I'm an older guy who loves to explore the desert here in Arizona. Been a Ford driver mostly all my years. Never noticed this kind of traction problem until I got my first Chrysler product this past year. It's a 2000 Ram 2500 Van. Here's a little info that may tell something useful:
NOTE: I have no experience whatsoever with rear axles/differentials,
Records for 2000 Chrysler Ram Wagon
Build Sheet
Ram
AB - VAN/WAGON - FULL SIZE
AB2L52
ENGINE - 5.9L V8 MPI (EML)
TRANSMISSION - 4-SPD. AUTOMATIC,46RE (DGT)
2000-06-13
Buildout Allocation Tracking
(Except):
TRANSMISSION - 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC; DGT: TRANSMISSION - 4-SPD. AUTOMATIC,46RE; DHA: TORQUE CONVERTER - LOCK-UP; DJE: FRONT AXLE - 4000 ; DMH: AXLE RATIO - 3.92; DRG: REAR AXLE - CORPORATE 9.25 HD
With this vehicle once I get the rear wheels off pavement, like driving over a small berm, or performing a three point turn-around on a roadway, once drive wheel starts spinning in the dirt which requires I jockey the vehicle around to finally get some grip to get out of trouble. It's really distressing since most Arizona roads have dirt shoulders and berms. Does anyone know what I need to do to get traction? Is it missing the Limited Slip feature?
Please, I am not educated on this subject so keep your responses simple enough I can research and follow up your answers.

 

Limited slip was an option, and apparently your van didn't come with it. Tires also play a major factor in traction, but, just dropping a tire off onto the berm should NOT cause any problems..... Is it any different from one side or the other?

 

That's an obvious question I don't have the answer to. I'll have to take the van out and test to get the answer. But thanks. I figured you'd be the first to respond. Yes, the tires are pretty much half worn out city slickers I rushed to get used from utire (used but affordable) so I could get it on the road. Necessary to get to repairs to get to this point. Transmission rebuild, water pump/timing chair cover, fuel level sending unit replacement and a rear bumper. And the spare wheel and tire and tools. But it's getting to a point I can think about getting to the dirt for some camping. Thus, looking for solutions to traction. So...I know the answer won't be coming quickly, but I'll get that and come back to this post later with a reply. 👌.

 

Standard 9.25 rear end, so, parts for that are readily available. Many options to choose from. But, better tires would be a good start.

I go to the used tire place here as well. 50 bucks a tire mounted and balanced? Yep, I'm down for that.

 

Just to add to Heyyou, plenty of aftermarket options available for the 9.25 but if you are going to do it yourself do not forget to get the side adjustment tool before you start, that pushed my first rear end job out a week while i looked for one before i just ended up making my own

 

HeyYou, to get back to your question - I just tested the wheel traction - it's the passenger side that spins. Nothing from the driver side.
Seems like a big waste of metal and engineering to provide all that power and send it all to one wheel. But I suppose there's a reason?

 

I appreciate your reply. I just responded to HeyYou's earlier question to me about which wheel was spinning. Passenger side.
I know nothing at all about differentials. If I get something it will be from a salvage yard and someone else younger and stronger to do the swap so I'd want to just be able to tell the salvage yard what I wand and hope for a direct no brainer exchange.
Is there a down side to putting a different rear end in my 2000 Ram 2500?

 

Should be able to find a 9.25 in one of the local yards with LSD for reasonable. Swapping out the whole thing is generally a LOT cheaper than adding the LSD diff......

 

If you are thinking about sourcing another rear axle for your van, it should be a Chrysler 9.25 rear axle with the same gear ratio (3.92) as what you currently have in addition to having a limited slip unit in it. If your van has 8 lug wheels (which it likely does, since it's a 2500 van), you can consider sourcing a Dana 60 rear with 4.09 gearing and a limited slip unit. Check out car-part.com to see what salvage yards have what you need, unless you have a good pick and pay style salvage yard in your area.

Please note that the 9.25 limited slip units tend to have worn clutches in them depending on usage/high mileage. This may require clutch replacement to fully restore limited slip capability. Luckily, the replacement clutches for the 9.25 are readily available.

 

AtomicDog, I do have a 3.92 gear ratio and 8 lug wheels. And I know nothing about rear ends. So, If I can find a Dana60 is there such a thing as a Dana60 9.25 LSD 3.92? If not, if I go to 4.09 what will change on the speedometer and the rest of the equipment?