2015 FORD SUPER DUTY light

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR orthe GAWR specified on thecertification label.
Towing trailers beyond themaximum recommendedgross trailer weight exceeds thelimit of the vehicle and couldresult in engine damage,transmission damage, structuraldamage, loss of vehicle control,vehicle rollover and personalinjury.
Your vehicle may have electricalitems, such as fuses or relays,related to towing. See the Fuseschapter.
Your vehicle's load capacitydesignation is by weight, not byvolume, so you cannot necessarilyuse all available space whenloading a vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an extraload on your vehicle's engine,transmission, axle, brakes, tiresand suspension. Inspect thesecomponents periodically during,and after, any towing operation.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailermovement affects your vehiclewhen driving:
•Load the heaviest items closestto the trailer floor.
•Load the heaviest itemscentered between the left andright side trailer tires.
•Load the heaviest items abovethe trailer axles or just slightlyforward toward the trailertongue. Do not allow the finaltrailer tongue weight to goabove or below 10-15% of theloaded trailer weight.
•Select a tow bar with thecorrect rise or drop. When boththe loaded vehicle and trailerare connected, the trailer frameshould be level, or slightlyangled down toward yourvehicle, when viewed from theside.
When driving with a trailer orpayload, a slight takeoff vibrationor shudder may be present due tothe increased payload weight.Additional information regardingproper trailer loading and settingyour vehicle up for towing islocated in another chapter of thismanual. See Load Limit (page178). You can also find theinformation in the RV & TrailerTowing Guide, available at anauthorized dealer.
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TRAILER SWAY CONTROL (IF
EQUIPPED)
WARNING
Turning off trailer sway controlincreases the risk of loss of vehiclecontrol, serious injury or death. Forddoes not recommend disabling this featureexcept in situations where speed reductionmay be detrimental (such as hill climbing),the driver has significant trailer towingexperience, and can control trailer swayand maintain safe operation.
Note:This feature does not prevent trailersway, but reduces it once it begins.
Note:This feature cannot stop all trailersfrom swaying.
Note:In some cases, if vehicle speed is toohigh, the system may activate multipletimes, gradually reducing vehicle speed.
This feature applies your vehicle brakes atindividual wheels and, if necessary, reducesengine power. If the trailer begins to sway,the stability control light flashes and themessage TRAILER SWAY REDUCESPEED appears in the information display.The first thing to do is slow your vehicledown, then pull safely to the side of theroad and check for proper tongue load andtrailer load distribution. See LoadCarrying (page 178).
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note:Do not exceed a trailerweight of 5000 pounds (2268kilograms) when towing with, orby, bumper only.
Note:Make sure to take intoconsideration trailer frontal area.Do not exceed 60 feet2 (5.6
meters2) trailer frontal area.
Note:Exceeding this limitationmay significantly reduce theperformance of your towingvehicle. Selecting a trailer with alow aerodynamic drag and roundedfront design helps optimizeperformance and fuel economy.
Note:For high altitude operation,reduce the gross combined weightby 2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)starting at the 1000 foot (300meter) elevation point.
Note:Certain states requireelectric trailer brakes for trailersover a specified weight. Be sure tocheck state regulations for thisspecified weight. The maximumtrailer weights listed may be limitedto this specified weight, as yourvehicle's electrical system may notinclude the wiring connectorneeded to use electric trailerbrakes.
Your vehicle may tow a class I, II,III and IV trailer or fifth-wheeltrailer provided the maximumtrailer weight is less than or equalto the maximum trailer weightlisted for your vehicleconfiguration on the followingchart.
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•Service your vehicle morefrequently if you tow a trailer.See your scheduledmaintenance information.
•If you use a rental trailer, followthe instructions the rentalagency gives you.
See Load limits in the LoadCarrying chapter for loadspecification terms found on thetire label and Safety Compliancelabel and instructions oncalculating your vehicle's load.
Remember to account for thetrailer tongue weight as part ofyour vehicle load when calculatingthe total vehicle weight.
Trailer Towing Connector
When attaching the trailer wiringconnector to your vehicle, only usea proper fitting connector thatworks with the vehicle and trailerfunctions. Some seven-positionconnectors may have the SAEJ2863 logo, which confirms that itis the proper wiring connector andworks correctly with your vehicle.
FunctionColor
Left turn signal and stoplampYellow
Ground (-)White
Electric brakesBlue
Right turn signal andstop lampGreen
Battery (+)Orange
Running lightsBrown
Reverse lightsGrey
Dynamic Hitching Using theRear View Camera System
Note:Active guidelines and fixedguidelines are only available whenthe transmission is in reverse (R).
