Can You Lift A Ram ProMaster City?

If you own a Ram ProMaster City, there are multiple reasons why you may want to lift your van. For example, if you use the ProMaster City for camping or off-roading, it will be advantageous to have the bottom of the vehicle a few inches higher off the ground. Or, even if you're just driving it as a work vehicle in city conditions, lifting your ProMaster City can protect the bottom of the van from damage due to potholes and other road hazards. So, how do you lift a Ram ProMaster City? We've done the research, and we have the answers for you!   

You can lift a Ram ProMaster City. Lift kits ranging from 1.5" to 3" are readily available and cost between $150 and $350. Installing the lifts is a fairly complex and time-consuming process, so you may decide to have a professional do the job. Professional installation typically costs $500 - $1,000. You can, however, save money by doing the job yourself.   

In the remainder of this article, we'll provide step-by-step instructions for installing a strut-extension lift kit in your Ram ProMaster City. We will also discuss the reliability of the ProMaster City, and tell you how to change one of its tires. And we'll describe the longevity and the cargo capacity of the Ram ProMaster. Keep reading to learn more!

Ram 1500 ProMaster display at a Chrysler dealership, Can You Lift A Ram ProMaster City?

Can You Lift A Ram ProMaster City?

You can lift a Ram ProMaster City with a readily available mounting kit. Most kits fall into the 1.5" to 3.0" height range. Due to the length and complexity of the task, many ProMaster City owners will opt for professional installation. If you do decide to install the lift yourself, here are the steps to follow:

Installing Front Lifts

  1. Raise your ProMaster City on a lift or jack stand.
  2. Remove both front wheels. 
  3. Lift the floor panel covering the battery.
  4. Disconnect the battery's ground cable.
  5. Remove the lower dash panel, revealing the body control module.
  6. Unplug the two electrical connectors on the body control module.  
  7. Remove the body control module; set it aside.
  8. Remove the acoustic pad from atop the strut.
  9. Disconnect the brake hose, ABS wiring, and wheel speed sensor wiring from the strut.
  10. Disconnect the wheel speed sensor from the steering knuckle. 
  11. Remove the brake caliper adapter bolts, pry the caliper from the rotor; set it aside. 
  12. Unscrew two wheel alignment pins to separate the rotor from the hub.
  13. Disconnect the sway bar link from the lower control arm.
  14. Remove the nut securing the tie rod to the steering knuckle.
  15. Knock the taper free of the steering knuckle.
  16. Remove the axle nut from the axle shaft.
  17. Remove the lower strut bolt and the ball joint.
  18. Pull the steering knuckle clear of the control arm; set it aside.
  19. Remove the mounting bolts on the upper strut, pull the strut out, and set it aside.
  20. Install the new lift spacer atop the strut.
  21. Put the steering knuckle back on the strut and fit the axle shaft through the hub.
  22. Reinstall the lower strut bolt, axle hub, and ball joint.
  23. Tighten the lower ball joint nut and re-stake the axle nut.
  24. Reinstall the rotor, wheel alignment pins, and brake caliper.
  25. Fit the end of the tie rod to the steering knuckle.
  26. Re-fit the wheel speed sensor, ABS wiring, and brake hose to the strut.
  27. Reinstall the body control module and reconnect its electrical wiring.
  28. Replace the dash cover.
  29. Hook up the battery's ground cable.
  30. Replace the floor panel.
  31. Reinstall the front wheels.

Click here for Ram ProMaster City lift kit on Amazon.

Installing Rear Lifts

  1. Raise the vehicle on a lift or jack stand.
  2. Remove both rear wheels.
  3. Remove the ABS and wheel speed sensor wires from their mounting clips.
  4. Release the emergency brake cable from the rear axle.
  5. Remove the upper and lower bolts on the shock; lift the shock away and set it aside.
  6. Unscrew the four nuts on the U-bolts that secure the rear axle.
  7. Lower the rear axle. 
  8. Install and secure the rear lift block atop the axle.
  9. Raise the axle back into place and secure it with new, longer U-bolts included in your lift kit.
  10. Reinstall the shock.
  11. Reinstall the rear wheels.

Click here for 6-ton pair of jack stands on Amazon.

The following YouTube video shows you, step-by-step, how to install front and rear lifts in your Ram ProMaster City:

How Reliable Is The Ram ProMaster City?

The ProMaster City is among the most reliable commercial vans available.

Repair Pal, an organization that rates vehicles' reliability based on repair data, rates the Ram ProMaster City 3.5 out of 5.0 (above average). This ranks 2nd among the 21 commercial vans rated.

Repair Pal finds that each year, about 12% of ProMaster City vans need repairs, and the average cost of these repairs is $795. This is about $170 less than the typical commercial van but $170 greater than the average for all vehicles. 

Motortrend shows the Ram ProMaster City's 5-year cost of ownership to be $35,965 (rated Excellent). This includes a total of $835 for repairs over that time. (Motortrend's calculation of average repair cost is so much lower than Repair Pal's because Motortrend includes all Ram Promaster City vehicles 0-5 years old, while Repair Pal's calculation includes only those vehicles that actually require repairs in a given year.)   

