2019 Ram 4500 Chassis Cab Owner's Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING 359
(Continued)
Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive Models
DO NOT flat tow this vehicle. Damage to the drivetrain
will result.
Recreational towing (for two-wheel drive models) is allowed
ONLY if the rear wheels are OFF the ground. This may be
accomplished using a tow dolly or vehicle trailer. If using a
tow dolly, follow this procedure:
1. Properly secure the dolly to the tow vehicle, following the dolly manufacturer's instructions.
2. Drive the rear wheels onto the tow dolly.
3. Firmly apply the parking brake. Place automatic trans -
mission in PARK.
4. Properly secure the rear wheels to the dolly, following the dolly manufacturer's instructions.
5. Turn the ignition OFF and remove the key fob.
6. Install a suitable clamping device, designed for towing, to secure the front wheels in the straight position.
Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive Models
NOTE:
Both the manual shift and electronic shift transfer cases must
be shifted into NEUTRAL (N) for recreational towing. Auto -
matic transmissions must be shifted into PARK for recre -
ational towing. Refer to the following for the proper transfer
case NEUTRAL (N) shifting procedure for your vehicle. CAUTION!
• Towing with the rear wheels on the ground will cause severe transmission damage. Damage from improper
towing is not covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
• Do not disconnect the driveshaft because fluid may leak from the transmission, causing damage to internal
parts.
CAUTION!
• DO NOT dolly tow any 4WD vehicle. Towing with only one set of wheels on the ground (front or rear) will
cause severe transmission and/or transfer case damage.
Tow with all four wheels either ON the ground, or OFF
the ground (using a vehicle trailer).5

360 STARTING AND OPERATING
Shifting Into NEUTRAL (N)
Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for
recreational towing.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground, withthe engine running. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL.
• Tow only in the forward direction. Towing this vehicle
backwards can cause severe damage to the transfer case.
• Before recreational towing, the transfer case must be in NEUTRAL. To be certain the transfer case is fully in
NEUTRAL, perform the procedure outlined under
“Shifting Into NEUTRAL”. Internal transmission
damage will result, if the transfer case is not in
NEUTRAL during towing.
• The transmission must be placed in PARK for recre -
ational towing.
• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require -
ments can cause severe transmission and/or transfer
case damage. Damage from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
• Do not disconnect the rear driveshaft because fluid will leak from the transfer case, causing damage to internal
parts.
• Do not use a bumper-mounted clamp-on tow bar on your vehicle. The bumper face bar will be damaged. CAUTION!
(Continued)
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
NEUTRAL (N) position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL (N) position
disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the
powertrain, and will allow the vehicle to roll, even if the
automatic transmission is in PARK (or manual
transmission is in gear). The parking brake should
always be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle.
CAUTION!
It is necessary to follow these steps to be certain that the
transfer case is fully in NEUTRAL (N) before
recreational towing to prevent damage to internal parts.

STARTING AND OPERATING 361
3. Press and hold the brake pedal.
4. Shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL:• With manual shift transfer case, shift the transfer caselever into NEUTRAL (N).
• With electronic shift transfer case, push and hold the transfer case NEUTRAL (N) button. Some models have
a small, recessed "N" button (at the center of the
transfer case switches) that must be pressed using a
ballpoint pen or similar object. Other models have a
rectangular NEUTRAL switch, below the rotary
transfer case control knob. The NEUTRAL (N) indi -
cator light will blink while the shift is in progress. The
light will stop blinking (stay on solid) when the shift to
NEUTRAL (N) is complete. After the shift is completed
and the NEUTRAL (N) light stays on, release the
NEUTRAL (N) button.
5. Release the parking brake.
6. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
7. Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensure that there is no vehicle movement.
8. Repeat steps six and seven with automatic transmission in DRIVE. 9. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL. Firmly apply the
parking brake. Turn OFF the engine. For vehicles with
Keyless Enter-N-Go, push and hold the ENGINE
START/STOP button until the engine shuts off.
10. Shift the transmission into PARK.
11. Place the ignition in the OFF mode, and remove the key fob.
12. Attach the vehicle to the tow vehicle using a suitable tow bar.
13. Release the parking brake.
NOTE:
With electronic shift transfer case:
• Steps 2 through 3 are requirements that must be met before pushing the NEUTRAL (N) button, and must continue to
be met until the shift has been completed. If any of these
requirements are not met before pushing the NEUTRAL
(N) button or are no longer met during the shift, the
NEUTRAL (N) indicator light will flash continuously until
all requirements are met or until the NEUTRAL (N) button
is released.
5

