2008 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup Owner Manual Diesel - Page 294

292 STARTING AND OPERATING Truck models with manual transmission are equipped with a clutch interlocking ignition system. The clutch pedal must be fully depressed to start the vehicle. Fully depress the clutch pedal before shifting gears. As you release the clutch pedal, lightly depress the accelerator pedal. This transmission has a "creeper" 1st gear (L=low) which should be used to start from a standing position when carrying a payload or towing a trailer. Damage to the clutch can result from starting in 2nd or 3rd gear with a loaded vehicle. An unloaded vehicle may be launched in 2nd gear. Use each gear in numerical order - do not skip a gear. You should use 1st gear when starting from a standing position if under heavy load or when pulling a trailer. Recommended Vehicle Shift Speeds To utilize your manual transmission efficiently for both fuel economy and performance, it should be upshifted as listed in recommended shift speed chart. Shift at the vehicle speeds listed for acceleration. When heavily loaded or pulling a trailer these recommended up-shift speeds may not apply. Maximum Recommended Up-shift Speeds Gear Selection Maximum Speed L to 2 2 to 3 3 to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6 7 mph 15 mph 25 mph 40 mph 45 mph (11 (24 (40 (64 (72 km/h) km/h) km/h) km/h) km/h)