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.
Note: See
Recommended Towing
Weights (page 327).
Your vehicle may have electrical items,
such as fuses or relays, related to
towing.
See Fuses (page 360). 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 309).
You can also find information in the
RV
& Trailer Towing Guide available at your
authorized dealer, or online.
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RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Website
TRAILER REVERSING AIDS (IF
EQUIPPED)
Pro Trailer Backup Assist™ WARNING:
Driving while distracted
can result in loss of vehicle control, crash
and injury. We strongly recommend that
you use extreme caution when using any
device that may take your focus off the
road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of your vehicle. We recommend
against the use of any hand-held device
while driving and encourage the use of
voice-operated systems when possible.
Make sure you are aware of all applicable
local laws that may affect the use of
electronic devices while driving. WARNING:
This system is an extra
driving aid. It does not replace your
attention and judgment, or the need to
apply the brakes. This system does NOT
automatically brake your vehicle. If you fail
to press the brake pedal when necessary,
you may collide with another vehicle.
Note: The system is not a substitute for safe
driving practices.
Note: You must always be aware of the
vehicle and trailer combination and the
surrounding environment.
Note: The system does not detect or prevent
the vehicle or trailer from making contact
with obstacles in the surrounding
environment.
Note: Keep in mind that the front end of the
vehicle swings out when changing the
direction of the trailer. Note:
The system relies on user
measurements to determine sticker
placement and system limits. It is critical to
take the key measurements correctly.
Incorrect measurements can result in the
improper function of the system up to and
including contact between the vehicle and
trailer.
Note: The system limits vehicle speed when
backing up. The system is not a replacement
for proper use of the throttle and brake
pedals.
Principle of Operation
This feature helps you to steer your vehicle
when reversing with a trailer attached. Turn
and hold the control knob in the direction
you want the trailer to go and the system
takes over the steering. This allows you to
focus on checking the mirrors and operating
the brake and accelerator.
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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 toggle switch 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. We
recommend this 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.
Some examples of conventional type trailers
are below.
Note: You cannot use the system with the
types of trailers marked with the cross. The system only works with conventional
trailers. It does not work with other types
including goose neck and fifth wheel.
Follow the information display prompts.
Step 3: Place the Sticker on the Trailer
Frame
You must place the supplied sticker in an
area visible by the rear view camera.
Note:
An assistant can help to carry out the
following procedure. Note:
Make sure nothing can obstruct the
rear view cameras view of the sticker. For
example, items such as a jack handle or
wiring.
Note: Position the sticker on a flat, dry and
clean horizontal surface. For best results
apply the sticker when temperatures are
above 32°F (0°C).
Note: Do not move stickers after you position
them. Do not re-use any stickers if removed.
Note: You can purchase additional stickers
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Release the knob when the trailer is moving
in the direction you want. Control the
accelerator and brakes while the system
steers your vehicle automatically to keep the
trailer moving straight back.
Note:
You may have to use the knob to
correct the trailer direction when attempting
to move the trailer straight back under some
conditions.
Note: Your vehicle speed is automatically
limited.
Note: When you release the knob or turn it
to the center position, your vehicle follows
the trailer's path.
Troubleshooting
Note: The system requires a clear view of
the sticker placed on the trailer. You must
keep the camera lens and sticker clean for
the system to operate correctly. Setup
The system is designed to be used with a
wide variety of trailers. However there are
some trailers that do not have a proper
surface and location to mount the sticker.
These trailers are not supported. Attempts
to place the sticker on a surface that does
not meet the sticker placement requirement
listed in Step 3 of the setup instruction or
entering inaccurate measurements to
proceed through setup can result in improper
system function.
Accurate measurements are critical to correct
system function. If you need to check
measurements entered or change them you
can access them through the trailer menus
in the instrument cluster. Choose the option
to change the sticker from the change trailer
settings menu. It is not necessary to remove
the sticker if you are just reviewing or
changing measurements.
The following menu warnings or difficulties
may occur during setup. Tips to resolve them
are listed below.Note:
If you still experience issues with the
system's ability to detect the sticker, see the
information in the next section regarding
sticker lost during system operation.
Measurement A has reached maximum or
minimum value:
• The system is designed to work with
drawbars that have a bumper to hitch ball
center measurement of 4 in (10 cm) to
11 in (28 cm) when installed. Do not
attempt to use drawbars that have a
length outside this range as the system
performance will be degraded and could
cause improper system function.
• Make sure that the measurement being
made is the horizontal distance only from
bumper and the hitch ball center. A
straight line distance that includes any
vertical rise or drop will increase the
measurement and make it inaccurate.
Inaccurate measurements will degrade
system performance and could cause
improper system function. See step 4 of
the setup instruction to review
measurement instructions.
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TRAILER SWAY CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING: Turning off trailer sway
control increases the risk of loss of vehicle
control, serious injury or death. Ford does
not recommend disabling this feature
except in situations where speed reduction
may be detrimental (such as hill climbing),
the driver has significant trailer towing
experience, and can control trailer sway
and maintain safe operation.
Note: This feature does not prevent trailer
sway, but reduces it once it begins.
Note: This feature cannot stop all trailers
from swaying.
Note: In some cases, if vehicle speed is too
high, the system may activate multiple times,
gradually reducing vehicle speed. 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 Load Carrying (page 309).
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note: Do not exceed the trailer weight
for your vehicle configuration listed in
the chart below.
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:
Exceeding this limitation may
significantly reduce the performance of
your towing vehicle. Selecting a trailer
with a low aerodynamic drag and
rounded front design helps optimize
performance and fuel economy.
Note: Your vehicle could have reduced
performance when operating at high
altitudes, and when heavily loaded or
towing a trailer. When driving at
elevation, in order 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. The
maximum trailer weights listed may be
limited to this specified weight, as the
vehicle ’s electrical system may not
include the wiring connector needed to
activate electric trailer brakes.
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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 any instructions that come with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer.
See Scheduled
Maintenance (page 539).
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives you.
You can find information on load
specification terms found on the tire label
and Safety Compliance label as well as
instructions on calculating your vehicle's load
in the Load Carrying chapter. See Load Limit
(page
309).
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 turn signal and stop lamp.
Yellow
Ground (-).
White
Electric brakes.
Blue
Right turn signal 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:
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Trailer Brakes (If Equipped)
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. 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.
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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. After disconnecting the trailer
connector, press the brake pedal for
approximately five seconds to allow the
system to detect and update the trailer
status. B: Manual control lever: Slide the control
lever to the left to turn 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 illuminates both the trailer brake
lamps and your vehicle brake lamps
except the center high-mount stop lamp,
if you make the proper electrical
connection to the trailer. Pressing your
vehicle brake pedal also illuminates both
trailer and vehicle brake lamps.
Procedure for Adjusting Gain
Note: Only perform this procedure in a
traffic-free environment at speeds of
approximately
20–25 mph (32–40 km/h).
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