RAM 1500 2022 Owners Manual
Page 91 of 496
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE89
Locking Tab
6. Disconnect the wiring harness by pushing on  the two release tabs, ensuring the connector 
bracket does not fall into the sill.
Connected Wiring Harness Disconnected Body Side Harness
7. Connect the body side plug (provided in the  glove compartment) to the body side wiring 
harness and insert the bracket back into 
the sill.
Body Side Plug (One Piece)
 8. Connect the tailgate plugs (provided in the 
glove compartment) to the tailgate wiring 
harness to ensure that the terminals do not 
corrode.
Tailgate Plugs (Two Pieces)
9. Tape the tailgate harness and bracket against  the forward-facing surface of the tailgate. This 
will prevent damaging the connector and 
bracket when storing or reinstalling the 
tailgate.
1 — First Release Tab
2 — Second Release Tab
1 — Large Plug
2 — Small Plug
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90GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
10. Raise the tailgate slightly, and remove the  support cables by releasing the lock tang from 
the pivot.
NOTE:Make sure tailgate is supported by you and/or a 
second person when removing support cables.
Locking Tang
11. Remove the tailgate from the vehicle.
NOTE:
Do not carry the tailgate loose in the truck 
pickup box.
If the tailgate is closed with the wire harness 
disconnected, the tailgate can only be opened 
by removing the inside panel and unlatching the 
locking mechanism manually.
BED STEP — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with an extendable 
bed step to provide easier entry and exit into the 
truck bed. If your vehicle is equipped with a standard tailgate, 
the step will be located on the driver’s side of the 
tailgate. If equipped with a multifunction tailgate, 
the step will be located below the center of the 
tailgate.
Bed Step For Standard Tailgate
Bed Step Location
To extend the bed step, place your foot on the 
protruding foot tab located on the left edge of the 
bed step, and push rearward. A small amount of 
force will release the spring load and extend the 
bed step out and away from the tailgate.
WARNING!
To avoid inhaling carbon monoxide, which is 
deadly, the exhaust system on vehicles 
equipped with “Cap or Slide-In Campers” should 
extend beyond the overhanging camper 
compartment and be free of leaks.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE91
Bed Step Components (Standard Tailgate)
Bed Step Extended
NOTE:Once the spring load is overcome, the bed step will 
extend out quickly, so be sure to stand in a position  that will avoid coming into contact with the step as 
it extends.
To stow the bed step back under the tailgate, push 
the bed step forward with your foot until the bed 
step is retracted by the spring load.
Bed Step For Multifunction Tailgate
Bed Step Location
To extend the bed step, place your foot on the top 
center of the bed step, and push down while 
pulling rearward. A small amount of force will  release the spring load and extend the bed step 
out and away from the tailgate.
Bed Step Extended
NOTE:Once the spring load is overcome, the bed step will 
extend out quickly. Be sure to stand in a position 
that will avoid coming into contact with the step as 
it extends.
To stow the bed step back under the tailgate, push 
the bed step forward with your foot until the bed 
step is retracted by the spring load.
1 — Bed Step
2 — Foot Tab
WARNING!
Do not attempt to stow the bed step with your 
hands. The low clearance space between the 
bed step and the rear bumper as the bed step 
returns to the stowed position could result in 
injury to your hands or fingers.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to stow the bed step with your 
hands. The low clearance space between the 
bed step and the rear bumper as the bed step 
returns to the stowed position could result in 
injury to your hands or fingers.
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92GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
(Continued)
PICKUP BOX 
The pickup box has many features designed for 
utility and convenience.
Pickup Box Features
NOTE:If you are installing a Toolbox, Ladder Rack or 
Headache Rack at the front of the Pickup Box, you 
must use Mopar® Box Reinforcement Brackets 
that are available from an authorized dealer. You can carry wide building materials (sheets of 
plywood, etc.) by building a raised load floor. Place 
lumber across the box in the indentations provided 
above the wheel housings and in the bulkhead 
dividers to form the floor.
There are stampings in the sheet metal on the 
inner side bulkheads of the box in front of and 
behind both wheel housings. Place wooden boards 
across the box from side to side to create separate 
load compartments in the pickup box.
There are four tie-down cleats bolted to the lower 
sides of the pickup box that can sustain loads up 
to 1,000 lb (450 kg) total.
1 — Upper Load Floor Indents
2 — Bulk Head Dividers
3 — Cleats
WARNING!
