Dodge 2500 (2009 year). Instruction

vehicle from DRIVE to REVERSE, while applying
throttle after each shift. During this process, for addi-
tional traction, try turning your steering wheel quickly
back and forth no more than a

⁄

turn. If you are stuck

in mud, sand, or snow try spinning your tires during
this process to clean the debris from the tread and
improve the traction. You want to create a rocking
motion with the vehicle. This helps build vehicle
momentum, which hopefully gets you out. Remember
to ease off and on the accelerator before and after the
shift. If after a few rock cycles your vehicle is not free,
stop and try another method of recovery. Continuous
rock cycling will only cause unnecessary damage to
your vehicle and the environment.

CAUTION!

Damage can occur when spinning your tires at an
excessive high speed. Do not spin your tires faster
than an indicated 35 mph (56 km/h).

• Using the Tow Hooks With a Tow Strap – Tow straps

are a quick and easy way to recover your vehicle from
minor situations if you have a secondary vehicle
which is not stuck. The tow hooks on your vehicle are
designed to take the abusive force generated during
vehicle recovery. Do not use the bumper or any other
vehicle component as an attachment point. Using tow
straps requires coordination between the two drivers.
Good communication and line of sight are required for
a safe recovery. First connect the tow strap to the
correct attachment points on both vehicles. There
should be a least 20 to 30 feet between the vehicles to
allow for a safe recovery. If necessary join two tow

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straps together using a 1

⁄

inch hard wood dowel.

This will keep the straps from becoming knotted and is
safer than using a clevis pin if the strap breaks. Next
have the tow vehicle backup, leaving two to three feet
worth of slack in the strap. Then the tow vehicle, using
light throttle, should accelerate tightening the strap
providing the pulling force needed to free the vehicle.
The vehicle being recovered should assist in the recov-
ery, at the time of the snap, by slowly spinning the tires
in the same direction as the pulling vehicle. After the
vehicle becomes free, the driver of the previously
stuck vehicle should signal they are free and should
hit their brakes stopping both vehicles. The driver of
the pulling vehicle should let off the throttle without
using the brakes, once signaled by the other driver.
This sequence is important to avoid having the recov-
ered vehicle hit the pulling vehicle.

WARNING!

Never use tow straps with end hooks or link two
straps with a clevis pin. These heavy metal objects
could become projectiles if a strap breaks, which
could cause severe injury. Never leave more than two
or three feet of slack in the strap. More slack than this
greatly increases the risk of injury and vehicle dam-
age. Always keep everyone at least 30 feet away from
a strapping or winching situation.

• Winching (Refer to “Winch Operation” for addi-

tional information)

– Winching is most commonly

used in the following situations: there is no support
vehicle available, a high controlled force is required to
recover the vehicle, there is a high risk of environmen-
tal or vehicle damage, or where nothing else seems to
work. A winch can deliver a high pulling force with a
great deal of control. It allows you to walk the vehicle

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301

out of the situation in a slow controlled manner. This
control works well for avoiding further vehicle dam-
age. Once you decide it is time to use the winch look
for a good anchor point. It needs to be strong enough
to hold more than the vehicle’s weight and provide a
direction of pull as straight as possible. Use block and
tackle if necessary to improve the angle of pull or
increase the winch’s pulling force. If the anchor point
is a tree use a strap around its base and hook the cable
to the strap. If it is another vehicle, then place that
vehicle in PARK and block the front tires. If you cannot
find an anchor point within reach try using your spare
tire by burying it. Once you have determined an
anchor point hook up the cable, ensuring there are a
least five wraps of cable left on the drum, and place a
floor mat or something else over the strung out cable.
Placing something over the strung out cable helps
keep the cable on the ground if it breaks. Next, place
the vehicle in 1st gear and apply a very light throttle as

you power the winch in. Be careful not to allow slack
in the cable as you recover the vehicle. Do not try to
guide the cable into the drum. If it starts to bunch up
on one end, let it. You can re-spool the cable after-
wards. Never use a winch cable as a tow strap and
always stand back while winching.

WARNING!

Winch cables are under high tension when in use and
can become a projectile if they fail. Never stand over
or straddle the winch cable. Never jerk or overload
the winch cable. Never stand in front of the vehicle
while winching. Failure to follow these instructions
can result in serious or fatal injury.

After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After driving off-road, it is
always a good idea to check for damage.

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• Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.

Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and
exhaust system for damage.

• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on

the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and sus-
pension. Retighten them, if required, and torque to the
values specified in the Service Instruction.

• Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These

things could be a fire hazard, or 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 brake drums and rotors,
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
packed material. Packed foreign material can cause a
wheel imbalance and cleaning the wheels 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 an accident. If you have been operating your
vehicle in dirty conditions, get your brakes checked
and cleaned as necessary. Failure to do so may result
is serious injury.

