1997 FORD F150 tow

TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Automatic transmission
operation (if equipped)
Hold the brake pedal down
while you move the
gearshift lever from position to
position. If you do not hold the
brake pedal down, your vehicle
may move unexpectedly and
injure someone.
Pull the gearshift lever towards
you and downward to move the
automatic gearshift.
P (Park)± Always come to a
complete stop before shifting into
or out of P (Park).
When you leave your
vehicle, place the gearshift
lever in P (Park). Set the
parking brake fully, and shut off
the engine. Never park your
vehicle in N (Neutral). If you do
not take these precautions, your
vehicle may move suddenly and
injure someone.
R (Reverse)± Always come to a
complete stop before shifting into
or out of R (Reverse).
f12_automatic
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N (Neutral)± Vehicle is free to
roll.
D(Overdrive)± The normal
driving position for the best fuel
economy. Transmission operates in
gears one through four.
D(Overdrive) can be deactivated
by pressing the transmission
control switch on the end of the
gearshift lever. The transmission
control indicator light (TCIL)
(OFF) on the end of the gearshift
lever will remain off.
D (Drive)± Not shown on the
display. Activate by pressing the
transmission control switch on the
end of the gearshift lever. The
TCIL (OFF) will illuminate on the
gearshift lever. Transmission
operates in gears one through
three. D (Drive) provides more
engine braking than
D(Overdrive) and is useful
whenever driving conditions (i.e.,
city traffic, hilly terrain, etc.) cause
the transmission to excessively
shift between
D(Overdrive) and
D (Drive). Also deactivate
D(Overdrive) when:
²driving with a heavy load
²towing a trailer up or down
steep hills
²additional engine braking is
desired.
To return to
D(Overdrive)
mode, press the transmission
control switch. The TCIL (OFF)
will no longer be illuminated.
OVERDRIVE OFF
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97

3. Place the gearshift in N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission)
or depress the clutch (manual
transmission).
4. Place the transfer case lever in
the desired gear.
Using the N (Neutral) position
This position should only be used
when towing the vehicle. Refer to
Wrecker towingin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
Do not leave the vehicle
unattended with the
transfer case in the N (Neutral)
position. Always set the parking
brake fully and turn off the
ignition when leaving the vehicle.
2H
4H
4L N
f12_neutral_tcase
f12_control_tracDriving
109

