2021 RAM 1500 Owners Manual - JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING

If your vehicle is equipped with an air suspen- sion system, there is a feature which allows the automatic leveling to be disabled to assist with changing a tire. This feature can be activated through the Uconnect system page 249.

PREPARATIONS FOR JACKING

If your vehicle is equipped with Air Suspension, you will need to enable Tire Jack Mode in the Uconnect system page 165 before changing the tire.

Park on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or slippery areas.

Turn on the Hazard Warning Flashers.

Apply the parking brake.

Shift the transmission into Park (P).

Turn the ignition OFF.

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Block both the front and rear wheel diagonally opposite of each jacking position. For example, if the driver’s front wheel is being changed, block the passenger’s rear wheel.

REMOVAL OF JACK AND TOOLS

To access the jack and tools, you must remove the plastic access cover located on the side of the front passenger’s seat. To remove the cover, pull the front part of the cover (closest to the front of the seat) toward you to release a locking tab. Once the front of the cover is loose, slide the cover toward the front of the seat until it is free from the seat frame.

Release the tool bag straps from the jack and remove tools from bag.

NOTE:

Passengers should not remain in the vehicle when the vehicle is being raised or lifted.

JACK LOCATION

The jack and tools are stored under the front passenger seat.

Remove the jack and tools by turning the wing bolt counterclockwise, remove the wing bolt and then slide the assembly out from under the seat.

There are two ways to assemble the tools: Assembled For Spare Tire Lowering/Raising

— Lug Wrench

— Long Extension Without Spring Clip 2 3 — Long Extension With Spring Clip 3

4 — Long Extension With Spring Clip 4 5 — Short Extension 5

If the tailgate is lowered, adding the shorter extension 5 to jack extension 4 will enable lowering the spare tire without having to raise the tailgate.

Assembled For Jack Operation

— Lug Wrench

— Long Extension 2

— Long Extension 3

— Long Extension 4

— Short Extension 5 7

— Extension With Hook

REMOVING THE SPARE TIRE

Remove the spare tire before attempting to jack up the truck. Attach the lug wrench to the extension tubes with the curved angle facing away from the vehicle.

Remove the protective cover over the access hole for the winch mechanism by sliding the cover upward.

Insert the extension tube through the access hole between the lower tailgate and the top of the fascia/bumper and into the winch mechanism tube.

Inserting The Extension Tubes Into The Access Hole

Rotate the lug wrench handle counter- clockwise until the spare tire is on the ground with enough cable slack to allow you to pull it out from under the vehicle.

Pull the spare tire out from under the vehicle to gain access to the spare tire retainer.

Lift the spare tire with one hand to give clearance to tilt the retainer at the end of the cable.

Pull the retainer through the center of the wheel.

NOTE:

The winch mechanism is designed for use with the extension tubes only. Use of an air wrench or other power tools is not recommended and can damage the winch.

JACKING INSTRUCTIONS

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4. Placement for the front and rear jacking locations are critical. See below images for proper jacking locations.

Remove the spare tire, jack, and tools from the stored location.

Using the lug wrench, loosen the wheel nuts (but do not remove), by turning them counterclockwise one turn while the wheel is still on the ground.

Assemble the jack and jacking tools. Connect the jack handle driver to the extension, then to the lug wrench.

Jack / Extensions Placement

Front Jacking Location

When changing a front wheel, place the scissor jack under the rear portion of the lower control arm as shown. Access the front jacking location from behind the front tire.

Front Jacking Location

Rear Jacking Location

Operate the jack using the extension with jack hook and the lug wrench. The exten- sion tubes may be used but is not required.

When changing a rear wheel, assemble the extension with jack hook to the jack and connect the extension tubes. Access the rear jacking location from behind the rear tire. Place the jack under the Jack Lifting Point located on the rear axle lower control arm bracket. Then locate the slot in the jack lift plate onto the rear axle Jack Lifting Point. Attach the extension with jack hook extend- ing to the rear of the vehicle.

Rear Jacking Location

Connect the long extensions to the lug wrench.

By rotating the lug wrench clockwise, raise the vehicle until the wheel just clears the ground surface.

Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel off. Install the spare wheel and lug nuts with the cone shaped end of the lug nuts toward the wheel. Hand tighten the lug nuts with the vehicle lifted. To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the vehicle has been completely lowered.

Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the wrench handle for increased leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until each lug nut has been tightened twice

page 467. If in doubt about the correct

tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench by an authorized dealer or at a service station.

If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel center cap, install the cap and remove the wheel blocks. Do not install chrome or aluminum wheel center caps on the spare wheel. This may result in cap damage.

Lower the jack to its fully closed position. Stow the replaced tire, and secure the jack and tools in the proper location.

Adjust the tire pressure when possible.

TO STOW THE FLAT OR SPARE

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. Have the deflated (flat) tire repaired or replaced immediately.

Turn the wheel so that the valve stem is facing upward and toward the rear of the vehicle for convenience in checking the spare tire inflation. Slide the wheel retainer through the center of the wheel.

Lift the spare tire with one hand to give clearance to tilt the retainer at the end of the cable and position it properly across the wheel opening.

Remove the extension with the hook and reattach the short extension 5. Attach the lug wrench to the extension tubes with the curved angle facing away from the vehicle page 378. Insert the extension tubes through the access hole between the lower tailgate and the top of the fascia/bumper and into the winch mechanism tube.

Rotating The Lug Wrench Handle

Jack And Tool Bag

Secure the tool bag straps to the jack.

Rotate the lug wrench handle clockwise until the wheel is drawn into place against the underside of the vehicle. Continue to rotate until you feel the winch mechanism slip, or click three or four times. It cannot be overtightened. Push against the tire several times to ensure it is firmly in place.

The winch mechanism is designed for use with the extension tube only. Use of an air wrench or other power tools is not recommended and can damage the winch.

REINSTALLING THE JACK AND TOOLS

Tighten the jack all the way down by turning the jack turn-screw counter- clockwise until the jack is snug.

Position the jack and tool bag. Make sure the lug wrench is under the jack near the jack turn-screw.

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Place the jack and tools in the storage position holding the jack by the jack

turn-screw, slip the jack and tools under the seat so that the bottom slot engages into the fastener on the floor.

Ensure that the jack slides into the front hold down location.

Turn the wing bolt clockwise to secure to the floor pan. Reinstall the plastic cover.