Towing A Disabled Vehicle; Freeing A Stuck Vehicle - RAM 1500 2014 User Manual

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE

Towing Wheels OFF the
Condition
Flat Tow
Wheel Lift or
Dolly Tow
Flatbed

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE

• If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can often be moved using
a rocking motion. Turn your steering wheel right and left to clear the area around
the front wheels. Then shift back and forth between DRIVE and REVERSE (with
automatic transmission) or 2nd gear and REVERSE (with manual transmission)
while gently pressing the accelerator. Use the least amount of accelerator pedal
pressure that will maintain the rocking motion, without spinning the wheels or
racing the engine.
NOTE:
Press the "ESC Off" switch, to place the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system in
"Partial Off" mode before rocking the vehicle. Once the vehicle has been freed, press
the "ESC Off" switch again to restore "ESC On" mode.
• Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to transmission overheating
and failure. Allow the engine to idle with the shift lever in NEUTRAL for at least
one minute after every five rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize overheat-
ing and reduce the risk of transmission failure during prolonged efforts to free
a stuck vehicle.
• When "rocking" a stuck vehicle by moving between DRIVE/2nd and REVERSE,
do not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage may
result.
• Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast may lead to transmission
overheating and failure. It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels
above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no transmission shifting occurring).
196
Ground
If transmission is operable:
• Transmission in NEUTRAL
NONE
• 30 mph (48 km/h) max
• 15 miles (24 km) max
distance
Front
Rear
ALL
CAUTION!
2WD Models
OK
BEST METHOD
4WD Models
• Auto Transmission
in PARK
• Manual Trans-
mission in gear
(NOT NEUTRAL)
• Transfer Case in
NEUTRAL
• Tow in FORWARD
direction
NOT ALLOWED
NOT ALLOWED
BEST METHOD