Manuals from the 4th generation Ram 1500 previously stopped at 2016, but 2017 and 2018 have been added to both.
If you have done any work to your Dodge Ram pickup that was more intensive than an oil change or tire rotation, the odds are good that you have either a Haynes or Chilton repair manual. These are the two leading names in repair manuals and in many cases, they offer books for the exact same vehicles, but the two brands are competitors for each other. Haynes and Chilton books are issued by the same parent company, but the books are designed to cater to two different types of mechanics.
The Chilton book is intended for mechanics who are a bit more seasoned while the Haynes manuals are designed for beginners, including more graphics to show how to access and replace things. Whether you fit into the Chilton group or the Haynes group, there is a book that includes every model year of the 4th generation Dodge Ram 1500.
Advantages of Repair Manuals
Even if you are comfortable doing much of the work to your Dodge Ram 1500, a Haynes or Chilton repair manual is vital when getting into a serious project. You might be able to change your brake pads or exhaust system without any guidelines, but if you get into something like a water pump replacement or a new rear differential gear set, a repair manual can answer all sorts of questions.
These books are written by technicians who literally disassemble the vehicle in question and write about the process, including bolt sizes, torque specs and tips that make the project easier. Basically, anything that you might run into while removing a problematic piece of your Dodge Ram pickup is discussed in these books. You just need to decide which you want, with the Haynes manuals having more graphics to walk you through tough jobs while the Chilton book gets into more detail of advanced repairs.
Updated Dodge Ram Books
The latest batch of additions to the Haynes and Chilton library include an updated Dodge Ram 1500 book from both brands. Each of these books cover the entire 4th generation, starting in 2009 and continuing through 2018, having previously stopped at 2016. The Haynes manual is book number 30043 while the Chilton book is 20406.
In other words, if you have a 2017 or 2018 Ram 1500, you are now able to buy a repair manual that covers just about every piece of your half-ton truck.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
