2021 RAM 1500 tailgate

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE87
3. Without latching, rotate the tailgate to
nearly closed. Then, while providing support
to the tailgate, slide it slowly to the right,
removing the tailgate from the left pivot.
NOTE:
Rest the tailgate on the bumper so that the
entire tailgate is secure and supported.

Slide Tailgate To The Right
4. Let the tailgate rest on the support cables
while having the tailgate naturally slide
forward on the bumper.

Tailgate Only Supported By Cables

5. Remove the connector bracket from the sill by pushing inward in the locking tab.
Connector Bracket Location
Locking Tab

WARNING!
For vehicles equipped with a multifunction
tailgate, the tailgate weighs 115 lbs (52 kg)
and should be removed by at least two
people. Injury to the customer or damage to
the tailgate may occur if one person tries to
remove the multifunction tailgate.
2

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88GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
6. Disconnect the wiring harness by pushing
on the two release tabs, ensuring the
connector bracket does not fall into the sill.

Connected Wiring Harness
Disconnected Body Side Harness
7. Connect the body side plug (provided in the
glove compartment) to the body side wiring
harness and insert the bracket back into
the sill.

Body Side Plug (One Piece)

8. Connect the tailgate plugs (provided in the glove compartment) to the tailgate wiring
harness to ensure that the terminals do not
corrode.
Tailgate Plugs (Two Pieces)

9. Tape the tailgate harness and bracket against the forward-facing surface of the
tailgate. This will prevent damaging the
connector and bracket when storing or
reinstalling the tailgate.
1 — First Release Tab
2 — Second Release Tab
1 — Large Plug
2 — Small Plug

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE89
10. Raise the tailgate slightly, and remove the
support cables by releasing the lock tang
from the pivot.
NOTE:
Make sure tailgate is supported by you and/or a
second person when removing support cables.

Locking Tang

11. Remove the tailgate from the vehicle.
NOTE:
Do not carry the tailgate loose in the truck
pickup box.
If the tailgate is closed with the wire harness
disconnected, the tailgate can only be
opened by removing the inside panel and
unlatching the locking mechanism manually.
BED STEP — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with an
extendable bed step on the driver’s side of the
tailgate to provide easier entry and exit into the
truck bed.

Bed Step Location Bed Step Components

To extend the bed step, place your foot on the
protruding foot tab located on the left edge of
the bed step, and push rearward. A small
amount of force will release the spring load, and
extend the bed step out and away from the
tailgate.
NOTE:
Once the spring load is overcome, the bed step
will extend out quickly, so be sure to stand in a
position that will avoid coming into contact with
the step as it extends.
WARNING!
To avoid inhaling carbon monoxide, which is
deadly, the exhaust system on vehicles
equipped with “Cap or Slide-In Campers”
should extend beyond the overhanging
camper compartment and be free of leaks.
1 — Bed Step
2 — Foot Tab
2

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90GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
(Continued)

Bed Step (Extended)

To stow the bed step back under the tailgate,
push the bed step forward with your foot until
the bed step is retracted by the spring load.
PICKUP BOX
The pickup box has many features designed for
utility and convenience.

Pick Up Box Features

NOTE:
If you are installing a Toolbox, Ladder Rack or
Headache Rack at the front of the Pickup Box,
you must use Mopar Box Reinforcement
Brackets that are available from an authorized
dealer. You can carry wide building materials (sheets of
plywood, etc.) by building a raised load floor.
Place lumber across the box in the indentations
provided above the wheel housings and in the
bulkhead dividers to form the floor.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to stow the bed step with your
hands. The low clearance space between the
bed step and the rear bumper as the bed step
returns to the stowed position could result in
injury to your hands or fingers.
1 — Upper Load Floor Indents
2 — Bulk Head Dividers
3 — Cleats
WARNING!
The pickup box is intended for load carrying
purposes only, not for passengers, who
should sit in seats and use seat belts.
Care should always be exercised when
operating a vehicle with unrestrained
cargo. Vehicle speeds may need to be
reduced. Severe turns or rough roads may
cause shifting or bouncing of the cargo that
may result in vehicle damage. If wide
building materials are to be frequently
carried, the installation of a support is
recommended. This will restrain the cargo
and transfer the load to the pickup box
floor.

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 90

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE93
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING RAMBOX
Push and release the lock or unlock button on
the key fob to lock and unlock all doors, the
tailgate and the RamBox Úpage 17. To unlatch
the storage bin manually, insert the emergency
key into the keyhole and turn clockwise. Always
return the key to the upright (vertical) position
before removing it from the keyhole.
RAMBOX CARGO STORAGE BINS
Cargo storage bins are located on both sides of
the pickup box. The cargo storage bins provide
watertight, lockable, illuminated storage for up
to 150 lbs (68 kg) of evenly distributed cargo.

RamBox Cargo Storage Bins
To open a storage bin with the RamBox
unlocked, push and release the button located
on the lid. The RamBox lid will open upward to
allow hand access. Lift the lid to fully open.
NOTE:
RamBox will not open when the button is
pushed if the RamBox is locked.

