
TOWING A TRAILER
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Do not exceedthe GVWR or the GAWRspecified on the certificationlabel.
WARNING: Towing trailersbeyond the maximumrecommended gross trailerweight exceeds the limit of yourvehicle and could result in enginedamage, transmission damage,structural damage, loss ofvehicle control, vehicle rolloverand personal injury.
WARNING: Do not exceedthe lowest rating capacity foryour vehicle or trailer hitch.Overloading your vehicle ortrailer hitch can impair yourvehicle stability and handling.Failure to follow this instructioncould result in the loss of controlof your vehicle, personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Make sure thatthe vertical load on the tow ballis between the minimum andmaximum recommended weightat all times. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in theloss of control of your vehicle,personal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not cut,drill, weld or modify the trailerhitch. Modifying the trailer hitchcould reduce the hitch rating.
WARNING: The anti-lockbrake system does not controlthe trailer brakes.
TRAILER BRAKE
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Do not connect atrailer's hydraulic brake system directlyto your vehicle's brake system. Yourvehicle may not have enough brakingpower and your chances of having acollision greatly increase.
WARNING: Do not tow a trailerfitted with electric trailer brakes unlessyour vehicle is fitted with a compatibleaftermarket electronic trailer brakecontroller. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, personal injury ordeath. For additional information andassistance, we recommend that youcontact an authorized dealer.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic orsurge-type trailer brakes are safe if youinstall them properly and adjust them tothe manufacturer's specifications. Thetrailer brakes must meet local and federalregulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's brakingsystem operation is at the gross vehicleweight rating, not the gross combinedweight rating.
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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) of elevation.
Note:Do not use four-wheel drivewhen towing a trailer or when youheavily load your vehicle forextended periods of time.
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.
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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.
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.
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6.If the trailer wheels lock up, indicatedby squealing tires, reduce the gainsetting. If the trailer wheels turn freely,increase the gain setting. Repeat Steps5 and 6 until the gain setting is at apoint just below trailer wheel lock-up.If towing a heavier trailer, trailer wheellock-up may not be attainable evenwith the maximum gain setting of 10.
Note:Only perform this procedure atspeeds of approximately 20–25 mph(30–40 km/h).
Note:The trailer brake controller reducesoutput at vehicle speeds below 11 mph(18 km/h) so that trailer and vehicle brakingis not jerky or harsh. This feature is onlyavailable when applying the brakes usingyour vehicle's brake pedal, not thecontroller.
Note:Your vehicle's brake system and thetrailer brake system work independently ofeach other. Changing the gain setting on thecontroller does not affect the operation ofyour vehicle's brakes whether you attach atrailer or not.
Note:With the proper electrical connection,pressing your vehicle brake pedal or usingthe manual control lever illuminates bothtrailer and vehicle brake lamps.
Note:When you switch the engine off, thecontroller output is disabled and the displayand module shut down. The controllermodule and display turn on when you switchthe ignition on.
Note:Trailer braking is suspended duringstop/start events to minimize battery draw.
Adjusting the Trailer Brake Gain
Use the gain adjustment (+) and(-) buttons to increase ordecrease the gain setting to thedesired starting point. The trailerbrake controller allowsadjustment of brake gain from0% to 100% in 5% increments.
A
Trailer braking is directly appliedby the driver through this manualslider.
B
Note:Adjust gain setting before using thetrailer brake controller for the first time.
Note:The gain should be set to provide themaximum trailer braking assistance whilemaking sure the trailer wheels do not lockwhen using the brakes. Locked trailer wheelsmay lead to trailer instability.
Note:Setting adjustments are saved whena trailer profile is selected.
Note:If you have installed an aftermarkettrailer brake controller in addition to theintegrated trailer brake controller, set thegain on the integrated trailer brake controllerto zero.
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HOW DOES TRAILER SWAY
CONTROL WORK
Trailer Sway Control
The system applies the brakes to theindividual wheels and reduces enginetorque to aid vehicle stability.
If the trailer begins to sway, the stabilitycontrol lamp flashes and the messageTrailer Sway Reduce Speed appears inthe information display.
Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe todo so. Check the vertical weight on thetow ball and trailer load distribution.
TRAILER SWAY CONTROL
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Turning off trailer swaycontrol increases the risk of loss ofvehicle control, serious injury or death.Ford does not recommend disabling thisfeature except in situations where speedreduction may be detrimental (such ashill climbing), the driver has significanttrailer towing experience, and can controltrailer sway and maintain safe operation.
Note:This feature only activates whensignificant trailer sway occurs.
Note:This feature does not prevent trailersway, but reduces it once it begins.
Note:This feature cannot stop all trailersfrom swaying.
Note:In some cases, if vehicle speed is toohigh, the system may activate multipletimes, gradually reducing vehicle speed.
SWITCHING TRAILER SWAY
CONTROL ON AND OFF
1.Press Features on the touchscreen.
2.Press Towing.
3.Switch Trailer Sway Control on or off.
The system turns on each time you startyour vehicle.
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OFF-ROAD DRIVING
WHAT IS OFF-ROAD DRIVING
Off-road driving is driving your vehicle onunsurfaced roads or trails, made from dirt,rocks, sand and mud.
