2021 FORD F-150 Owners Manual

A
The maximum force between the tailgate anchor points 400 lb (181 kg).
Note: Do not secure cargo from a pickup
bed anchor point to a tailgate anchor point.
This could cause the tailgate to detach.
PICKUP BED RAMPS
PICKUP BED RAMP
PRECAUTIONS WARNING:
When sliding the ramp
up or down, take care not to get your
fingers or hands caught in the
mechanism. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Make sure that you
correctly install the ramp to the tailgate
plate. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Do not step or sit on
the ramp when it is in the stowed
position. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Only install the ramp
within the prescribed ramp angles.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury.
Note: Each pickup bed ramp has a
maximum capacity of
400 lb (181.4 kg).
Note: Verify the ramp is on stable ground
before usage. Note:
For loading and unloading
equipment, your ramp should be set
between 10 degrees upward and 26 degrees
downward to avoid damage to the ramp
claw and tailgate plate.
Note: When using your vehicle for off-road
operation, remove the bed ramps from the
vehicle and store them in a safe location
away from your vehicle.
INSTALLING AND REMOVING THE
PICKUP BED RAMP HOLDER
Installing the Ramp Holder 1. Hook the top of the ramp holder over
the mounting plate and rotate the
ramp holder into position. 2. Slide the ramp holder studs upwards
into the installed position.
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3. Tighten the ramp holder nut.
Note:
The nut should be on the upper stud.
Removing the Ramp Holder
Remove in the reverse order.
INSTALLING AND REMOVING THE
PICKUP BED RAMPS
Note: You cannot use the pickup bed ramps
with the tailgate work surface or tailgate
step.
Installing the Bed Ramp
1. Remove the front and rear cables. 2.
Open the cam lever arms and unscrew
the cam bolts.
3. Remove the ramp from the ramp holder. 4. Rotate the stops at the underside of
the ramp to the open position.
Note: You can use a smooth surface tool
to rotate the stops. 5. Slide the ramp claw onto the tailgate
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6. Pull the location pin outward and
extend the ramp until the pin is seated
in the usage position, then set the ramp
on even ground.
Removing the Ramp
Remove in the reverse order.
STORING THE PICKUP BED
RAMPS
Storing the Bed Ramp
1. Pick up the ramp. Pull the location pin outward.
2. Slide the ramp into the storage position
until the location pin locks.
Note: Make sure the proper pin location has
been applied for your bed size.
3. Slide the ramp claw off of the tailgate plate.
4. Rotate the stops at the underside of the ramp to the closed position. 5. Place the ramp into the ramp holder.
6.
Install the cam bolts and close the cam
lever arms.
7. Attach the front and rear cables.
Note: Make sure you properly secure the
locking cable. If the locking cable is
unsecured, you may hear a rattling noise.
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CONNECTING A TRAILER
PRECAUTIONS
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
Normal Scheduled
Maintenance (page 667).
If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives you.
When attaching the trailer wiring connector
to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting
connector that works with the vehicle and
trailer functions.
Account for the trailer coupler weight as
part of your vehicle load when calculating
the total vehicle weight.
Do not exceed the load limits. See
Calculating the Load Limit
(page 415).
HITCHES
HOOKING UP A TRAILER USING A
WEIGHT-DISTRIBUTING HITCH 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.
A weight-distributing hitch helps distribute
tongue load to all towing vehicle and trailer
wheels. For more information, visit the links
in the following table. Website
Market
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CONNECTING A TRAILER
Recognizing a Trailer
1. Attach the trailer and wiring connector
to your vehicle.
2. Switch on your vehicle.
3. Set up a profile for the trailer using the
touchscreen.
Note: If your vehicle does not recognize the
trailer, press and hold the brake pedal for a
few seconds.
Note: Trailer profiles store trailer types,
dimensions, preferences, trailer specific
mileage and fuel economy.
Note: Disabling the trailer detection
notification makes the default trailer profile
active when the system detects a
connection.
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When attaching the trailer wiring connector
to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting
connector that works with the vehicle and
trailer functions.
Safety Chains
Install trailer safety chains to the trailer
hitch as recommended by the
manufacturer. Cross the chains under the
trailer coupler and allow enough slack for
turning tight corners. Do not allow the
chains to drag on the ground.
