2021 FORD EXPEDITION page 80

TOWING A TRAILER
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. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the certification
label.
Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See
Fuses
(page 325).
Some vehicles may have the
ability to modify trailer towing
features. See Towing (page
285).
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 ball mount with the
correct rise or drop and load
capacity. 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
279).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.
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Step 1: Position your Vehicle and Trailer
Hitch your conventional trailer to your
vehicle. See Essential Towing Checks
(page 299).
Park your vehicle and hitched trailer on a
level surface.
For best results, make sure that your trailer
rides level with the ground when you hitch
it to your vehicle. More information on
selecting your towbar is available in the
Towing section.
See Towing (page 285). Make sure your vehicle and the trailer are
in line with each other. You can do this by
driving straight forward.
Step 2: Follow the Information Display
Prompts
Press the button to turn the system on. 1.
Select the option to add a trailer in the
instrument cluster menu, using the
steering wheel control. See
General
Information (page 119).
2. Add a personalized name for the trailer
using the screen prompts. Use the
down arrow to scroll to the desired
letter and then press the right arrow to
advance to the next letter. Press OK to
continue.
3. Select the type of trailer brake system for the trailer you are adding.
4. Select the brake effort level for the trailer.
Note: The default option is low. This is
recommended for most trailers. If the
trailer's brakes require more initial voltage,
or if you prefer more aggressive braking then
select the other options as required.
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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 Towing (page
285
).
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note: Do not exceed the trailer
weight for your vehicle
configuration listed in the chart
that follows.
Note: Make sure to take into
consideration trailer frontal area.
Do not exceed 55 ft² (5.11 m²) if
your vehicle has the standard
towing package, or 60 ft² (5.57 m²)
if your vehicle has the heavy duty
package.
Note: Your vehicle could have
reduced performance when
operating at high altitudes and
when heavily loaded or towing a
trailer. When driving at elevation,
to match driving performance as
perceived at sea level, reduce gross
vehicle weight and gross
combination weight by 2% per
1,000 ft (300 m)
of elevation. Note:
Certain states require
electric trailer brakes for trailers
over a specified weight. Be sure to
check state regulations for this
specified weight. This specified
weight could limit the maximum
trailer weights, 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
chart that follows.
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
chart that follows.
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 weight.
• Payload, cargo and luggage
weight.
• Aftermarket equipment
weight.
3. This equals the maximum
loaded trailer weight for this
combination.
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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 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.
• 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.
For load specification terms found on the
tire label and Safety Compliance label and
instructions on calculating your vehicle's
load,
See Load Limit (page 279).
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 direction indicator and
stop lamp
Yellow
Ground (-)
White
Electric brakes
Blue
Right direction indicator and
stop lamp
Green
Battery (+)
Orange
Running lights
Brown
Reverse lights
Grey
Trailer Hitch Cover
Your vehicle has a removable trailer hitch
cover. To remove the trailer hitch cover: 1. Grab the trailer hitch cover at the
bottom and pull towards the rear of
the vehicle until the bottom of the
trailer hitch cover unsnaps from the
bumper.
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When Towing a Trailer
•
Do not tow during the first 1,000 mi
(1,600 km).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
transmission in park (P) to aid engine
and transmission cooling and to help
A/C performance.
• Turn off the speed control with heavy
loads or in hilly terrain. The speed
control may turn off automatically
when you are towing on long, steep
slopes.
• 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 a
Grade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, use
this feature 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, this system
may turn on during typical cornering
maneuvers with a heavily loaded trailer.
This is normal. Turning the corner at a
slower speed when towing may reduce
this tendency.
• If you are towing a trailer frequently in
hot weather, hilly conditions, at the
gross combined weight rating (or any
combination of these factors), consider
refilling your rear axle with synthetic
gear lubricant if the axle is not already
filled with it. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 392). •
Allow more distance for stopping with
a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a slope. However, if
you must park on a slope:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away from traffic flow.
2. Set your vehicle parking brake.
3. Place the transmission in park (P).
4. Place wheel chocks in front and back of the trailer wheels. Chocks are not
included with your vehicle.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
temporary or conventional spare tire. A
temporary spare tire is different in size,
tread-type, or is from a different
manufacturer than the road tires on your
vehicle. Consult information on the tire
label or Safety Compliance label for
limitations when using these tires.
Launching or Retrieving a Boat or
Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Note: Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before backing the trailer into the water.
Note: Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after removing the trailer 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 in (15 cm) above the bottom
edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water to
enter vehicle components:
• Causing internal damage to the
components.
• Affecting driveability, emissions and
reliability.
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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 another axle repair is
required.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS
WARNING: If your vehicle has a
steering wheel lock make sure the
ignition is in the accessory or on position
when being towed.
Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system in
recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust
fumes from entering your vehicle.
See
Climate Control (page 146).
Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational towing, for example towing
your vehicle behind a motorhome. These
guidelines prevent damage to your
transmission.
Two-wheel Drive Vehicles
You cannot tow a two wheel drive vehicle
with any wheels on the ground as vehicle
or transmission damage may occur. You
must tow your vehicle with all four wheels
off the ground, for example when using a
car-hauling trailer.
