2011 FORD EXPEDITION trailer

4. Attach the trailer to the vehicle and adjust the hitch equalizers so that the
front bumper height is within a12in. (13 mm) of the reference point. After
proper adjustment, the rear bumper should be no higher than in Step 3.
5. Turn the air suspension (if equipped) control to on.
WARNING:Do not adjust a weight-distributing hitch to any
position where the rear bumper of the vehicle is higher than it
was before attaching the trailer. Doing so will defeat the function of
the weight-distributing hitch, which may cause unpredictable handling,
and could result in serious personal injury.
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.
Trailer brakes
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or surge-type trailer brakes are safe
if installed properly and adjusted to the manufacturer’s specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and Federal regulations.
WARNING:Do not connect a trailer’s hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle’s brake system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and your chances of having a collision
greatly increase.
The braking system of the tow vehicle is rated for operation at the
GVWR not GCWR.
Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most towed vehicles. Make sure all running
lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights are working. Contact
your authorized dealer or trailer rental agency for proper instructions
and equipment for hooking-up trailer lamps.
Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
•Do not drive faster than 70 mph (113 km/h) during the first 500 miles
(800 km) of trailer towing and don’t make full-throttle starts.
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•Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
•Activate the tow/haul feature to eliminate excessive transmission
shifting and assist in transmission cooling. For additional information,
refer toAutomatic transmission operationin theDrivingchapter.
•Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached; anticipate
stops and brake gradually.
If your vehicle is equipped with AdvanceTracwith RSC, you may
experience AdvanceTracwith RSC activations during typical cornering
maneuvers with a heavily loaded trailer; this is normal. Cornering at a
slower speed while towing will reduce the tendency of the AdvanceTrac
stability enhancement system to activate.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer toSpecial operating conditionsin the
Scheduled Maintenance Guidechapter.
Trailer towing tips
•Practice turning, stopping and backing-up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle-trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
•To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park).
•After you have traveled 50 miles (80 km), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
•If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear. Do
not apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become
less effective.
•If you will be towing a trailer frequently in hot weather, hilly
conditions, at GCWR, or any combination of these factors, consider
refilling your rear axle with synthetic gear lube if not already so
equipped. Refer to theMaintenance and Specificationschapter for
the lubricant specification. Remember that regardless of the rear axle
lube used, do not tow a trailer for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of a
new vehicle, and that the first 500 miles (800 km) of towing be done
at no faster than 70 mph (113 km/h) with no full throttle starts.
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.
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Launching or retrieving a boat
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer
into the water. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after the
trailer is removed from the water.
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval:
•Do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper.
•Do not allow waves to break higher than 6 in (15 cm) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter vehicle components:
•Causing internal damage to the components.
•Affecting driveability, emissions and reliability.
Replace the rear axle lubricant any time the axle has been submerged in
water. Rear axle lubricant quantities are not to be checked or changed
unless a leak is suspected or repair required.
RECREATIONAL TOWING
Follow these guidelines if you have a need for recreational towing. An
example of recreational towing would be towing your vehicle behind a
motorhome. These guidelines are designed to ensure that your
transmission is not damaged.
Note:Put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to
prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. Refer to theClimate
Controlschapter for more information.
2WD and 4WD vehicles:Do not tow your vehicle with any wheels on
the ground, as vehicle or transmission damage may occur. It is
recommended to tow your vehicle with all four (4) wheels off the ground
such as when using a car-hauling trailer. Otherwise, no recreational
towing is permitted. See your authorized dealer if you must flat-tow a
vehicle equipped with the Control Trac4WD system.
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle, seeWrecker
towingin theRoadside Emergencieschapter.
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Electronic stability control (ESC)
Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely or
avoiding objects in the roadway. ESC operates by applying brakes to one or
more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing engine power if
the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or slide laterally.
During ESC events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC system, which
include but are not limited to:
•Taking a turn too fast
•Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
•Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
•Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
•Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice
versa
•Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
•Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer toTrailer
towingin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter).
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC)
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC) may help to maintain roll stability of the
vehicle during adverse maneuvers. RSCoperates by detecting the
vehicle’s roll motion and the rate at which it changes and by applying the
brakes to one or more wheels individually.
During an event that activates the RSCsystem, the stability control
light in the instrument cluster will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the Roll Stability Control
system, which include:
•Emergency lane-change
•Taking a turn too fast
•Quick maneuvering to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
Switching off traction control
If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off the traction control features of the AdvanceTrac
with RSCsystem may be beneficial because the wheels are allowed to
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spin. This will restore full engine power and will enhance momentum
through the obstacle. To switch off the traction control, press the
stability control button. Full features of the AdvanceTracwith RSC
system can be restored by pressing the stability control button again or
by turning off and restarting the engine.
If you switch off the traction control, the stability control light will
illuminate steadily. Pressing the stability control button again will turn off
the stability control light.
In 4L (4X4 Low) if equipped, ABS and the brake traction control
features will continue to function; however ESC, RSC and engine traction
control are disabled.
