Easter Egg? Not Sure, But It Was Awesome.

[834k3r]

Last night I was getting my travel trailer from the storage lot and, as is so typical of me, I got in a rush. I backed to within 6 feet of the trailer and stopped to install my hitch (Class IV). Opened the door, hopped out, and only then realized I hadn't put it in park.

Truck rolled back about a foot, but before I was able to get back into the cab (left the driver door open, because I was just going to have to back up once the hitch was installed) the parking brake set, and the transmission shifted into Park.

I thought it was because of the rear ParkSense system, but I leave it turned off (I back into my garage and have very little clearance, so I turn it off to keep the annoyance of beeping to a minimum), so it couldn't have been ParkSense.

Does the truck do that when it notices when a driver leaves the seat (similar to when it notices someone sitting in the driver seat to turn on the instrument cluster)? I don't know--but whatever system or Easter Egg it was; it saved my bacon last night.

I love this truck more and more each time I drive it.

 

[vincentw56]

You can't have the door open and move the vehicle, it will stop and put it in park. I think having your seat belt on may override it, but I'm not sure.

2020 Bighorn Night Edition, 5.7 Hemi w/eTorque

 

[jimothy]

Sorry for being off topic, but since the truck can shift itself into park if you forget, why can’t the self-parking feature shift between drive and reverse?

 

[vincentw56]

Sorry for being off topic, but since the truck can shift itself into park if you forget, why can’t the self-parking feature shift between drive and reverse?

They probably could, but the only thing it can do on its own is shift into park. It can't go the other way. Maybe they will in later revisions.

2020 Bighorn Night Edition, 5.7 Hemi w/eTorque

 

[JoeCo]

Last night I was getting my travel trailer from the storage lot and, as is so typical of me, I got in a rush. I backed to within 6 feet of the trailer and stopped to install my hitch (Class IV). Opened the door, hopped out, and only then realized I hadn't put it in park.

Truck rolled back about a foot, but before I was able to get back into the cab (left the driver door open, because I was just going to have to back up once the hitch was installed) the parking brake set, and the transmission shifted into Park.

I thought it was because of the rear ParkSense system, but I leave it turned off (I back into my garage and have very little clearance, so I turn it off to keep the annoyance of beeping to a minimum), so it couldn't have been ParkSense.

Does the truck do that when it notices when a driver leaves the seat (similar to when it notices someone sitting in the driver seat to turn on the instrument cluster)? I don't know--but whatever system or Easter Egg it was; it saved my bacon last night.

I love this truck more and more each time I drive it.

As a result of this:

Anton Yelchin's family settle Jeep lawsuit over Star Trek actor's death

Case against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles followed fatal 2016 accident when star’s own Grand Cherokee rolled on to him

www.theguardian.com

My current 2017 had this done prior to my ownership, I know some people don't like it but it doesn't hinder me very much. Only time it was a pain was when my truck was buried under multiple feet of snow, and I wanted to move it just a couple of feet to make clearing it off easier. Couldn't drive with the door open, and it was a fairly tight area so it wasn't comfortable driving blind. Next truck will have surround view cameras so maybe if I can get those cleared off that won't be a problem should that situation arise again.

 

[GATORB8]

From the Owner's Manual:

If the vehicle is not in PARK and the driver exits the vehicle with the engine running, the vehicle may AutoPark. AutoPark will engage when all of these conditions are met:
• Vehicle is equipped with a rotary shifter and an 8-speed transmission
• Vehicle is not in PARK
• Vehicle speed is 1.2 MPH (1.9 km/h) or less
• Driver’s seat belt is unbuckled
• Driver’s door is ajar
• Brake Pedal is not depressed

The MESSAGE “ AutoPark Engaged Shift to P then Shift to Gear” will display in the instrument cluster

 

[Nels]

Haven't tried this with my Ram yet, but my 2018 jeep grand Cherokee would not allow me to back up to a trailer with the driver door open. Always has to close the door before it would move.

 

[GATORB8]

Haven't tried this with my Ram yet, but my 2018 jeep grand Cherokee would not allow me to back up to a trailer with the driver door open. Always has to close the door before it would move.

I think the trick is to not completely remove your foot from the brake, just come up enough for the truck to slowly roll.

