2011 FORD F450 towing

Your vehicle may be equipped with a temporary or conventional spare
tire. If the spare tire is different in size (diameter and/or width), tread
type (All-Season or All-Terrain) or is from a different manufacturer other
than the road tires on your vehicle, your spare tire is considered
“temporary”. Consult information on the Tire Label or Safety Compliance
Certification Label for limitations when using.
Trailer towing safety tips
General
• Ensure that the trailer, safety chains and 7–pin electrical connectors
are securely fastened.
• Make sure the truck receiver, draw bar and coupler are properly
connected and adjusted.
• Check rear view and side mirrors for proper visibility especially when
towing a trailer wider than the truck.
• When turning, make wide turns to allow trailer tires to properly clear
any obstacles.
• Operate the vehicle at lower speeds than you would when not towing
a trailer; the likelihood of trailer sway is greater at higher speeds.
• Be prepared for trailer sway due to buffeting when larger vehicles
pass in either direction.
• 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 lubricant if not already so
equipped. Refer to Maintenance product specifications and
capacities in the Maintenance and Specifications chapter for the
proper axle lubricant. Remember that regardless of the rear axle
lubricant used, do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (800 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.
Loading
• Trailer loads should be evenly distributed front-to-back and
left-to-right.
• Never exceed truck, trailer, receiver, ball, tongue, tire or coupler
loading recommendations.
• Keep the center of gravity low for best handling. Tires, Wheels and Loading
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Braking
• Anticipate stops; allow more distance and time to stop than normal.
• Do not apply the trailer brakes for extended periods of time as they
can overheat and lose effectiveness.
• The trailer brakes (including the shoes, drum and trailer brake
magnets) must be inspected and serviced at intervals specified by the
manufacturer.
• Electric brakes also require periodic adjustment to keep the shoes
properly spaced. If the brakes get hot when driving or if they will not
hold, chances are that they need adjustment.
Backing-up
• Practice backing-up, particularly if you are a novice. Turn the steering
wheel to the right to move the trailer’s rear end to the right.
• Sharp steering movements may cause the trailer to jackknife or go out
of control.
Tires
• Select tires that meet the trailer loading requirements.
• All trailer tires should be of the same size, and construction.
• Always check tow vehicle and trailer tire pressure before towing.
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.Tires, Wheels and Loading
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RECREATIONAL TOWING
Follow these guidelines if you have a need for recreational (RV) towing.
An example of recreational towing would be towing your vehicle behind
a motor home.
Note: Put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to
prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. Refer to the Climate
Controls chapter for more information.
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle, see Wrecker
towing in the Roadside Emergencies chapter.
These guidelines are designed to ensure that your transmission is not
damaged after the vehicle is hooked-up to the RV or tow dolly.
Drivetrain
configuration Requirements for neutral towing
4x4 with manual-shift
transfer case Transmission in N (Neutral); transfer case in N
(Neutral); hublocks set to FREE*
4x2 or 4x4 with
electronic-shift
transfer case 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.
*Always make sure that both hub locks are set to the same position. Tires, Wheels and Loading
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During TCS events the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
If the TCS is activated excessively in a short period of time, the braking
portion of the system may become temporarily disabled to allow the
brakes to cool down. In this situation, TCS will use only engine power
reduction to help control the wheels from over-spinning. When the
brakes have cooled down, the system will regain all features. Anti-lock
braking, RSC  , and ESC are not affected by this condition and will
continue to function during the cool-down period.
The engine traction control and brake traction control system may be
deactivated in certain situations. See the Switching off AdvanceTrac 
with RSC  section following.
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 to Trailer
towing in the Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter).
The ESC system may be deactivated in certain situations. See the
Switching off AdvanceTrac  with RSC  section following.Driving
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Trailer sway control
Your vehicle may be equipped with trailer sway control. When properly
equipped, trailer sway control will use the vehicle’s AdvanceTrac  with
RSC  system 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.
During trailer sway control events the stability control light in the
instrument cluster will flash momentarily. The 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.
Disabling trailer sway control
Trailer sway control can be disabled during any key cycle. See trailer
sway control under the Message center in the Instrument Cluster
chapter. 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.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED)
Hill descent control allows the driver to set and maintain vehicle speed
while descending steep grades in various surface conditions. Driving
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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
D (Overdrive) with tow/haul off is the normal driving position for the
best fuel economy. The overdrive function allows automatic upshifts and
downshifts through gears one through five.
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.
To activate tow/haul, press the
button on the end of the gearshift
lever.
The TOW HAUL indicator light will
illuminate in the instrument cluster.
Tow/haul delays upshifts to reduce frequency of transmission shifting.
Tow/haul also provides engine braking in all forward gears when the
transmission is in the D (Overdrive) position; this engine braking will
slow the vehicle and assist the driver in controlling the vehicle when
descending a grade. Depending on driving conditions and load
conditions, the transmission may downshift, slow the vehicle and control
the vehicle speed when descending a hill, without the accelerator pedal
being pressed. The amount of downshift braking provided will vary based
upon the amount the brake pedal is depressed.
To deactivate the tow/haul feature and return to normal driving mode,
press the button on the end of the gearshift lever. The TOW HAUL light
will no longer be illuminated.
When you shut-off and restart the engine, the transmission will
automatically return to normal D (Overdrive) mode (Tow/Haul OFF).
WARNING: Do not use the tow/haul feature when driving in icy
or slippery conditions as the increased engine braking can cause
the rear wheels to slide and the vehicle to swing around with the
possible loss of vehicle control. Driving
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P (Park)
This position locks the transmission and prevents the rear wheels from
turning.
To put your vehicle in gear:
1. Start the engine
2. Press the brake pedal
3. Move the gearshift lever into the desired gear
To put your vehicle in P (Park):
1. Come to a complete stop
2. 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
D (Overdrive) with tow/haul off is the normal driving position for the
best fuel economy. The overdrive function allows automatic upshifts and
downshifts through 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. Driving
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• (1) Rear bumper
• (2) Red zone
• (3) Yellow zone
• (4) Green zone
• (5) Centerline of vehicle
Always use caution while backing.
Objects in the red zone are closest
to your vehicle and objects in the
green zone are further away. Objects
are getting closer to your vehicle as they move from the green zone to
the yellow or red zones.
Use the side mirrors and rearview mirror to get better coverage on both
sides and rear of the vehicle.
Image delay if displayed through the rearview mirror:
When shifting out of R (Reverse) and into any other gear, the image in
the rearview mirror will remain on for a few seconds before it shuts off
to assist in parking or trailer hookup.
Image delay if displayed through the navigation screen:
After shifting out of R (Reverse) and into any gear other than P (Park),
the image in the navigation screen will remain until the vehicle speed
reaches 5 mph (8 km/h), only if the rear camera delay feature is on, or
until any navigation radio button is pressed.
Note: The default setting for the rear camera delay is off. Press the
“Settings” button found on the navigation screen (if equipped) to set the
rear camera delay feature to on or off.
When towing, the camera system will only see what is being towed
behind the vehicle; this might not provide adequate coverage as it
usually provides in normal operation and some objects might not be
seen.
The camera lens for the camera is located on the tailgate. Keep the lens
clean so the video image remains clear and undistorted. Clean the lens
with a soft, lint-free cloth and non-abrasive cleaner.
Note: If the camera system image is not clear or seems distorted, it may
be covered with water droplets, snow, mud or any other substance. If
this occurs, clean the camera lens before using the camera system. Driving
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