Jeep Compass 2018 Owner's Manual page 210

WARNING! (Continued)
loading can cause a loss of control, poor
performance or damage to brakes, axle,
engine, transmission, steering, suspen-
sion, chassis structure or tires.
• Safety chains must always be used be-
tween your vehicle and trailer. Always con-
nect 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 park-
ing brake on the tow vehicle. Put the tow
vehicle transmission in PARK. For four-
wheel drive vehicles, make sure the trans-
fer case is not in NEUTRAL. Always, block
or "chock" the trailer wheels.
• GCWR must not be exceeded.
• Total weight must be distributed be-
tween the tow vehicle and the trailer
such that the following four ratings are
not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch
utilized.
Towing Requirements — Tires
• Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a
compact 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
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 "Ser-
vicing And Maintenance" for the proper tire
replacement procedures. Replacing tires with
a higher load carrying capacity will not in-
crease the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limits.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
• Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake sys-
tem or vacuum system of your vehicle with
that of the trailer. This could cause inad-
equate braking and possible personal injury.
• An electronically actuated trailer brake con-
troller is required when towing a trailer with
electronically actuated 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 vehi-
cle's hydraulic brake lines. It can overload
tire inflation
your brake system 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 stop-
ping distance. 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 ca-
pacity. Failure to do this could lead to accel-
erated 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.
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