2020 Ram 2500 lock

254STARTING AND OPERATING
advantage to increasing ride height is the posi -
tive effect it has on approach/departure and
break over angles.
This system is controlled by the electronic
control sway bar switch located below the
instrument panel.

Sway Bar Disconnect Button

Push the SWAY BAR switch to activate the
system. Push the switch again to deactivate the
system. The “Sway Bar Indicator Light” (located
in the instrument cluster) will illuminate when
the bar is disconnected. The “Sway Bar Indi -
cator Light” will flash during activation transi -
tion, or when activation conditions are not met.
The stabilizer/sway bar should remain in
on-road mode during normal driving conditions. To disconnect the stabilizer/sway bar, shift to
either 4WD HIGH or 4WD LOW and push the
SWAY BAR button to obtain the Off-Road posi
-
tion. Refer to “Four Wheel Drive Operation” in
“Starting And Operating” for further informa -
tion. The “Sway Bar Indicator Light” will flash
until the stabilizer/sway bar has been fully
disconnected. NOTE:
The stabilizer/sway bar may be torque locked
due to left and right suspension height differ
-
ences. This condition is due to driving surface
differences or vehicle loading. In order for the
stabilizer/sway bar to disconnect/reconnect,
the right and left halves of the bar must be
aligned. This alignment may require that the
vehicle be driven onto level ground or rocked
from side to side.
To return to the On-Road mode, push the SWAY
BAR button again.WARNING!
Do not disconnect the stabilizer bar and drive
on hard surfaced roads or at speeds above
18 mph (29 km/h), you may lose control of
the vehicle, which could result in serious
injury or death. The front stabilizer bar
enhances vehicle stability and assists in
maintaining control of the vehicle. The system
monitors vehicle speed and will attempt to
reconnect the stabilizer bar at speeds over
18 mph (29 km/h). This is indicated by a
flashing off road light and solid on road light.
Once vehicle speed is reduced below 14 mph
(22 km/h), the system will attempt to return
to the Off-Road mode.
WARNING!
If the stabilizer/sway bar will not return to
On-Road mode, vehicle stability is reduced.
Do not attempt to drive the vehicle over
18 mph (29 km/h). Driving faster than
18 mph (29 km/h) may cause loss of control
of the vehicle, which could result in serious
injury or death. Contact your local service
center for assistance.

