RAM 3500 (2019 year). Instruction — part 27

STARTING AND OPERATING

429

Over The Road Operation With Snowplow 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 condi-

tions 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 termi-

nals 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 transmis-

sion.

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430 STARTING AND OPERATING

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.

Towing Condition

Wheels OFF The

Ground

Two-Wheel

Drive Models

Four-Wheel Drive Models

Flat Tow

NONE

NOT 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

ALL

OK

OK

STARTING AND OPERATING

431

Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive 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.

2. Drive the rear wheels onto the tow dolly.
3. Firmly apply the parking brake. Place automatic trans-

mission 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.

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.

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432 STARTING AND OPERATING

(Continued)

Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive Models

NOTE:

Both the instruction shift and electronic shift transfer cases must

be shifted into NEUTRAL (N) for recreational towing. Auto-

matic transmissions must be shifted into PARK for recre-

ational towing. Refer to the following for the proper transfer

case NEUTRAL (N) shifting procedure for your vehicle.

CAUTION!

• DO NOT dolly tow any 4WD vehicle. Towing with

only one set of wheels on the ground (front or rear) will

cause severe transmission 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 recre-

ational towing.

• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require-

ments can cause severe transmission 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)

STARTING AND OPERATING

433

Shifting Into NEUTRAL (N)

Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for

recreational towing.

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground, with

the engine running. Firmly apply the parking brake.

2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL.

NOTE:

If vehicle is equipped with air suspension, ensure the vehicle

is set to Normal Ride Height.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal.
4. Shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL:

•With instruction shift transfer case, shift the transfer case

lever into NEUTRAL (N)

•With electronic shift transfer case, push and hold the

transfer case NEUTRAL (N) 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 NEUTRAL switch, below the rotary

transfer case control knob. The NEUTRAL (N) indi-

cator light will blink while the shift is in progress. The

light will stop blinking (stay on solid) when the shift to

NEUTRAL (N) is complete. After the shift is completed

and the NEUTRAL (N) light stays on, release the

NEUTRAL (N) button.

5. Release the parking brake.
6. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.

WARNING!

You or others could be injured or killed if you leave the

vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the

NEUTRAL (N) position without first fully engaging the

parking brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL (N) position

disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the

powertrain, and will allow the vehicle to roll, even if the

automatic transmission is in PARK. The parking brake

should always be applied when the driver is not in the

vehicle.

CAUTION!

It is necessary to follow these steps to be certain that the

transfer case is fully in NEUTRAL (N) before

recreational towing to prevent damage to internal parts.

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434 STARTING AND OPERATING

7. Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensure that

there is no vehicle movement.

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 with automatic transmission in

DRIVE.

9. 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.

10. Shift the transmission into PARK. On 8-speed transmis-

sions the shifter will automatically select PARK when the

engine is turned off.

11. 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.

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

bar.

13. Release the parking brake.

NOTE:

With electronic shift transfer case:
• Steps 2 through 3 are requirements that must be met before

pushing the NEUTRAL (N) button, and must continue to

be met until the shift has been completed. If any of these

requirements are not met before pushing the NEUTRAL

(N) button or are no longer met during the shift, the

NEUTRAL (N) indicator light will flash continuously until

all requirements are met or until the NEUTRAL (N) button

is released.

• The ignition must be in the ON/RUN mode for a shift to

take place and for the position indicator lights to be oper-

able. 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 NEUTRAL (N) position indicator light indi-

cates 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 compensate for temperature

effects.

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435

Shifting Out Of NEUTRAL (N)

Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for

normal usage:
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop, leaving it connected

to the tow vehicle.

2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal.
4. Start the engine. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.

•With instruction shift transfer case, shift the transfer case

lever to the desired position.

•With electronic shift transfer case with rotary selector

switch, push and hold the transfer case NEUTRAL (N)

button until the NEUTRAL (N) indicator light turns off.

