So what about the + / - gear buttons?

[Magfan2]

Got these buttons on the dash, fumble fingered one today, -8 came up. No apparent difference. This is a new to me last October truck - mostly on the road and easy recreational. My assumption is that the feature will let me stay in a particular gear if I select it. Don't expect to need it, have the regular 2 and 4WD selections. . I could do that with a GTO I owned and my 2005 Hemi Dodge Magnum, but that was basically street racing stuff. Mostly curious as to value and usage.

 

[MADDOG]

The buttons on the right side (usually plus and minus + / -) serve as a gear limiter:

• When to use: They are primarily used when towing heavy loads, ascending or descending steep hills, or to prevent the truck from constantly hunting for gears on inclines.
• How to engage: Press the - (minus) button while the transmission is in Drive D. A small number will pop up in your instrument cluster indicating the current gear limit (e.g., D8, D7, etc.).
• Adjusting: Continue pressing - to lock out higher gears one by one, effectively forcing the transmission to stay in a lower range. Pressing + increases the gear limit.
• Disabling: To exit ERS mode and return to full automatic shifting, press and hold the + button until the gear number disappears from your display.

I use mine when towing, with or without cruise control, to turn off MDS and to keep the truck in a good power range when pulling up hills. The ZF 8 spd with this feature engaged and with cruise control on makes for a very smooth towing experience.

 

[seems fishy]

You can use those to shut off MDS,as well,as Maddog said
I tried to turn that feature off using a Diablo Trinity EX tuner,but found ,MDS cannot be turned off permanently that way,with my experience.After a time I noticed it somehow shows up again,after a few weeks.Tried several times trying to tune it out.So I always disable it with those buttons,when I put it in gear.

 

[Wild one]

Got these buttons on the dash, fumble fingered one today, -8 came up. No apparent difference. This is a new to me last October truck - mostly on the road and easy recreational. My assumption is that the feature will let me stay in a particular gear if I select it. Don't expect to need it, have the regular 2 and 4WD selections. . I could do that with a GTO I owned and my 2005 Hemi Dodge Magnum, but that was basically street racing stuff. Mostly curious as to value and usage.

It also kills mds mode,but i'm not a huge fan of defeating the mds system with a stock cam.
One of the best mods i did,was have my buddy install his paddle shifter kit in my truck about a dozen years ago.
I actually prefer the trucks paddles over the tiptronic paddles in the cars,i used the trucks paddles all the time,and very seldom ever used them in the wifes Challengers or our 300.

 

[TradesmanGuy]

I use mine on a long downhill. Don't want to ride the brakes.

 

[04fxdwgi]

It also kills mds mode,but i'm not a huge fan of defeating the mds system with a stock cam.
One of the best mods i did,was have my buddy install his paddle shifter kit in my truck about a dozen years ago.
I actually prefer the trucks paddles over the tiptronic paddles in the cars,i used the trucks paddles all the time,and very seldom ever used them in the wifes Challengers or our 300.

That is one of the mods I want to try on my truck. Seems like a better solution than the buttons. Might pick up a used steering wheel to try it on.

 

[dieselscout80]

It also kills mds mode,but i'm not a huge fan of defeating the mds system with a stock cam.
One of the best mods i did,was have my buddy install his paddle shifter kit in my truck about a dozen years ago.
I actually prefer the trucks paddles over the tiptronic paddles in the cars,i used the trucks paddles all the time,and very seldom ever used them in the wifes Challengers or our 300.

Out of curiosity what are those paddle shifters from that you installed on your truck?

Also, is there a thread about the installation?

 

[RamDiver]

Got these buttons on the dash, fumble fingered one today, -8 came up. No apparent difference. This is a new to me last October truck - mostly on the road and easy recreational. My assumption is that the feature will let me stay in a particular gear if I select it. Don't expect to need it, have the regular 2 and 4WD selections. . I could do that with a GTO I owned and my 2005 Hemi Dodge Magnum, but that was basically street racing stuff. Mostly curious as to value and usage.

I use the ERS buttons to defeat the MDS whenever I drive in the city , unless on a larger/faster road. Most of my driving is on rural highways.

I believe this foolish concept of improving the fuel economy by maintaining a low rpm is not conducive with extending the life expectancy of my truck.

Also, increasing the rpm slightly doesn't impair the fuel economy nearly as much as it improves the engine response, reduces acceleration delay, and I believe the effort for both the engine and transmission are reduced.

