Enthusiast Network

Disclaimer: Not affiliated with or endorsed by RAM Motor Company. For informational purposes only. Full Disclaimer
Home Info Manuals Manuals 2020 Manuals 2020

2020 RAM 2500 Owners Manual - JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING



Owner’s Manuals 2020 JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING

WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to avoid the danger of being hit when operating the jack or changing the wheel.
Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You could be crushed. Never put any part of your body under a vehicle that is on a jack. If you need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a service center where it can be raised on a lift.
Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is on a jack.

WARNING!
The jack is designed to be used as a tool for changing tires only. The jack should not be used to lift the vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle should be jacked on a firm level surface only. Avoid ice or slippery areas.

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 Ucon- nect system.

Refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Multimedia” for further information.

Jack Location

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

To access the jack and jack 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.

Jack Access Cover

 

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.

Wing Bolt/Jack And Tools 6

Remove the jack and tools from the bracket assembly. Turn the jack turn-screw counter- clockwise to release jack from bracket assembly.

Jack And Tools Bracket Assembly

Jacking Tools

 

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

Assembled For Spare Tire Lowering/Raising

1 — Lug Wrench 2 — Extension 2

— Extension 3
— Extension 4

 

CAUTION!
The lug wrench can only be attached to extension two (2).
When attaching the tool to the winch mech- anism be sure the large flared end opening on extension four (4) is positioned correctly over the winch mechanism adjusting nut.

(Continued)

 

CAUTION! (Continued)
Damage to the lug wrench, extensions and winch mechanism may occur from improper tool assembly.

Assembled For Jack Operation

1 — Lug Wrench 2 — Extension 2

— Extension 3
— Extension 4 5 — Jack Driver

 

 

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

Winch Mechanism Tube

Inserting The Extension Tubes Into The Access Hole

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

Rotating The Lug Wrench Handle

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

 

Pulling The Spare Tire Out

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

 

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.

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

 

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

Gaining Access To The Retainer

5. Pull the retainer through the center of the wheel.

 

 

Wheel Blocked

Pulling The Retainer Through The Center Of The Wheel

Turn on the Hazard Warning Flashers.
Apply the parking brake.
Shift the transmission into Park (P).
Turn the ignition OFF.

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

WARNING!

Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to help prevent personal injury or damage to your vehicle:

Always park on a firm, level surface as far from the edge of the roadway as possible before raising the vehicle.
Turn on the Hazard Warning Flashers.
Apply the parking brake firmly and set the transmission in PARK.
Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to be raised.
Never start or run the engine with the vehicle on a jack.
Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a jack.
Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack. If you need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a service center where it can be raised on a lift.

WARNING!
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.

Jack Warning Label

 

Lug Wrench Adapter Shown In Jack And Tools Assembly

Remove the spare wheel, jack, and tools from storage.
Using the lug wrench, loosen, but do not remove, the wheel nuts by turning them counterclockwise one turn while the wheel is still on the ground. Changing a dually tire requires the lug wrench adapter.

If your vehicle is equipped with hub caps/wheel covers they must be removed before raising the vehicle off the ground. Refer to ”Hub Caps/ Wheel Covers — If Equipped” in this section.

Lug Wrench Adapter

Lug Wrench Adapter And Wrench

 

Placement of the jack is critical:

Jack / Extensions Placement

When changing the front wheel, assemble the jack driver to the jack and connect the jack driver to the extension tubes. Place the jack under the axle as close to the tire as possible with the drive tubes extending to the front. Connect the extension tubes and lug wrench.

 

Front Lifting Point

Front Jacking Location

When changing a rear wheel, assemble the jack driver to the jack and connect the jack driver to the extension tubes. Place the jack

under the axle between the spring and the shock absorber with the extension tubes ex- tending to the rear.

Rear Lifting Point

Rear Jacking Location

Connect the extension tubes and lug wrench.

 

CAUTION!

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.

If the bottle 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.

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

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.
Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel off. On Single Rear Wheel (SRW) trucks, install the spare wheel and lug nuts with the cone shaped end of the wheel nuts toward the wheel. On 3500 Dual Rear Wheel models (DRW) trucks, if the outer tire is being

 

replaced then leave the inner wheel on the vehicle. If the inner wheel is being replaced remove the outer wheel and replace the inner wheel. The wheel nuts are a two-piece assembly with a flat face. Lightly tighten the lug nuts. To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the vehicle has been lowered.

 

Rear Inner Wheel Proper Placement (Dual Rear Wheel Equipped)

Dual Rear Wheel Jack Placement

Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the lug wrench while at the end of the handle for increased leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until each nut has been tight- ened twice. For the correct lug nut torque 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 service station.

 

Install the wheel center 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, jack, and tools as previously described.

The bottle 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.

Adjust the tire pressure when possible.

Do not oil wheel studs. For chrome wheels, do not substitute with chrome plated lug nuts.

 

Have the flat tire repaired or replaced immedi- ately.

Turn the wheel so that the valve stem is facing the ground 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.

Reinstalling The Retainer

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.
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.

 

Attach the lug wrench to the extension tubes with the curved angle facing away from the vehicle. Insert the extensions through the access hole between the lower tailgate and the top of the bumper and into the winch mechanism tube.

 

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.

Pushing The Retainer Through The Center Of The Wheel And Positioning It Lug Wrench And Extension Tubes Assembled And In Position

Rotating The Lug Wrench Handle

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

Tighten the jack all the way down by turning the jack turn-screw counterclock- wise until the jack is snug.
Position the jack and tools into bracket assembly. Make sure the lug wrench is under the jack near the jack turn-screw. Snap tools into bracket assembly clips. Install the jack into bracket assembly and turn the jack turn-screw clockwise until jack is snug into bracket assembly.

 

Place the jack and tool bracket assembly 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.

Jack Hold Down Fastener

 

Wing Bolt/Jack And Tools

The hub caps must be removed before raising the vehicle off the ground.

Jack And Tools Bracket Assembly

Ensure that the jack and tool bracket assembly slides into the front hold down location.

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

For 2500/3500 Single Rear Wheel (SRW) models, use the flat end of the lug wrench to hook and pull off the hub cap. Find the opening in the hub cap, insert the lug wrench, and pull off the cap. If you need to pry against the wheel, protect the wheel surface.

Lug Wrench Insertion Location — Hub Cap

On 3500 models with Dual Rear Wheels (DRW), you must first remove the hub caps—use the procedure noted for the single rear wheel. For the wheel covers (wheel skins), insert the flat end of the lug wrench between the outer edge of the wheel cover and the wheel. Pry against the wheel to remove the wheel cover. Repeat this procedure around the wheel until the cover pops off.

 

Lug Wrench Insertion Location — Wheel Cover

CAUTION!
Use a pulling motion to remove the hub cap. Do not use a twisting motion when removing the hub cap, damage to the hub cap; finish may occur.
The rear hub caps on the dual rear wheel has two pull off notches. Make sure that the hook of the jack handle driver is located squarely in the cap notch before attempting to pull off.

Replace the wheel covers using a rubber mallet to ease the installation. Align the wheel cover vent holes to the wheel vent holes. Tap on the wheel cover as needed to firmly seat it evenly around the wheel.

Previous Next

Download Manual