Note:
Do not attach safety chains to the
bumper. Always connect the safety chains
to the frame or hook retainers of your trailer
hitch. If the trailer safety chain hook has a latch,
fully close the latch.
Trailer Connection Checklist
1. Press Features on the touchscreen.
2. Press
Towing.
3. Press
Connection Checklist.
Electronic Park Hold Applies the electronic parking
brake when you shift to park (P).
The electronic park hold button illuminates
when activated.
The feature prevents your vehicle from
moving in any direction when aligned with
your trailer coupler and you shift to park
(P).
Note: The feature is active for the current
key cycle.
You can also press a zoom button when
using the camera views to switch the
feature on.
Trailer Connection Alarm
The alarm is set when the following occur:
• Your vehicle detects the trailer.
• You locked your vehicle.
• You armed the alarm.
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When the trailer disconnects in this state,
the vehicle alarm sounds, and the system
sends an alert to your FordPass app.
Note:
For reliable trailer detection, the
trailer ’s lamps must be SAE certified for
each intended purpose.
Note: If the trailer is not compatible with
the feature, the turn signals flash twice.
Switching the Trailer Connection
Alarm On and Off
1. Press Features on the touchscreen.
2. Press
Towing.
3. Press
Manage trailers.
4. Press the currently active trailer's name.
5. Switch
Trailer Connection
Notification on or off.
Note: The alarm disables by default and if
the system detects a trailer it can be
configurable.
Note: Settings are applicable only for the
selected trailer profile. TRAILER LIGHTING CHECK WARNING:
Never connect any
trailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's tail
lamp wiring; this may damage the
electrical system resulting in fire. Contact
your authorized dealer as soon as
possible for assistance in proper trailer
tow wiring installation. Additional
electrical equipment may be required.
Perform a trailer light illumination
sequence to confirm that all lights are
functioning by using the FordPass app or
the vehicle's touchscreen.
Performing the Trailer Lighting
Check Using the Touchscreen
1. Press
Features on the touchscreen.
2. Press
Towing.
3. Press
Trailer Light Check.
4. Press
Start.
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CONNECTING A TRAILER – TROUBLESHOOTING
CONNECTING A TRAILER – INFORMATION MESSAGES
Description
Message
The system senses a trailer connection
becomes disconnected, either intentionally or unintentionally, during a given ignition cycle.
Trailer Disconnected
There are certain faults in your vehicle
wiring and trailer wiring or brake system.
Trailer Wiring Fault
There is a fault with your trailer battery, oryour trailer battery voltage is very low.
Trailer Battery Not Charging See Manual
One or more tires on your trailer is belowthe specified tire pressure.
Trailer Tire Low Specified:
Displays when one or more tires on the
trailer is above the recommended temper- ature.
Trailer Tire Over Temperature
A trailer tire pressure sensor is malfunc-
tioning. If the warning stays on or continues to come on, have the system checked as soon as possible.
Trailer Tire Pressure Sensor Fault
The trailer tire pressure monitoring systemis malfunctioning. If the warning stays on
or continues to come on, have the system checked.
Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor Fault
The system cannot detect the trailer tirepressure monitoring system.
Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor Capability Not
Detected
The trailer tire pressure monitoring systemis not setup.
Trailer Tire Pressure Indication Not Setup
See Manual
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TOWING A TRAILER
PRECAUTIONS
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. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the lowest rating capacity for
your vehicle or trailer hitch.
Overloading your vehicle or
trailer hitch can impair your
vehicle stability and handling.
Failure to follow this instruction
could result in the loss of control
of your vehicle, personal injury or
death. WARNING: Make sure that
the vertical load on the tow ball
is between the minimum and
maximum recommended weight
at all times. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the
loss of control of your vehicle,
personal injury or death. WARNING:
Do not cut,
drill, weld or modify the trailer
hitch. Modifying the trailer hitch
could reduce the hitch rating. WARNING:
The anti-lock
brake system does not control
the trailer brakes.
TRAILER BRAKE
PRECAUTIONS 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. WARNING:
Do not tow a trailer
fitted with electric trailer brakes unless
your vehicle is fitted with a compatible
aftermarket electronic trailer brake
controller. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle, personal injury or
death. For additional information and
assistance, we recommend that you
contact an authorized dealer.
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.
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