2013 FORD SUPER DUTY towing

•Your vehicle’s brake system and the trailer brake system work
independently of each other. Changing the GAIN setting on the TBC
does not affect the operation of your vehicle’s brakes whether a
trailer is attached or not.
•
When the vehicle is turned off, the TBC output is disabled and the
display and module are shut down. The TBC module and display turn
on when the ignition is turned from the off position to the on position.
•The TBC is only a factory-installed or dealer-installed item. Ford is not
responsible for warranty or performance of the TBC due to misuse or
customer installation.
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 the lamps.
Using a Step Bumper (If Equipped)
The rear bumper is equipped with an integral hitch and only requires a
ball with a one inch (25.4 millimeter) shank diameter. The bumper has a
5000 pound (2268 kilogram) trailer weight and 500 pound (227
kilogram) tongue weight capacity.
If it is necessary to relocate the trailer hitch ball position, a
frame-mounted trailer hitch must be installed.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up to get the feel of the
vehicle-trailer combination before starting on a trip. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•Do not drive faster than 70 mph (113 km/h) during the first 500 miles
(800 kilometers) and do not make full-throttle starts.
•Check your hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts
thoroughly after you have traveled 50 miles (80 kilometers).
•Place the gearshift lever in positionPto aid in engine and
transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot weather while
stopped in traffic.
•Turn off the speed control. The speed control may turn off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
258Towing
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

•Shift to a lower gear when driving down a long or steep hill. Do not
apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become less
effective.
•If your transmission is equipped with the tow/haul feature, use this
when towing. This provides engine braking and helps eliminate
excessive transmission shifting for optimum fuel economy and
transmission cooling.
•If your vehicle is equipped with AdvanceTrac™ with RSC, you may
experience AdvanceTrac™ with RSC activations during typical
cornering maneuvers with a heavily loaded trailer; this is normal.
Cornering at a slower speed while towing reduces the tendency of the
AdvanceTrac™ stability enhancement system to activate.
•If you are 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. See
theCapacities and Specificationschapter for the lubricant
specification.
•Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached; anticipate
stops and brake gradually.
•Avoid parking on a grade. However, if you must park on a grade, place
wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.
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.
Launching or Retrieving a Boat or Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Note:Disconnect the wiring to the trailerbeforebacking the trailer into
the water.
Note: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 inches (15 centimeters)
above the bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Towing259
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

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 anytime the rear axle has been
submerged in water. Water may have contaminated the rear axle
lubricant, which is not normally checked or changed unless a leak is
suspected or other axle repair is required.
Recovery Hooks
WARNING:Using recovery hooks is dangerous and should only be
done by a person familiar with proper vehicle recovery safety
practices. Improper use of recovery hooks may cause hook failure and/or
separation from the vehicle and could result in serious injury or death.
WARNING:Always slowly remove the slack from the recovery
strap prior to pulling. Failure to do so can introduce significantly
higher loads which can cause the recovery hooks to break off, or the
recovery strap to fail which can cause serious injury or death.
WARNING:Never link two straps together with a clevis pin.
These heavy metal objects could become projectiles if the strap
breaks and can cause serious injury or death.
Your vehicle comes equipped with frame-mounted front recovery hooks.
These hooks should never have a load applied to them greater than the
GVWR of your vehicle.
Before using the recovery hooks:
•Make sure all attaching points are secure and capable of withstanding
the applied load.
•Never use chains, cables or tow straps with metal hook ends.
•Only use recovery straps that have a minimum breaking strength two
to three times the GVW of the stuck vehicle.
•Make sure the recovery strap is in good condition and free of visible
cuts, tears or damage.
•Use a damper device such as a tarp, heavy blanket or piece of carpet
draped over the recovery strap to help absorb the energy in the event
the strap breaks.
260Towing
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