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STARTING AND OPERATING259
slowly proceed over the top. If the wheels
start to slip as you approach the crest of a
hill, ease off the accelerator and maintain
headway by turning the steering wheel no
more than a quarter turn quickly back and
forth. This will provide a fresh "bite" into the
surface and will usually provide enough trac -
tion to complete the climb. If you do not make
it to the top, place the vehicle in REVERSE
and back straight down the grade using
engine resistance along with the vehicle
brakes.
Driving Downhill – Before driving down a
steep hill you need to determine if it is too
steep for a safe descent. What is the surface
traction? Is the grade too steep to maintain a
slow controlled descent? Are there obsta -
cles? Is it a straight descent? Is there plenty
of distance at the base of the hill to regain
control if the vehicle descends too fast? If
you feel confident in your ability to proceed then make sure you are in 4WD LOW with the
transmission in FIRST gear (manually select
FIRST gear on automatic transmissions) and
proceed with caution. Allow engine braking to
control the descent and apply your brakes if
necessary, but do not allow the tires to lock.
Driving Across An Incline
– If at all possible
avoid driving across an incline. If it is neces -
sary, know your vehicle's abilities. Driving
across an incline places more weight on the
downhill wheels, which increases the possi -
bilities of a downhill slide or rollover. Make
sure the surface has good traction with firm
and stable soils. If possible transverse the
incline at an angle heading slightly up or
down.
If You Stall Or Begin To Lose Headway – If you
stall or begin to lose headway while climbing
a steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a
stop and immediately apply the brake.
Restart the engine and shift into REVERSE.
Back slowly down the hill allowing the
compression braking of the engine and trans -
mission to help regulate your speed. If the
brakes are required to control vehicle speed,
apply them lightly and avoid locking or skid-
ding the tires.
WARNING!
Never attempt to climb a hill at an angle or
turn around on a steep grade. Driving across
an incline increases the risk of a roll over,
which may result in severe injury or death.
WARNING!
Do not descend a steep grade in NEUTRAL.
Use vehicle brakes in conjunction with engine
braking. Descending a grade too fast could
cause you to lose control and be seriously
injured or killed.
WARNING!
Driving across an incline increases the risk of
a rollover, which may result in severe injury.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls or you lose headway or
cannot make it to the top of a steep hill or
grade, never attempt to turn around. To do so
may result in tipping and rolling the vehicle,
which may result in severe injury. Always back
carefully straight down a hill in REVERSE.
Never back down a hill in NEUTRAL using only
the vehicle brakes. Never drive diagonally
across a hill, always drive straight up or down.
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STARTING AND OPERATING263
Winching (Refer To “Winch Operation” For
Additional Information) – Winching is most
commonly used in the following situations:
there is no support vehicle available, a high
controlled force is required to recover the
vehicle, there is a high risk of environmental
or vehicle damage, or where nothing else
seems to work. A winch can deliver a high
pulling force with a great deal of control. It
allows you to walk the vehicle out of the situ -
ation in a slow controlled manner. This
control works well for avoiding further vehicle
damage. Once you decide it is time to use the
winch look for a good anchor point. It needs
to be strong enough to hold more than the vehicle's weight and provide a direction of
pull as straight as possible. Use block and
tackle if necessary to improve the angle of
pull or increase the winch's pulling force. If
the anchor point is a tree use a strap around
its base and hook the cable to the strap. If it
is another vehicle, then place that vehicle in
PARK and block the front tires. If you cannot
find an anchor point within reach try using
your spare tire by burying it. Once you have
determined an anchor point hook up the
cable, ensuring there are a least five wraps of
cable left on the drum, and place a floor mat
or something else over the strung out cable.
Placing something over the strung out cable
helps keep the cable on the ground if it
breaks. Next, place the vehicle in FIRST gear
and apply a very light throttle as you power
the winch in. Be careful not to allow slack in
the cable as you recover the vehicle. Do not
try to guide the cable into the drum. If it starts
to bunch up on one end, let it. You can
re-spool the cable afterwards. Never use a
winch cable as a tow strap and always stand
back while winching.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your
vehicle than does most on-road driving. After
going off-road, it is always a good idea to check
for damage. That way you can get any problems
taken care of right away and have your vehicle
ready when you need it.
Completely inspect the underbody of your
vehicle. Check tires, body structure, steering,
suspension, and exhaust system for damage.
Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and
clean as required.
WARNING!
Never use tow straps with end hooks or link
two straps with a clevis pin. These heavy
metal objects could become projectiles if a
strap breaks, which could cause severe
injury. Never leave more than 2 to 3 feet
(0.60 to 1 meter) of slack in the strap. More
slack than this greatly increases the risk of
injury and vehicle damage. Always keep
everyone at least 30 feet (9 meters) away
from a strapping or winching situation.
WARNING!
Winch cables are under high tension when in
use and can become a projectile if they fail.
Never stand over or straddle the winch cable.
Never jerk or overload the winch cable. Never
stand in front of the vehicle while winching.
Failure to follow these instructions can result
in serious or fatal injury.
5