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303

LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL – IF EQUIPPED
The limited-slip differential provides additional traction
on snow, ice, mud, sand and gravel, particularly when
there is a difference between the traction characteristics
of the surface under the right and left rear wheels. During
normal driving and cornering, the limited-slip unit per-
forms similarly to a conventional differential. On slip-
pery surfaces, however, the differential delivers more of
the driving effort to the rear wheel having the better
traction.

The limited-slip differential is especially helpful during
slippery driving conditions. With both rear wheels on a
slippery surface, a slight application of the accelerator
will supply maximum traction. When starting with only
one rear wheel on an excessively slippery surface, slight
momentary application of the parking brake may be
necessary to gain maximum traction.

WARNING!

On vehicles equipped with a limited-slip differential
never run the engine with one rear wheel off the
ground since the vehicle may drive through the rear
wheel remaining on the ground. You could lose
control of the vehicle.

Care should be taken to avoid sudden accelerations when
both rear wheels are on a slippery surface. This could
cause both rear wheels to spin, and allow the vehicle to
slide sideways on the crowned surface of a road or in a
turn.

DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is known as hydroplaning and may cause
partial or complete loss of vehicle control and stopping

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ability. To reduce this possibility, the following precau-
tions should be observed:

1. Slow down during rainstorms or when roads are
slushy.

2. Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.

3. Replace tires when tread wear indicators first become
visible.

4. Keep tires properly inflated.

5. Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and
the car in front of you to avoid a collision in a sudden
stop.

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

WARNING!

Do not drive on or across a road or path where water
is flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flow-
ing 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.

Shallow Standing Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through
shallow standing water, consider the following Caution
and Warning before doing so.

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305

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 wa-
ter.

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

through standing water. This will minimize wave
effects.

(Continued)

CAUTION! (Continued)

• Driving through standing water may cause dam-

age to your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Al-
ways inspect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil,
transmission/transaxle, axle, etc.) for signs of con-
tamination (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.

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WARNING!

• Driving through standing water limits your vehi-

cle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph
(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.

• Driving through standing water limits your vehi-

cle’s braking capabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after driving through
standing water, drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.

• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can

cause it to lock up and stall out, and leave you
stranded.

• Failure to follow these warnings may result in

injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your
passengers, and others around you.

DRIVING OFF-ROAD — RAM TRUCK ONLY
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
diagonally 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.

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307

NOTE:

After off-road usage, particularly in sand or

mud, inspect the underside of the vehicle for accumu-
lated dirt at the propeller shaft, axles, U-joints, brake
rotors and calipers.

Use a hose to clean off any accumulation of dirt or mud.

Check the exhaust system and all exposed components
for any sign of damage.

If you experience unusual vibration after driving in mud,
slush or similar conditions, check the wheels for im-
pacted material. Impacted foreign material can cause a
wheel imbalance. Removing the foreign material from
the wheels will correct the situation.

WINCH USAGE – IF EQUIPPED (POWER WAGON
ONLY)

Things To Know Before Using Your Winch

General Winch Information
Your vehicle is equipped with an electric vehicle recovery
winch. This winch uses the electrical power from the
vehicle charging system to power a motor that winds
wire rope into the winch drum via planetary gear reduc-
tion. By nature, a winch is capable of generating very
high forces and should be used with care. Do not operate
the winch without reading and understanding the com-
plete winch owner’s instruction.

Tensioning the Wire Rope
The winch rope must be properly tensioned before use.
Follow the instructions below to tension the rope:

1. Un-spool the wire rope leaving five wraps of rope on
the winch drum.

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2. Attach the hook to a suitable anchor point.

CAUTION!

Be certain the anchor will withstand the load re-
quired to tension the wire rope.

3. Apply at least 500 lbs (227 kg) of tension to the rope
while winding the rope. Always use care to ensure the
rope does not pile up on one side of the drum and is
neatly wound onto the drum.

CAUTION!

Wire rope must spool on the winch drum in the
direction indicated on the drum rotation decal on the
winch.

Low Voltage Interrupt
Your winch is equipped with a device that will interrupt
winch function if the vehicle charging system voltage
drops to a low level. The winch will not power-in or out
for 30 seconds if this device is tripped. If the interrupt is
tripped, the vehicle should be operated at high idle for a
few minutes to allow the vehicle charging system to
recover before continuing to winch.

Winch Motor Thermal Protection
Your winch is equipped with a thermal protection device
in the motor. If the winch is operated for an excessive
duration, the device may interrupt motor function to
protect the winch motor. During this time the winch will
power-out but will not power-in. Allow the winch motor
to cool for a few minutes before continuing to winch. The
winch will resume normal function once the motor cools.

