur at the time the malfunction is de-
tected, and at the beginning of each ignition cycle:
• The Rearview Mirror light located between the ASSIST

and SOS buttons will continuously be illuminated red.

• The Device Screen will display the following message

“Vehicle device requires service. Please contact your
dealer.”

284

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Dodge Challenger (2019 year). Manual - part 17