RamBox Button And Keyhole Lock

CAUTION!
Ensure cargo bin lids are closed and
latched before moving or driving vehicle.
Loads applied to the top of the bin lid
should be minimized to prevent damage to
the lid and latching/hinging mechanisms.
Damage to the RamBox bin may occur due
to heavy/sharp objects placed in bin that
shift due to vehicle motion. In order to mini -
mize potential for damage, secure all cargo
to prevent movement and protect inside
surfaces of bin from heavy/sharp objects
with appropriate padding.CAUTION!
Failure to follow the following items could
cause damage to the vehicle:
Assure that all cargo inside the storage bins
is properly secured.
Do not exceed cargo weight rating of 150 lbs
(68 kg) per bin.
1 — Keyhole Lock
2 — Button
2

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98GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

Position One (Front Latches Latched And Stowage
Straps Secured)
Position Two (Front And Rear Latches Latched)

TRI-FOLD TONNEAU COVER FOLDING
F
OR DRIVING OR REMOVAL
To remove the Tonneau Cover use the following
steps:

1. Open the tailgate to access the rear pair of
Tonneau Cover latches located on the
underside of the Cover.

Location Of Rear Latches Slide Locking Lever Inward

2. Slide the locking lever toward the inside of the truck bed to release the J Hook and pull
the handle downward into the released
position.

Unlatching Latch

1 — Panel 1
2 — Panel 2
3 — Panel 3

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 98

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL129
Electric Power Steering (EPS) Fault
Warning Light
This warning light will turn on when
there's a fault with the EPS system
Úpage 174.
Tailgate Open Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate when
the tailgate is open.
NOTE:
If the vehicle is moving, there will also be a
single chime.
Trailer Brake Disconnected Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate when
the Trailer Brake has been
disconnected.
Transmission Temperature Warning Light
— If Equipped
This warning light will illuminate to
warn of a high transmission fluid
temperature. This may occur with
strenuous usage such as trailer
towing. If this light turns on, stop the vehicle and
run the engine at idle or slightly faster, with the
transmission in PARK or NEUTRAL, until the
light turns off. Once the light turns off, you may
continue to drive normally.
Door Open Warning Light
This indicator will illuminate when a
door is ajar/open and not fully closed.
NOTE:
If the vehicle is moving there will also be a single
chime.
YELLOW WARNING LIGHTS
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Fault
Warning Light — If Equipped
This warning light will illuminate to
indicate a fault in the ACC system.
Contact an authorized dealer for
service Ú page 179.
Air Suspension Fault Warning Light — If
Equipped
This light will illuminate when a fault is
detected with the air suspension
system.
WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced assist
could pose a safety risk to yourself and
others. Service should be obtained as soon
as possible.
WARNING!
If you continue operating the vehicle when
the Transmission Temperature Warning Light
is illuminated you could cause the fluid to boil
over, come in contact with hot engine or
exhaust components and cause a fire.
CAUTION!
Continuous driving with the Transmission
Temperature Warning Light illuminated will
eventually cause severe transmission
damage or transmission failure.
3

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194STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE:
Water from a car wash or road slush in freezing
weather may also cause sensors to become
blocked.
If the "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE
REQUIRED" message appears in the instrument
cluster display, see your authorized dealer.
CLEANING THE PARKSENSE SYSTEM
Clean the ParkSense sensors with water, car
wash soap and a soft cloth. Do not use rough or
hard cloths. Do not scratch or poke the sensors.
PARKSENSE SYSTEM USAGE
P
RECAUTIONS
NOTE:
Ensure that the front and rear fascias/
bumpers are free of snow, ice, mud, dirt and
debris to keep the ParkSense system oper -
ating properly.
Jackhammers, large trucks, and other vibra -
tions could affect the performance of Park -
Sense.
When you turn Front or Rear ParkSense off,
the instrument cluster display will show a
vehicle graphic of the Front or Rear Park -
Sense on/off state for two seconds. Further -
more, once you turn Front or Rear ParkSense
off, it remains off until you turn it on again,
even if you cycle the ignition.
When you move the gear selector to the
REVERSE position and Front or Rear Park -
Sense is turned off, the instrument cluster
display will show a vehicle graphic with "OFF"
in the corresponding side. This vehicle
graphic will be displayed for as long as the
vehicle is in REVERSE.
ParkSense, when on, will reduce the volume
of the radio when it is sounding a tone.
Clean the ParkSense sensors regularly,
taking care not to scratch or damage them.
The sensors must not be covered with ice,
snow, slush, mud, dirt or debris. Failure to do
so can result in the system not working prop -
erly. The ParkSense system might not detect
an obstacle behind or in front of the fascia/
bumper, or it could provide a false indication
that an obstacle is behind or in front of the
fascia/bumper.
Use the ParkSense switch to turn the Park -
Sense system off if obstacles such as bicycle
carriers, trailer hitches, etc. are placed near
the rear fascia/bumper. Failure to do so can
result in the system misinterpreting a close
obstacle as a sensor problem, causing the
“PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE
REQUIRED” message to be appear in the
instrument cluster display.
ParkSense should be disabled when the tail -
gate is in the lowered or open position. A
lowered tailgate could provide a false indica -
tion that an obstacle is behind the vehicle
and could also cause a false braking event.
The Rear ParkSense system will automati -
cally disable when the system detects that a
trailer with trailer brakes has been connected
to the Integrated Trailer Brake Module.
The Front ParkSense system will automati -
cally disable if a snow plow has been
connected to the vehicle.

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