In R (Reverse), ABS and the engine traction control and brake traction
control features will continue to function; however, ESC and RSCare
disabled.
AdvanceTracwith RSCFeatures
Button
functionsStability
control
light
RSCESCEngine
traction
controlBrake
traction
control
Default at
start-upIlluminated
during bulb
checkEnabled Enabled Enabled Enabled
Button
pressed
momentarilyIlluminated
solidEnabled EnabledPartially
enabledPartially
enabled
Trailer sway control
Your vehicle may be equipped with trailer sway control. When properly
equipped, trailer sway control will use the vehicle’s AdvanceTracwith
RSCsystem to detect and help reduce trailer sway by applying brake
force at individual wheels and, if necessary, by reducing engine power.
WARNING:Trailer sway control does not prevent a trailer from
swaying, it mitigates the sway from increasing once it has
occurred. If you are experiencing trailer sway it is likely that the trailer
is improperly loaded for the correct tongue weight or the speed of the
vehicle and trailer is too high. Pull the vehicle-trailer over to a safe
location to check the trailer weight distribution and tongue load and
reduce speed to a safe level while towing. If trailer sway is
experienced, SLOW DOWN.
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During trailer sway control events, the stability control light in the
instrument cluster will flash momentarily. The cluster message center will
also display TRAILER SWAY REDUCE SPEED. In some cases when trailer
sway is detected, the vehicle speed is too high and may be above a speed
at which trailer sway will not grow continuously. This may cause the
system to activate multiple times, causing a gradual reduction in speed.
Note:The trailer sway control will only activate at speeds greater than
40 mph (64 km/h).
Disabling trailer sway control
Trailer sway control can be disabled during any key cycle. SeeMessage
centerin theInstrument Clusterchapter. Note that regardless of
chosen enable state, trailer sway control will be re-enabled at each new
key cycle.
WARNING:Turning off trailer sway control increases the risk of
loss of vehicle control, serious injury, or death. Ford does not
recommend disabling this feature except in situations where speed
reduction may be detrimental (e.g., hill climbing), the driver has
significant trailer towing experience, and can control trailer sway and
maintain safe operation.
STEERING
Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power steering uses energy
from the engine to decrease the driver’s effort in steering the vehicle.
To help prevent damage to the power steering pump:
•Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or the extreme left
for more than a few seconds when the engine is running.
•Do not operate the vehicle with the power steering pump fluid level
below the MIN mark on the reservoir.
•Some noise is normal during operation. If the noise is excessive, check
for low power steering pump fluid level before seeking service by your
authorized dealer.
•Heavy or uneven steering efforts may be caused by low power steering
pump fluid level. Check for low power steering pump fluid level before
seeking service by your authorized dealer.
•Do not fill the power steering pump reservoir above the MAX mark on
the reservoir, as this may result in leaks from the reservoir.
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P (Park)
This position locks the transmission
and prevents the rear wheels from
turning.
To put your vehicle in gear:
•Press the brake pedal
•Start the engine
•Move the gearshift lever into the
desired gear. If your vehicle is
equipped with a floor-shift
transmission, press the gearshift
lever release button (on the front
of the lever) while shifting into
the desired gear.
To put your vehicle in P (Park):
•Come to a complete stop
•Move the gearshift lever and securely latch it in P (Park)
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the off
position and remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
R (Reverse)
With the gearshift lever in R (Reverse), the vehicle will move backward.
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of R
(Reverse).
N (Neutral)
With the gearshift lever in N (Neutral), the vehicle can be started and is
free to roll. Hold the brake pedal down while in this position.
D (Overdrive) with Tow/Haul Off
The normal driving position for the best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through six.
D (Overdrive) with Tow/Haul On
The Tow/Haul feature improves transmission operation when towing a
trailer or a heavy load. All transmission gear ranges are available when
using Tow/Haul.
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REVERSE SENSING SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The reverse sensing system (RSS) sounds a tone to warn the driver of
obstacles near the rear bumper when R (Reverse) is selected and the
vehicle is moving at speeds less than 3 mph (5 km/h). The system is not
effective at speeds above 3 mph (5 km/h) and may not detect certain
angular or moving objects.
WARNING:To help avoid personal injury, please read and
understand the limitations of the reverse sensing system as
contained in this section. Reverse sensing is only an aid for some
(generally large and fixed) objects when moving in reverse on a flat
surface at “parking speeds”. Inclement weather may also affect the
function of the RSS; this may include reduced performance or a false
activation.
WARNING:To help avoid personal injury, always use caution
when in R (Reverse) and when using the RSS.
WARNING:This system is not designed to prevent contact with
small or moving objects. The system is designed to provide a
warning to assist the driver in detecting large stationary objects to
avoid damaging the vehicle. The system may not detect smaller
objects, particularly those close to the ground.
WARNING:Certain add-on devices such as large trailer hitches,
bike or surfboard racks and any device that may block the
normal detection zone of the RSS system may create false beeps.
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