 

[Rick J]

You can't have the door open and move the vehicle, it will stop and put it in park. I think having your seat belt on may override it, but I'm not sure.

2020 Bighorn Night Edition, 5.7 Hemi w/eTorque

If you have your seatbelt fastened you CAN move the truck with the door open. They even sell a "dummy" plug for the seatbelt or you can fasten it behind you if you need to lean out of the truck to see where you're going. Defeats the safety feature so you have to be alert if you are do this.

 

[Scram1500]

You can open the door in 4Lo as well. The message "AutoPark Not Engaged" will appear when you open the door in 4Lo

 

[sd2134]

From my owners manual, it describes how to bypass the system. Surprised me when I first got my Ram, I was backing out with my door open and the seat belt off.

SafeHold

SafeHold is a safety feature of the Electric Park
Brake System that will engage the park brake
automatically if the vehicle is left unsecured
while the ignition is in ON/RUN.
The park brake will automatically engage if all of
the following conditions are met:
 The vehicle is at a standstill.
 There is no attempt to depress the brake
pedal or accelerator pedal.
 The seat belt is unbuckled.
 The driver door is open.
SafeHold can be temporarily bypassed by
pushing the Electric Park Brake Switch while the
driver door is open. Once manually bypassed,
SafeHold will be enabled again once the vehicle
reaches 12 mph (20 km/h) or the ignition is
turned to the OFF position and back to ON
again.

 

[GATORB8]

From my owners manual, it describes how to bypass the system. Surprised me when I first got my Ram, I was backing out with my door open and the seat belt off.

SafeHold

SafeHold is a safety feature of the Electric Park
Brake System that will engage the park brake
automatically if the vehicle is left unsecured
while the ignition is in ON/RUN.
The park brake will automatically engage if all of
the following conditions are met:
 The vehicle is at a standstill.
 There is no attempt to depress the brake
pedal or accelerator pedal.
 The seat belt is unbuckled.
 The driver door is open.
SafeHold can be temporarily bypassed by
pushing the Electric Park Brake Switch while the
driver door is open. Once manually bypassed,
SafeHold will be enabled again once the vehicle
reaches 12 mph (20 km/h) or the ignition is
turned to the OFF position and back to ON
again.

Good to know there is a defeat, thanks.

 

[OldMarine]

SD, thanks for that. There are times when I don't want the feature active and now I know I can just press the park brake to override. Nice.

 

[Gitter]

Wow, thanks for finding the override! It drives me nuts when trying to hookup the trailer, but having to close and open the door to move half an inch. The power running boards going in and out only added to the annoyance.

 

[834k3r]

From the Owner's Manual:

If the vehicle is not in PARK and the driver exits the vehicle with the engine running, the vehicle may AutoPark. AutoPark will engage when all of these conditions are met:
• Vehicle is equipped with a rotary shifter and an 8-speed transmission
• Vehicle is not in PARK
• Vehicle speed is 1.2 MPH (1.9 km/h) or less
• Driver’s seat belt is unbuckled
• Driver’s door is ajar
• Brake Pedal is not depressed

The MESSAGE “ AutoPark Engaged Shift to P then Shift to Gear” will display in the instrument cluster

I've read (skimmed) through the owner's manual a time or two, and missed this completely; appreciate you pointing it out.

I have driven with the door open, but I must've had my foot on the brake pedal.

I don't mind this safety feature, frankly; I know others' mileage varies.

 

[AdamChandler]

From the Owner's Manual:

If the vehicle is not in PARK and the driver exits the vehicle with the engine running, the vehicle may AutoPark. AutoPark will engage when all of these conditions are met:
• Vehicle is equipped with a rotary shifter and an 8-speed transmission
• Vehicle is not in PARK
• Vehicle speed is 1.2 MPH (1.9 km/h) or less
• Driver’s seat belt is unbuckled
• Driver’s door is ajar
• Brake Pedal is not depressed

The MESSAGE “ AutoPark Engaged Shift to P then Shift to Gear” will display in the instrument cluster

That's a nice feature and great piece of mind. Just one advantage of the shifter not being manual but electronic. My German car is similar in that it has a standard shifter but the electronic e-brake will engage if similar situation is met such as moving then door is opened and seat belt unlocked. e-brake will hold the vehicle even if it's in drive/reverse