2020 Ram 3500 Transfer case

STARTING AND OPERATING255
Shifting Procedure — Manually Shifted
Transfer Case
2H To 4H
Shifting between 2H and 4H can be made with
the vehicle stopped or in motion. If the vehicle
is in motion, shifts can be made up to 55 mph
(88 km/h). With the vehicle in motion, the
transfer case will engage/disengage faster if
you momentarily release the accelerator pedal
after completing the shift. Apply a constant
force when shifting the transfer case lever. 2H Or 4H To 4L
NOTE:

When shifting into or out of 4WD LOW some gear
noise may be heard. This noise is normal and is
not detrimental to the vehicle or occupants.

With the vehicle rolling at 2 to 3 mph (3 to
5 km/h), shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
While the vehicle is coasting at 2 to 3 mph (3 to
5 km/h), shift the transfer case lever firmly to
the desired position. Do not pause in transfer
case Neutral.
NOTE:
Pausing in transfer case NEUTRAL in vehicles
equipped with an automatic transmission
may require shutting the engine off to avoid
gear clash while completing the shift. If diffi
-
culty occurs, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL, hold your foot on the brake, and
turn the engine off. Complete the range shift
to the desired mode.

Shifting into or out of 4WD LOW is possible
with the vehicle completely stopped, however
difficulty may occur due to the mating clutch
teeth not being properly aligned. Several
attempts may be required for clutch teeth
alignment and shift completion to occur. The
preferred method is with the vehicle rolling
2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h). Avoid attempting to
engage or disengage 4WD LOW with the
vehicle moving faster than 2 to 3 mph
(3 to 5 km/h).

Do not attempt to shift into or out of 4WD
LOW while the transmission is in gear.
Transfer Case Position Indicator Light
The “Transfer Case Position Indicator Light” in
the instrument cluster is used to alert the driver
that the front axle is fully engaged and all four
wheels are driving.
CAUTION!
Do not use 4L (Low) range when operating
the vehicle on dry pavement. Driveline
hardware damage can result.
5

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STARTING AND OPERATING261
SAFE OFF-ROAD DRIVING — POWER
WAGON ONLY
OFF-ROAD DRIVING TIPS AND VEHICLE
C
HARACTERISTICS
Your vehicle has excellent on and off-road
capabilities. These off-road capabilities will
allow you to explore those wilderness trails
where few travel, providing a source of exciting
and satisfying recreation. Before you venture
out, you should contact your local governmental
agency to determine the designated Off-Road
Vehicle (ORV) trails or recreation areas. You
should always tread lightly and only use
established roads, trails or ORV recreational
areas. The National Forest Service, Bureau of Land
Management, or local Department of Natural
Resources are a wealth of information and
usually have maps with marked trails.
Skid Plates And Underbody Protection
Steel skid plates protect the major driveline
components of the truck including the fuel tank,
transfer case and steering damper. In addition,
this vehicle is equipped with boxed cross
members and fore/aft rails. This additional
protection allows the vehicle to be utilized in
severe off-road situations that would be
considered impassable by a normal truck.
Ramp Travel Index (RTI)

The RTI is the distance, in inches, that you can
drive your vehicle with one wheel on a 20-degree
ramp without lifting any other wheel off the
ground. This distance up the ramp divided by the
wheelbase of the vehicle and multiplied by 1,000
is the RTI. This vehicle has an RTI of 429
(connected sway bar) or an RTI of 538
(disconnected sway bar), which means you can
articulate one front wheel 22 inches (56 cm) or
27.5 inches (70cm) in the air while the other
three wheels remain in contact with the ground.

Water Fording Characteristics

Water fording characteristic is the vehicle's ability
to cross a body of still water, where the
powertrain and drivetrain are safe from water
ingestion. This vehicle has high water fording
characteristics with the ability to cross a pool of
water, without stopping, 24 inches (60 cm) deep
at a maximum speed of 10 mph (16 km/h) and a
pool of water 30 inches (76 cm) deep at a
maximum speed of 5 mph (8 km/h), both with an
entrance ramp angle of 1.3 degrees.