Use the centerline (B) guidelineto assist you in setting yoursteering wheel properly to helpalign the trailer hitch and tongue.
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Do not use a hitch that eitherclamps onto the bumper orattaches to the axle. You mustdistribute the load in your trailerso that 10-15% for conventionaltowing or 15-25% for fifth wheeltowing of the total weight of thetrailer is on the tongue.
Weight-distributing Hitches
WARNING
Do not adjust aweight-distributing hitch toany position where the rearbumper of the vehicle is higherthan it was before attaching thetrailer. Doing so will defeat thefunction of the weight-distributinghitch, which may causeunpredictable handling, and could
result in serious personal injury.
When hooking-up a trailer using aweight-distributing hitch, alwaysuse the following procedure:
1.Park the loaded vehicle,without the trailer, on a levelsurface.
2.Measure the height to the topof your vehicle's front wheelopening on the fender. This isH1.
3.Attach the loaded trailer toyour vehicle without theweight-distributing barsconnected.
4.Measure the height to the topof your vehicle's front wheelopening on the fender a secondtime. This is H2.
5.Install and adjust the tensionin the weight-distributing barsso that the height of yourvehicle's front wheel openingon the fender is approximatelyhalfway between H1 and H2.
6.Check that the trailer is level orslightly nose down toward yourvehicle. If not, adjust the ballheight accordingly and repeatSteps 2-6.
Once the trailer is level or slightlynose down toward the vehicle:
•Lock the bar tension adjusterin place.
•Check that the trailer tonguesecurely attaches and locksonto the hitch.
•Install safety chains, lighting,and trailer brake controls asrequired by law or the trailermanufacturer.
Fifth-wheel Trailer Hitch (IfEquipped)
WARNINGS
The mounting pads in the bedare specifically designed forcertain fifth-wheel trailer hitchesand gooseneck ball hitches. Donot use these mounting pads forother purposes. Doing so couldresult in vehicle structural
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You can adjust the amount ofinitial trailer brake output byselecting one of three settingsthrough the message center.
Ford has tested the trailer brakecontroller to be compatible withseveral major brands ofelectric-over-hydraulic trailerbrakes. Contact an authorizeddealer for information on whichbrands you can use.
The controller user interfaceconsists of the following:
A: + and - (Gain adjustmentbuttons): Pressing these buttonsadjusts the controller's poweroutput to the trailer brakes in 0.5increments. You can increase thegain setting to 10.0 (maximumtrailer braking) or decrease it to 0(no trailer braking). Pressing andholding a button raises or lowersthe setting continuously. The gainsetting displays in the messagecenter as follows: TBC GAIN =XX.X.
B: Manual control lever: Slide thecontrol lever to the left to switchon the trailer's electric brakesindependent of the tow vehicle's.See the following Procedure foradjusting gain section forinstructions on proper use of thisfeature. If you use the manualcontrol while the brake is alsoapplied, the greater of the twoinputs determines the power sentto the trailer brakes.
•Stop lamps: Using the manualcontrol lever lights both thetrailer brake lamps and yourvehicle brake lamps except thecenter high-mount stop lamp,if you make the properelectrical connection to thetrailer. Pressing your vehiclebrake pedal also lights bothtrailer and vehicle brake lamps.
The controller shows gain setting,output bar graph, and trailerconnectivity status in theinformation display. They appearin the information display asfollows:
•TBC GAIN = XX.X NOTRAILER: Shows the currentgain setting during a givenignition cycle and when
adjusting the gain. This alsodisplays if you use the manualcontrol lever or make gainadjustments with no trailerconnected.
•TBC GAIN = XX.XOUTPUT=/ / / / / /: Displayswhen you push your vehicle'sbrake pedal, or upon use of themanual control. Bar indicatorslight in the information displayto indicate the amount ofpower going to the trailerbrakes relative to the brakepedal or manual control input.One bar indicates the leastamount of output; six barsindicate maximum output.
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gain setting is at a point justbelow trailer wheel lock-up. Iftowing a heavier trailer, trailerwheel lock-up may not beattainable even with themaximum gain setting of 10.
Initial Output Setting
The trailer brake controller letsyou customize how aggressivelythe trailer brakes engage. Thedefault value is set to “Light”. Werecommend this setting for themajority of trailers. If you are usingan EOH trailer with a high settingvoltage, or if you prefer to feelmore brake feedback from thetrailer, then select “Medium” or“Heavy”.
