21 Ram 1500 Transmission fluid change question

[FIRE UP]

Well,
I scanned through some of the answers but I didn't see what I do. Maybe it was there and I just didn't see it. Anyway, I've had two Harbor Freight ramps for quite a while and they've done well for most of my under vehicle ops. But, up purchase of our new-to-us '21 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Ecodiesel, I found I've needed to get the WHOLE truck up for various operations and maintenance, install of equipment etc. Sooooo, with all that crap being said, I simply buzzed on down to my local H/F and bought TWO MORE of those ramps.

Now, even though the bottom of those ramps is slightly "grippy" in some sort of fashion, they still have tendency to *creep* a bit when trying to drive up on them. Soooo, I simply put the truck in 4WL and creep it right up all four ramps all at the same time. Waaaaaaaaaay easier. That height gives me pretty fair clearance for my fat 72 year old body to buzz around on my high speed creeper. And, since all four ramps are the same exact height, the truck sits pretty darn level when all is said and done.

When the ramps are not in use, there's holes in the tapered end so I can hang them on the wall and out of the way.
Scott

 

[pbzzz]

back it into garage . . .

 

[v737d]

I just accomplished this on my 2020 Ram 1500 4x4.
First to your problem, you now have a legit excuse to go buy a new hyd floor jack. I used one from HF and jacked under the diff.

Was aa me to get the pan rail level, also had to jack the driver's side frame rail a bit to level the rail side to side.

Other notes; I pumped 7qt 20oz back into the trans with the same pan you have. No idea how much came out, quite a bit ended up on my driveway. (Looks like Hazelwood had an accident).

Zero chance of getting the stock drain plug out, it was dead center under the cross pipe.

Practice screwing the fill plug back in a few times. If you have leather gloves, preferably long ones like welding gloves. They will help protect your arms screwing the plug back in. The cats get hot fast! If course you could wait for it all to cool down then reinstall the plug before lowering the truck.

I got lucky I the wx here in TX, overcast and 80 deg when I started. Plenty of time to get the whole process done before she got too hot. I did pump the final ~2 qts as quick as I could though. It was an auto parts store fluid pump.

If you're truly paranoid check the new drain plug for tightness‍

Cheers

Chris

 

[BaileyBoyz]

Park on an incline and block the front tires. You will need to lift the rear less that way. Remember you will need to cycle through some gears and quickly check and probably add oil.

 

[Wild one]

guess i am lucky. i have air ride suspension. i raise truck to max offroad lift with front disconnected and it is prefect.

That's not gonna level the transmission,plus you still need the tires in the air to do it properly

 

[Wild one]

Well,
I scanned through some of the answers but I didn't see what I do. Maybe it was there and I just didn't see it. Anyway, I've had two Harbor Freight ramps for quite a while and they've done well for most of my under vehicle ops. But, up purchase of our new-to-us '21 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Ecodiesel, I found I've needed to get the WHOLE truck up for various operations and maintenance, install of equipment etc. Sooooo, with all that crap being said, I simply buzzed on down to my local H/F and bought TWO MORE of those ramps.

Now, even though the bottom of those ramps is slightly "grippy" in some sort of fashion, they still have tendency to *creep* a bit when trying to drive up on them. Soooo, I simply put the truck in 4WL and creep it right up all four ramps all at the same time. Waaaaaaaaaay easier. That height gives me pretty fair clearance for my fat 72 year old body to buzz around on my high speed creeper. And, since all four ramps are the same exact height, the truck sits pretty darn level when all is said and done.

When the ramps are not in use, there's holes in the tapered end so I can hang them on the wall and out of the way.
Scott

If you're planning on servicing the transmission,you need to level the transmission,not the truck.To get the transmission level,you need the rear tires roughly 9" higher then the front tires

 

[HanoverFist]

Might want to refer to my recent post at LINK
and most recently LINKY 2
And a few pics. Note the almost flat tires on the front in the second pic.
I'll be adding pic's of a cheap pump setup I used later
View attachment 567352View attachment 567353

I got through my fluid change. Ended up with the rear tires around 12” off the ground….that had tranny rail level. Didnt like being under the truck like that though.

 

[HanoverFist]

I can fit under my truck pretty easily when it's on flat ground, so I took the chance without jack stands...even if it fell, it would probably make me $hit my pants, but wouldn't hurt me.

Transmission rail has to be level….which entails jacking the rear of the truck up quite a bit.

 

[Tominator223]

Where’s the line start to slap the engineers. Asking for a friend. lol

 

[GeauxinUp]

Transmission rail has to be level….which entails jacking the rear of the truck up quite a bit.

Yep…

 

[Marshall]

I never had a hoist, But being on the farm and having lots of good used planks , I used them more then metal ramps.
I think using a hoist would be like a really good pair of shoes,
You think wth Did I keep buying cheap shoes on sale crap all these years,
ie rolling around in the dirt with hot oil dripping in your face.
You don't want to go back. LOL.

Actually , I kind of miss doing that stuff and jumping into the truck box and teaching the kids .

I also helped take down a railway bridge next door when rail line pulled the plug on us , I made up a couple sets of timber ramps with long chain saw, 12x16 inch timbers 3 ft and 5 ft long, I could use them for the tandem, but need a front end loader.
I was always leary of jacking up on the dif case.

 

[EdGs]

Yep, jack it up under the pumpkin with a block of wood.

 

[TJP440]

Race Ramps, available on Amazon. They held up my 2500, should work for your 1500. They come in several heights.

Good idea but they will not allow the part of the process that involves running in 2nd gear at 2K rpm for 5 Seconds or the other ridiculous BS steps of the procedure

 

[hemihustlin]

Yep…

you can go for it all you want but no way im going under with just chinese hydraulic valves and cylinders holding that...

 

[TJP440]

Where’s the line start to slap the engineers. Asking for a friend. lol

Starts in Germany at ZF and goes all the way to Italy So get in line

 

[viviane7]

I ran into the same issue with my 1500. Ended up using ramps in the front and heavy-duty jack stands with blocks in the rear to get it all level. Took a bit of adjusting with a level on the pan rail, but it worked. Just take your time and be safe—totally worth it.

 

[jimmyfjk]

That's not gonna level the transmission,plus you still need the tires in the air to do it properly

yes the pan is perfectly level this way and i have plenty of room. It is an off road truck.

 

[mfifield01]

guess i am lucky. i have air ride suspension. i raise truck to max offroad lift with front disconnected and it is prefect.

What did you disconnect in the front? I have the air suspension as well, but that only really helps with ground clearance. It brings the whole truck up, not just the rear.

 

[Wild one]

What did you disconnect in the front? I have the air suspension as well, but that only really helps with ground clearance. It brings the whole truck up, not just the rear.

Probably the little arms that attach to the height sensors