•Make sure the stuck vehicle is not loaded in excess of its GVWR
specified on the certification label.
•Always align the tow vehicle and stuck vehicle in a straight line
(within 10 degrees).
•Keep bystanders to thesidesof the vehicle, at a distance of at least
twice the length of the recovery strap. This helps avoid injury from
the hazard of a recovery hook or strap breaking, or a vehicle lurching
into their path.
WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member of a roadside assistance program, your
roadside assistance service provider.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not
approved a slingbelt towing procedure. If the vehicle is towed incorrectly,
or by any other means, vehicle damage may occur.
Towing261
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Ford Motor Company produces a towing manual for all authorized tow
truck operators. Have your tow truck operator refer to this manual for
proper hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
Two-wheel drive (2WD) vehicles can be towed with the front wheels on
the ground and the rear wheels off the ground.
It is recommended that four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles are to be towed
with a wheel lift and dollies or flatbed equipment with all the wheels off
the ground. However, a wheel lift may be used to lift the rear of the
vehicle so long as, depending on vehicle configurations, the following
preparations are met:
•On manual-shift transfer case vehicles, the front wheel hub locks are
in the FREE position prior to towing.
•On Electronic Shift-On-the-Fly (ESOF) vehicles, the 4WD control is
turned to the 2WD position prior to towing.
Note:Towing an ESOF 4WD vehicle with the front wheels on the ground
without disengaging the front hubs may cause damage to the automatic
transmission.
Note:Towing a 2WD or an ESOF 4WD vehicle with the rear wheels on
the ground for more than 50 miles (80 km) and/or in excess of 35 mph
(56 km/h) may cause damage to the automatic transmission.
Note:On dual rear wheel (DRW) vehicles, an outer rear wheel must be
removed prior to using a wheel lift wrecker.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON FOUR WHEELS
Emergency Towing
In the event your vehicle becomes disabled (without access to wheel
dollies, car-hauling trailer, or flatbed transport vehicle), it can be
flat-towed (all wheels on the ground, regardless of the
powertrain/transmission configuration) under the following conditions:
•The vehicle is facing forward so that it is towed in a forward
direction.
•The transmission is placed in positionN.SeeAutomatic
transmissionin theTransmissionchapter if you cannot move the
transmission intoN.
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 miles (80 kilometers).
262Towing
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Recreational Towing
Note:Put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to
prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. See theClimate
Controlchapter.
Follow these guidelines if you have a need for recreational (RV) 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.
Drivetrain
configurationRequirements for neutral towing
4WD with manual-shift
transfer caseTransmission in N (Neutral); transfer case in N
(Neutral); hublocks set to FREE.
*
2WD or 4WD with
electronic-shift
transfer case (ESOF)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.
Towing263
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

•Add particular accessories to your vehicle (e.g.; bug deflectors,
rollbars or light bars, running boards, ski racks).
•Drive with the wheels out of alignment.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drive with the tonneau cover installed
(if equipped).
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Note:Driving through deep water may allow water into the transmission
and engine causing internal damage. Have the fluid checked and, if water
is found, replace the fluid.
Do not drive quickly through standing water, especially if the depth is
unknown. Traction or brake capability may be limited and if the ignition
system gets wet, your engine may stall. Water may also enter your
engine’s air intake and severely damage your engine.
Driving Hints265
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Vehicles Sold in the U.S. : Getting Roadside Assistance
To fully assist you should you have a vehicle concern, Ford Motor
Company offers a complimentary roadside assistance program. This
program is separate from the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The service
is available:
•24-hours a day, seven days a week
•for the coverage period listed on the Roadside Assistance Card
included in your owner’s manual portfolio.
Roadside assistance will cover:
•a flat tire change with a good spare (except vehicles that have been
supplied with a tire inflation kit).
•battery jump start.
•lock-out assistance (key replacement cost is the customer’s
responsibility).
•fuel delivery – Independent Service Contractors, if not prohibited by
state, local or municipal law shall deliver up to 2.0 gallons (7.5 liters)
of gasoline or 5.0 gallons (18.9 liters) of diesel fuel to a disabled
vehicle. Fuel delivery service is limited to two no-charge occurrences
within a 12-month period.
•winch out – available within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of a paved or
county maintained road, no recoveries.
•towing – Ford and Lincoln eligible vehicles towed to an authorized
dealer within 35 miles (56 kilometers) of the disablement location or
to the nearest authorized dealer. If a member requests to be towed to
an authorized dealer more than 35 miles (56 kilometers) from the
disablement location, the member shall be responsible for any mileage
costs in excess of 35 miles (56 kilometers).
Trailers shall be covered up to $200 if the disabled eligible vehicle
requires service at the nearest authorized dealer. If the trailer is disabled,
but the towing vehicle is operational, the trailer does not qualify for any
roadside services.
Roadside Emergencies271
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)