2020 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab spare tire

6
REFUELING THE VEHICLE —
DIESEL ENGINE ................................................. 269 Fuel Filler Cap ............................................269
Avoid Using Contaminated Fuel ................269Bulk Fuel Storage — Diesel Fuel ...............269
Diesel Exhaust Fluid ..................................270Diesel Exhaust Fluid Storage ....................270
Adding Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) ........... 271
VEHICLE LOADING .......................................... 273
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ......273Payload .......................................................273Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) ............273
Tire Size ......................................................273
Rim Size......................................................273
Inflation Pressure ......................................273
Curb Weight................................................273
Loading .......................................................273
TRAILER TOWING ............................................ 274
Common Towing Definitions .....................274Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum
Trailer Weight .............................................278 Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) .......................................279 Trailer And Tongue Weight .......................279
Towing Requirements ...............................279
Towing Tips ................................................284 SNOWPLOW ....................................................... 286
Before Plowing ........................................... 286
Snowplow Prep Package Model
Availability .................................................. 286 Over The Road Operation With Snowplow
Attached ..................................................... 287 Operating Tips ............................................ 287General Maintenance................................ 287
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) .......................................... 288
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another
Vehicle ........................................................ 288 Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models ........................................................ 289 Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ........................................................ 289
DRIVING TIPS ...................................................... 292
Driving On Slippery Surfaces ................... 292
Driving Through Water .............................. 292
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS .................... 294
ASSIST AND SOS SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED..... 294General Information .................................. 299
BULB REPLACEMENT ......................................300
Replacement Bulbs .............................. 300
Replacing Exterior Bulbs ........................... 301
FUSES ..................................................................305
Power Distribution Center ......................... 306 JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING ...................... 314
4500/5500 Models .................................. 315
Preparations For Jacking .......................... 315
Jacking Instructions 4500 And
5500 Series ............................................... 315 To Stow The Flat Or Spare —
If Equipped ................................................ 318 Hub Caps/Wheel Covers —
If Equipped ............................................... 318
JUMP STARTING ............................................... 319
Preparations For Jump Start ..................... 320
Jump Starting Procedure .......................... 320
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS ......................... 321
GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE — 6–SPEED
TRANSMISSION ................................................ 322
MANUAL PARK RELEASE — 8 – SPEED
TRANSMISSION ................................................ 323
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE ............................ 324
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE ...................... 326
Two-Wheel Drive Models ........................... 327
Four-Wheel Drive Models .......................... 327
Emergency Tow Hooks — If Equipped ...... 328
ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
(EARS) ................................................................ 328
EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) ....................... 328

