2021 FORD F-450 wheel

The active guidelines fade in and out
depending on the steering wheel position.
The active guidelines are not shown when
the steering wheel position is straight.
Always use caution while reversing.
Objects in the red zone are closest to your
vehicle and objects in the green zone are
farther away. Objects are getting closer to
your vehicle as they move from the green
zone to the yellow or red zones. Use the
side view mirrors and rear view mirror to
get better coverage on both sides and rear
of your vehicle.
Refer to the Rear View Camera section for
additional information. See Rear View
Camera (page 235).
Hitches
Note: On pick-up trucks, the trailer hitch
provided on this vehicle enhances crash
protection for the fuel system. Do not
remove!
Note: Do not cut, drill, weld or modify trailer
hitches. Modifying trailer hitches can reduce
hitch rating.
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% for conventional towing or
15-25% for fifth wheel towing of the total
weight of the trailer is on the tongue. Do
not exceed the tongue load rating
indicated on the conventional hitch
receiver.
Hitch Components (If Equipped)
The following components are required.
Some are provided in certain vehicles. •
A trailer hitch with a 3 inch receiver and
a 5/8 inch hitch pin. Check the
stamped rating number on the pin to
determine the
21,200 lb (9,616 kg) or
24,200 lb (10,976 kg) hitch pin
capacity.
• A hitch pin sleeve stored in the glove
box to use when mounting the 3 inch
drawbar with the 3/4 inch pin hole.
• A cotter pin to help keep the hitch pin
in place.
Installing a 3 Inch Drawbar with 3/4
Inch Pin Hole The pin sleeve should be inserted in the
3/4 inch pin hole of the 3 inch drawbar.
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Remove reducers before inserting the 3
inch drawbar. Insert the drawbar into hitch
receiver.
Put the 5/8 inch hitch pin through pin hole.
Place the cotter pin around the neck of
hitch pin. 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.
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
halfway between H1 and H2.
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.
Once 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.
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Fifth-wheel Trailer Hitch (If Equipped)
Note:
For a detailed description of
installation and other information, see the
Owner's Manual-5th Wheel Trailer Hitch.
Note: The mounting pads in the bed are
specifically designed for certain fifth-wheel
trailer hitches and gooseneck ball hitches.
Do not use these mounting pads for other
purposes.
Note: Contact an authorized dealer to
purchase gooseneck and fifth-wheel hitches
that are compatible with your vehicle.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
fifth-wheel prep package. This package
enables your vehicle to accept certain
fifth-wheel trailer hitches and gooseneck
ball hitches. The fifth-wheel trailer hitch
attaches to the four mounting pads in the
pick-up bed. An optional 7-pin trailer wiring
connector may be in the bed as well. The
gooseneck ball hitch is a separate
mounting pad from the fifth-wheel hitch,
located in the center of the bed.
Shorter pick-up boxes, such as the 6½-foot
box on the F-250 and F-350, provide less
clearance between the cab and the
fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailer
compared to longer box pick-ups, such as
an 8-foot box on the F-250 or F-350. When
selecting a trailer and tow vehicle, it is
critical to check that this combination
provides clearance between the front of
the trailer and tow vehicle for turns up to
90 degrees. Failure to follow this
recommendation could result in the trailer
contacting the cab of the tow vehicle
during tight turns that are typical during
low-speed parking and turning maneuvers.
This contact could result in damage to the
trailer and tow vehicle. Safety Chains
Note:
Do not attach safety chains to the
bumper. Always connect the safety chains
to the frame or hook retainers of your trailer
hitch.
Install trailer safety chains to the trailer
hitch as recommended by the
manufacturer. 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. If the trailer safety chain hook has a latch,
make sure the latch is fully closed.
Note:
If you install the hook with the latch
facing toward the rear of your vehicle, you
may not be able to fully close the safety
chain hook latch. If this occurs, install the
hook with the latch facing toward the front
of your vehicle.
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.
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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.
• Stop lamps: Using the manual control
lever lights both the trailer brake lamps
and your vehicle brake lamps.
Trailer brake control messages appear in
the information display as follows:
• TBC GAIN = XX.X NO TRAILER:
Shows the current gain setting.