Trailer Brake Effort Setting
The trailer brake controller allowsthe user to customize howaggressively the trailer brakesengage. The default value is "Low"and is the recommended settingfor most trailers. If your trailer'sbrakes require more initial voltage,or if you prefer more aggressivetrailer braking, then select eitherthe "Medium" or the "High"setting.
Information Display WarningMessages
Note:An authorized dealer candiagnose the trailer brake controllerto determine exactly which trailerfault has occurred. However, yourFord warranty does not cover thisdiagnosis if the fault is with thetrailer.
TRAILER BRAKE MODULEFAULT
Displays in response to faultssensed by the trailer brakecontroller, accompanied by asingle tone. If this messageappears, contact an authorizeddealer as soon as possible fordiagnosis and repair. Thecontroller may still function, but
with degraded performance.
WIRING FAULT ON TRAILER
Displays when there is a shortcircuit on the electric brake outputwire.
If this message displays,accompanied by a single tone,with no trailer connected, theproblem is with your vehicle wiringbetween the trailer brakecontroller and the 7-pin connectorat the bumper.
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•When you switch the engineoff, the controller output isdisabled and the display andmodule shut down. Thecontroller module and displayturn on when you switch theignition on.
•The trailer brake controller isonly a factory-installed ordealer-installed item. Ford isnot responsible for warranty orperformance of the controllerdue to misuse or customerinstallation.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING
Never connect any trailerlamp wiring to the vehicle'stail lamp wiring; this may damagethe electrical system resulting infire. Contact your authorizeddealer as soon as possible forassistance in proper trailer towwiring installation. Additionalelectrical equipment may berequired.
Trailer lamps are required on mosttowed vehicles. Make sure allrunning lights, brake lights, turnsignals and hazard lights areworking.
Using a Step Bumper (IfEquipped)
The rear bumper is equipped withan integral hitch and only requiresa ball with a one-inch (25.4millimeter) shank diameter. Thebumper has a 5000-pound (2268kilogram) trailer weight and a500-pound (227 kilogram) tongueweight capacity
If it is necessary to relocate thehitch ball position, you must installa frame-mounted trailer hitch.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping andbacking up to get the feel of yourvehicle-trailer combination beforestarting on a trip. When turning,
make wider turns so the trailerwheels clear curbs and otherobstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•Do not drive faster than 70mph (113 km/h) during the first500 miles (800 kilometers).
•Do not make full-throttlestarts.
•Check your hitch, electricalconnections and trailer wheel
lug nuts thoroughly after youhave traveled 50 miles (80kilometers).
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BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires forapproximately 300 miles (480kilometers). During this time, your vehiclemay exhibit some unusual drivingcharacteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first 1000miles (1600 kilometers). Vary your speedfrequently and change up through thegears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1000 miles(1600 kilometers).
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Your fuel economy is affected by severalthings, such as how you drive, theconditions you drive under, and how youmaintain your vehicle.
You may improve your fuel economy bykeeping these things in mind:
•Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,moderate fashion.
•Drive at steady speeds withoutstopping.
•Anticipate stops; slowing down mayeliminate the need to stop.
•Combine errands and minimizestop-and-go driving.
•Close the windows for high-speeddriving.
•Drive at reasonable speeds (travelingat 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% lessfuel than traveling at 65 mph [105km/h]).
•Keep the tires properly inflated and useonly the recommended size.
•Use the recommended engine oil.
•Perform all regularly scheduledmaintenance.
Avoid these actions; they reduce your fueleconomy:
•Sudden accelerations or hardaccelerations.
•Revving the engine before turning it off.
•Idle for periods longer than one minute.
•Warm up your vehicle on coldmornings.
•Use the air conditioner or frontdefroster.
•Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
•Rest your foot on the brake pedal whiledriving.
•Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow atrailer.
•Carry unnecessary weight(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] islost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] ofweight carried).
•Driving with the wheels out ofalignment.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing atrailer may reduce fuel economy at anyspeed.
•Adding certain accessories to yourvehicle (for example bug deflectors,rollbars, light bars, running boards, skiracks or luggage racks) may reducefuel economy.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drivewith the tonneau cover installed (ifequipped).
•Using fuel blended with alcohol maylower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lowertemperatures during the first 8–10miles (12–16 kilometers) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improvedfuel economy as compared to drivingon hilly terrain.
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