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266STARTING AND OPERATING
(Continued)
Fairlead: The hawse fairlead acts as a guide for
the synthetic rope and minimizes damage to the
rope.
Winch Accessories
The following accessories are necessary to
attach the winch to anchors, change direction of
pull, and for safe winching.
Gloves: It is extremely important to
wear protective gloves while oper -
ating the winch or handling the winch
rope. Avoid loose fitting clothes or
anything that could become entangled in the
rope and other moving parts.
Snatch/Block Pulley: Used properly,
the multi-purpose snatch block allows
you to (1) increase the winch's pulling
power; and (2) change your pulling
direction without damaging the winch rope.
Proper use of the snatch block is covered in
"Before You Pull." Clevis/D-Shackles:
The D-Shackle is
a safe means of connecting the
looped ends of cables, straps and
snatch blocks. The shackle's pin is
threaded to allow easy removal.
Tree Trunk Protector: Typically made
of tough, high-quality nylon, it
provides the operator an attachment
point for the winch rope to a wide
variety of anchor points and objects, as well as
protect living trees.
Abrasion Sleeve: The abrasion sleeve is
provided with the synthetic rope and must be
used with the synthetic rope at all times to
protect the rope from potential abrasion wear.
The sleeve has a loose fit so it can easily be
positioned along the synthetic rope to protect
from rough surfaces and sharp corners.
Operating Your Winch CAUTION!
If not installed, the hook strap must be
placed on the hook.WARNING!
Failure to observe any of these warnings
regarding proper winch usage may result in
severe injury.
Always use supplied hook strap to hold the
hook when spooling wire rope in or out.
Never use as a hoist.
Never use to move persons.
Never exceed winch or synthetic rope rated
capacity.
Always wear heavy leather gloves when
handling the synthetic rope.
Never touch synthetic rope or hook while in
tension or under load.
Never engage or disengage clutch if winch
is under load, synthetic rope is in tension,
or rope drum is moving.
Always stand clear of synthetic rope and
load and keep others away during winching.

20_DJD2_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 266

STARTING AND OPERATING269
6. Secure to the anchor point. Once you have
established your anchor point, secure the
tree-trunk protector or choker-chain around
the object.

Tree Trunk Protector

NOTE:
How to choose an anchor point: A secure
anchor is critical to winching operations. An
anchor must be strong enough to hold while
winching. Natural anchors include trees,
stumps and rocks. Hook the cable as low as
possible. If no natural anchors are available
when recovering another vehicle, your vehicle becomes the anchor point. In this case, be sure
to put the transmission in NEUTRAL, apply the
hand brake and block its wheels to prevent your
vehicle from moving. Ideally, you'll want an
anchor point that will enable you to pull straight
in the direction the vehicle will move. This
allows the synthetic rope to wind tightly and
evenly onto the spooling drum. An anchor point
as far away as possible will provide the winch
with its greatest pulling power.
7. Attach the Clevis/D-Shackle and Tree Trunk
Protector. Attach the shackle to the two
ends of the strap or chain and through the
hook, being careful not to over tighten
(tighten and back-off 1/2 turn).

Clevis/D-Shackles
8. Lock the clutch. Lock the winch drum by
rotating the clutch lever on the winch to
engage.
NOTE:
Always ensure the clutch is fully engaged or
disengaged.
9. Connect the remote control to the winch control box, located on the front bumper. Be
careful not to let the remote control cord
dangle in front of the winch. If you choose to
control the winch from inside your vehicle,
always pass the remote through a window
to avoid pinching the cord in the door.
Always disconnect the remote control when
not in use.

Winch Box Remote Control Connector

CAUTION!
Always be certain the anchor you select will
withstand the load.
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270STARTING AND OPERATING
10. Put synthetic rope under tension. Using the
remote control switch, slowly wind the rope
until no slack remains. Once the rope is
under tension, stand well clear of it and
never step over it.

Pulling Synthetic Rope Under Tension

11. Check your anchor. Make sure all connec -
tions are secured and free of debris before
continuing with the winching procedure.
12. Check synthetic rope. The rope should be neatly wound around the spooling drum.
Improper winding can cause damage to the
synthetic rope.
Synthetic Rope Neatly Wound Around The Spooling
Drum
Heavy Blanket Over Rope

In certain situations you may decide to
throw a heavy blanket or similar object over
the rope. A heavy blanket can absorb ener -
gy should the synthetic rope break. Place it
on the rope midway between the winch and
the anchor point. Do this before the rope is put under tension. Do not approach or move
the blanket once tension is applied. Do not
allow it to get pulled into the fairlead. If it is
necessary to move or remove the blanket,
slack the tension on the rope first.
13. Establish "no people" zones: Make your
intentions clear. Be sure that everyone in
the immediate vicinity surrounding the
winching operation is completely aware of
your intentions before you pull. Declare
where the spectators should not stand —
never behind or in front of the vehicle and
never near the synthetic rope or snatch
block. Your situation may have other "no
people" zones.