How Do You Change The Tire On The Ram ProMaster City?

Ram 2500 Promaster in minibus version driving on the street

  1. Park on a level surface, away from traffic.
  2. Turn off the ignition, put the transmission in "Park," engage the parking brake, and turn on the hazard lights.
  3. Retrieve the tire-changing toolkit from under the driver's seat or in the rear cargo area.
  4. Insert the winch into the access slot at the rear of the cargo floor; attach the wrench handle to the winch; turn it counterclockwise until the spare tire descends. 
  5. Remove the retainer nut connecting the spare tire to the cable. 
  6. Maneuver the retainer clip through the wheel's center opening. Replace the retainer nut on the clip.
  7. With the wrench, loosen each wheel lug bolt on the flat tire one turn counterclockwise.
  8. Position the jack beneath the jacking spot closest to the flat tire. Jacking spots are indicated by a triangular mark on the lower body of the vehicle.
  9. Turn the jack screw clockwise; raise the jack until the tire is barely off the ground.
  10. Turn the wrench handle counterclockwise to remove the wheel lug bolts.
  11. Remove the hubcap and flat tire.
  12. Install the spare tire, using the mounting pin as a guide. 
  13. Replace the hub cap; turn the wrench clockwise to secure the wheel lug bolts lightly. 
  14. Lower the jack by turning the jack screw counterclockwise. Remove it from under the vehicle.
  15. Turn the wrench handle clockwise to fully tighten all the wheel lug bolts. After you tighten all the bolts once, go back and tighten each one again. 
  16. Re-attach the wrench handle to the winch and turn it clockwise until the spare tire cable is secured under the van's body. 
  17. Stow the flat tire, jack, and toolkit safely in your van. 

Click here for spare tire toolkit on Amazon.

This YouTube video demonstrates in detail how to change a tire on your Ram ProMaster City:

How Long Will A Ram ProMaster Last?

Reliable scientific data on the average longevity of a Ram ProMaster are not available. However, there is a good deal of anecdotal evidence indicating that ProMasters regularly achieve lifespans of 250,000 miles or more.

For example, the respected website MotorBiscuit conducted an in-depth study of online forums for ProMaster owners and found that "most [owners] expect the ProMaster to last at least 250,000 [miles]."

Of course, barring any major design or manufacturing flaws, your Ram ProMaster's lifespan -- like that of any other vehicle -- depends largely on how well you, as the owner, maintain it. If you get the oil changed on time, every time, and faithfully follow the maintenance and service schedule in your owner's manual, you will likely get 250,000 miles or more out of your ProMaster. 

How Much Can A Ram ProMaster Carry?

Ram 1500 ProMaster display at a Chrysler dealership, Can You Stand Up In A Ram Promaster?

The Ram ProMaster comes in four lengths and two roof heights. Each configuration has a unique amount of cargo space and maximum payload.  Cargo space ranges from 259 to 463 cubic feet, while maximum payload ranges from 4,000 lbs to 4,680 lbs. 

8-Foot Cargo Length

  • Standard roof height - 5' 6"
  • Cargo height - 6' 3"
  • Cargo width - 259 cubic feet cargo space
  • 4,000 lbs maximum payload

10-Foot Cargo Length

  • Standard roof height - 5' 6"
  • Cargo height - 6' 3"
  • Cargo width - 304 cubic feet cargo space
  • 4,680 lbs maximum payload
  • High roof - 6' 5"
  • Cargo height - 6' 3"
  • Cargo width - 353 cubic feet cargo space
  • 4,580 lbs maximum payload.

12-Foot Cargo Length

  • High roof - 6' 5"
  • Cargo height - 6' 3"
  • Cargo width - 420 cubic feet cargo space
  • 4,430 lbs maximum payload

13-Foot Cargo Length

  • High roof - 6' 5"
  • Cargo height - 6' 3"
  • Cargo width - 463 cubic feet cargo space
  • 4,330 lbs maximum payload

The high-roof models have larger cargo spaces, but their maximum payload decreases as the vehicle length increases. This is due to the hazard of the vehicle becoming vertically unbalanced and tipping if too much heavy cargo is placed near the top.

By contrast, for ProMasters with standard roof height, the maximum payload increases as the vehicle length increases, and there is no danger of the van becoming top-heavy and tipping.

In Closing

 

RAM 2500 Promaster on display during the 2017 New York International Auto Show. Can You Flat Tow A Ram ProMaster

Now that you know how to lift your Ram ProMaster City, you can decide whether to do the work yourself or take it to a professional. You will also know how to change a tire on your vehicle if you ever need to. And, knowing that the Ram ProMaster City and Ram ProMaster are among the most reliable cargo vans available, you can be confident that your ProMaster will serve you well for years to come!  

You may also enjoy the following articles:

How To Program Ram Promaster Key

Can You Stand Up In A Ram Promaster?

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