• TBC GAIN = XX.X OUTPUT=/ / / /
/ /
: Displays when braking. The bars
indicate the amount of power going to
the trailer brakes.
• TRAILER CONNECTED:
Displays
when the system senses a correct
trailer wiring connection.
• TRAILER DISCONNECTED: Displays
when the system senses a trailer
disconnection.
Procedure for Setting Trailer Brake
Controller Effort
Choose either the electric option for trailers
with electromagnetic drum brakes, or the
electric over hydraulic option for trailers
with these brake systems.
Trailer Brake Effort Setting
The trailer brake controller allows the user
to customize how aggressively the trailer
brakes engage. The default value is the low
setting and is the recommended setting
for most trailers. If your trailer's brakes
require more initial voltage, or if you prefer
more aggressive trailer braking, then select
either the medium or the high setting. Procedure for Setting Trailer Brake
Controller Mode
Choose the low, medium or high setting
for the required initial trailer brake output.
Procedure for Adjusting Gain
Note:
Only perform this procedure in a
traffic-free environment at speeds of
approximately
20– 25 mph (30–40 km/h).
The gain setting adjusts the trailer brake
controller for the specific towing condition.
You should change the setting as towing
conditions change. Changes to towing
conditions include trailer load, vehicle load,
road conditions and weather.
The gain should be set to provide the
maximum trailer braking assistance while
making sure the trailer wheels do not lock
when using the brakes. Locked trailer
wheels may lead to trailer instability.
1. Make sure the trailer brakes are in good
working condition, functioning normally
and properly adjusted. See your trailer
dealer if necessary.
2. Hook up the trailer and make the electrical connections according to the
trailer manufacturer's instructions.
3. When you plug in a trailer with electric or electric-over-hydraulic brakes, a
confirmation message appears in the
information display.
4. Use the gain adjustment (+ and -) buttons to increase or decrease the
gain setting to the desired starting
point. A gain setting of 6.0 is a good
starting point for heavier loads.
5. In a traffic-free environment, tow the trailer on a dry, level surface at a speed
of
20– 25 mph (30–40 km/h) and
squeeze the manual control lever
completely.
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6. If the trailer wheels lock up, indicated
by squealing tires, reduce the gain
setting. If the trailer wheels turn freely,
increase the gain setting. Repeat Steps
5 and 6 until the gain setting is at a
point just below trailer wheel lock-up.
If towing a heavier trailer, trailer wheel
lock-up may not be attainable even
with the maximum gain setting of 10.
Information Display Warning Messages
Note: An authorized dealer can diagnose
the trailer brake controller to determine
exactly which trailer fault has occurred.
However, your Ford warranty does not cover
this diagnosis if the fault is with the trailer.
TRAILER BRAKE MODULE FAULT
Displays in response to faults sensed by
the trailer brake controller, accompanied
by a single tone. If this message appears,
contact an authorized dealer as soon as
possible for diagnosis and repair. The
controller may still function, but with
degraded performance.
WIRING FAULT ON TRAILER
Displays when there is a short circuit on
the electric brake output wire.
If this message displays, with no trailer
connected, the problem is with your vehicle
wiring or trailer brake controller. Contact
an authorized dealer.
If the message only displays with a trailer
connected, the problem is with the trailer
wiring. Consult your trailer dealer for
assistance. This can be a short to ground
(such as a chaffed wire), short to voltage
(such as a pulled pin on trailer emergency
breakaway battery) or the trailer brakes
may be drawing too much current. Points to Remember
Note:
Do not attempt removal of the trailer
brake controller without consulting the
Workshop Manual. Damage to the unit may
result.
• Adjust gain setting before using the
trailer brake controller.
• Adjust gain setting, using the procedure
above, whenever road, weather, trailer
or vehicle loading conditions change
from when the gain was initially set.
• Only use the manual control lever for
proper adjustment of the gain during
trailer setup. Misuse, such as
application during trailer sway, could
cause instability of trailer or tow
vehicle.
• Avoid towing in adverse weather
conditions. The trailer brake controller
does not provide anti-lock control of
the trailer wheels. Trailer wheels can
lock up on slippery surfaces, resulting
in reduced stability of trailer and tow
vehicle.
