GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNING: Exceeding these ratings
by overloading can cause component
failure resulting in property damage,
personal injury or death.
Fluid Temperature
If the operating temperature exceeds
250°F (121°C), the rate of axle lubrication
oxidation increases and shortens the life
of the lubricant and seals, requiring axle
lubrication changes to become more
frequent to preserve the axle. Do not
consistently run extreme pressure (EP)
lubricants above
250°F (121°C).
Axle Conversions WARNING:
When operating a
loaded vehicle, the driver must keep all
adjustable axles on the ground at all
times, supporting their share of the
vehicle ’s load. Failure to do so can
overload other axles, tires, wheels,
springs, steering components, brakes
and frames, resulting in early component
failure, loss of vehicle control, possible
property damage and personal injury.
We do not recommend, or approve,
performing axle conversions. However, we
understand that, on occasion, others install
aftermarket add-on axles on the truck
chassis that allow operator control for
weight transfer from other axles (such as
air lift axles). ELECTRONIC LOCKING
DIFFERENTIAL
(IF EQUIPPED)
Driver-Controlled Electronic
Locking Differential
Note: Never use the differential lock at
vehicle speeds above
25 mph (40 km/h).
Some drive axles have a driver-controlled
differential lock. The differential lock can
lock or unlock the differential when your
vehicle is moving or stopped. When you
require extra traction, the differential lock
provides full power to both wheels.
When you lock the differential, your
vehicle ’s turning radius increases
(under-steer).
Take care to avoid sudden accelerations
when both drive wheels are on a slippery
surface. WARNING:
Sudden acceleration
on slippery surfaces could cause the
wheels to spin, the vehicle to turn
sideways on a crowned road surface or
in a turn, possibly resulting in loss of
vehicle control and personal injury.
Activating the Electronic Locking
Differential
You can lock and unlock the differential
when your vehicle is moving at a constant
speed of less than 25 mph (40 km/h) and
while the wheels are not slipping. Do not
lock the differential when your vehicle is
traveling down steep grades and when
traction is minimal.
The differential lock and differential lock
light automatically disengage at speeds
above
25 mph (40 km/h). The differential
lock remains off until either you restart your
vehicle, or you turn the differential lock
switch off then back on.
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•
Your load shifts due to improper
retention, accident damage or the
inherently mobile nature of some loads,
for example, hanging meat, live
animals or partially laden tankers.
• Your vehicle or load has an unusually
high or off-set center of gravity (CG).
• Your brakes are not properly adjusted
or maintained.
• One side of your vehicle drops off the
pavement at an angle that is too great
to be counteracted by a reduction in
speed.
To Maximize the Effectiveness Of
Stability Control
• Make sure that the weight of your load
is evenly distributed, from front to back,
side to side and you secure it properly
at all times.
• Exercise extreme caution at all times
while driving and avoid sharp turns,
sudden steering inputs or abrupt lane
changes at high speeds, particularly if:
•Hauling loads that can shift.
• Your vehicle or load has a high or
off-set center of gravity when
loaded.
• You are towing doubles or triples.
ESC Usage with Tractor/Trailer
The ESC system is designed to work with
trailer air brake systems. We do not
recommend its use with any other trailer
brake system.
ESC and Towing with Non-tractor
Trucks (Straight or Kick-up Frame)
Non-tractor Trucks (Straight or Kick-up
Frame) with air brake ESC, should not be
used for towing any type of trailer. Chassis Modifications
Stability Control is specifically calibrated
and validated only for your vehicle's
original configuration. If you alter your
vehicle's chassis components, for example,
a wheel base extension or reduction, tag
axle addition or removal, a major body
change such as conversion of a tractor into
a truck. Ford Motor Company is not
responsible for the performance of the
stability control system if you modify any
major components such as axle,
suspension or steering system.
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LOAD LIMIT
WARNING: Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label. WARNING:
Do not use
replacement tires with lower
load carrying capacities than the
original tires because they may
lower the vehicle's GVWR and
GAWR limitations. Replacement
tires with a higher limit than the
originals do not increase the
GVWR and GAWR limitations. WARNING: Exceeding any
vehicle weight rating limitation
could result in serious damage
to the vehicle and/or personal
injury.
Every vehicle manufactured by
Ford Motor Company is supplied
with information on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label,
located on either the B-pillar or
the driver ’s door edge, listing the
maximum loading for the vehicle
(GVWR), and its axle systems
(GAWR) at the tire to ground
interface. Example only:
Under no circumstances should
your vehicle be loaded in excess
of the GVWR or GAWR. It is the
operator
’s responsibility to ensure
that neither the axle capacities,
spring capacities, tire capacities
nor the vehicle rated GVWR is
exceeded.
