Towing

[RDram2011]

Hi everyone. Im new to driving a truck. So i just bought a 2011 ram 1500 for towing a travel trailer. My question is, is it normal when your trailer is all hooked up, press the tow/haul button and shift to drive, it shows on the cluster that it’s on manual mode ( +/- ) and shows # 5 (guessing that it’s on 5th gear). Picture attached. But if I don’t press the tow/haul button, it goes on drive (D) position on the cluster. Please explain for better understanding. Thanks!

 

[MrBonez]

This should help.
You can download it for reference anytime you need it.

RAM 2011 1500 AUTOMOBILE OWNER'S MANUAL

View and Download RAM 2011 1500 owner's manual online. Chrysler 2011 Ram Truck Owner's Manual. 2011 Ram 1500 automobile pdf manual download. Also for: 3500 2011, Ram truck 2500 2011, Ram truck3500 2011, 2500 2011.

www.manualslib.com

 

[HemiLonestar]

This is 3G, you have a 4G. This question is better off in https://www.ramforum.com/forums/towing-hauling.119/

 

[RDram2011]

Hi everyone. Im new to driving a truck. So i just bought a 2011 ram 1500 for towing a travel trailer. My question is, is it normal when your trailer is all hooked up, press the tow/haul button and shift to drive, it shows on the cluster that it’s on manual mode ( +/- ) and shows # 5 (guessing that it’s on 5th gear). Picture attached. But if I don’t press the tow/haul button, it goes on drive (D) position on the cluster. Please explain for better understanding. Thanks!

 

[RDram2011]

Thanks. Inch

This should help.
You can download it for reference anytime you need it.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/254943/Ram-2011-Ram-1500.html[/UR

http://

This should help.
You can download it for reference anytime you need it.

RAM 2011 1500 AUTOMOBILE OWNER'S MANUAL

View and Download RAM 2011 1500 owner's manual online. Chrysler 2011 Ram Truck Owner's Manual. 2011 Ram 1500 automobile pdf manual download. Also for: 3500 2011, Ram truck 2500 2011, Ram truck3500 2011, 2500 2011.

www.manualslib.com

thanks! In read it but nothing was mentioned about it.

 

[LeeD]

Just a guess but try putting it into drive first and then hit toe/haul.

 

[RDram2011]

Just a guess but try putting it into drive first and then hit toe/haul.

I did try it, but once you press on tow/haul it goes to manual mode.

 

[ramffml]

What happens when you try to actually take off from a stop when it shows "5"?

It might not be showing you what gear you are in, it might be showing you the gears its limited too. So in this case if you have a 5 speed and its showing "5", it will let you use all 5 gears, if it shows 3 then it will only let you use the first 3 gears etc.

 

[RDram2011]

What happens when you try to actually take off from a stop when it shows "5"?

It might not be showing you what gear you are in, it might be showing you the gears its limited too. So in this case if you have a 5 speed and its showing "5", it will let you use all 5 gears, if it shows 3 then it will only let you use the first 3 gears etc.

It drive like it’s normal. I was just worried cause it’s my first time driving a truck while towing a trailer. And take note, when it’s on tow/haul and i put the gear to drive which change to manual mode I don’t have to have to gear up or down.

 

[LouM]

It is not in a manual "mode" it's locking out the last over drive and showing you the gears that it's using.
From a different forum and from many years ago;

Here is the full operation and the differences of ERS and Tow/Haul modes explained for the 09-11 Ram 545RFE transmission. 2012 has the same transmission renamed to a 65RFE and has a slightly different operation.

Let’s start off with the gear ratios of the 545RFE. There are 6 possible gear ratios but the truck will only let you use 5 of them at a given time.

1st 3.00:1
2nd 1.67:1
2nd Prime 1.50:1
3rd 1.00:1
4th 0.75:1
5th 0.67:1

In normal Drive mode when up shifting you will use gears 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. In ERS or Tow/Haul mode you will use gears 1, 2, 2P, 3, & 4.