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7
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULED SERVICING — GAS ENGINE ....... 329Maintenance Plan......................................330
Heavy Duty Use Of The Vehicle ................. 333
SCHEDULED SERVICING — DIESEL ENGINE .. 334
Oil Change Indicator System —
Cummins Diesel .........................................335 Perform Service Indicator —
Cummins Diesel ........................................335 Maintenance Plan — Cummins
Diesel Engine ............................................336
ENGINE COMPARTMENT ................................ 343
6.4L Engine ...............................................3436.7L Engine ................................................344
Checking Oil Level — Gas Engine .............345
Checking Oil Level — Diesel Engine ..........345
Adding Washer Fluid ................................345Maintenance-Free Battery .......................346
Pressure Washing ......................................346
DEALER SERVICE .............................................. 347
Engine Oil .................................................. 347Engine Oil Filter ........................................349
Engine Air Cleaner Filter .........................349
Air Conditioner Maintenance ................. 351
Accessory Drive Belt Inspection................354Draining Fuel/Water Separator Filter .....354
Engine Mounted Fuel Filter
Replacement ..............................................356 Underbody Mounted Fuel Filter
Replacement ..............................................357 Priming If The Engine Has Run
Out Of Fuel ................................................ 358 Intervention Regeneration Strategy —
Message Process Flow ............................. 359 Diesel Exhaust Fluid .................................. 359Body Lubrication ...................................... 360
Windshield Wiper Blades ........................ 360
Exhaust System ........................................ 362
Cooling System ......................................... 363
Charge Air Cooler — Inter-Cooler .............. 366
Brake System ............................................ 367Automatic Transmission............................ 368
Rear Axle And 4x4 Front Driving Axle Fluid
Level ....................................................... 370 Transfer Case ............................................ 371Noise Control System Required
Maintenance & Warranty ......................... 371
HOISTING ............................................................374
TIRES....................................................................374
Tire Safety Information ........................... 374
Tires — General Information .................... 382
Tire Types ................................................... 386
Spare Tires — If Equipped ....................... 387
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care .................. 389Tire Chains and Traction Devices ............ 390
Tire Rotation Recommendations .............. 391 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES .................................... 392
Treadwear .................................................. 392
Traction Grades ......................................... 392Temperature Grades ................................. 393
STORING THE VEHICLE .................................. 393
BODYWORK ........................................................ 393 Protection From Atmospheric Agents ..... 393
Body And Underbody Maintenance .......... 394Preserving The Bodywork.......................... 394
INTERIORS ......................................................... 395
Seats And Fabric Parts .............................. 395
Plastic And Coated Parts........................... 396
Leather Parts ............................................. 396
Glass Surfaces .......................................... 396
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
IDENTIFICATION DATA ...................................... 397Vehicle Identification Number ................. 397
BRAKE SYSTEM ................................................ 397
Hydraulic Brake Assist — If Equipped....... 397
WHEEL AND TIRE TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS .............................................. 397
Torque Specifications .............................. 398

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL113
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light — If
Equipped
This warning light will illuminate when
the windshield washer fluid is low.
Refer to “Engine Compartment” in “Servicing
And Maintenance” for further information.
Low Fuel Warning Light
When the fuel level reaches approxi -
mately 3.2 gal (12 L) this light will turn
on, and remain on until fuel is added.
A single warning chime will sound with Low Fuel
Warning.
Low Coolant Level Warning Light
This telltale will turn on to indicate the
vehicle coolant level is low.
Refer to “Dealer Service” in “Servicing And
Maintenance” for further information.
Loose Fuel Filler Cap Warning Light — If
Equipped
This warning light will illuminate when
the fuel filler cap is loose. Properly
close the filler cap to disengage the light. If the light does not turn off, please see an
authorized dealer.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Warning Light — If Equipped
The warning light switches on and a
message is displayed to indicate that
the tire pressure is lower than the
recommended value and/or that slow
pressure loss is occurring. In these cases,
optimal tire duration and fuel consumption may
not be guaranteed.
Should one or more tires be in the condition
mentioned above, the display will show the indi -
cations corresponding to each tire.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label, you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pres
-
sure telltale when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when
the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pres -
sure. Driving on a significantly under-inflated
tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pres -
sure telltale.
CAUTION!
Do not continue driving with one or more flat
tires as handling may be compromised. Stop
the vehicle, avoiding sharp braking and
steering. If a tire puncture occurs, repair
immediately using the dedicated tire repair
kit and contact an authorized dealer as soon
as possible.
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136SAFETY
Vehicles With Non Matching Full Size Spare Or
Compact Spare
The non matching full size spare or compact
spare tire does not have a TPM sensor.
Therefore, the TPMS will not monitor the
pressure in the non matching full size spare
or compact spare tire.
If you install the non matching full size spare
or compact spare tire in place of a road tire
that has a pressure below the low-pressure
warning limit, upon the next ignition switch
cycle, the TPMS Warning Light and a “LOW
TIRE” message will remain on and a chime
will sound. In addition, the graphic in the
instrument cluster will still display a pressure
value in a different color and an “Inflate to
XX” message.
After driving the vehicle for up to 20 minutes
above 15 mph (24 km/h), the TPMS Warning
Light will flash on and off for 75 seconds and
then remain on solid. In addition, the instru -
ment cluster will display a "SERVICE TPM
SYSTEM" message for a minimum of five
seconds and then display dashes (- -) in place
of the pressure value.
For each subsequent ignition switch cycle, a
chime will sound, the TPMS Warning Light will
flash on and off for 75 seconds and then
remain on solid, and the instrument cluster
will display a "SERVICE TPM SYSTEM"
message for a minimum of five seconds and
then display dashes (- -) in place of the pres -
sure value.
Once you repair or replace the original road
tire and reinstall it on the vehicle in place of
the non matching full size spare or compact
spare, the TPMS will update automatically. In
addition, the TPMS Warning Light will turn off
and the graphic in the instrument cluster will
display a new pressure value instead of
dashes (- -), as long as no tire pressure is
below the low-pressure warning limit in any of
the four active road tires. The vehicle may
need to be driven for up to 20 minutes above
15 mph (24 km/h) in order for the TPMS to
receive this information.
Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TTPMS)
The Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TTPMS) is a feature that will display the trailer
tire pressure values and warn the driver of a low
trailer tire pressure, based on the drivers set target tire pressure value, through TTPMS
settings found in the radio.
The TTPMS monitors the pressure of each tire
and warns the driver, through the instrument
cluster, when either a low tire pressure condi
-
tion or system malfunction condition exists. The
instrument cluster will display the actual tire
pressure or dashes for each of the trailer tires in
the correct trailer position, based on trailer
configuration. The TTPMS system can support
up to 12 trailer tires per configured trailer on up
to four configurable trailers. Refer to “Uconnect
Settings” in “Multimedia” for further informa -
tion.