No People Zones

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272STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE:
How to spool under no load: Arrange the remote
control lead so it cannot be caught in the winch.
Arrange the synthetic rope so it will not kink or
tangle when spooled. Be sure any synthetic
rope already on the spooling drum is wound
tightly and evenly layered. Tighten and
straighten the layer if necessary. Keep the
synthetic rope under light tension and spool the
rope back and onto the winch drum in even
layers. Stop frequently to tighten and straighten
the layers as necessary. Repeat this process
until the winch hook is the same distance as the
full length of the remote control from the winch.
Pinch the hook between your thumb and fore -
finger and attach the hook strap. Hold the hook
strap between the thumb and forefinger to keep
tension on the synthetic rope. Walk the
synthetic rope towards the fairlead, carefully
spooling in the remaining rope by pulsing the
remote control switch.
18. Store the hook on the most outboard loop of the hawse fairlead.
Hook In Stored Position

19. Disconnect the remote control. Disconnect the remote control cord from the control box
and store in a clean and dry place. Winching
operations are now complete. Put the cap
on the solenoid plug-in.
NOTE:
Always store the remote control in a protected,
clean, dry area.
Rigging Techniques
Various winching situations will require applica-
tion of other winching techniques. These could
range from too little distance to achieve
maximum pull using straight line rigging, simply
increasing pulling power, or maintaining a
straight-line pulling situation. You will have to assess what technique is correct for your situa
-
tion. Think "safety" at all times.
How To Change The Pulling Direction

Change Pulling Directions

All winching operations should have a straight
line from the winch to the object being pulled.
This minimizes the synthetic rope collecting on
one side of the drum affecting pulling efficiency
and damaging synthetic rope. A snatch block,
secured to a point directly in front of the vehicle
will enable you to change your pulling direction
while still allowing the synthetic rope to be at
90° to wind properly onto the spooling drum.

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STARTING AND OPERATING273
Increasing Pulling Power
In some cases, you may find yourself needing
more pulling power. The use of snatch blocks
increases mechanical advantage and that
increases your pulling power.
Double Line

Wire Rope Routing

Because pulling power decreases with the
number of layers of synthetic rope on the winch
drum, you can use a snatch block to double line
out more rope. This decreases the number of
layers of synthetic rope on the drum, and
increases pulling power. Start by feeding out
enough synthetic rope to free the winch hook.
Attach the hook to your vehicle's frame/tow
hook and run the rope through a snatch block.
Disengage the clutch and, using the snatch block, pull out enough synthetic rope to reach
your anchor point. Do not attach the hook to the
mounting kit. Secure to the anchor point with a
tree trunk protector or choker chain. Attach the
clevis/shackle. Attach the shackle to the two
ends of the strap/chain, being careful not to
over tighten (tighten and back-off 1/2 turn).
FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY — GAS ENGINE
(IF EQUIPPED)
This feature offers improved fuel economy by
shutting off four of the engine's eight cylinders
during light load and cruise conditions. The
system is automatic with no driver inputs or
additional driving skills required.
NOTE:
This system may take some time to return to full
functionality after a battery disconnect.
SPEED CONTROL
When engaged, the Speed Control takes over
accelerator operations at speeds greater than
20 mph (32 km/h), or 25 mph (40 km/h),
depending on the powertrain used.
The Speed Control buttons are located on the
right side of the steering wheel.

Speed Control Buttons

NOTE:
In order to ensure proper operation, the Speed
Control system has been designed to shut down
if multiple speed control functions are operated
at the same time. If this occurs, the Speed
Control system can be reactivated by pushing
the Speed Control on/off button and resetting
the desired vehicle set speed.
1 — On/Off Button
2 — RES (+)
3 — SET (-)
4 — CANCEL
5

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