• The trailer brake controller is equipped
with a feature that reduces output at
vehicle speeds below 11 mph (18 km/h)
so trailer and vehicle braking is not jerky
or harsh. This feature is only active
when applying the brakes using your
vehicle's brake pedal, not the
controller.
• The controller interacts with the brake
control system and powertrain control
system of your vehicle to provide the
best performance on different road
conditions.
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•
Your vehicle's brake system and the
trailer brake system work
independently of each other. Changing
the gain setting on the controller does
not affect the operation of your
vehicle's brakes.
• When you switch the engine off, the
controller output is disabled and the
display and module shut down.
Trailer Lamps 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.
Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up
to get the feel of your vehicle-trailer
combination before starting on a trip.
When turning, make wider turns so the
trailer wheels clear curbs and other
obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
• Do not drive faster than
70 mph
(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi
(800 km).
• Do not make full-throttle starts. •
When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
gearshift 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
grades.
• 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
Adaptive Steering and you have
enabled Tow/Haul, the Adaptive
Steering system adjusts the steering
response to match your vehicle ’s load.
The system reduces vehicle sensitivity
to steering inputs at higher vehicle
speeds while it maintains the ease of
parking and maneuverability at low
speeds.
• 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 while 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 441).
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•
Allow more distance for stopping with
a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a grade. However, if
you must park on a grade:
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 not
included with vehicle.)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
temporary or conventional spare tire. A
"temporary" spare tire is different in size
(diameter or width), tread-type
(All-Season or All Terrain) 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.
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
you remove 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. 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 other 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.
Emergency Towing
If your vehicle becomes inoperable
(without access to wheel dollies,
car-hauling trailer, or flatbed transport
vehicle), it can be flat-towed (all wheels
on the ground, regardless of the powertrain
and transmission configuration) under the
following conditions:
• Your vehicle is facing forward for
towing in a forward direction.
• Place the transmission in neutral (N).
If you cannot move the transmission
into neutral (N), you may need to
override it. See
Transmission (page
207).
• Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
• Maximum distance is
50 mi (80 km).
Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system in
recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust
fumes from entering your vehicle.
See
Climate Control (page 143).
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Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational towing, such as towing
your vehicle behind a motorhome. We have
designed these guidelines to prevent
damage to your transmission.
Two-wheel Drive Vehicles
Do not tow your vehicle with any wheels
on the ground, as vehicle or transmission
damage may occur. You must tow your
vehicle with all four (4) wheels off the
ground, such as when using a car-hauling
trailer.
Four-wheel Drive Vehicles
If towing your vehicle with wheels off the
ground it must be all four wheels, such as
when using a car-hauling trailer.
To tow a four-wheel drive vehicle with all
wheels on the ground, place the transfer
case in its neutral position and engage the
four-wheel-down towing feature.
Perform the steps in the following section
after positioning your vehicle behind the
tow vehicle and properly securing them
together.
Note:
Make sure you properly secure your
vehicle to the tow vehicle.
Towing With All Four Wheels On The
Ground
1. Put the ignition in the on position, but do not start the engine.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Rotate the four-wheel drive control to 2H.
4. Shift into neutral (N).
5. Using the instrument cluster display controls on the steering wheel, select
Settings
.
6. Select
Advanced Settings.
7. Select
Vehicle.
8. Select
Neutral Tow. 9. Press and hold the
OK button until a
confirmation message appears in the
information display.
Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts into its neutral position.
10. If you do not see a message in the display, you must perform the
procedure again from the beginning.
11. Leave the transmission in neutral (N)
and turn the ignition off.
12. If your vehicle has an ignition key, you
must leave the key in the ignition
while towing.
Note: To lock and unlock your vehicle, use
the keyless entry keypad or extra set of keys.
13. If your vehicle has intelligent access, switch the vehicle into accessory
mode. See
Starting and Stopping
the Engine (page 174).
Note: You do not need to leave your keys
in the vehicle. You can lock and unlock your
vehicle as you normally do.
14. 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 while towing with all four
wheels on the ground will damage vehicle
components.
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