TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the certification
label. WARNING:
Towing trailers
beyond the maximum
recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of your
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, for example fuses or relays,
related to towing. See
Fuses
(page 131).
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading your vehicle.
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 draw 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
correct trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
Owner's Manual. See
Load Limit
(page 99). You can also find the
information in the RV & Trailer
Towing Guide. See an authorized
dealer.
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E-450 Stripped Chassis
MaximumGCWR
Rear Axle
Ratio
Wheelbase
Length
Rear Axle
Option
Engine
18,000 lb
(8,165 kg)
4.56
158 in (4.01 m)
Dual Rear
Wheel
6.2L
22,000 lb
(9,979 kg)
4.56
158 in (4.01 m)
Dual Rear
Wheel
6.8L
18,000 lb
(8,165 kg)
4.56
176 in (4.47 m)
Dual Rear
Wheel
6.2L
22,000 lb
(9,979 kg)
4.56
176 in (4.47 m)
Dual Rear
Wheel
6.8L
Calculating 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
previous charts.
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 hardware.
• Driver weight.
• Passenger(s) weight.
• Payload, cargo and luggage
weight.
• Aftermarket equipment weight.
The maximum loaded trailer
weight is this value or 10,000 lb
(4,536 kg), whichever is less. Note:
The trailer tongue load is
considered part of the payload for
your vehicle. Reduce the total
payload by the final trailer tongue
weight.
Note: Consult an authorized dealer
to determine the maximum trailer
weight allowed for your vehicle if
you are not sure.
ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
• Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least
1,000 mi (1,600 km).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws
for towing a trailer.
• See the instructions included with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment
specifications.
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•
Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer. See your scheduled
maintenance information. See
Scheduled Maintenance (page 276).
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives
you.
See
Load limits in the Load Carrying
chapter for load specification terms found
on the tire label and Safety Compliance
label and instructions on calculating your
vehicle's load.
Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of your vehicle load
when calculating the total vehicle weight.
Trailer Towing 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 Function
Color
Right turn signal and stop
lamp
Green
Battery (+)
Orange
Running lights
Brown
Reverse lights
Grey
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle. You
must distribute the load in your trailer so
that 10-15% of the total weight of the
trailer is on the tongue.
Weight-distributing Hitches WARNING:
Do not adjust the
spring bars so that your vehicle's rear
bumper is higher than 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.
Safety Chains
Note: Do not attach safety chains to the
bumper.
Always connect the safety chains to the
frame or hook retainers of your vehicle
hitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow
enough slack for turning tight corners. Do
not allow the chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes WARNING: Do not connect a
trailer's hydraulic brake system directly
to your vehicle's brake system. Your
vehicle may not have enough braking
power and your chances of having a
collision greatly increase. Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them to
the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Separate functioning brake systems
are required for safe control of towed
vehicles and trailers weighing more
than 1500 lb (680 kg) when loaded.
Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (If
Equipped)
WARNING:
Use the integrated
trailer brake controller to properly adjust
the trailer brakes and check all
connections before towing a trailer.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in the loss of control of your
vehicle, personal injury or death.
Note: The Ford trailer brake controller has
been verified to be compatible with trailers
having electric-actuated drum brakes (one
to four axles) and electric-over-hydraulic
brakes. It will not activate hydraulic
surge-style trailer brakes. It is the
responsibility of the customer to ensure that
the trailer brakes are adjusted appropriately,
functioning normally and all electric
connections are properly made.
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When used properly, the trailer brake
controller assists in smooth and effective
trailer braking by powering the trailer
’s
electric or electric-over-hydraulic brakes
with a proportional output based on the
towing vehicle ’s brake pressure.
The controller user interface consists of
the following:
A: + and - (Gain adjustment buttons):
Pressing these buttons adjusts the
controller's power output to the trailer
brakes in 0.5 increments. You can increase
the gain setting to 10.0 (maximum trailer
braking) or decrease it to 0 (no trailer
braking). The gain setting displays in the
message center. The controller shows gain setting, output
bar graph, and trailer connectivity status
in the information display. They appear in
the information display as follows:
•
Trailer Brake Controller Gain (without
trailer connected): Shows the current
gain setting during a given ignition cycle
and when adjusting the gain. This also
displays if you use the manual control
lever or make gain adjustments with
no trailer connected.
