OFF-ROAD DRIVING
WARNING
Off-roading can be extremelydangerous and carries inherent risksthat may not be preventable evenwith the best precautions. Ford stronglyrecommends driving within your ability andtaking every safety precaution, includingthose found here and at other off-roaddriving organizations such as the Best inthe Desert Racing (www.bitd.com) andSCORE International Off-Road Racing.
In addition to providing an excellenton-road driving experience, your vehicleexcels at all types of off-road driving. Thetruck has been designed and equipped toallow you to explore those places wherethe road doesn’t take you whether it’s aforest trail or the open desert. Before goingoff-roading, consult with your localgovernmental agencies to determinedesignated off-road trails and recreationareas. Also, be sure to understand anyoff-road vehicle registration requirementsfor the area in which you plan on driving.
Tread Lightly is an educational programdesigned to increase public awareness ofland-use regulations and responsibilitiesin our nation’s wilderness areas. Ford joinsthe U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of LandManagement in encouraging you to helppreserve our national forest and otherpublic and private lands by treading lightly.
Before taking your vehicle off-roading, abasic vehicle inspection should be done tomake sure that the vehicle is in top workingcondition.
It is always recommended that at leasttwo vehicles are used while off-roading.The buddy system helps make sure thathelp is close at hand should a vehiclebecome stuck or damaged. It is also wiseto take supplies such as a first aid kit,supply of water, tow strap, cell or satellitephone with you any time an off-roadexcursion is planned.
Off-Road Mode
Off road mode changes the calibrations offour systems on the vehicle to enhance offroad performance:
•Electronic locking differential(ELD)— Any speed thresholds for theELD are lifted. The ELD will remainlocked up to the maximum vehiclespeed when engaged.
•AdvanceTrac— When off-road modeis engaged, the AdvanceTrac settingsare altered for optimized off-roadperformance.
•Transmission shifting andresponse— The transmission shiftschedule is altered for improved offroad performance. Upshifts aredelayed and occur less frequently. Thiswill provide the best possible vehicleresponse and acceleration.
•Engine throttle calibration— Theengine throttle calibration is altered forimproved off-road performance.
Note:Operating the vehicle in this modedoes not guarantee that the vehicle will notbecome stuck in sand, snow or mud or otherdebris. It is the driver’s responsibility toassess off-road situations and determine ifthe terrain is passable.
Note:Tow/haul mode will be disabledwhen off-road mode is active. If tow/haulmode is active, it will be disabled whenoff-road mode is active.
15F150 (TF6)Driving Hints