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182SAFETY
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and
uneven wear patterns. Check for stones, nails,
glass, or other objects lodged in the tread or
sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts and cracks.
Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks, and bulges.
Check the wheel bolts for tightness. Check the
tires (including spare) for proper cold inflation
pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake
lights and exterior lights while you work the
controls. Check turn signal and high beam indi -
cator lights on the instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for proper closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under the vehicle after overnight
parking for fuel, coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks.
Also, if gasoline fumes are detected or if fuel, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause
should be located and corrected immediately.
ALWAYS make sure objects cannot fall or
slide into the driver’s side floor area when
the vehicle is moving. Objects can become
trapped under accelerator, brake, or clutch
pedals and could cause a loss of vehicle
control.
NEVER place any objects under the floor
mat (e.g., towels, keys, etc.). These objects
could change the position of the floor mat
and may cause interference with the accel -
erator, brake, or clutch pedals.
If the vehicle carpet has been removed and
re-installed, always properly attach carpet
to the floor and check the floor mat
fasteners are secure to the vehicle carpet.
Fully depress each pedal to check for inter -
ference with the accelerator, brake, or
clutch pedals then re-install the floor mats.
It is recommended to only use mild soap
and water to clean your floor mats. After
cleaning, always check your floor mat has
been properly installed and is secured to
your vehicle using the floor mat fasteners
by lightly pulling mat.
WARNING! (Continued)

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280STARTING AND OPERATING
(Continued)
Towing Requirements — Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire.
Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h) when towing while using a full size 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 proce -
dures.
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 procedures. Replacing tires
with a higher load carrying capacity will not
increase the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limits.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake
system or vacuum system of your vehicle
with that of the trailer. This could cause inad -
equate braking and possible personal injury.
WARNING!
Make certain that the load is secured in the
trailer and will not shift during travel. When
trailering cargo that is not fully secured,
dynamic load shifts can occur that may be
difficult for the driver to control. You could
lose control of your vehicle and have a colli -
sion.
When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do
not overload your vehicle or trailer. Over -
loading can cause a loss of control, poor
performance or damage to brakes, axle,
engine, transmission, steering, suspension,
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 :
GVWR
GTW
GAWR
Tongue weight rating for the trailer
hitch utilized.
WARNING! (Continued)

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316IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Jack Warning Label
1. If equipped, remove the spare wheel, jack,
and tools from storage.