• Trailer Brake Controller Gain Output:
Displays when you push your vehicle's
brake pedal, or upon use of the manual
control. Bar indicators illuminate in the
information display to indicate the
amount of power going to the trailer
brakes relative to the brake pedal or
manual control input. One bar indicates
the least amount of output; six bars
indicate maximum output.
• Trailer Connected: Displays when the
system senses a correct trailer wiring
connection (a trailer with electric trailer
brakes) during a given ignition cycle.
• Trailer Disconnected: Displays,
accompanied by a single audible time,
when the system senses a trailer
connection and then a disconnection,
either intentional or unintentional,
during a given ignition cycle. It also
displays if a truck or trailer-wiring fault
occurs causing the trailer to appear
disconnected. This message can also
display if you use the manual control
lever without a trailer connected.
B:
Manual control lever: Slide the control
lever to the left to switch on the trailer's
electric brakes independent of the tow
vehicle's. See the following Procedure for
Adjusting Gain
section for instructions
on proper use of this feature. If you use the
manual control while the brake is also
applied, the greater of the two inputs
determines the power sent to the trailer
brakes.
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Load Limit.........................................................99
Special Loading Instructions for Owners of
Pick-up Trucks and Utility-type
Vehicles............................................................. 103
Vehicle Loading - with and without a Trailer................................................................... 99
Locking and Unlocking
.................................42
Autolock Feature.................................................. 43
Autounlock Feature............................................. 43
Enabling or Disabling Autolock and Autounlock......................................................... 43
Illuminated Entry.................................................. 43
Power Door Locks................................................ 42
Remote Control..................................................... 42
Lug Nuts See: Changing a Road Wheel........................ 192
M
Maintenance
....................................................141
General Information........................................... 141
Manual Climate Control..............................66 Heater Only System............................................ 66
Manual Climate Control.................................... 66
Manual Seats
...................................................70
Manual Lumbar .................................................... 70
Moving the Seat Backward and Forward............................................................... 70
Recline Adjustment............................................. 70
Media Hub
......................................................224
Message Center See: Information Displays................................. 58
Mirrors See: Windows and Mirrors................................. 51
Mobile Communications Equipment......14
Motorcraft Parts - 6.2L...............................199
Motorcraft Parts - 6.8L
.............................200
N
Normal Scheduled Maintenance...........279
O
Oil Change Indicator Reset.......................144 Resetting the Oil Life Monitoring
System............................................................... 144Oil Check
See: Engine Oil Check....................................... 143
Opening and Closing the Hood................141
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature.......................................................129
Obtaining a French Owner ’s Manual..........129
P
Parking Aids.....................................................94
Parking Brake...................................................92
Passive Anti-Theft System
.........................45
SecuriLock®........................................................... 45
PATS See: Passive Anti-Theft System..................... 45
Perchlorate.........................................................11
Power Door Locks See: Locking and Unlocking............................. 42
Power Seats.......................................................71 Recline Adjustment.............................................. 71
Power Steering Fluid Check......................152
Power Windows...............................................51 Accessory Delay..................................................... 51
One-Touch Down.................................................. 51
Protecting the Environment........................15
Puncture See: Changing a Road Wheel........................ 192
R
Rear Axle...........................................................90
Rear Passenger Climate Controls
...........68
Setting the Blower Motor Speed................... 68
Switching the Rear Climate Control On and Off........................................................................\
. 68
Rear View Camera.........................................94 Using the Rear View Camera System..........94
Rear View Camera See: Rear View Camera..................................... 94
Recommended Towing Weights
............105
Calculating the Maximum Loaded Trailer
Weight for Your Vehicle............................... 108
Reduced Engine Performance
..................116
Refueling...........................................................80 Fuel Filler Cap......................................................... 81
Remote Control
..............................................39
Car Finder................................................................. 41
Changing the Remote Control Battery........40
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