
Certain states require functioning trailerbrakes for trailers over a specified weight.Be sure to check state regulations for thisspecified weight.
Ford Motor Company recommendsseparate functioning brake systems fortrailers weighing more than 1,500 lb(680 kg) when loaded.
TOWING A TRAILER
LIMITATIONS
The vehicle's load capacitydesignation is by weight, not byvolume, so you cannot necessarilyuse all available space whenloading a vehicle or trailer.
Note:Your vehicle could havereduced performance whenoperating at high altitudes andwhen heavily loaded or towing a
trailer. When driving at elevation,to match driving performance asperceived at sea level, reduce grossvehicle weight and grosscombination weight by 2% per1,000 ft (300 m) elevation.
LOADING YOUR TRAILER
To help minimize how trailermovement affects your vehiclewhen driving:
•Load the heaviest items closestto the trailer floor.
•Load the heaviest itemscentered between the left andright side trailer tires.
•Load the heaviest items abovethe trailer axles or just slightlyforward toward the trailertongue. Do not allow the finaltrailer tongue weight to goabove or below 10-15% of theloaded trailer weight. Thetrailer tongue weight shouldnever exceed 10% of themaximum towing capacity.
•Select a ball mount with thecorrect rise or drop. When boththe loaded vehicle and trailerare connected, the trailer frameshould be level, or slightlyangled down toward yourvehicle, when viewed from theside.
TRAILER TOWING HINTS
Towing a trailer places an extra load onyour vehicle's engine, transmission, axle,brakes, tires and suspension. Periodicallyinspect these components during and afterany towing operation.
When driving with a trailer or payload, aslight takeoff vibration or shudder may bepresent due to the increased payloadweight.
Your vehicle may have a temporary orconventional spare tire. A temporary sparetire is different in diameter or width,tread-type, or is from a differentmanufacturer than the road tires on yourvehicle. Consult information on the tirelabel or Safety Compliance label forlimitations when using.
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When towing a trailer:
•Obey country specific regulations fortowing a trailer.
•Do not drive faster than 70 mph(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi(800 km).
•Do not make full-throttle starts.
•Check your hitch, electrical connectionsand trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughlyafter you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
•When stopped in congested or heavytraffic during hot weather, place thetransmission in park (P) to aid engineand transmission cooling and to helpA/C performance.
•Turn off the speed control with heavyloads or in hilly terrain. The speedcontrol may turn off when you aretowing on long, steep slopes.
•Shift to a lower gear when driving downa long or steep hill. Do not continuouslyapply the brakes, as they may overheatand become less effective.
•If your transmission has Grade Assistor Tow/Haul, use this feature whentowing. This provides engine brakingand helps eliminate excessivetransmission shifting for optimum fueleconomy and transmission cooling.
•Your vehicle has AdvanceTrac with rollstability control. When towing a trailer,additional loads could cause theAdvanceTrac system to engage duringcornering maneuvers. Reduce corneringspeeds to make sure that you canmaintain control of the vehicle andtrailer if the AdvanceTrac systemengages.
•Allow more distance for stopping witha trailer attached. Anticipate stops andgradually brake.
•Avoid parking on a slope. However, ifyou must park on a slope, turn thesteering wheel to point your vehicletires away from traffic flow, set theparking brake, place the transmissionin park (P) and place wheel chocks infront and back of the trailer wheels.
Note:Chocks are not included with yourvehicle.
LAUNCHING OR RETRIEVING
A BOAT OR PERSONAL
WATERCRAFT
When backing down a ramp during boatlaunching or retrieval:
•Do not allow the static water level torise above the bottom edge of the rearbumper.
•Do not allow waves to break higherthan 6 in (15 cm) above the bottomedge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding 6 in (15 cm) could allow waterto enter vehicle components, causinginternal damage to the components andaffecting driveability, emissions andreliability.
Note:Replace the rear axle lubricantanytime the rear axle has been submergedin water.
Note:Disconnect the trailer wiringconnector before backing the trailer into thewater.
Note:Reconnect the trailer wiringconnector after removing the trailer fromthe water.
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COLD WEATHER
PRECAUTIONS
The functional operation of somecomponents and systems can be affectedat temperatures below approximately-13°F (-25°C).
BREAKING-IN
Tires
You need to break in new tires forapproximately 300 mi (480 km). Duringthis time, your vehicle may exhibit someunusual driving characteristics.
Brakes and Clutch
Avoid heavy use of the brakes and clutchif possible for the first 100 mi (160 km) intown and for the first 1,000 mi (1,600 km)on freeways.
DRIVING ECONOMICALLY
The following helps to improve fuelconsumption:
•Drive smoothly, accelerate gently andanticipate the road ahead to avoidheavy braking.
