2018 Ram 2500 hitch

Towing With 2500/3500 Air Suspension
1. Position the truck to be ready to connect to the trailer(do not connect the trailer).
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.
2. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to ground, this is height H1.
3. Attach the trailer to the vehicle without the weight distribution bars connected.
4. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to ground, this is height H2.
5. 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]). 6. Preform a visual inspection of the trailer and weight
distributing hitch to confirm manufacturers’ recommen-
dations have been met.
Measurement Example Example 2500/3500
Height (mm)
H1 1030
H2 1058
H2-H1 28
(H2-H1)/2 14
(H2-H1)/2 + H1 1044
NOTE: For all towing conditions, we recommend towing
with tow haul mode engaged.
Towing With All Other 1500/2500/3500 (Non-Air Suspen-
sion)
1. Position the truck to be ready to connect to the trailer (do not connect the trailer).
2. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to ground, this is height H1.
3. Attach the trailer to the vehicle without the weight distribution bars connected.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 421

4. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel openingon the fender to ground, this is height H2.
5. 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]).
6. Preform a visual inspection of the trailer and weight distributing hitch to confirm manufacturers’ recommen-
dations have been met.
Measurement Example Example 2500/3500
Height (mm)
H1 1030
H2 1058
H2-H1 28
(H2-H1)/2 14
(H2-H1)/2 + H1 1044
NOTE: For all towing conditions, we recommend towing
with tow haul mode engaged.
Fifth-Wheel Hitch
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.
Gooseneck Hitch
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.
Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer Weight
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.
422 STARTING AND OPERATING

Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer WeightHitch Type Max. Trailer Weight /
Max. Tongue Weight
Class III Bumper
Hitch - 1500 Model 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) /
500 lbs (226 kg)
Class IV - 1500 Model 11,000 lbs (4,989 kg) / 1100 lbs (498 kg)
Class V - 2500/ 3500 Models 18,000 lbs (8,164 kg) /
1800 lbs (816 kg)
Fifth Wheel - 2500 Model 25,000 lbs (11,339 kg) /
5000 lbs (2,267 kg)
Gooseneck - 2500 Model 20,000 lbs (9,071 kg) /
4000 lbs (1,814 kg)
Gooseneck Or Fifth
Wheel - 3500 Model 32,000 lbs (14,545 kg) /
6000 lbs (2,721 kg)
Refer to the “Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings)” 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)
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
Trailer And Tongue Weight
Never exceed the maximum tongue weight stamped on
your bumper or trailer hitch.
Weight Distribution
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STARTING AND OPERATING 423

WARNING!(Continued)
•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. For four-wheel drive vehicles, make sure the
transfer case 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:
1. GVWR
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
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 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.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 425

Materials Added........................ .597
Methanol ............................. .598
Octane Rating ........................596, 604
Requirements ........................596, 603
Tank Capacity .......................... .603
Fuel, Flexible ............................. .600
Fuses .................................. .461
Garage Door Opener (HomeLink) ............114,119
Gas Cap (Fuel Filler Cap) .....................414
Gasoline, Clean Air ........................ .597
Gasoline, Reformulated ..................... .597
Gear Ranges .......................... .307, 316
Gear Select Lever Override ....................506
General Information ........................ .222
Glass Cleaning ............................590
Grocery Bag Retainer .........................58
Gross Axle Weight Rating .....................417
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................416
Guide, Body Builders .........................7
GVWR ................................. .414
Hazard Driving Through Flowing, Rising, Or Shallow Standing
Water .................................442 Hazard Warning Flasher
..................... .447
Headlights ...............................454
Automatic ..............................76
Cleaning ...............................585
High Beam ..............................74
High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch ...........74
Passing ................................76
Switch .................................73
Head Restraints ............................58
Heated Mirrors .............................71
Heater, Engine Block ........................294
High Beam/Low Beam Select (Dimmer) Switch ......74
Hill Descent Control ........................214
Hill Descent Control Indicator .................214
Hill Start Assist ............................206
Hitches Trailer Towing .......................... .422
Hoisting .................................558
HomeLink (Garage

Door Opener) ...............114
Hood Prop ...............................112
Hood Release .............................112
Hub Caps ............................... .501
Ignition ..................................28
Key ...................................28
12
INDEX 687

Tonneau Cover............................585
Tonneau Cover Cleaning .....................585
To Open Hood ............................112
Torque Converter Clutch ..................315, 323
Towing ............................. .416, 510
Disabled Vehicle ........................ .510
Guide .................................423
Recreational ............................436
Weight ............................... .423
Towing Vehicle Behind A Motorhome ............436
Traction .................................441
Traction Control .......................... .209
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ....................213
Trailer Towing ............................ .416
Cooling System Tips ..................... .432
Hitches ............................... .422
Minimum Requirements ....................424
Mirrors ................................70
Tips ................................. .431
Trailer And Tongue Weight ..................423
Wiring ............................... .430
Trailer Towing Guide ........................423
Trailer Weight ............................ .423Transfer Case
............................ .557
Electronically Shifted ............327, 332, 336, 339
Fluid .................................607
Transmission ............................. .299
Automatic ....................299, 306, 315, 553
Fluid .................................607
Maintenance ............................553
Shifting ...............................297
Transporting Pets ..........................278
Tread Wear Indicators .......................572
Turn Signals .....................78, 198, 454, 456
Uconnect Customer Programmable Features .........623,644
Uconnect

Settings ........................613
Uconnect Settings .....................623, 644
Uconnect Settings Customer Programmable Features .......39, 621, 641
Passive Entry Programming ...........39, 621, 641
Uconnect Settings .....................621, 641
Uconnect Voice Command ....................656
Uniform Tire Quality Grades ..................583
12
INDEX 695