2. Using the lug wrench, loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts by turning them coun -
terclockwise one turn while the wheel is still
on the ground.
3. When changing the front wheel, assemble the jack driver to the jack and connect the
jack driver to the extension tube. Place the
jack under the axle as close to the tire as
possible with the jack driver extending to
the front. Connect the extension tubes and
lug wrench.

Front Jacking Locations

When changing a rear wheel, assemble the
jack driver to the jack and connect the jack
driver to the extension tubes. Securely
place the jack under the sway bar bracket (unless both tires are flat on one side, then
place jack under shock bracket) facing for
-
ward in vehicle. Connect the extension
tubes and lug wrench.

Rear Jacking Location

Before raising the wheel off the ground,
make sure that the jack will not damage
surrounding truck parts and adjust the jack
position as required.
NOTE:
If the jack will not lower by turning the dial
(thumbwheel) by hand, it may be necessary to
use the jack driver in order to lower the jack.
4. By rotating the lug wrench clockwise, raise the vehicle until the wheel just clears the
surface.
Only use the jack in the positions indicated
and for lifting this vehicle during a tire
change.
If working on or near a roadway, be
extremely careful of motor traffic.
To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated,
are securely stowed, spares must be
stowed with the valve stem facing the
ground.
CAUTION!
Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking
on locations other than those indicated in the
Jacking Instructions for this vehicle.
WARNING! (Continued)

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY317
5. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel off.
Install the spare wheel and lug nuts with the
cone shaped end of the nuts toward the
wheel on Single Rear-Wheel (SRW) models.
On Dual Rear-Wheel models (DRW) the lug
nuts are a two-piece assembly with a flat
face. Lightly tighten the nuts. To avoid risk
of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do not
fully tighten the nuts until the vehicle has
been lowered.
6. Using the lug wrench, finish tightening the nuts using a crisscross pattern. For the
proper lug nut torque specifications refer to
“Wheel And Tire Torque Specifications” in
“Technical Specifications.” If in doubt about
the correct tightness, have them checked
with a torque wrench by an authorized
dealer or at a service station. 7. Install wheel center cap (if equipped) and
remove wheel blocks. Do not install chrome
or aluminum wheel center caps on the
spare wheel. This may result in cap damage.
8. Lower the jack to its fully closed position. If the jack will not lower by turning the dial
(thumbwheel) by hand, it may be necessary
to use the jack driver in order to lower the
jack. Stow the replaced tire, jack, and tools
as previously described.
9. Adjust the tire pressure when possible.
10. After 25 miles (40 km), check the lug nut torque with a torque wrench to ensure that
all lug nuts are properly seated against the
wheel.
Dual Rear Wheels
Slots in the wheels will assist in properly
orienting the inner and outer wheels. Align
these slots when assembling the wheels for
best access to the tire valve on the inner wheel.
The tires of both dual wheels must be
completely off the ground when tightening to
insure wheel centering and maximum wheel
clamping.
Dual wheel models require a special heavy-duty
lug nut tightening adapter (included with the
vehicle) to correctly tighten the lug nuts. Also,
when it is necessary to remove and install dual
rear wheels, use a proper vehicle lifting device.
NOTE:
When installing a spare tire (if equipped) as part
of a dual rear wheel end combination, the tire
diameter of the two individual tires must be
compared. If there is a significant difference,
the larger tire should be installed in a front loca-
tion. The correct direction of rotation for dual
tire installations must also be observed.WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can
make the vehicle less stable. It could slip off
the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the
vehicle only enough to remove the tire.
WARNING!
A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a
collision or hard stop, could endanger the
occupants of the vehicle. Always stow the jack
parts and the spare tire in the places
provided.
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