When on approach to my house, the truck will attempt to maintain about 1100 rpm on a small grade, tapping the ERS '-' button a couple of times keeps the rpm about 1500.

Passing vehicles while driving on small twisty rural highways with short passing opportunities is greatly improved with a double tap on the ERS '-' button.

As you can see, I use the ERS buttons almost every time I drive. I believe they are a great feature, and that they improve my enjoyment factor while maintaining a healthier operational state for my truck.

I learned to drive with a standard and have owned several motorcycles. Maintaining a practical rpm that avoids lugging the gears is what works for me.

YMMV.

.

 

[Rlaf75]

I use the gear limiter to shut off MDS everytime I put the truck into drive

 

[Wild one]

Out of curiosity what are those paddle shifters from that you installed on your truck?

Also, is there a thread about the installation?

They're Mercedes AMG paddles. No thread on the install. My buddy did 3 of them back in early 2015,but @Brandon-w figured out how he did them several years later and was building a kit to install them,so check and see if he still has enough parts on hand to build you a kit.

 

[Wild one]

Paddle Shifters

I've seen a couple of threads here about adding paddle shifters but they're just a re-wire of the EMS Gear +/- buttons on the steering wheel. I'm interested in true paddle shifters that'll shift the transmission when i press the paddle, not just change the top available gear. Anyone done this or...

www.ramforum.com

 

[Dean2]

I use the gear limiter when towing (plus the tow haul setting), going downhill or up in themountains, even empty to save on brakes and shifting, and in town to limit the max gear the PU can shift into. Other than that I let it run in the usual D setting with MDS active as I do not believe MDS causes any harm at all and on flat ground the PU does get slightly better gas mileage.

 

[RamDiver]

Paddle Shifters

I've seen a couple of threads here about adding paddle shifters but they're just a re-wire of the EMS Gear +/- buttons on the steering wheel. I'm interested in true paddle shifters that'll shift the transmission when i press the paddle, not just change the top available gear. Anyone done this or...

www.ramforum.com

I might need a set of paddle shifters in the near future.

Paddles in action.

Paddle shifters in action. This was on a closed course, I do not reccomend or endorse any illegal activities. That said these are hella fun. I would have pro...

www.youtube.com

This looks interesting.

2013 - 2026 Ram 1500 | STEERING WHEEL MAGNETIC PADDLE SHIFTERS PAIR

2013 - 2026 Ram 1500 | STEERING WHEEL MAGNETIC PADDLE SHIFTERS PAIR Our High-Performance Series Magnetic Paddle Shifters bring Formula 1 race inspired technology into the cockpit of your ride, designed with F race inspired tech for precise, consistent shifts every time, no matter where you press...

streetdrivenperformance.net

Fitment:​

Years: 2013, 13, 2014, 14, 2015, 15, 2016, 16, 2017, 17, 2018, 18, 2019, 19, 2020, 20, 2021, 21, 2022, 22, 2023, 23, 2024, 24, 2025, 25, 2026, 26

Models: All 2013 - Present Ram 1500 models Laramie / Longhorn / Big Horn / Lone Star / Sport / R/T / Outdoorsman / Limited / Warlock / Rebel / SRT / RHO / Tungsten / HFE / Express / SLT /

.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I use the ERS buttons whenever I drive in the city to defeat the MDS, unless on a larger/faster road. Most of my driving is on rural highways.

I believe this foolish concept of improving the fuel economy by maintaining a low rpm is not conducive with extending the life expectancy of my truck.

Also, increasing the rpm slightly doesn't impair the fuel economy nearly as much as it improves the engine response, reduces acceleration delay, and I believe the effort for both the engine and transmission are reduced.

When on approach to my house, the truck will attempt to maintain about 1100 rpm on a small grade, tapping the ERS '-' button a couple of times keeps the rpm about 1500.

Passing vehicles while driving on small twisty rural highways with short passing opportunities is greatly improved with a double tap on the ERS '-' button.

As you can see, I use the ERS buttons almost every time I drive. I believe they are a great feature, and that they improve my enjoyment factor while maintaining a healthier operational state for my truck.

I learned to drive with a standard and have owned several motorcycles. Maintaining a practical rpm that avoids lugging the gears is what works for me.

YMMV.

.

Although I frequently enjoy having the option to use both tow/haul and the ERS buttons, and for most of the same reasons you stated, I mostly drive in normal and MDS mode.

