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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or the
GAWR specified on the certification
label. Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended gross
trailer weight exceeds the limit of the
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover and personal
injury. Your vehicle may have electrical items,
such as fuses or relays, related to
towing. See the Fuses chapter. Your vehicle's load capacity designation
is by weight, not by volume, so you
cannot necessarily use all available
space when loading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extra load on
your vehicle's engine, transmission, axle,
brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect
these components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer movement
affects your vehicle when driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest to
the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items centered
between the left and right side trailer
tires. •
Load the heaviest items above the
trailer axles or just slightly forward
toward the trailer tongue. Do not
allow the final trailer tongue weight
to go above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
• Select a tow bar with the correct rise
or drop. When both the loaded
vehicle and trailer are connected, the
trailer frame should be level, or
slightly angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the side.
When driving with a trailer or payload, a
slight takeoff vibration or shudder may
be present due to the increased payload
weight. Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting your
vehicle up for towing is located in
another chapter of this manual. See
Load Limit (page 214).
You can also find information in the
RV
& Trailer Towing Guide available at your
authorized dealer, or online.
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RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Website
TRAILER SWAY CONTROL 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 (such as hill climbing), the driver
has significant trailer towing experience, and
can control trailer sway and maintain safe
operation. Note:
This feature does not prevent trailer
sway, but reduces it once it begins.
Note: This feature cannot stop all trailers
from swaying. Note:
In some cases, if vehicle speed is too
high, the system may activate multiple times,
gradually reducing vehicle speed.
This feature applies your vehicle brakes at
individual wheels and, if necessary, reduces
engine power. If the trailer begins to sway,
the stability control light flashes and the
message TRAILER SWAY REDUCE SPEED
appears in the information display. The first
thing to do is slow your vehicle down, then
pull safely to the side of the road and check
for proper tongue load and trailer load
distribution.
See Load Carrying (page 212).
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note: Do not exceed the trailer weight for
your vehicle configuration listed in the chart
below. Note:
Make sure to take into consideration
trailer frontal area. Do not exceed 36.5 feet²
(3.39 meters²) if your vehicle is equipped
with the standard towing package, or 60
feet² (5.57 meters²) if your vehicle is
equipped with the optional heavy duty
package.
Note: Exceeding this limitation may
significantly reduce the performance of your
towing vehicle. Selecting a trailer with a low
aerodynamic drag and rounded front design
helps optimize performance and fuel
economy.
Note: For high altitude operation, reduce the
gross combined weight by 2% per 1000 feet
(300 meters) starting at the 1000 foot (300
meter) elevation point.
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Note:
Certain states require electric trailer
brakes for trailers over a specified weight.
Be sure to check state regulations for this
specified weight. The maximum trailer
weights listed may be limited to this specified
weight, as the vehicle ’s electrical system
may not include the wiring connector needed
to activate electric trailer brakes.
Your vehicle may tow a trailer provided the
maximum trailer weight is less than or equal
to the maximum trailer weight listed for your
vehicle configuration on the following chart. To calculate the maximum loaded trailer
weight for your vehicle:
1. Start with the gross combined weight
rating for your vehicle model and axle
ratio. See the following chart.
2. Subtract all of the following that apply to
your vehicle:
•Vehicle curb weight
• Hitch hardware weight, such as a
draw bar, ball, locks or weight
distributing
• Driver weight
• Passenger(s) weight
• Payload, cargo and luggage weight
• Aftermarket equipment weight.
3. This equals the maximum loaded trailer weight for this combination. Note:
The trailer tongue load figures into the
payload for your vehicle. Reduce the total
payload by the final trailer tongue weight.
Consult an authorized dealer to determine
the maximum trailer weight allowed for your
vehicle if you are not sure. Maximum GCWR
Towing Package
Vehicle Type
12300 lb (5579 kg)
Standard
Two-wheel drive (except L)
12600 lb (5715 kg)
Two-wheel drive L
12500 lb (5669 kg)
Four-wheel drive (except L)
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Maximum GCWR
Towing Package
Vehicle Type
12800 lb (5806 kg)
Four-wheel drive L
15100 lb (6849 kg)
Optional Heavy Duty
Two-wheel drive (except L)
14900 lb (6758 kg)
Two-wheel drive L
15100 lb (6849 kg)
Four-wheel drive (except L)
14900 lb (6758 kg)
Four-wheel drive L
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ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•
Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1000 miles (1600
kilometers).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws for
towing a trailer.
• See the instructions included with towing
accessories for the proper installation
and adjustment specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer. See your scheduled
maintenance information.
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives you.
You can find information on load
specification terms found on the tire label
and Safety Compliance label as well as
instructions on calculating your vehicle's load
in the Load Carrying chapter. See Load Limit
(page 214).
