2021 RAM 2500 Owners Manual - RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME)

RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME)

TOWING THIS VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE

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 page 177. 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 DRIVE MODELS

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:

If vehicle is equipped with air suspension, ensure the vehicle is set to Normal Ride Height.

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

Drive the rear wheels onto the tow dolly.

Firmly apply the parking brake. Place automatic transmission in PARK.

Properly secure the rear wheels to the dolly, following the dolly manufacturer's instructions.

Turn the ignition OFF and remove the key fob.

Install a suitable clamping device, designed for towing, to secure the front wheels in the straight position.

RECREATIONAL TOWING — FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS

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 4

for your vehicle.

(Continued)

Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for recreational towing.

Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground, with the engine running. Firmly apply the parking brake.

Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL. NOTE:

If vehicle is equipped with air suspension, ensure the vehicle is set to Normal Ride Height.

Press and hold the brake pedal.

Shift the transfer case into N (Neutral):

With manual shift transfer case, shift the transfer case lever into N (Neutral).

With electronic shift transfer case, push and hold the transfer case N (Neutral) button. Some models have a small, recessed “N” button (at the center of the transfer case switches) that must be pushed using a ballpoint pen or similar object. Other models have a rectangular N (Neutral) switch, below the rotary transfer case control knob. The N (Neutral) indicator light will blink while the shift is in progress. The light will stop blinking (stay on solid) when the shift to N (Neutral) is complete. After the shift is completed and the N (Neutral) light stays on, release the N (Neutral) button.

Release the parking brake.

Shift the transmission into REVERSE.

Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensure that there is no vehicle movement.

Repeat steps 6 and 7 with automatic transmission in DRIVE.

Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL. Firmly apply the parking brake. Turn off the engine. For vehicles with Keyless Enter-N-Go, push and hold the ENGINE START/STOP button until the engine shuts off.

Shift the transmission into PARK. On 8-speed transmissions the shifter will

automatically select PARK when the engine is turned off.

Turn the ignition to the OFF mode, then cycle the ignition to the RUN mode and back to the OFF mode. Remove the key fob from the ignition.

Attach the vehicle to the tow vehicle using a suitable tow bar.

Release the parking brake.

With electronic shift transfer case:

Steps 2 through 3 are requirements that must be met before pushing the N (Neutral) button, and must continue to be met until the shift has been completed. If any of these requirements are not met before pushing the N (Neutral) button or are no longer met during the shift, the N (Neutral) indicator light will flash continuously until all requirements are met or until the N (Neutral) button is released.

The ignition must be in the ON/RUN mode for a shift to take place and for the position indi- cator lights to be operable. If the ignition is not in the ON/RUN mode, the shift will not take place and no position indicator lights will be on or flashing.

A flashing N (Neutral) position indicator light indicates that shift requirements have not been met.

If the vehicle is equipped with air suspension, the engine should be started and left running for a minimum of 60 seconds (with all the doors closed) at least once every 24 hours. This process allows the air suspension to

adjust the vehicle’s ride height to compen- sate for temperature effects.

Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for normal usage:

Bring the vehicle to a complete stop, leaving it connected to the tow vehicle.

Firmly apply the parking brake.

Press and hold the brake pedal.

Start the engine. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.

With manual shift transfer case, shift the transfer case lever to the desired posi- tion.

With electronic shift transfer case with rotary selector switch, push and hold the transfer case N (Neutral) button until the N (Neutral) indicator light turns off. After the N (Neutral) indicator light turns off, release the N (Neutral) button. After the N (Neutral) button has been released, the transfer case will shift to the position indi- cated by the selector switch.

With electronic shift transfer case with push-button selector switch, push and hold the switch for the desired transfer case position, until the N (Neutral) indi- cator light turns off and the desired posi- tion indicator light turns on.

When shifting out of transfer case N (Neutral), turning the engine off is not required, but may

be helpful to avoid gear clash. With the 8-speed 4

automatic transmission, the engine must remain running, since turning the engine off will shift the transmission to PARK (and the trans- mission must be in NEUTRAL for the transfer case to shift out of NEUTRAL).

Turn the engine off. Shift automatic transmission into PARK. On 8-speed transmissions the shifter will automatically select PARK when the engine is turned off.

Release the brake pedal.

Disconnect vehicle from the tow vehicle.

Start the engine.

Press and hold the brake pedal.

Release the parking brake.

Shift the transmission into gear, release the brake pedal, and check that the vehicle operates normally.

With electronic shift transfer case:

Steps 3 and 4 are requirements that must be met before pushing the button to shift out of N (Neutral), and must continue to be met until the shift has been completed. If any of these requirements are not met before pushing the button or are no longer met during the shift, the N (Neutral) indicator light will flash continuously until all requirements are met or until the button is released.

The ignition must be in the ON/RUN mode for a shift to take place and for the position indi- cator lights to be operable. If the ignition is not in the ON/RUN mode, the shift will not take place and no position indicator lights will be on or flashing.

A flashing N (Neutral) position indicator light indicates that shift requirements have not been met.