2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab User Guide - Page 82

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE • If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the front wheels. Then, move the shift lever back and forth between REVERSE and DRIVE. Using minimal accelerator pedal pressure to maintain the rocking motion, without spinning the wheels, is most effective. • Allow the engine to idle with the transmission shift lever in NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every five rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize overheating and reduce the risk of transmission failure during prolonged efforts to free a stuck vehicle. NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) or Traction Control , turn the system off before attempting to "rock" the vehicle. CAUTION! Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast may lead to transmission overheating and failure. It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no transmission shifting occurring). WARNING! Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated by excessive wheel speeds may cause tire damage or failure. A tire could explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehicle's wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) when you are stuck. Do not let anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed. 80