Four-wheel Drive Vehicles Without 4x4
LOW
If your vehicle is not equipped with 4x4
Low, you cannot tow your vehicle with any
wheels on the ground or vehicle damage
may occur. You must tow your vehicle with
all four wheels off the ground, for example
when using a car-hauling trailer. Four-wheel Drive Vehicles With 4x4
LOW
You can only tow a
4X4 LOW equipped
four-wheel drive vehicle with all wheels on
the ground by placing the transfer case in
its neutral position and engaging the four
wheel down towing feature. Perform the
steps outlined in the following section after
positioning your vehicle behind the tow
vehicle and properly securing them
together.
Four-wheel-down Towing
Note: If completed successfully, the
information display shows
Neutral Tow
Enabled Leave Transmission in Neutral.
This indicates that your vehicle is safe to
tow with all wheels on the ground.
Note: If you do not see the message in the
information display, you must perform the
procedure again from the beginning.
Note: Make sure you properly secure your
vehicle to the tow vehicle.
Entering Four-wheel-down Towing
1. Start your vehicle.
2. Select
2H on the 4WD mode selector
switch.
3. For vehicles equipped with a console shifter, place the transmission in stay
in neutral mode.
See Automatic
Transmission (page 203). For vehicles
equipped with a column shifter, place
the transmission in neutral (N).
4. Once the transmission is in neutral (N)
or stay in neutral mode, switch the
engine off but leave the ignition in the
on position. The information display
shows a
Transmission Not in Park
message.
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Note:
If your vehicle has intelligent access,
you can keep your vehicle on while switching
the engine off by pressing the
START/STOP button two times slowly
without pressing the brake pedal.
5. Press and hold the brake pedal.
6. Enable neutral tow through the information display by selecting
Settings
from the menu. See General
Information (page 119).
7. Then select
Advanced Settings.
8. Then select
Vehicle.
9. Then select
Neutral Tow.
10. Press and hold the
OK button until
the information display confirms
neutral tow is enabled.
Note: If completed successfully, the
information display shows
Neutral Tow
Enabled Leave Transmission in Neutral.
This indicates that your vehicle is safe to
tow with all wheels on the ground.
Note: If you do not see the message in the
display, you must perform the procedure
again from the beginning.
Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts into its neutral position.
This is normal.
11. Leave the transmission in neutral (N).
If your vehicle has intelligent access,
press the engine
START/STOP
button once without pressing the
brake pedal to switch the ignition off.
You do not need to leave your keys in
the vehicle. You can lock and unlock
your vehicle as you normally do. If
your vehicle has a physical ignition
key, turn the ignition as far as it can
go toward the off position. It does not
turn to the off position when the
transmission is in neutral (N). You
must leave the key in the ignition
when towing. To lock and unlock your
vehicle, use the keyless entry keypad
or an extra set of keys. 12. Release the brake pedal. WARNING:
Do not disconnect the
battery during recreational towing. It
prevents the transfer case from shifting
properly and may cause the vehicle to
roll, even if the transmission is in park
(P). WARNING:
Shifting the transfer
case to its neutral position for
recreational towing may cause the
vehicle to roll, even if the transmission is
in park (P). It may injure the driver and
others. Make sure you press the foot
brake and the vehicle is in a secure, safe
position when you shift to neutral (N).
Note: Failing to put the transfer case in its
neutral position may damage vehicle
components.
Note: You can check four-wheel-down
towing status at any time by opening the
driver door or turning the ignition to the
accessory or on position and verifying the
message displays in the cluster.
Exiting Four-wheel-down Towing
To exit four-wheel-down towing and return
the transfer case to its
2H position:
1. With your vehicle still properly secured
to the tow vehicle, start the engine.
2. After starting your vehicle, switch the engine off but leave the key in the on
position.
Note: If your vehicle has intelligent access,
you can keep the vehicle on when switching
the engine off by pressing the
START/STOP
button two times slowly
without pressing the brake pedal.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal.
4. Shift the transmission out of neutral (N) and into park (P).
5. Release the brake pedal.
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REDUCED ENGINE
PERFORMANCE
WARNING: If you continue to drive
your vehicle when the engine is
overheating, the engine could stop
without warning. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle.
If the engine coolant temperature gauge
needle moves to the upper limit position,
the engine is overheating. See Gauges
(page 111).
You must only drive your vehicle for a short
distance if the engine overheats. The
distance you can travel depends on
ambient temperature, vehicle load and
terrain. The engine continues to operate
with limited power for a short period of
time.
If the engine temperature continues to rise,
the fuel supply to the engine reduces. The
air conditioning switches off and the engine
cooling fan operates continually.
1. Gradually reduce your speed and stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
2. Immediately switch the engine off to prevent severe engine damage.
3. Wait for the engine to cool down.
4. Check the coolant level. See
Engine
Coolant Check (page 339).
5. Have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Fuel economy is affected by several things
such as how you drive, the conditions you
drive under and how you maintain your
vehicle. There are some things to keep in mind that
may improve your fuel economy:
•
Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,
moderate fashion.
• Drive at steady speeds.
• Anticipate stops; slowing down may
eliminate the need to stop.
• Combine errands and minimize
stop-and-go driving (When running
errands, go to the furthest destination
first and then work your way back
home).
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving.
• Drive at reasonable speeds.
• Keep the tires properly inflated and use
only the recommended size.
• Use the recommended engine oil.
• Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance.
There are also some things you may want
to avoid doing because they reduce your
fuel economy:
• Avoid sudden or hard accelerations.
• Avoid revving the engine before turning
off the car.
• Avoid long idle periods.
• Do not warm up your vehicle on cold
mornings.
• Reduce the use of air conditioning and
heat.
• Avoid using speed control in hilly
terrain.
• Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary weight.
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