Unloaded or Lightly Loaded
Vehicles WARNING:
When
operating empty or lightly
loaded, sudden or hard braking
may induce wheel lockup with
loss of vehicle control and the
possibility of accident and
serious injury, especially on wet
or slippery road surfaces.
The braking system has been
designed to safely stop your
vehicle when fully loaded to its
GVWR.
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We do not recommend performing, or
approve of, suspension conversions.
However, we understand that, on occasion,
others install aftermarket add-on
suspensions on the truck chassis that allow
operator control for weight transfer from
other axles (such as air lift axles).
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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 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
Fuses
(page 193).
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a 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.
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
168).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online. RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Website
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RECOMMENDED TOWING WEIGHTS
Vehicles with Gasoline Engine
Maximum GCWR
Maximum GVWR
Model
1
20,500–
26,000 lb
(9,299– 11,793 kg)
F-650 Pro-Loader
(Kick-Up Frame)
1
25,600–
29,000 lb
(11,612 –13,154 kg)
F-650 Pro-Loader
(Straight Frame)/F- 650 Straight Frame
1
26,000–
33,000 lb
(11,793– 14,970 kg)
F-750
1 Specific GCWR and maximum trailer weight applicable to your vehicle
is dependent on many variables including transmission capability. Check
with your sales consultant for the exact rating on your vehicle. Vehicles with Diesel Engine
Maximum GCWR
Maximum GVWR
Model
1
20,500–
26,000 lb
(9,299– 11,793 kg)
F-650 Pro-Loader
(Kick-Up Frame)
1
25,600–
29,000 lb
(11,612 –13,154 kg)
F-650 Pro-Loader
(Straight Frame)/F- 650 Straight Frame
1
26,000– 37,000 lb
(11,793– 16,783 kg)
F-750
1 Specific GCWR and maximum trailer weight applicable to your vehicle
is dependent on many variables including transmission capability. Check
with your sales consultant for the exact rating on your vehicle.
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ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
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.
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.
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.
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 mph
(80 km/h).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
transmission in park (P) or neutral (N)
to aid engine and transmission cooling
and to help air conditioning
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.
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•
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
the 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.
• Allow more distance for stopping with
a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
FIFTH WHEEL OPERATION WARNING: Failure to follow the
fifth wheel manufacturer ’s instructions
for hooking and unhooking as well as
sliding the fifth wheel could result in an
accident, personal injury or death. WARNING:
When the tractor and
trailer are parked unattended, the trailer
brake hand control should never be used
to apply the brake, since air may leak
from the system, allowing vehicle
movement, resulting in possible property
damage, personal injury or death.
Before hook-up, make sure:
• The fifth wheel jaws are fully open.
• The fifth wheel is fully tilted back to
prevent body damage when the tractor
is backed under a trailer.
• You block the trailer wheels and adjust
and apply the trailer spring brakes.
Never chase a trailer.
• The brake hoses and light cords are
clear of the fifth wheel. Hook-up
1. Back the tractor squarely under the
trailer, engaging the fifth-wheel jaws
on the kingpin. Always back up slowly;
make sure the trailer is neither too high
nor too low. Avoid backing under the
trailer from an angle.
2. Connect the service and emergency brake hoses and trailer light connector.
3. Inspect the jaws of the fifth wheel to be sure they have fully closed on the
trailer kingpin and the trailer plate is
resting securely on the fifth wheel.
4. Make sure the coupler release lever is in the locked position.
5. Charge the trailer brake system. Set the trailer brakes, with either the hand
valve or tractor protection valve. Pull
against the trailer for an extra check of
proper hook-up. Do not pull hard
enough to damage or strain the
equipment.
6. Set the tractor parking brakes and fully
raise the trailer landing gear.
7. Check the operation of all trailer lights
and correct any lights that may be
faulty.
Un-hook
1. Try to keep the tractor and trailer in a straight line.
2. Apply the parking brakes.
3. Lower the trailer landing gear, making sure it is on solid, level ground. The
weight of the trailer is to be on the
landing gear.
4. Block the trailer wheels.
5. Disconnect the brake hoses and light cords. Be sure hoses and cords are
clear.
6. Pull coupler release lever to disengage
the fifth wheel jaws.
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