The importance of shoulder belts
Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s
head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should
never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is best to use a booster
seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat- the safest place for children
to ride.
Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the
booster seat.
Never put the shoulder belt under a child’s arm or behind the
back because it eliminates the protection for the upper part of
the body and may increase the risk of injury or death in a collision.
Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child. They can
slide around and increase the likelihood of injury or death in a
collision.
SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN
Child and infant or child safety seats
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the
child. Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions with the
safety seat you put in your vehicle. If you do not install and use the
safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden stop or
collision.
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lowering the frame for loading. Pressing the lower portion of the switch
causes air to fill the air springs so the vehicle will remain normal ride
height.
Tractor-trailer connections
To reduce the risk of personal injury, use extreme caution when
making brake and light connections. Inclement weather and
accumulated road contamination deposits on handhold and stepping
surfaces require extra care to avoid slip and falls. Provide adequate
lighting of working areas.
Do not climb on the back of the tractor unless it has been
provided with a deck plate and handholds. Use a three-point
stance when climbing up and down from a deck plate. Do not jump
from the vehicle. Whenever possible, make all connections while
standing on the ground.
Connecting and disconnecting a trailer with air suspension
When connecting to a trailer:
•Press the lower portion of the switch and air will exhaust from the air
suspension system.
•After making the connection to the trailer, press the upper portion of
the switch, then raise the landing gear.
When disconnecting the trailer:
•Lower the landing gear, then press the lower portion of the switch.
•Disconnect the brake hoses, trailer-side and rear light connectors,
then pull the release lever on the fifth wheel.
The upper portion of the switch must be pressed before operating with a
trailer or operating in the bobtail mode.
Suspension conversions
It is not recommended, or approved, that suspension conversions be
performed. However, it is understood that, on occasion, aftermarket
add-on suspensions are installed by others on the truck chassis which
allow operator control for weight transfer from other axles (i.e., air lift
axles).
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9. Charge the trailer brake system. Set the trailer brakes, either with the
hand valve or tractor protection valve. Pull against the trailer for an
additional check of proper hook-up. Do not pull hard enough to damage
or strain the equipment.
10. Set the tractor parking brakes and fully raise the trailer landing gear.
Refer toBrakesin this chapter for proper operation of the parking brake
and trailer brakes.
11. Check the operation of all trailer lights and correct any lights that
may be faulty.
Un-hook
1. Try to keep the tractor and trailer in a straight line.
2. Apply the parking brakes.
3. Lower the trailer landing gear, making sure it is on solid, level ground.
The weight of the trailer is to be on the landing gear.
4. Block the trailer wheels.
5. Disconnect the brake hoses and light cords. Be sure hoses and cords
are clear.
6. Pull coupler release lever to disengage the fifth wheel jaws.
7. Release the tractor parking brakes.
8. Pull out from the trailer slowly, allowing the landing gear to take the
load gradually.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
Main transmission, auxiliary transmission, transfer case and power
take-off (PTO) control shift patterns can be found on a placard or decal
on the driver’s sun visor, on the instrument panel or on the shift control
itself.
The main transmission control is used to select the various gear ratios or
speeds of the transmission. Selecting D (Direct Drive), does not change
the transmission gear ratio, but is used where the gear ratios in the main
transmission are adequate to handle the vehicle operation.
Hold the brake pedal down while you move the gearshift lever
between positions. If you don’t hold the brake pedal down, your
vehicle may move unexpectedly and cause property damage, personal
injury or death.
Allison 2000 automatic transmission
This transmission is available with a column-mounted gearshift lever. The
gear positions are displayed on the RNDL in the instrument cluster.
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If the engine speed is above idle when a gear is selected using the
shifter, the vehicle will not move. To move the vehicle, the shifter must
be moved to re-select a gear after the engine speed returns to idle.
Note:For more information regarding the Allison MD-WT, refer to the
separate Allison MD-WT Operator’s Manual.
Torque lock
If your vehicle is parked on an incline and P (Park) is not properly
engaged (The parking brake is not applied before the transmission is
shifted into P [Park]), the weight of the vehicle may generate an
excessive amount of torque on the park pawl. In this situation, it may be
difficult to shift the transmission out of P (Park). Hold the brake pedal
down while shifting out of P (Park), then release the parking brake.
Allison MD (Medium Duty) push-button shifter
To shift the transmission into R
(Reverse) or D (Drive), depress the
brake pedal, then press R or D, then
release the brake pedal. To select a
lower range when in D (Drive),
press the down-arrow button. To
select a higher range when in D
(Drive), press the up-arrow button.
To place the transmission in N
(Neutral), press N.
Automatic transmission operating temperatures
Allison 2000/2400–The sump/fluid reservoir temperatures should not
exceed 120°C (250°F). The converter temperature should not exceed
144°C (300°F).
Power take-off (PTO) operation with an Allison automatic
transmission (except MD applications and vehicles equipped with
a Caterpillar 3126E engine)
The power take-off can be operated while the vehicle is standing or
moving.
To engage the PTO, apply the brakes and shift to any gear other than N
(Neutral) - this stops the rotation of the PTO drive gear in the
transmission - then engage the PTO.
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Power-take off operation (PTO) with a manual transmission
Transmission-mounted power take-off units are available for local
installation on your vehicle. See your Body Builder’s Layout Book for
restrictions on use and installation of power take-off units.