•Regularly check your tire pressures andmake sure that they are inflated to thecorrect pressure.
•Follow the recommended maintenanceschedule and carry out therecommended checks.
•Plan your journey and check the trafficbefore you set off. It is more efficientto combine errands into a single tripwhenever possible.
•Avoid idling the engine in cold weatheror for extended periods. Start theengine only when you are ready to setoff.
•Do not carry unnecessary weight in yourvehicle as extra weight wastes fuel.
•Do not add unnecessary accessoriesto the exterior of your vehicle, forexample running boards. If you use aroof rack, remember to fold it down orremove it when not in use.
•Do not shift into neutral when you arebraking or when your vehicle is slowingdown.
•Shut all windows when driving at highspeeds.
•Switch off all electric systems whennot in use, for example air conditioning.Make sure that you unplug anyaccessories from the auxiliary powerpoints when not in use.
DRIVING IN SPECIAL
CONDITIONS
DRIVING THROUGH MUD ANDWATER
Mud
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehiclespeed or direction when you are driving inmud. Even all-wheel drive and four-wheeldrive vehicles can lose traction in mud. Ifyour vehicle slides, steer in the direction ofthe slide until you regain control of yourvehicle. After driving through mud, cleanoff residue stuck to rotating driveshaftsand tires. Excess residue can cause animbalance that could damage drivecomponents.
Note:If your vehicle gets stuck in mud, itcould be rocked out by shifting betweenforward and reverse gears, stoppingbetween shifts in a steady pattern. Presslightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Note:Do not rock your vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature, asdamage to the transmission could occur.
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Note:Do not rock your vehicle for morethan a minute, as damage to thetransmission and tires could occur or theengine could overheat.
Water
If you must drive though deep water, driveslowly. The water could limit traction orbrake capability. See Driving ThroughShallow Water (page 261).
When driving though water, determine thedepth and avoid water higher than thecenter of the wheel.
Once through water, always try the brakes.Wet brakes do not stop your vehicle asquickly as dry brakes. Apply light pressureto the brake pedal while slowly moving thevehicle to dry the brakes.
Note:Driving through deep water couldcause damage to the transmission. If thefront or rear axle is submerged in water,have the axle lubricant and power transferunit lubricant checked and changed ifnecessary.
DRIVING ON HILLY OR SLOPINGTERRAIN
WARNING: Extreme care shouldbe used when steering the vehicle inreverse down a slope so as not to causethe vehicle to swerve out of control.
Although natural obstacles could make itnecessary to travel diagonally up or downa hill or steep incline, you should try to drivestraight up or straight down.
Note:Avoid turning on steep slopes or hills.A danger lies in losing traction, slippingsideways and possible vehicle roll over.Whenever driving on a hill, determinebeforehand the route you can use. Do notdrive over the crest of a hill without seeingwhat conditions are on the other side. Donot drive in reverse over a hill without theaid of an observer.
Apply just enough power to the wheels toclimb the hill. Too much power causes thetires to slip, spin or lose traction, and youcould lose control of your vehicle. Whendescending a steep hill, do not descendthe hill in neutral. Avoid sudden hardbraking to keep the front wheels rolling andto maintain your vehicle's steering.
Note:Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes,apply the brakes steadily. Do not pump thebrakes.
Note:If your vehicle gets stuck driving onhilly or sloping terrain, it could be rocked outby shifting between forward and reversegears, stopping between shifts in a steadypattern. Press lightly on the accelerator ineach gear.
Note:Do not rock your vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature, asdamage to the transmission could occur.
Note:Do not rock your vehicle for morethan a minute, as damage to thetransmission and tires could occur or theengine could overheat.
DRIVING IN SAND
When driving over sand, try to keep all fourwheels on the most solid area of the trail.Steadily drive through the terrain. Applythe accelerator slowly and avoid excessivewheel slip. Do not drive your vehicle indeep sand for an extended period of time.This could overheat the system. Amessage appears in the instrument clusterdisplay.
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Note:If your vehicle gets stuck driving onhilly or sloping terrain, it could be rocked outby shifting between forward and reversegears, stopping between shifts in a steadypattern. Press lightly on the accelerator ineach gear.
Note:Do not rock your vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature, asdamage to the transmission could occur.
Note:Do not rock your vehicle for morethan a minute, as damage to thetransmission and tires could occur or theengine could overheat
DRIVING THROUGH SHALLOW
WATER
WARNING: Do not attempt tocross a deep or flowing body of water.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in the loss of control of yourvehicle, personal injury or death.
Note:Driving through standing water cancause vehicle damage.
Note:Engine damage can occur if waterenters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water,check the depth. Never drive through waterthat is higher than the bottom of the frontrocker area of your vehicle.
