wheelbase Ram 3500 2017 Owner's Manual

Ramp Travel Index (RTI)
The ramp travel index is the distance, in inches, that you
can drive your vehicle with one wheel on a 20-degree ramp
without lifting any other wheel off the ground. This
distance up the ramp divided by the wheelbase of the
vehicle and multiplied by 1,000 is the RTI. This vehicle has
an RTI of 510, which means you can articulate one front
wheel 26 inches (66 cm) in the air while the other three
wheels remain in contact with the ground.
Water Fording Characteristics
Water fording characteristic is the vehicle’s ability to cross
a body of still water, where the powertrain and drivetrain
are safe from water ingestion. This vehicle has high water
fording characteristics with the ability to cross a pool of
water, without stopping, 24 inches (60 cm) deep at a
maximum speed of 10 mph (16 km/h) and a pool of water
30 inches (76 cm) deep at a maximum speed of 5 mph
(8 km/h), both with an entrance ramp angle of 1.3 degrees.
CAUTION!
The door sill height is 25 inches (63.5 cm). Water may
intrude into the interior of the vehicle at greater
depths.
Simultaneous Brake And Throttle Operation
Many off-road driving conditions require the simultaneous
use of the brake and throttle (two footed driving). When
climbing rocks, logs, or other stepped objects, using light
brake pressure with light throttle will keep the vehicle from
jerking or lurching. This technique is also used when you
need to stop and restart a vehicle on a steep incline.
The Basics Of Off-Road Driving
You will encounter many types of terrain driving off-road.
You should be familiar with the terrain and area before
proceeding. There are many types of surface conditions: hard
packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow and ice.
Every surface has a different effect on your vehicle’s steering,
handling and traction. Controlling your vehicle is one of the
keys to successful off-road driving, so always keep a firm
grip on the steering wheel and maintain a good driving
posture. Avoid sudden accelerations, turns or braking. In
most cases there are no road signs, posted speed limits or
signal lights. Therefore you will need to use your own good
judgment on what is safe and what isn’t. When on a trail you
should always be looking ahead for surface obstacles and
changes in terrain. The key is to plan your future driving
route while remembering what you are currently driving
over.
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