After the NEUTRAL (N) indicator light turns off,

release the NEUTRAL (N) button. After the NEUTRAL

(N) button has been released, the transfer case will shift

to the position indicated 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 NEUTRAL (N)

indicator light turns off and the desired position indi-

cator light turns on.

NOTE:

When shifting out of transfer case NEUTRAL (N), turning

the engine OFF is not required, but may be helpful to avoid

gear clash. With the 8-speed automatic transmission, the

engine must remain running, since turning the engine OFF

will shift the transmission to PARK (and the transmission

must be in NEUTRAL for the transfer case to shift out of

NEUTRAL).
5. Turn the engine OFF. Shift automatic transmission into

PARK. On 8-speed transmissions the shifter will auto-

matically select PARK when the engine is turned off.

6. Release the brake pedal.
7. Disconnect vehicle from the tow vehicle.
8. Start the engine.
9. Press and hold the brake pedal.

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436 STARTING AND OPERATING

10. Release the parking brake.
11. Shift the transmission into gear, release the brake pedal,

and check that the vehicle operates normally.

NOTE:

With electronic shift transfer case:
• Steps 3 and 4 are requirements that must be met before

pushing the button to shift out of NEUTRAL (N), 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

NEUTRAL (N) 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 indicator lights to be oper-

able. 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 NEUTRAL (N) position indicator light indi-

cates that shift requirements have not been met.

DRIVING TIPS

Driving On Slippery Surfaces

Acceleration

Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slippery

surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull erratically to

the right or left. This phenomenon occurs when there is a

difference in the surface traction under the rear (driving)

wheels.

WARNING!

Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.

Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the rear

wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle and

possibly have a collision. Accelerate slowly and carefully

whenever there is likely to be poor traction (ice, snow,

wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).

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437

(Continued)

Driving Through Water

Driving through water more than a few inches/centimeters

deep will require extra caution to ensure safety and prevent

damage to your vehicle.
Flowing/Rising Water

Shallow Standing Water

Although your vehicle is capable of driving through shallow

standing water, consider the following Cautions and Warn-

ings before doing so.

WARNING!

Do not drive on or across a road or path where water is

flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flowing

water can wear away the road or path's surface and cause

your vehicle to sink into deeper water. Furthermore,

flowing and/or rising water can carry your vehicle away

swiftly. Failure to follow this warning may result in

injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your passengers,

and others around you.

WARNING!

• Driving through standing water limits your vehicle’s

traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h)

when driving through standing water.

• Driving through standing water limits your vehicle’s

braking capabilities, which increases stopping

distances. Therefore, after driving through standing

water, drive slowly and lightly press on the brake pedal

several times to dry the brakes.

• Failure to follow these warnings may result in injuries

that are serious or fatal to you, your passengers, and

others around you.

CAUTION!

• Always check the depth of the standing water before

driving through it. Never drive through standing water

that is deeper than the bottom of the tire rims mounted

on the vehicle.

• Determine the condition of the road or the path that is

under water and if there are any obstacles in the way

before driving through the standing water.

• Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving through

standing water. This will minimize wave effects.

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438 STARTING AND OPERATING

Off-Road Driving Tips

Care should be taken when attempting to climb steep hills or

driving diagonally across a hill or slope. If natural obstacles

force you to travel diagonally up or down a hill, choose a

mild angle and keep as little side tilt as possible. Keep the

vehicle moving and make turns slowly and cautiously.
If you must back down a hill, back straight down using

REVERSE gear. Never back down in NEUTRAL or diago-

nally across the hill.
When driving over sand, mud, and other soft terrain, shift to

low gear and drive steadily. Apply the accelerator slowly to

avoid spinning the wheels.
Do not reduce the tire pressures for this type of driving.

• Driving through standing water may cause damage to

your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Always inspect

your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, transmission, axle,

etc.) for signs of contamination (i.e., fluid that is milky

or foamy in appearance) after driving through standing

water. Do not continue to operate the vehicle if any

fluid appears contaminated, as this may result in

further damage. Such damage is not covered by the

New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can cause it

to lock up and stall out, and cause serious internal

damage to the engine. Such damage is not covered by

the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

CAUTION! (Continued)

STARTING AND OPERATING

439

After Driving Off-Road

Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than

does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it is always

a good idea to check for damage. That way you can get any

problems taken care of right away and have your vehicle

ready when you need it.
• Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle. Check

tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and exhaust

system for damage.

• Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as

required.

• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on the

chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and suspension.

Retighten them, if required, and torque to the values spec-

ified in the Service Instruction.

• Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These things

could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage to fuel

lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.

• After extended operation in mud, sand, water, or similar

dirty conditions, have the radiator, fan, brake rotors,

wheels, brake linings, and axle yokes inspected and

cleaned as soon as possible.

• If you experience unusual vibration after driving in mud,

slush or similar conditions, check the wheels for impacted

material. Impacted material can cause a wheel imbalance

and freeing the wheels of it will correct the situation.

WARNING!

Abrasive material in any part of the brakes may cause

excessive wear or unpredictable braking. You might not

have full braking power when you need it to prevent a

collision. If you have been operating your vehicle in

dirty conditions, get your brakes checked and cleaned as

necessary.

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440

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS

The Hazard Warning switch is located on the upper

switch bank just below the radio.

NOTE:

If your vehicle is equipped with a 12–inch Uconnect display,

the Hazard Warning switch is located above the display.
Push the switch to turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.

When the switch is activated, all directional turn signals will

flash on and off to warn oncoming traffic of an emergency.

Push the switch a second time to turn off the Hazard

Warning flashers.

This is an emergency warning system and it should not be used

when the vehicle is in motion. Use it when your vehicle is

disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for other motorists.
When you must leave the vehicle to seek assistance, the

Hazard Warning flashers will continue to operate even

though the ignition is placed in the OFF position.
NOTE:

With extended use the Hazard Warning flashers may wear

down your battery.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

441

ASSIST AND SOS SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED

Assist And SOS Buttons

If equipped, the overhead console contains an ASSIST and a

SOS button.

NOTE:
• Your vehicle may be transmitting data as authorized by

the subscriber.

• The SOS and ASSIST buttons will only function if you are

connected to an operable LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data)

network. Other Uconnect services will only be operable if

your SiriusXM Guardian™ service is active and you are

connected to an operable LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data)

network.

1 — ASSIST Button

2 — SOS Button

WARNING!

ALWAYS obey traffic laws and pay attention to the road.

ALWAYS drive safely with your hands on the steering

wheel. You have full responsibility and assume all risks

related to the use of the features and applications in this

vehicle. Only use the features and applications when it is

safe to do so. Failure to do so may result in an accident

involving serious injury or death.

6

442 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

ASSIST Call
The ASSIST Button is used to automatically connect you to

any one of the following support centers:
• Roadside Assistance – If you get a flat tire, or need a tow,

just push the ASSIST button and you’ll be connected to

someone who can help. Roadside Assistance will know

what vehicle you’re driving and its location. Additional

fees may apply for roadside assistance.

• SiriusXM Guardian™ Customer Care – In-vehicle support

for SiriusXM Guardian™.

• Vehicle Customer Care – Total support for all other vehicle

issues.

SOS Call
1. Push the SOS Call button on the overhead console.
NOTE:

In case the SOS Call button is pushed in error, there will be a

ten second delay before the SOS Call system initiates a call to

a SOS operator. To cancel the SOS Call connection, push the

SOS call button on the overhead console or press the cancel-

lation button on the Device Screen. Termination of the SOS

Call will turn off the green LED light on the overhead

console.

2. The LED light located between the ASSIST and SOS

buttons on the overhead console will turn green once a

connection to a SOS operator has been made.

3. Once a connection between the vehicle and a SOS oper-

ator is made, the SOS Call system may transmit the

following important vehicle information to a SOS oper-

ator:
•Indication that the occupant placed a SOS Call.

•The vehicle brand.

•The last known GPS coordinates of the vehicle.

4. You should be able to speak with the SOS operator

through the vehicle audio system to determine if addi-

tional help is needed.