The pickup box is intended for load carrying 
purposes only, not for passengers, who should 
sit in seats and use seat belts.
Care should always be exercised when oper
-
ating a vehicle with unrestrained cargo. 
Vehicle speeds may need to be reduced. 
Severe turns or rough roads may cause 
shifting or bouncing of the cargo that may 
result in vehicle damage. If wide building 
materials are to be frequently carried, the 
installation of a support is recommended. This 
will restrain the cargo and transfer the load to 
the pickup box floor.
If you wish to carry more than 600 lb (272 kg) 
of material suspended above the wheelhouse, 
supports must be installed to transfer the 
weight of the load to the pickup box floor or 
vehicle damage may result. The use of proper 
supports will permit loading up to the rated 
payload.
Unrestrained cargo may be thrown forward in 
an accident causing serious or fatal injury.
WARNING!
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE93
BED RAIL TIE-DOWN SYSTEM — 
I
F EQUIPPED 
There are two adjustable cleats on each side of the 
bed that can be used to assist in securing cargo.
Adjustable Cleats
Each cleat must be located and tightened down in 
one of the detents, along either rail, in order to 
keep cargo properly secure. To move the cleat to any position on the rail, turn 
the nut counterclockwise, approximately three 
turns. Then pull out on the cleat and slide it to the 
detent nearest the desired location. Make sure the 
cleat is seated in the detent and tighten the nut.
Adjustable Cleat Assembly
Cleat Removal (Standard Box Rail)
To remove the cleats from the utility rail, slide the 
cleat forward to access the cut out at the end of the 
box rail, then remove the cleat.
 Slide Cleat Forward To Remove
Cleat Removal (With Tonneau Cover)
To remove the cleats from the utility rail, remove 
the end cap screw located in the center of the end 
cap, using a #T30 Torx head driver. Remove the 
end cap and slide the cleat off the end of the rail.
End Cap Screw Location With Tonneau Cover
CAUTION!
The maximum load per cleat should not exceed 
250 lb (113 kg), or 500 lb (227 kg) total per rail, 
and the angle of the load on each cleat should 
not exceed 45 degrees above horizontal, or 
damage to the cleat or cleat rail may occur.
1 — Utility Rail Detent
2 — Cleat Retainer Nut
3 — Utility Rail Cleat
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94GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
(Continued)
Cleat Removal (Without Tonneau Cover)
Remove the end cap by pushing upward on the 
release button located beneath the end cap while 
pulling the cap away from the rail. The cleat can 
now be removed by sliding it off the end of the rail.
End Cap Release Button Without Tonneau Cover
Pull End Cap Away From Rail
RAMBOX — IF EQUIPPED  
The RamBox system is an integrated pickup box 
storage and cargo management system consisting 
of three features:
Cargo storage bins
Cargo divider
Bed rail tie-down system  Ú page 93
NOTE:Bed rail tie-down system is also available for 
vehicles not equipped with a RamBox.
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING RAMBOX
Push and release the lock or unlock button on the 
key fob to lock and unlock all doors, the tailgate 
and the RamBox  Úpage 19. To unlatch the 
storage bin manually, insert the emergency key 
into the keyhole and turn clockwise. Always return 
the key to the upright (vertical) position before 
removing it from the keyhole.
RAMBOX CARGO STORAGE BINS
Cargo storage bins are located on both sides of the 
pickup box. The cargo storage bins provide 
watertight, lockable, illuminated storage for up to 
150 lb (68 kg) of evenly distributed cargo.
RamBox Cargo Storage Bins
CAUTION!
Ensure cargo bin lids are closed and latched 
before moving or driving vehicle.
Loads applied to the top of the bin lid should 
be minimized to prevent damage to the lid and 
latching/hinging mechanisms.
Damage to the RamBox bin may occur due to 
heavy/sharp objects placed in bin that shift 
due to vehicle motion. In order to minimize 
potential for damage, secure all cargo to 
prevent movement and protect inside 
surfaces of bin from heavy/sharp objects with 
appropriate padding.
CAUTION!
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE95
To open a storage bin with the RamBox unlocked, 
push and release the button located on the lid. The 
RamBox lid will open upward to allow hand access. 
Lift the lid to fully open.
NOTE:RamBox will not open when the button is pushed if 
the RamBox is locked.
 RamBox Button And Keyhole Lock
The interior of the RamBox will automatically 
illuminate when the lid is opened. The timing can 
be adjusted within Uconnect Settings  
Úpage 234.
Cargo bins feature two removable drain plugs (to 
allow water to drain from bins). To remove plug, 
pull up on the edge. To install, push plug downward 
into drain hole.
RamBox Drain Plug Removal
NOTE:Provisions are provided in the bins for cargo 
dividers. These accessories (in addition to other 
RamBox accessories) are available from Mopar®.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow the following items could cause 
damage to the vehicle:
Assure that all cargo inside the storage bins is 
properly secured.
Do not exceed cargo weight rating of 150 lb 
(68 kg) per bin.
1 — Keyhole Lock
2 — Button
CAUTION!
Leaving the lid open for extended periods of time 
could cause the vehicle battery to discharge. If 
the lid is required to stay open for extended 
periods of time, it is recommended that the bin 
lights be turned off manually using the on/off 
switch.
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96GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
(Continued)
If equipped, a 115 Volt (400 Watts Maximum) 
inverter may be located inside the RamBox of your 
vehicle. The inverter can be turned on by the 
Instrument Panel Power Inverter switch located to 
the left of the steering wheel. The RamBox inverter 
can power cellular phones, electronics and
other low power devices requiring power up to
400 Watts. Certain video game consoles exceed 
this power limit, as will most power tools.
RamBox Power Inverter
The Instrument Panel Power Inverter switch is only 
found on vehicles equipped with a RamBox. The 
switch only controls on/off operation of the power 
outlet in the RamBox; it does not control on/off 
operation of the power outlets located inside the 
cabin of the vehicle.
 Instrument Panel Power Inverter Switch
RAMBOX SAFETY WARNING
Carefully follow these warnings to help prevent 
personal injury or damage to your vehicle:
RamBox Emergency Release Lever
As a security measure, an Emergency Release 
Lever is built into the storage bin cover latching 
mechanism.
In the event of an individual being locked inside 
the storage bin, the storage bin cover can be 
opened from inside of the bin by pulling on the 
glow-in-the-dark lever attached to the storage bin 
cover latching mechanism.
Emergency Release Lever
WARNING!
Always close the storage bin covers when your 
vehicle is unattended.
Do not allow children to have access to the 
storage bins. Once in the storage bin, young 
children may not be able to escape. If trapped 
in the storage bin, children can die from suffo -
cation or heat stroke.
In an accident, serious injury could result if the 
storage bin covers are not properly latched.
Do not drive the vehicle with the storage bin 
covers open.
Keep the storage bin covers closed and 
latched while the vehicle is in motion.
Do not use a storage bin latch as a tie-down.
WARNING!
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BED DIVIDER — IF EQUIPPED
The bed divider has two functional positions:
Divider Position
Storage Position
Divider Position
The divider position is intended for managing your 
cargo and assisting in keeping cargo from moving 
around the bed. There are 11 divider slots along 
the bed inner panels which allow for various 
positions to assist in managing your cargo.
To install the bed divider into a divider position, 
perform the following:
1. Make sure the center handle is unlocked 
using the vehicle key and rotate the center 
handle vertically to release the divider side 
gates.
 Center Handle And Lock
2. With the side gates open, position the divider  so the outboard ends align with the intended 
slots in the sides of the bed.
 Aligning Gate To Slots
3. Rotate the side gates closed so that the  outboard ends are secured into the intended 
slots of the bed.
4. Rotate the center handle horizontally to secure  the side gates in the closed position.
Side Gates Closed
1 — Center Handle Lock
2 — Handle
3 — Unlocked Position
4 — Locked Position
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98GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
5. Lock the center handle to secure the panel  into place.
Storage Position
The storage position for the bed divider is at the 
front of the truck bed which maximizes the bed 
cargo area when not in use.
To install the bed divider into the storage position, 
perform the same steps as you would for the 
divider position, except position the divider fully 
forward in the bed against the front panel.
Storage Position
The outboard ends should be positioned in front of 
the cargo tie-down loops.
 Cargo Tie-Down Loop
TRI-FOLD TONNEAU COVER — IF EQUIPPED 
The Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover can be installed on the 
truck bed to protect your gear and cargo.
TONNEAU COVER COMPONENTS
Folded Tonneau Components
1 – Stowage Strap
2 – Tonneau Bumper Folded
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