Remember to account for the trailer tongue
weight as part of your vehicle load when
calculating the total vehicle weight. Trailer Towing Connector (Vehicles
with a Trailer Towing Package and
7–Pin Connector)
When attaching the trailer wiring connector
to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting
connector that works with the vehicle and
trailer functions. Some seven-position
connectors may have the SAE J2863 logo,
which confirms that it is the proper wiring
connector and works correctly with your
vehicle. Function
Color
Left turn signal and stop lamp
Yellow
Ground (-)
White
Electric brakes
Blue
Right turn signal and stop lamp
Green
Battery (+)
Orange
Running lights
Brown
Reverse lights
Grey
Trailer Hitch Cover
Your vehicle is equipped with a removable
trailer hitch trim cover. To remove the trim
cover:
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Loosen the two quarter-turn fasteners in the
bottom of the cover by turning them
counterclockwise. Pull the cover downward
to remove it. The fasteners remain attached
to the cover. To reinstall the cover, insert the four plastic
tabs on top of the cover into the
corresponding slots, as shown in the
illustration and push the cover up into the
bumper trim.
Hold the cover against the bumper trim and
reinstall the two quarter-turn fasteners by
turning them clockwise.
Hitches WARNING
The trailer hitch on this vehicle is part
of the vehicle rear crash safety
structure. Do not remove the trailer hitch.
Failure to follow this warning could
compromise vehicle crash structure and
increase the risk of injury in a rear end crash. Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the
total trailer weight is on the tongue.
Integrated Hitch Rating
WARNING
Towing trailers beyond the maximum
tongue weight exceeds the limit of the
towing system and could result in vehicle
structural damage, loss of vehicle control
and personal injury. 227
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The standard integrated hitch has two ratings
depending on mode of operation:
•
Weight-carrying mode requires a draw
bar and hitch ball. The draw bar supports
all the vertical tongue load of the trailer. •
Weight-distributing mode requires an
aftermarket weight-distributing system,
which includes draw bar, hitch ball, spring
bars and snap-up brackets. This system
distributes the vertical tongue load of the
trailer between the truck and the trailer. Maximum Tongue Weight
Maximum Trailer Weight
Mode
600 lb (272 kg)
6000 lb (2722 kg)
Weight carrying
900 lb (408 kg)
9000 lb (4082 kg)
Weight distributing
Note: These are hitch ratings only. Actual
vehicle ratings are dependent on engine,
transmission and axle combinations. Weight-distributing Hitch - Vehicles without
Automatic Leveling Suspension 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. When hooking-up a trailer using a
weight-distributing hitch, always use the
following procedure:
1. Park the loaded vehicle, without the
trailer, on a level surface.
2. Measure the height to the top of your vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender. This is H1.
3. Attach the loaded trailer to your vehicle without the weight-distributing bars
connected.
4. Measure the height to the top of your vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender a second time. This is H2.
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5. Install and adjust the tension in the
weight-distributing bars so that the height
of your vehicle's front wheel opening on
the fender is approximately half the way
down from H2, toward H1.
6. Check that the trailer is level or slightly nose down toward your vehicle. If not,
adjust the ball height accordingly and
repeat Steps 2-6.
When the trailer is level or slightly nose down
toward the vehicle:
• Lock the bar tension adjuster in place.
• Check that the trailer tongue securely
attaches and locks onto the hitch.
• Install safety chains, lighting, and trailer
brake controls as required by law or the
trailer manufacturer. Weight-distributing Hitch - Vehicles with
Automatic Leveling Suspension 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. Note:
If you do not move the loaded vehicle
for approximately 12 hours, the leveling
system may bleed down to a lower height.
This can be especially apparent if you leave
a trailer attached to the parked vehicle for
long periods. You must drive your vehicle in
order to re-level the suspension.
When hooking-up a trailer using a
weight-distributing hitch, always use the
following procedure: 1. Load the interior of the vehicle to a
weight similar to that which you intend
to carry when towing. This includes
things such as passenger weight and
cargo.
2. Drive the vehicle for approximately 2 miles (3 kilometers) to re-level the
suspension.
3. Park the loaded vehicle, without the trailer, on a level surface.
4. Measure the height to the top of your vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender. This is H1.
5. Attach the loaded trailer to your vehicle without the weight-distributing bars
connected.
6. Make sure you securely attach and lock the trailer tongue to the hitch.
7. Install safety chains, lighting, and trailer brake controls as required by law or the
trailer manufacturer.
8. Drive the vehicle and trailer at 20–25 mph (32–40 km/h) for approximately 2
miles (3 kilometers) to re-level the
suspension.
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