Simultaneous Brake And Throttle
Operation
Many off-road driving conditions require the
simultaneous use of the brake and throttle (two
footed driving). When climbing rocks, logs, or
other stepped objects, using light brake
pressure with light throttle will keep the vehicle
from jerking or lurching. This technique is also
used when you need to stop and restart a
vehicle on a steep incline.
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.
CAUTION!
The door sill height is 25 inches (63.5 cm).
Water may intrude into the interior of the
vehicle at greater depths.
5

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262STARTING AND OPERATING
The Basics Of Off-Road Driving
You will encounter many types of terrain driving
off-road. You should be familiar with the terrain
and area before proceeding. There are many
types of surface conditions: hard packed dirt,
gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow and ice.
Every surface has a different effect on your
vehicle's steering, handling and traction.
Controlling your vehicle is one of the keys to
successful off-road driving, so always keep a
firm grip on the steering wheel and maintain a
good driving posture. Avoid sudden
accelerations, turns or braking. In most cases
there are no road signs, posted speed limits or
signal lights. Therefore you will need to use your
own good judgment on what is safe and what
isn't. When on a trail you should always be
looking ahead for surface obstacles and
changes in terrain. The key is to plan your future
driving route while remembering what you are
currently driving over.
When To Use Low Range
When driving off-road, shift into 4WD LOW for
additional traction or to improve handling and
control on slippery or difficult terrain. Due to the
lower gearing, low range will allow the engine to
operate in a higher power range. This will allow
you to idle over obstacles and down hills, with
improved control and less effort. Also, use 4WD
LOW in rain, ice, snow, mud, and sand to get
heavy loads rolling, improve traction, or
whenever 4WD HIGH traction will not do the job.
DRIVING IN SNOW, MUD AND SAND
There is a drastic reduction in traction when
driving in snow, mud or sand. The vehicle will be
less responsive to steering, acceleration and
braking inputs. Therefore you should accelerate
slowly, leave greater stopping distances and
avoid abrupt vehicle maneuvers. You want to
keep a slow constant steady pace. The key is to
maintain the vehicle's momentum.
Snow – In heavy snow or for additional
control and traction at slower speeds, shift
the transmission to a low gear and shift the
transfer case to 4WD LOW if necessary. Do
not shift to a lower gear than necessary to
maintain headway. Over-revving the engine
can spin the wheels and traction will be lost.
If you start to slow to a stop, try turning your
steering wheel no more than a quarter turn
quickly back and forth, while still applying
throttle. This will allow the tires to get a fresh
"bite" and help maintain your momentum.
Mud – Deep mud creates a great deal of
suction around the tires and is very difficult to
get through. You should use 4WD LOW with a
gear low enough to maintain your momentum
without shifting. If you start to slow to a stop,
try turning your steering wheel no more than
a quarter turn quickly back and forth for addi -
tional traction. Mud holes pose an increased
threat of vehicle damage and getting stuck.
WARNING!
Always wear your seat belt and firmly tie down
cargo. Unsecured cargo can become
projectiles in an off-road situation.
CAUTION!
Never park your vehicle over dry grass or
other combustible materials. The heat from
your vehicle exhaust system could cause a
fire.
CAUTION!
On icy or slippery roads, do not downshift at
high engine RPMs or vehicle speeds because
engine braking may cause skidding and loss
of control.

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266STARTING AND OPERATING
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.DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Extreme care should be taken crossing any type
of water. Water crossings should be avoided if
possible and only be attempted when
necessary, in a safe responsible manner. You
should only drive through areas which are
designated and approved. You should tread
lightly and avoid damage to the environment.
You should know your vehicle's abilities and be
able to recover it if something goes wrong. You
should never stop or shut a vehicle off when
crossing deep water unless you ingested water
into the engine air intake. If the engine stalls do
not attempt to restart it. Determine if it has
ingested water first. The key to any crossing is
low and slow. You want to use FIRST gear in
4WD LOW and proceed very slowly with a
constant slow speed (3-5 mph [5–8 km/h]
maximum) and light throttle. Keep the vehicle
moving; do not try to accelerate through the
crossing. After crossing any water higher than
the bottom of the axle differentials, you should
inspect all of the vehicle fluids for signs of water
ingestion.
Before You Cross Any Type Of Water – As you
approach any type of water you need to
determine if you can cross it safely and
responsibly. If necessary, get out and walk
through the water or probe it with a stick. You
need to be sure of its depth, approach angle,
current and bottom condition. Be careful of
murky or muddy waters, check for hidden
obstacles. Make sure you will not be
intruding on any wildlife and you can recover
the vehicle if necessary. The key to a safe
crossing is the water depth, current and
bottom conditions. On soft bottoms the
vehicle will sink in, effectively increasing the
water level on the vehicle. Be sure to
consider this when determining the depth
and the ability to safely cross.
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.
CAUTION!
Water ingestion into the axles, transmission,
transfer case, engine or vehicle interior can
occur if you drive too fast or through too deep
of water. Water can cause permanent
damage to engine, driveline or other vehicle
components and your brakes will be less
effective once wet and/or muddy.