So, when in normal Drive mode:
1=1st – 3.00:1
2=2nd – 1.67:1
3=3rd – 1.00:1
4=4th – 0.75:1
5=5th – 0.67:1

When in ERS or Tow/Haul mode:
1=1st – 3.00:1
2=2nd – 1.67:1
3=2nd Prime – 1.50:1
4=3rd – 1.00:1
5=4th – 0.75:1

As you can see, ERS and Tow/Haul lock out 5th gear (0.67 ratio) but adds use of 2nd prime in the up shift pattern. ERS and Tow/Haul are the same as far as shifting order and gear limiting goes, Tow/Haul just holds each gear longer and downshifts much sooner when slowing down for engine braking. ERS and Tow/Haul mode also disables the use of MDS.

 

[MrBonez]

Thanks. Inch

http://

thanks! In read it but nothing was mentioned about it.

I'm sorry it didn't help you, I'm suprised it's not covered in some way by the manual.

 

[RDram2011]

It is not in a manual "mode" it's locking out the last over drive and showing you the gears that it's using.
From a different forum and from many years ago;

Here is the full operation and the differences of ERS and Tow/Haul modes explained for the 09-11 Ram 545RFE transmission. 2012 has the same transmission renamed to a 65RFE and has a slightly different operation.

Let’s start off with the gear ratios of the 545RFE. There are 6 possible gear ratios but the truck will only let you use 5 of them at a given time.

1st 3.00:1
2nd 1.67:1
2nd Prime 1.50:1
3rd 1.00:1
4th 0.75:1
5th 0.67:1

In normal Drive mode when up shifting you will use gears 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. In ERS or Tow/Haul mode you will use gears 1, 2, 2P, 3, & 4.

So, when in normal Drive mode:
1=1st – 3.00:1
2=2nd – 1.67:1
3=3rd – 1.00:1
4=4th – 0.75:1
5=5th – 0.67:1

When in ERS or Tow/Haul mode:
1=1st – 3.00:1
2=2nd – 1.67:1
3=2nd Prime – 1.50:1
4=3rd – 1.00:1
5=4th – 0.75:1

As you can see, ERS and Tow/Haul lock out 5th gear (0.67 ratio) but adds use of 2nd prime in the up shift pattern. ERS and Tow/Haul are the same as far as shifting order and gear limiting goes, Tow/Haul just holds each gear longer and downshifts much sooner when slowing down for engine braking. ERS and Tow/Haul mode also disables the use of MDS.

Thanks! Very informative.

 

[RDram2011]

It is not in a manual "mode" it's locking out the last over drive and showing you the gears that it's using.
From a different forum and from many years ago;

Here is the full operation and the differences of ERS and Tow/Haul modes explained for the 09-11 Ram 545RFE transmission. 2012 has the same transmission renamed to a 65RFE and has a slightly different operation.

Let’s start off with the gear ratios of the 545RFE. There are 6 possible gear ratios but the truck will only let you use 5 of them at a given time.

1st 3.00:1
2nd 1.67:1
2nd Prime 1.50:1
3rd 1.00:1
4th 0.75:1
5th 0.67:1

In normal Drive mode when up shifting you will use gears 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. In ERS or Tow/Haul mode you will use gears 1, 2, 2P, 3, & 4.

So, when in normal Drive mode:
1=1st – 3.00:1
2=2nd – 1.67:1
3=3rd – 1.00:1
4=4th – 0.75:1
5=5th – 0.67:1

When in ERS or Tow/Haul mode:
1=1st – 3.00:1
2=2nd – 1.67:1
3=2nd Prime – 1.50:1
4=3rd – 1.00:1
5=4th – 0.75:1

As you can see, ERS and Tow/Haul lock out 5th gear (0.67 ratio) but adds use of 2nd prime in the up shift pattern. ERS and Tow/Haul are the same as far as shifting order and gear limiting goes, Tow/Haul just holds each gear longer and downshifts much sooner when slowing down for engine braking. ERS and Tow/Haul mode also disables the use of MDS.

So i guess it’s okay to drive it like that then. Pretty much it’s automatic just that it’s lock on 5th gear and it shows on the cluster.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

So i guess it’s okay to drive it like that then. Pretty much it’s automatic just that it’s lock on 5th gear and it shows on the cluster.

Yes, it’s fine. Just engage tow/haul, shift to drive and go. It will shift like normal, maybe a bit firmer.
The 5 is just showing the highest gear in tow/haul available at that time. Try manually down shifting to 4th while in tow/haul and you’ll see what I mean.

 

[Tominator223]

Always turn tow/haul on when towing. Or you can cook your overdrive. The truck will do what it’s supposed to do.