WARNING!

ALWAYS obey traffic laws and pay attention to the road.

ALWAYS drive safely with your hands on the steering

wheel. You have full responsibility and assume all risks

related to the use of the features and applications in this

vehicle. Only use the features and applications when it is

safe to do so. Failure to do so may result in an accident

involving serious injury or death.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

443

(Continued)

NOTE:

• Your vehicle may be transmitting data as authorized by

the subscriber.

• Once a connection is made between the vehicle’s SOS Call

system and the SOS operator, the SOS operator may be

able to open a voice connection with the vehicle to deter-

mine if additional help is needed. Once the SOS operator

opens a voice connection with the vehicle’s SOS Call

system, the operator should be able to speak with you or

other vehicle occupants and hear sounds occurring in the

vehicle. The vehicle’s SOS Call system will attempt to

remain connected with the SOS operator until the SOS

operator terminates the connection.

5. The SOS operator may attempt to contact appropriate

emergency responders and provide them with important

vehicle information and GPS coordinates.

WARNING!

• If anyone in the vehicle could be in danger (e.g., fire or

smoke is visible, dangerous road conditions or loca-

tion), do not wait for voice contact from an Emergency

Services Agent. All occupants should exit the vehicle

immediately and move to a safe location.

• Never place anything on or near the vehicle’s operable

network and GPS antennas. You could prevent oper-

able network and GPS signal reception, which can

prevent your vehicle from placing an emergency call.

An operable network and GPS signal reception is

required for the SOS Call system to function properly.

• The SOS Call system is embedded into the vehicle’s elec-

trical system. Do not add aftermarket electrical equipment

to the vehicle’s electrical system. This may prevent your

vehicle from sending a signal to initiate an emergency call.

To avoid interference that can cause the SOS Call system to

fail, never add aftermarket equipment (e.g., two-way

mobile radio, CB radio, data recorder, etc.) to your vehicle’s

electrical system or modify the antennas on your vehicle. IF

YOUR VEHICLE LOSES BATTERY POWER FOR ANY

REASON (INCLUDING DURING OR AFTER AN ACCI-

DENT), THE UCONNECT FEATURES, APPS AND

SERVICES, AMONG OTHERS, WILL NOT OPERATE.

• Modifications to any part of the SOS Call system could

cause the air bag system to fail when you need it. You

could be injured if the air bag system is not there to

help protect you.

WARNING! (Continued)

6

444 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

(Continued)

SOS Call System Limitations
Vehicles sold in Mexico DO NOT have SOS Call system

capabilities.
SOS or other emergency line operators in Mexico may not

answer or respond to SOS system calls.
If the SOS Call system detects a malfunction, any of the

following may occur at the time the malfunction is detected,

and at the beginning of each ignition cycle:
• The overhead console light located between the ASSIST

and SOS buttons will continuously be illuminated red.

• The Device Screen will display the following message:

“Vehicle device requires service. Please contact your

dealer.”

• An In-Vehicle Audio message will state “Vehicle device

requires service. Please contact your dealer.”

Even if the SOS Call system is fully functional, factors

beyond FCA US LLC’s control may prevent or stop the SOS

Call system operation. These include, but are not limited to,

the following factors:
• Delayed accessories mode is active.
• The ignition is in the OFF position.
• The vehicle’s electrical systems are not intact.
• The SOS Call system software and/or hardware are

damaged during a crash.

• The vehicle battery loses power or becomes disconnected

during a vehicle crash.

• LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data) network and/or Global

Positioning Satellite signals are unavailable or obstructed.

WARNING!

• Ignoring the overhead console light could mean you

will not have SOS Call services. If the overhead console

light is illuminated, have your authorized dealer

service the SOS Call system immediately.

• The Occupant Restraint Control module turns on the

air bag Warning Light on the instrument panel if a

malfunction in any part of the system is detected. If the

Air Bag Warning Light is illuminated, have your autho-

rized dealer service the Occupant Restraint Control

system immediately.

WARNING! (Continued)