OFF-ROAD DRIVINGPRECAUTIONS - RAPTOR
WARNING: If you continue to driveyour vehicle when the engine isoverheating, the engine could stopwithout warning. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle.
Before going off-road driving, consult withall the appropriate government entities todetermine where you are legally allowedto operate your vehicle and what permitsor registrations are required to do so.
Inspect your vehicle before and after anyoff-road driving.
Familiarize yourself with the dimensionsof your vehicle including approach angles,breakover angles, and ground clearance.
Also familiarize yourself with the featuresof your vehicle. Some of these featuressuch as drive modes and cameras canimprove your off-road driving experience.
Secure loose objects inside your vehicleand in the cargo area.
BASIC OFF-ROAD DRIVINGTECHNIQUES - EXCLUDING:RAPTOR
Off-road Driving Hints
Before taking your vehicle off-roading, abasic vehicle inspection should be done tomake sure that the vehicle is in top workingcondition. It is always recommended thatat least two vehicles are used whileoff-roading. The buddy system helps makesure that help is close at hand should avehicle become stuck or damaged. It is alsowise to take supplies such as a first aid kit,supply of water, tow strap, cell or satellitephone with you any time an off-roadexcursion is planned.
1.Grip the steering wheel with thumbson the outside of the rim. This willreduce the risk of injury due to abruptsteering wheel motions that occurwhen negotiating rough terrain.
2.Throttle, brake and steering inputsshould be made in a smooth andcontrolled manner. Sudden inputs tothe controls can cause loss of tractionor upset the vehicle, especially whileon loose terrain or while crossingobstacles such as rocks or logs.
3.Look ahead on your route notingupcoming obstacles, or any otherfactors which may indicate a changein available traction, and adjust thevehicle speed and route accordingly.
4.When driving off-road, if the front orrear suspension is bottoming outand/or excessive contact with theskid-plates is encountered, reducevehicle speed to avoid potentialdamage to the vehicle.
5.When with other vehicles, it isrecommended that communication isused, and the lead vehicle notify othervehicles of obstacles that could causepotential vehicle damage.
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Vehicles used to traverse water should beperiodically inspected for signs of wateringestion in all of the vehicle's fluids. Ifwater is found inside your vehicle fluids,service your vehicle or see an authorizeddealer.
Avoid Getting High-Centered
Always keep available ground clearancein mind and pick a route that minimizes therisk of catching the underside of the vehicleon an obstacle and getting high-centered.
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle
WARNING: Do not spin the wheelsat over 34 mph (55 km/h). The tires mayfail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Recovery hooks are mounted to thevehicle's structure and are used to pull outthe vehicle from a surface or location whenstuck. Recover your vehicle using varioustowing apparatus attached to yourrecovery hook such as winch, open hook,or strap.
Note:Do not use recovery hooks torecreationally tow your vehicle. SeeRecreationally Towing Your Vehicle (page485).
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.
If you are unable to free your vehicle callroadside assistance. See RoadsideAssistance (page 478).
Crossing A Ravine, Gully, Ditch,Washout Or Rut
Review the path ahead before attemptingto cross any obstacle.
Driving Over Logs
Review the path ahead before attemptingto cross any obstacle.
DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE AT HIGHSPEEDS - RAPTOR
If you plan on using your vehicle for severe,high speed off-road use, we recommendthe following:
•Equipping your vehicle with the safetyequipment appropriate for off-roadrecovery.
•Using personal safety equipment,including a certified helmet andapproved neck restraint device.
•Doing a low speed reconnaissance runin unfamiliar areas to become awareof any obstacles that you couldencounter.
Your vehicle can incur damage if drivenbeyond its capabilities. Skid plates, shockguards and running boards are designedto help limit damage to vital componentsand exterior finishes, but cannot preventall damage if driven in extreme off-roadconditions. Damage to skid plates, shockguards, running boards and exteriorfinishes as well as bent, cracked or brokenbody, frame and chassis components maynot be covered by warranty.
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DRIVING THROUGH WATERLIMITATIONS - RAPTOR
Maximum WadingDepthModel
32 in (810 mm)All.
When you are driving though water do notexceed 4 mph (7 km/h).
WATER WADING - EXCLUDING:RAPTOR
WARNING: Do not attempt tocross a deep, fast flowing body of water.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in the loss of control of yourvehicle, personal injury or death.
As the water depth increases, you mustreduce your vehicle speed to avoidpotential vehicle damage.
•Always determine the depth beforeattempting a water crossing. Neverdrive through water that is higher thanthe bottom of the wheel hubs.
•Slowly proceed and avoid splashingwater any more than is necessary.
•Be aware that obstacles and debrismay be beneath the water’s surface.
•Keep the doors fully closed during thewater crossing.
•After driving through water and as soonas it is safe to do so check the brakes,horn, lights, and steering wheel toconfirm those systems are functioningproperly.
Note:Engine damage can occur if waterenters the air filter.
WATER WADING - RAPTOR
WARNING: Do not attempt tocross a deep, fast flowing body of water.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in the loss of control of yourvehicle, personal injury or death.
•Always determine the depth beforeattempting a water crossing.
•Slowly proceed and avoid splashingwater any more than is necessary.
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