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STARTING AND OPERATING331
(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.
An electronically actuated trailer brake
controller is required when towing a trailer
with electronically actuated brakes. When
towing a trailer equipped with a hydraulic
surge actuated brake system, an electronic
brake controller is not required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers
over 1,000 lbs (453 kg) and required for
trailers in excess of 2,000 lbs (907 kg).
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.
WARNING! (Continued)
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)
5

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338STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE:
Detach the snowplow when transporting
passengers.
Vehicle front end wheel alignment was set to
specifications at the factory without
consideration for the weight of the plow. Front
end toe-in should be checked and reset if
necessary at the beginning and end of the
snowplow season. This will help prevent uneven
tire wear.
The blade should be lowered whenever the
vehicle is parked.
Maintain and operate your vehicle and
snowplow equipment following the
recommendations provided by the specific
snowplow manufacturer.OVER THE ROAD OPERATION WITH
S
NOWPLOW ATTACHED
The blade restricts air flow to the radiator and
causes the engine to operate at higher than
normal temperatures. Therefore, when
transporting the plow, angle the blade
completely and position it as low as road or
surface conditions permit. Do not exceed
40 mph (64 km/h). The operator should always
maintain a safe stopping distance and allow
adequate passing clearance.
OPERATING TIPS
Under ideal snow plowing conditions, 20 mph
(32 km/h) should be maximum operating
speed. The operator should be familiar with the
area and surface to be cleaned. Reduce speed
and use extreme caution when plowing
unfamiliar areas or under poor visibility.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Snowplows should be maintained in
accordance with the plow manufacturer's
instructions.
Keep all snowplow electrical connections and
battery terminals clean and free of corrosion.
When plowing snow, to avoid transmission and
drivetrain damage, the following precautions
should be observed.
Operate with transfer case in 4LO when
plowing small or congested areas where
speeds are not likely to exceed 15 mph
(24 km/h). At higher speeds operate in 4HI.
Vehicles with automatic transmissions
should use 4LO range when plowing deep or
heavy snow for extended periods of time to
avoid transmission overheating.
Do not shift the transmission unless the
engine has returned to idle and wheels have
stopped. Make a practice of stepping on the
brake pedal while shifting the transmission.

20_DJD2_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 338

STARTING AND OPERATING339
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)
TOWING THIS VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE
NOTE:
When towing your vehicle, always follow
applicable state and provincial laws. Contact
state and provincial Highway Safety offices
for additional details.
Vehicles equipped with air suspension must
be placed in Transport mode before tying
them down (from the body) on a trailer or
flatbed truck. Refer to “Air Suspension – If
Equipped” for more information. If the
vehicle cannot be placed in Transport mode (for example, engine will not run), tie-downs
must be fastened to the axles (not to the
body). Failure to follow these instructions
may cause fault codes to be set and/or
cause loss of proper tie-down tension.RECREATIONAL TOWING — TWO-WHEEL
D
RIVE 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:
NOTE:
If vehicle is equipped with air suspension,
ensure the vehicle is set to Normal Ride Height.

1. Properly secure the dolly to the tow vehicle, following the dolly manufacturer's
instructions.

Towing Condition Wheels OFF The
Ground Two-Wheel Drive
Models Four-Wheel Drive Models
Flat Tow
NONENOT ALLOWED See InstructionsAutomatic transmission in PARK
Transfer case in NEUTRAL (N)
Tow in forward direction
Dolly Tow Front
NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Rear OK NOT ALLOWED
On Trailer ALLOK OK5

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340STARTING AND OPERATING
(Continued)
2. Drive the rear wheels onto the tow dolly.
3. Firmly apply the parking brake. Place automatic transmission 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 —
F
OUR-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS
NOTE:
Both the manual shift and electronic shift
transfer cases must be shifted into NEUTRAL
(N) for recreational towing. Automatic transmis -
sions must be shifted into PARK for recreational
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 transmis -
sion and/or transfer case damage. Tow
with all four wheels either ON the ground, or
OFF the ground (using a vehicle trailer).
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 recreational towing.
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above
requirements can cause severe transmis -
sion 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)

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