362 STARTING AND OPERATING
• The ignition must be in the ON/RUN mode for a shift totake place and for the position indicator lights to be oper -
able. If the ignition is not in the ON/RUN mode, the shift
will not take place and no position indicator lights will be
on or flashing.
• A flashing NEUTRAL (N) position indicator light indi -
cates that shift requirements have not been met.
Shifting Out Of NEUTRAL (N)
Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for
normal usage:
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop, leaving it connected to the tow vehicle.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal.
4. Start the engine, and shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
• With manual shift transfer case, shift the transfer case lever to the desired position.
• With electronic shift transfer case with rotary selector switch, push and hold the transfer case NEUTRAL (N)
button until the NEUTRAL (N) indicator light turns off. After the NEUTRAL (N) indicator light turns off,
release the NEUTRAL (N) button. After the NEUTRAL
(N) button has been released, the transfer case will shift
to the position indicated by the selector switch.
• With electronic shift transfer case with push-button selector switch, push and hold the switch for the
desired transfer case position, until the NEUTRAL (N)
indicator light turns off and the desired position indi -
cator light turns on.
NOTE:
When shifting out of transfer case NEUTRAL (N), turning
the engine OFF is not required, but may be helpful to avoid
gear clash. With 8-speed automatic transmission, the engine
must remain running, since turning the engine OFF will shift
the transmission to PARK (and the transmission must be in
NEUTRAL for the transfer case to shift out of NEUTRAL).
5. Turn the engine OFF. Shift automatic transmission into PARK. On 8-speed transmissions the shifter will auto -
matically select PARK when the engine is turned off.
6. Release the brake pedal.
7. Disconnect vehicle from the tow vehicle.
8. Start the engine.

STARTING AND OPERATING 363
9. Press and hold the brake pedal.
10. Release the parking brake.
11. Shift the transmission into gear, release the brake pedal,and check that the vehicle operates normally.
NOTE:
With electronic shift transfer case:
• Steps 3 and 4 are requirements that must be met before pushing the button to shift out of NEUTRAL (N), and must
continue to be met until the shift has been completed. If
any of these requirements are not met before pushing the
button or are no longer met during the shift, the
NEUTRAL (N) indicator light will flash continuously until
all requirements are met or until the button is released.
• The ignition must be in the ON/RUN mode for a shift to take place and for the position indicator lights to be oper -
able. If the ignition is not in the ON/RUN mode, the shift
will not take place and no position indicator lights will be
on or flashing.
• A flashing NEUTRAL (N) position indicator light indi -
cates that shift requirements have not been met.DRIVING TIPS
Driving On Slippery Surfaces
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 carefully
whenever there is likely to be poor traction (ice, snow,
wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).
5

364 STARTING AND OPERATING
Driving Through Water
Driving through water more than a few inches/centimeters
deep will require extra caution to ensure safety and prevent
damage to your vehicle.
Flowing/Rising WaterShallow Standing Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through shallow
standing water, consider the following Cautions and Warn
-
ings before doing so.
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. Furthermore,
flowing and/or rising water can carry your vehicle away
swiftly. Failure to follow this warning may result in
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your passengers,
and others around you.
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
distances. 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 injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your passengers, and
others around you.

STARTING AND OPERATING 365
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 inspect
your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, transmission, 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.
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366
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS
The Hazard Warning switch is located on the upper
switch bank just below the radio.
NOTE:
If your vehicle is equipped with a 12–inch Uconnect display,
the Hazard Warning switch is located above the display.
Push the switch to turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
When the switch is activated, all directional 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 motor -
ists.
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 SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
Assist And SOS Buttons
1 — ASSIST Button
2 — SOS Button