2011 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab seats

Child restraint systems having attachments designed to
connect to the lower anchorages are now available. Child
restraints having tether straps and hooks for connection
to the seat back tether anchorage have been available forsome time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers
will provide add-on tether strap kits for some of their
older products.
Because the lower anchorages are to be introduced to
passenger carrying vehicles over a period of years, child
restraint systems having attachments for those anchor-
ages will continue to have features for installation in
vehicles using the lap or lap/shoulder belt. They will also
have tether straps, and you are urged to take advantage
of all of the available attachments provided with your
child restraint in any vehicle.
NOTE:•When using the LATCH attaching system to install a
child restraint, please ensure that all seat belts not
being used for occupant restraints are stowed and out
of reach of children. It is recommended that before
installing the child restraint, buckle the seat belt so the
seat belt is tucked behind the child restraint and out of
Crew Cab Rear Outboard Seats Driver Side
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 65

then allow the belt to retract into the retractor. For
additional information on ALR, refer to “Automatic
Locking Mode”.
To install a child restraint, first, pull enough of the seat
belt webbing from the retractor to route it through the
belt path of the child restraint and slide the latch plate
into the buckle. Next, extract all the seat belt webbing out
of the retractor and then allow the belt to retract into the
retractor. Finally, pull on any excess webbing to tighten
the lap portion around the child restraint. Any seat belt
system will loosen with time, so check the belt occasion-
ally, and pull it tight if necessary.
Child Restraint Tether Anchor
Child restraints having tether straps and hooks for con-
nection to tether anchors have been available for some
time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers will
provide add-on tether strap kits for their older products.
Regular Cab models have two tether anchorages, oneeach behind the front center and right seats. Crew Cab
models have three anchorages, one behind each of the
rear seats.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
seat failure and injury to the child. In a collision, the
seat could come loose and allow the child to crash
into the inside of the vehicle or other passengers, or
even be thrown from the vehicle. Use only the anchor
positions directly behind the child seat to secure a
child restraint top tether strap. Follow the instruc-
tions below. See your authorized dealer for help if
necessary.
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Tether Anchorage Points at the Right and Center
Front Seat (Regular Cab - All Seats)
1. Place the child restraint on the seat and adjust the
tether strap so that it will reach over the seat back under
the head restraint to the tether anchor directly behind the
seat.
2. Lift the cover (if so equipped), and attach the hook to
the square opening in the sheet metal.
3. Install the child restraint and remove the slack in the
tether strap according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Regular Cab Tether Strap Mounting
1 — Tether Strap Hook
2 — Tether Strap to Child Restraint
3 — Tether Anchor
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 69

Multiple Child Restraint Installation Sequence
(Crew Cab — Rear Seats)
1.Obtain tether straps by raising the head restraints and
reaching between the rear glass and rear seat. The tether
strap may be retained with an elastic band. Accessibility to
the tether strap is greatly improved by raising the seat
cushion to the “up” position. Remove the elastic before use.
2. Place a child restraint on each outboard rear seat and
adjust the tether strap so that it will reach under the head
restraint to the tether anchor directly behind the seat and
then to the anchor directly behind the center rear seat.
3. Pass each tether strap hook under the head restraint
and through the loop of webbing behind the child seat.
4. Route each tether strap to the anchor behind the center
seat, and attach the hooks to the metal ring.
5. Place a child restraint on the center rear seat and
adjust the tether strap so that it will reach under the head
restraint to the tether anchor directly behind the seat and
to the anchor directly behind the right seat.
6. Install each child restraint and remove the slack in the
tether strap according to the child restraint manufactur-
er’s instructions.
70 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Children Too Large for Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seat back should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat.
•Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
•The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug
as possible.
•Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or
slouching can move the belt out of position.
If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the
child closer to the center of the vehicle. Never allow a
child to put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind
their back.
Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
a collision. Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in
pet harnesses or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine and
drivetrain (transmission and axle) in your vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the
limits of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detri-
mental and should be avoided.
The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with anticipated climate
conditions under which vehicle operations will occur. For
72 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

the recommended viscosity and quality grades refer to
“Maintenance Procedures” in “Maintaining Your Ve-
hicle”. NON-DETERGENT OR STRAIGHT MINERAL
OILS MUST NEVER BE USED.
A new engine may consume some oil during its first few
thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This should be
considered a normal part of the break-in and not inter-
preted as an indication of difficulty.
SAFETY TIPS
Transporting Passengers
NEVER TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE CARGO
AREA.
WARNING!
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.
•Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.
•Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 73

▫General Information .................. 116
 Voice Command — If Equipped ........... 116
▫ Voice Command System Operation ........ 116
▫ Commands ........................ 118
▫ Voice Training ...................... 121
 Seats .............................. 121
▫ Manual Seat Adjuster — If Equipped ...... 122
▫ Manual Reclining Seats — If Equipped ..... 123
▫ Adjustable Head Restraints ............. 124
▫ Eight-Way Power Seats — If Equipped ..... 127
▫ Power Lumbar — If Equipped ........... 128
▫ Heated Seats — If Equipped ............ 129
▫ Ventilated Seats — If Equipped .......... 131▫
40-20-40 Front Bench Seat — If Equipped . . . 131
 Driver Memory Seat — If Equipped ........ 132
▫ Setting Memory Positions And Linking RKE
Transmitter To Memory ................ 133
▫ Memory Position Recall ................ 134
▫ To Disable a RKE Transmitter Linked To
Memory ........................... 134
▫ Self-Limiting Control .................. 135
▫ Driver Easy Exit And Easy Entry Control . . . 135
 To Open And Close The Hood ............ 136
 Lights ............................. 138
▫ Headlights ......................... 139
▫ Automatic Headlights ................. 139
▫ Headlight Delay ..................... 140
78 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Cigar Lighter And Ash Receiver —
If Equipped .......................... 159
 Power Inverter — If Equipped ............ 160
 Cupholders .......................... 161
▫ Front Instrument Panel Cupholders —
(40–20–40 Seats) ..................... 161
▫ Front Instrument Panel Cupholders — Floor
Storage Bin ......................... 162
▫ Rear Cupholder — Crew Cab ........... 162
 Storage ............................. 163
▫ Glove Box Storage ................... 163
▫ Door Storage ....................... 165
▫ Center Storage Compartment —
If Equipped ........................ 166 ▫
Seatback Storage ..................... 168
▫ Storage (Regular Cab) ................. 168
▫ Storage And Seats (Crew Cab) ........... 169
▫ Plastic Grocery Bag Retainers
(Regular Cab Models) ................. 170
 Rear Window Features .................. 170
▫ Rear Window Defroster ................ 170
▫ Power Sliding Rear Window —
If Equipped ........................ 171
▫ Manual Sliding Rear Window —
If Equipped ........................ 172
80 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE