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Dodge Ram: How to Jack Up Your Truck

Learn how to safety and easily jack up your Dodge Ram with this guide.

By Brett Foote - June 24, 2015

This article applies to the Dodge Ram (1994-2008).

If you like to DIY, chances are you will eventually need to jack up your truck. It's a simple procedure, but one that must be done correctly to avoid damaging your truck or injuring yourself. If you are using the jack that came with the truck, you must be careful to use it only on the jack points outlined in your manual. When using a real floor jack, your options are a little more open. Keep reading and we'll show you how to get your wheels off the ground safely and easily.

Materials Needed

  • Floor jack
  • Jack stands
  • Factory supplied jack

Floor Jack vs. Scissor Jack

All Rams and pretty much every other vehicle on the market comes with a factory supplied scissor jack. These jacks are fine for roadside emergencies, as they are light and easy to use. However, they do have a low weight rating and can be frustrating to use because it can take some time to get the truck off the ground.

Floor jacks are much more useful and can handle a tremendous amount of weight depending on what model you choose. They are available in a wide variety of price and weight ranges, but a good one is well worth the investment. Since trucks generally weigh two tons or more, buying a decent floor jack can pay for itself very quickly.

Figure 1. A floor jack is a sound investment.

Jacking Up the Front End

Whether you are using a floor jack or a scissor jack, the easiest and safest way to lift the front end is by using the frame rail. These are the long, metal beams that run the length of the vehicle.

  • Place the jack underneath one side of the frame rail at a time, lift it to the desired height, and then place a jack stand under it.
  • Adjust the height of the jack stand and carefully lower the jack until the frame rail is resting on the jack stand.
  • If needed, repeat these steps on the opposite side.

Caution

Some people like to jack up the front of their trucks using the control arms, but this is not a stable position. If you choose to place the jack in this area, make sure to use the control arm mounts and not the arms themselves.

Figure 2. Recommended Dodge Ram jack points.

Jacking Up the Rear End

If you are using a scissor jack, you will need to raise up each side of the rear end using the rear axle since they do not have the weight capacity to lift the differential. If using a floor jack, you can lift the rear by using the differential. This makes things considerably easier because you can lift the entire rear of the truck at once instead of one side at a time. Once you lift it to the desired height, place a jack stand under each side of the axle and carefully let the floor jack down.

Figure 3. Use the rear differential to jack up the truck if you have a floor jack.

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