When driving through standing water, drivevery slowly and do not stop your vehicle.Your brake performance and traction couldbe limited. After driving through water andas soon as it is safe to do so:
•Lightly press the brake pedal to dry thebrakes and to check that they work.
•Turn the steering wheel to check thatthe steering power assist works.
Check the function of the following:
•Horn
•Exterior lights
FLOOR MATS
WARNING: Use a floor matdesigned to fit the footwell of yourvehicle that does not obstruct the pedalarea. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in the loss of control of yourvehicle, personal injury or death.
WARNING: Pedals that cannotmove freely can cause loss of vehiclecontrol and increase the risk of seriouspersonal injury.
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Tires
Maintain recommended air pressure.
Note:If you intend on parking your vehiclefor an extended period after cleaning thewheels with a wheel cleaner, drive yourvehicle for a few minutes before doing so.This reduces the risk of corrosion of thebrake discs, brake pads and linings.
REMOVING YOUR VEHICLE
FROM STORAGE
When your vehicle is ready to come out ofstorage, do the following:
•We recommend that you change theengine oil before you use your vehicleagain.
•Wash your vehicle to remove any dirtor grease film build-up on windowsurfaces.
•Check windshield wipers for anydeterioration.
•Check the underhood for any foreignmaterials such as mice or squirrelnests.
•Check the exhaust for any foreignmaterials.
•Check tire pressures and set tireinflation per the Tire Label.
•Check brake pedal operation. Corrodedbrake rotors could cause brake noise.Drive your vehicle and gently apply andrelease the brakes repeatedly over a10-minute drive to reduce the corrosionfrom the brakes.
•Check fluid levels (including coolant,oil and gas) to make sure there are noleaks, and fluids are at recommendedlevels.
•If you remove the battery, clean thebattery cable ends and check fordamage.
Contact an authorized dealer if you haveany concerns or issues.
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LOCATING THE TIRE LABEL
The tire label or safetycertification label is on the driverside B-pillar or the edge of thedriver door. It contains informationon the recommended front andrear tire inflation pressures. SeeLocating the SafetyCompliance CertificationLabels (page 244).
DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES
Tire Quality Grades apply to newpneumatic passenger car tires.The Quality grades can be foundwhere applicable on the tiresidewall between tread shoulderand maximum section width. Forexample: Treadwear 200Traction AA Temperature A.
These Tire Quality Grades aredetermined by standards that theUnited States Department of
Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to newpneumatic passenger car tires.They do not apply to deep tread,winter-type snow tires,space-saver or temporary usespare tires, light truck or LT typetires, tires with nominal rimdiameters of 10 to 12 inches orlimited production tires as definedin Title 49 Code of FederalRegulations Part 575.104 (c)(2).
U.S. Department ofTransportation Tire qualitygrades: The U.S. Department ofTransportation requires us to giveyou the following informationabout tire grades exactly as thegovernment has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is acomparative rating based on thewear rate of the tire when testedunder controlled conditions on aspecified government test course.For example, a tire graded 150would wear 1½ times as well onthe government course as a tiregraded 100. The relativeperformance of tires dependsupon the actual conditions of theiruse, however, and may departsignificantly from the norm due tovariations in driving habits, servicepractices, and differences in roadcharacteristics and climate.
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Traction AA A B C
WARNING: The tractiongrade assigned to this tire isbased on straight-ahead brakingtraction tests, and does notinclude acceleration, cornering,hydroplaning or peak tractioncharacteristics.
The traction grades, from highestto lowest are AA, A, B, and C. Thegrades represent the tire’s abilityto stop on wet pavement asmeasured under controlledconditions on specifiedgovernment test surfaces ofasphalt and concrete. A tiremarked C may have poor tractionperformance.
Temperature A B C
WARNING: Thetemperature grade for this tire isestablished for a tire that isproperly inflated and notoverloaded. Excessive speed,underinflation, or excessiveloading, either separately or incombination, can cause heatbuildup and possible tire failure.
The temperature grades are A(the highest), B and C,representing the tire’s resistanceto the generation of heat and itsability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled conditionson a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained hightemperature can cause thematerial of the tire to degenerateand reduce tire life, and excessivetemperature can lead to suddentire failure. The grade Ccorresponds to a level ofperformance which all passengercar tires must meet under theFederal Motor Vehicle SafetyStandard No. 139. Grades B and Arepresent higher levels ofperformance on the laboratorytest wheel than the minimumrequired by law.
INFORMATION ON THE TIRE
SIDEWALL
Both United States and CanadaFederal regulations require tiremanufacturers to placestandardized information on thesidewall of all tires. Thisinformation identifies anddescribes the fundamentalcharacteristics of the tire and alsoprovides a U.S. DOT TireIdentification Number for safetystandard certification and in caseof a recall.
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