To engage the PTO unit, stop the vehicle and place the transmission
control in neutral. Depress the clutch and allow the gears to stop
rotating, then engage the PTO unit. The PTO can also be selected with
the transmission in gear as long as the clutch is depressed.
When operating the PTO unit with the vehicle stationary, first set the
parking brake (chock the wheels if the vehicle is on a hill or other
unlevel surface).
REAR AXLE INFORMATION
Axle operating temperature normally will not exceed 38°C (100°F). If
the operating temperature exceeds 110°C (230°F), the rate of axle
lubrication oxidation will increase and shorten the life of the lubricant
and seals, requiring axle lubrication changes to become more frequent to
preserve the axle. Extreme Pressure (EP) lubricants should not be run
consistently above 110°C (230°F).
Gross axle weight
Your truck has gross axle weight, gross vehicle weight and gross
combination weight ratings. Do not exceed these ratings.
Exceeding these ratings by overloading can cause component
failure resulting in property damage, personal injury or death.
Rear axles with locking or limited-slip differentials
If your vehicle is equipped with a locking or limited-slip differential, note
the following:
•Power will be transmitted to the opposite wheel should one of the
wheels begin to slip.
•Both wheels must be raised free of the ground should it be necessary
to operate one wheel with the vehicle stationary.
If both wheels are not raised free of the ground, the one wheel
that is not raised may pull the vehicle off its support, possibly
resulting in personal injury
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Driver-controlled differential lock
To prevent the vehicle from moving when servicing the wheels, tires or
brakes, turn the engine off and raise all drive wheels of the locker
differential axle. Axles equipped with NoSPIN Detroit Locker differentials
deliver power to both wheels even when only one wheel is on the ground.
Failure to raise all drive wheels with this type of differential
could cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly, resulting in
property damage, personal injury or death.
Care should be taken to avoid sudden accelerations when both drive
wheels are on a slippery surface.
Sudden accelerations on slippery surfaces could cause the
wheels to spin, the vehicle to turn sideways on a crowned road
surface or in a turn, possibly resulting in loss of vehicle control and
personal injury.
Some Dana/Spicer drive axles have a driver-controlled differential lock.
The differential lock can lock or unlock the differential when the vehicle
is moving or stopped. When extra traction is required, the differential
lock will provide full power to both axles.
The differential can be locked or unlocked when the vehicle is moving at
a constant speed of less than 40 km/h (25 mph) and while the wheels
are not slipping. If the differential is locked and vehicle speed exceeds
40 km/h (25 mph), the differential will automatically unlock. Also, the
differential must not be locked when the vehicle is traveling down steep
grades and traction is minimal.
When the differential is locked, the vehicle’s turning radius will increase
(vehicle will“under-steer”)
Axle conversions
It is not recommended, or approved, for axle conversions to be
performed. However, it is understood that, on occasion, aftermarket
add-on axles are installed by others on the truck chassis which allow
operator control for weight transfer from other axles (i.e., air lift axles).
When operating a loaded vehicle, the driver must keep all
adjustable axles on the ground at all times, supporting their
share of the vehicle’s load. Failure to do so can overload other axles,
tires, wheels, springs, steering components, brakes and frames,
resulting in early component failure, loss of vehicle control, possible
property damage and personal injury.
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•Canada
Under no circumstances should your vehicle be loaded in excess of the
GVWR or GAWR. It is the operator’s responsibility to assure that neither
the axle capacities, spring capacities, tire capacities nor the vehicle rated
GVWR is exceeded. For tire capacities, refer toMaintenance and
specificationschapter.
Unloaded or lightly loaded vehicles
The braking system has been designed to safely stop your vehicle when
fully loaded to its GVWR.
When operating empty or lightly loaded, sudden or hard braking
may induce wheel lockup with loss of vehicle control and the
possibility of accident and serious injury, especially on wet or slippery
road surfaces.
TRAILER TOWING
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully prior to and after any towing operation.
Your vehicle’s load capacity is designated by weight, not by volume, so
you cannot necessarily use all available space when loading a vehicle.
2nd unit bodies are not included in maximum trailer weight ratings. The
weight of the additional“body”must be subtracted from the maximum
trailer weight.
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Note:Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and could result in
engine damage, transmission damage, structural damage, loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover and personal injury.
Model Maximum
GVWR - kg
(lbs)Maximum
GCWR - kg
(lbs)*
F-650 Regular/Super/Crew Cab 11793 (26000) 18143 (40000)
F-750 Regular/Super/Crew Cab 13608 (30000) 20412 (45000)
F-750 Regular/Super/Crew Cab 14969 (33000) 27216 (60000)
* Figures shown are the maximum available for each model. Actual
ratings may be less, depending on your transmission. Check with your
sales consultant for the exact rating on your vehicle.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer and make sure it is
properly attached to your vehicle. See your dealer or a reliable trailer
dealer if you require assistance.
Hitches
Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle’s bumper or attach to the
axle. You must distribute the load in your trailer so that 10%–15% of the
total weight of the trailer is on the tongue.
Safety chains
Always connect the trailer’s safety chains to the frame or hook retainers
of the vehicle hitch. To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow slack for turning corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that the rental agency
gives to you.
Do not attach safety chains to the bumper.
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