equipment. Remember, the GVW
is not a limit or a specification.
²Gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR):Maximum total weight
of the base vehicle, passengers,
optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each
particular vehicle and is listed
on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label on the driver
door pillar.
²Gross axle weight rating
(GAWR):Carrying capacity for
each axle system (front and
rear). This amount is specific to
each particular vehicle and is
listed on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label on the driver
door pillar.
²Gross combined weight
rating (GCWR):Maximum
combined weight of the towing
vehicle (including passengers
and cargo) and the trailer. The
GCWR indicates the maximum
loaded weight that the vehicle is
allowed to tow.
²Maximum trailer weight:
Maximum weight of a trailer the
loaded vehicle (including
passengers and cargo) is
permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the
weight of the loaded towing
vehicle from the GCWR of the
towing vehicle.
²Trailer weight range:
Specified weight range that the
trailer must fall within that
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ranges from zero to the
maximum trailer weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue
load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.
Do not use replacement tires with
lower weight capacities than the
original because they may lower
the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with
a higher weight limit than the
originals do not increase the
GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Calculating the load your
vehicle can carry/tow
1. Use the Safety Compliance
Certification Label to find the axle
code number and engine type for
your vehicle.
2. Use the appropriate maximum
gross combined weight rating
(GCWR) chart to find the
maximum GCWR for your type
engine and rear axle ratio.
3. Weigh your vehicle as you
customarily operate the vehicle
without cargo. To obtain correct
weights, try taking your vehicle to
a shipping company or an
inspection station for trucks.
4. Subtract your loaded vehicle
weight from the maximum GCWR
on the following charts. This is the
f12_calculating_load
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maximum trailer weight your
vehicle can tow and must fall
below the maximum shown under
maximum trailer weight on the
chart.
Trailer towing table (F-150 4x2 automatic transmission)
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR kg (lb)Maximum
trailer weight
kg (lb)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer
m
2(ft2)
Regular Cab F-150
4.2L 3.08 4,077 (9,000) 2,177 (4,800) 5.52 (60)
4.2L 3.55 4,530 (10,000) 2,582 (5,800) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.08 4,530 (10,000) 2,582 (5,700) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.55 5,209 (11,500) 3,261 (7,200) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.08 4,983 (11,000) 2,948 (6,500) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.55 5,753 (12,700) 3,268 (8,000) 5.52 (60)
SuperCab F-150
4.2L 3.08 4,077 (9,000) 2,086 (4,600) 5.52 (60)
4.2L 3.08 4,530 (10,000) 2,540 (5,600) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.55 4,530 (10,000) 2,491 (5,500) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.55 5,209 (11,500) 3,171 (7,000) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.08 4,983 (11,000) 2,857 (6,300) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.55 5,753 (12,700) 3,628 (8,000) 5.52 (60)
Trailer towing table (F-150 4x2 manual transmission)
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR kg (lb)Maximum
trailer weight
kg (lb)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer
m
2(ft2)
Regular Cab F-150
4.2L 3.08 2,944 (6,500) 1,041 (2,300) 5.52 (60)
4.2L 3.55 3,533 (7,800) 1,630 (3,600) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.08 2,944 (6,500) 997 (2,200) 5.52 (60)
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Trailer towing table (F-150 4x2 manual transmission)
4.6L 3.55 3,533 (7,800) 1,587 (3,500) 5.52 (60)
SuperCab F-150
4.2L 3.08 2,944 (6,500) 951 (2,100) 5.52 (60)
4.2L 3.55 3,533 (7,800) 1,540 (3,400) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.08 2,944 (6,500) 907 (2,000) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.55 3,533 (7,800) 1496 (3,300) 5.52 (60)
Trailer tow table (F-150 4x4 automatic transmission)
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR kg (lb)Maximum
trailer weight
kg (lb)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer
m
2(ft2)
Regular Cab F-150
4.2L 3.08 4,077 (9,000) 1,995 (4,400) 5.52 (60)
4.2L 3.55 4,530 (10,000) 2,449 (5,400) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.08 4,530 (10,000) 2,404 (5,300) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.55 5,209 (11,500) 3,084 (6,800) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.08 4,983 (11,000) 2,721 (6,000) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.55 5,753 (12,700) 3,492 (7,700) 5.52 (60)
SuperCab F-150
4.6L 3.08 4,530 (10,000) 2,313 (5,100) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.55 5,209 (11,500) 2,993 (6,600) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.08 4,983 (11,000) 2,721 (6,000) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.55 5,753 (12,700) 3,492 (7,700) 5.52 (60)
Trailer towing table (F-150 4x4 manual transmission)
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR kg (lb)Maximum
trailer weight
kg (lb)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer
m
2(ft2)
Regular Cab F-150
4.2L 3.08 2,944 (6,500) 861 (1,900) 5.52 (60)
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Trailer towing table (F-150 4x4 manual transmission)
4.2L 3.55 3,533 (7,800) 1,451 (3,200) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.08 2,944 (6,500) 816 (1,800) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.55 3,533 (7,800) 1,406 (3,100) 5.52 (60)
SuperCab F-150
4.6L 3.08 2,944 (6,500) 771 (1,700) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.55 3,533 (7,800) 1,360 (3,000) 5.52 (60)
Trailer towing table (F-250 4x2 automatic transmission)
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR kg (lb)Maximum
trailer weight
kg (lb)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer
m
2(ft2)
Regular Cab F-250
4.6L 3.31 4,756 (10,500) 2,630 (5,800) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.73 5,436 (12,000) 3,311 (7,300) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.31 5,436 (12,000) 3,265 (7,200) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.73 6,115 (13,500) 3,946 (8,600) 5.52 (60)
SuperCab F-250
4.6L 3.31 4,756 (10,500) 2,585 (5,700) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.73 5,436 (12,000) 3,265 (7,200) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.31 5,436 (12,000) 3,220 (7,100) 5.52 (60)
5.4L 3.73 6,115 (13,500) 3,900 (8,600) 5.52 (60)
Trailer towing table (F-250 4x2 manual transmission)
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR kg (lb)Maximum
trailer weight
kg (lb)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer
m
2(ft2)
Regular Cab F-250
4.6L 3.31 3,261 (7,200) 1,179 (2,600) 5.52 (60)
4.6L 3.73 3,533 (7,800) 1,451 (3,200) 5.52 (60)
SuperCab F-250
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