My 3.21 rear will keep the RPMs at 1400-1500 for almost all driving, and I mostly just let it do it's thing. But as you said, there are many times that I will use one or the other, or both, while watching the tach.

I "learned to drive" with all automatics, but I was already riding manual dirt bikes for almost 5 years. Roughly half my cars had manual transmissions.
I have to say I'm really impressed with this 8-speed and I really like it, but I would love to have a manual, especially now being retired.

 

[Wild one]

I might need a set of paddle shifters in the near future.

Paddles in action.

Paddle shifters in action. This was on a closed course, I do not reccomend or endorse any illegal activities. That said these are hella fun. I would have pro...

www.youtube.com

This looks interesting.

2013 - 2026 Ram 1500 | STEERING WHEEL MAGNETIC PADDLE SHIFTERS PAIR

2013 - 2026 Ram 1500 | STEERING WHEEL MAGNETIC PADDLE SHIFTERS PAIR Our High-Performance Series Magnetic Paddle Shifters bring Formula 1 race inspired technology into the cockpit of your ride, designed with F race inspired tech for precise, consistent shifts every time, no matter where you press...

streetdrivenperformance.net

Fitment:​

Years: 2013, 13, 2014, 14, 2015, 15, 2016, 16, 2017, 17, 2018, 18, 2019, 19, 2020, 20, 2021, 21, 2022, 22, 2023, 23, 2024, 24, 2025, 25, 2026, 26

Models: All 2013 - Present Ram 1500 models Laramie / Longhorn / Big Horn / Lone Star / Sport / R/T / Outdoorsman / Limited / Warlock / Rebel / SRT / RHO / Tungsten / HFE / Express / SLT /

.

I've kind of wondered how those would work,i think you need a set to try out and report back to us on Michael

 

[jmc921]

Although I frequently enjoy having the option to use both tow/haul and the ERS buttons, and for most of the same reasons you stated, I mostly drive in normal and MDS mode.

My 3.21 rear will keep the RPMs at 1400-1500 for almost all driving, and I mostly just let it do it's thing. But as you said, there are many times that I will use one or the other, or both, while watching the tach.

I "learned to drive" with all automatics, but I was already riding manual dirt bikes for almost 5 years. Roughly half my cars had manual transmissions.
I have to say I'm really impressed with this 8-speed and I really like it, but I would love to have a manual, especially now being retired.

I agree with Curmudgeon. For my part, I almost never do anything but let that great (IMO) transmission do its thing. MDS is almost unnoticeable for me.

 

[Marshall]

Got these buttons on the dash, fumble fingered one today, -8 came up. No apparent difference. This is a new to me last October truck - mostly on the road and easy recreational. My assumption is that the feature will let me stay in a particular gear if I select it. Don't expect to need it, have the regular 2 and 4WD selections. . I could do that with a GTO I owned and my 2005 Hemi Dodge Magnum, but that was basically street racing stuff. Mostly curious as to value and usage.

You say on the dash, I presume you are referring to the one on the left side of the steering wheel, like my 2014. PS Right side I should have said.
with a 8 speed transmission. I will use mine around town sometimes, usally when quite cold out. we have hills in town and the computer is quite good at keeping the truck at a legal speed ( almost) with out messing with the buttons.

Paddle shifters I think would be just too much fun (=$$$$$$$)

 

[Bob Horowski]

Have an owner's manual? If not, obtain one and read it. Lots of relevant and important information contained in there.

 

[Longhorn1500]

One time, I think on this forum, someone said something like...

I don't use the +/- buttons, I figured the engineers who designed the shift point logic are smarter than me, so I let the truck do it's thing.

Sure, those engineers may (or may not) be smarter than you, but they are not in the truck with you and cannot anticipate every situation. I have honestly tried to *not* use the +/- buttons when towing, that never lasts very long, I even frequently use them when not towing.

 

[KansasArt]

I wouldn’t say they are necessarily smarter. The shift points are designed to keep the rpm’s low. To increase fuel efficiency. Personally I don’t like driving with the rpm’s so low. I use the +\- buttons to set it at 4th gear when driving in town. This generally keeps the rpm’s at about 2200 to 2500. Makes driving a little bit funner. Plus you get some engine braking. In town highway driving it goes to 6th gear.
Sure, your mileage suffers but why drive a hemi at almost lugging rpm’s? Might as well get the V6.