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1. Motor: The winch motor is powered by the vehicle
charging system and features a thermal protection switch
that automatically stops motor function in the power-in
direction if the motor gets too hot.

2. Remote Socket: The remote socket allows the remote
control to be attached to the control pack to allow the
winch to function.

3. Winch Drum with Integral Brake: The winch drum
allows the wire rope to be stored on the winch and
transmits force to the wire rope. The winch is equipped
with an integral brake that will stop rotation of the winch
drum if the winch motor is stopped.

4. 3-Stage Planetary Gear Set: Provides balance between
speed and pulling power.

5. Wire Rope: The wire rope allows the winch to be
connected to an anchor to provide a pulling force.

6. Clutch Lever: The clutch lever allows the winch drum
to be disconnected from the winch motor to allow the
wire rope to be pulled from the winch by hand.

7. Remote Control: The remote control provides the
interface between the winch operator and the winch. The
remote control provides the ability to power the winch in,
out, and stop the winch. To operate the winch, the toggle
switch is pressed down to power the winch in and up to
power the winch out. The winch will stop if the switch is
left in the neutral (center) position.

CAUTION!

If not installed, the hook strap must be placed on the
hook.

Fairlead:

The fairlead acts as a guide for the wire rope

and minimizes damage to the rope.

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Winch Accessories

The following accessories are necessary to attach the
winch to anchors, change direction of pull, and for safe
winching.

Gloves:

Wire rope, through

use, will develop

⬙barbs⬙

which can slice skin. It is ex-
tremely important to wear
protective gloves while oper-
ating the winch or handling
the wire rope. Avoid loose fit-
ting clothes or anything that
could become entangled in
the wire rope and other mov-
ing parts.

Snatch/Block Pulley:

Used

properly, the multi-purpose
snatch block allows you to (1)
increase the winch’s pulling
power; and (2) change your
pulling

direction

without

damaging the wire rope.
Proper use of the snatch block
is covered in

⬙Before You

Pull.

⬙

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Clevis/D-Shackles:

The

D-Shackle is a safe means of
connecting the looped ends of
cables, straps and snatch
blocks. The shackle’s pin is
threaded to allow easy re-
moval.

Tree Trunk Protector:

Typi-

cally made of tough, high-
quality nylon, it provides the
operator an attachment point
for the winch rope to a wide
variety of anchor points and
objects, as well as protect liv-
ing trees.

Operating Your Winch

WARNING!

• Always use supplied hook strap to hold the hook

when spooling wire rope in or out.

• Never use as a hoist.
• Never use to move persons.

• Never exceed winch or wire rope rated capacity.

• Always wear heavy leather gloves when handling

the wire rope.

• Never touch wire rope or hook while in tension or

under load.

• Never engage or disengage clutch if winch is

under load, wire rope is in tension, or wire rope
drum is moving.

• Always stand clear of wire rope and load and keep

others away during winching.

(Continued)

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WARNING! (Continued)

• Always keep hands and clothing clear of the wire

rope, hook and fairlead opening during operation
and when spooling.

• Never wrap wire rope back onto itself. Always use

a choker chain, wire choker rope or tree trunk
protector on the anchor.

• Never attach a recovery strap to the winch hook to

increase the length of a pull.

• Never attempt to tow a vehicle with the recovery

strap attached directly to the winch hook.

• Never use ⴖbungeeⴖ straps that develop tremen-

dous and potentially dangerous amounts of force
when stretched.

• Always disconnect the remote control when not in

use.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Never winch when there are less than five wraps

of wire rope around the winch drum.

• Always pass remote control through a window to

avoid pinching lead in door, then using remote
inside a vehicle.

• Never leave the remote control plugged into the

winch while free spooling, rigging or sitting idle.

Failure to observe any of these warnings regarding
proper winch usage may result in severe injury.

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General Information
Practice using your winch before you get stuck. Some key
points to remember when using your winch are:

1. Always take your time to assess the situation and plan
your pull carefully.

2. Always take your time when using a winch.

3. Use the right equipment for the situation.

4. Always wear leather gloves and do not allow the wire
rope to slip through your hands when handling the rope.

5. Only the operator should handle the wire rope and
remote control.

6. Think safety at all times.

Vehicle Recovery Using the Winch

CAUTION!

• Always Know Your Winch: Take the time to fully

read and understand the included Installation and
Operations Guide, and Basic Guide to Winching
Techniques, in order to understand your winch
and the winching operation.

• Always inspect winch installation and wire rope

condition before operating the winch. Frayed,
kinked or damaged wire rope must be replaced
immediately. Loose or damaged winch installation
must be corrected immediately.

• Always be sure any element which can interfere

with safe winching operations is removed prior to
initiating winching.

(Continued)

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Dodge 2500 (2009 year). Instruction - part 19