WHAT IS TRAILER HITCHING
ASSISTANCE
Trailer hitching assistance helps the driveralign the vehicle hitch ball to a trailercoupler.
HOW DOES TRAILER HITCHING
ASSISTANCE WORK
Trailer hitching assistance uses thefollowing to detect your trailer:
•Rear view camera.
•Radar.
•Parking aid sensors.
•External rear lighting.
This feature also controls the following toalign the hitch ball with the trailer coupler:
•Steering.
•Shifting.
•Braking and acceleration.
Note:Blocked sensors could affect systemperformance. Do not cover the sensors withbumper stickers, tape, repair compound orother objects.
TRAILER HITCHING
ASSISTANCE PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: You are responsible forcontrolling your vehicle at all times. Thesystem is designed to be an aid and doesnot relieve you of your responsibility todrive with due care and attention. Failureto follow this instruction could result inthe loss of control of your vehicle,personal injury or death.
WARNING: The system is notdesigned to detect cyclists,motorcyclists, pedestrians or animals.Apply the brakes when necessary. Failureto follow this instruction could resultpersonal injury or death.
WARNING: The system may notoperate properly during severe weatherconditions, for example snow, ice, heavyrain and spray. Always drive with duecare and attention. Failure to take caremay result in a crash.
Note:Fifth wheel and gooseneck trailersare not supported.
Note:Trailer hitching assistance only workswith conventional trailers, couplers andhitch balls.
Note:The hitch ball must be properlyinstalled on the vehicle for the system tofunction as intended. An improperlyinstalled hitch ball could result in damageto your vehicle or trailer.
Note:Certain aftermarket modificationssuch as oversized tires or lift kits could maketrailer hitching assistance fail or not workas intended.
Note:Keep the sensors and camera freefrom snow, ice and dirt.
Note:Clean the camera lens with a soft,lint-free cloth and non-abrasive cleaner.
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WHAT IS TRAILER BACKUP
ASSISTANCE
Trailer backup assistance utilizes thecontrol knob on the instrument panel tohelp you steer a trailer. Turn the controlknob in the direction you want the trailerto go and the system steers the vehicle.
HOW DOES TRAILER BACKUP
ASSISTANCE WORK
Trailer backup assistance uses a sticker orsensor attached to the trailer to detect thetrailer angle relative to the towing vehicleand provides instructions, graphics andcamera views on the touchscreen.
TRAILER BACKUP
ASSISTANCE PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Driving while distractedcan result in loss of vehicle control, crashand injury. We strongly recommend thatyou use extreme caution when using anydevice that may take your focus off theroad. Your primary responsibility is thesafe operation of your vehicle. Werecommend against the use of anyhand-held device while driving andencourage the use of voice-operatedsystems when possible. Make sure youare aware of all applicable local lawsthat may affect the use of electronicdevices while driving.
WARNING: This system is an extradriving aid. It does not replace yourattention and judgment, or the need toapply the brakes. This system does NOTautomatically brake your vehicle. If youfail to press the brake pedal whennecessary, you may collide with anothervehicle.
Note:The system is not a substitute forsafe driving practices. Always be aware ofyour vehicle and trailer combination, andthe surrounding environment.
Note:The system does not detect orprevent your vehicle or trailer from makingcontact with obstacles in the surroundingenvironment.
Note:The front end of your vehicle swingsout when changing the direction of thetrailer.
Note:In certain conditions, the trailer couldturn faster or the trailer angle could increasemore than anticipated. Always monitor theclearance between the trailer and vehicleand the surroundings.
SETTING UP THE TRAILER
BACKUP ASSISTANCE FOR A
CONVENTIONAL TRAILER
CONFIGURING THE TRAILER
You must configure a trailer in the systemto use trailer backup assistance. This is aone-time setup process and the systemsaves the trailer information for the nexttime you use that trailer.
The system only works with conventionaltrailers. It does not work with other typesincluding fifth-wheel and gooseneck. Thefollowing illustration shows examples ofconventional trailers on the left-hand side.
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WHAT IS TRAILER REVERSE
GUIDANCE
ProTrailer Back-Up Assist with TrailerReverse Guidance
Trailer reverse guidance provides viewsand graphics on the touchscreen to helpyou steer your vehicle when you backup atrailer.
HOW DOES TRAILER REVERSE
GUIDANCE WORK
Trailer reverse guidance uses a sticker orsensor attached to the trailer to detect thetrailer angle relative to the towing vehicleand provides instructions, graphics andcamera views on the touchscreen.
TRAILER REVERSE GUIDANCE
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Driving while distractedcan result in loss of vehicle control, crashand injury. We strongly recommend thatyou use extreme caution when using anydevice that may take your focus off theroad. Your primary responsibility is thesafe operation of your vehicle. Werecommend against the use of anyhand-held device while driving andencourage the use of voice-operatedsystems when possible. Make sure youare aware of all applicable local lawsthat may affect the use of electronicdevices while driving.
WARNING: This system is an extradriving aid. It does not replace yourattention and judgment, or the need toapply the brakes. This system does NOTautomatically brake your vehicle. If youfail to press the brake pedal whennecessary, you may collide with anothervehicle.
Note:The system is not a substitute forsafe driving practices. Always be aware ofyour vehicle and trailer combination, andthe surrounding environment.
Note:The system does not detect orprevent your vehicle or trailer from makingcontact with obstacles in the surroundingenvironment.
Note:The front end of your vehicle swingsout when changing the direction of thetrailer.
Note:In certain conditions, the trailer couldturn faster or the trailer angle could increasemore than anticipated. Always monitor theclearance between the trailer and vehicleand the surroundings.
SETTING UP TRAILER
REVERSE GUIDANCE FOR A
CONVENTIONAL TRAILER
CONFIGURING THE TRAILER
You must configure a trailer in the systemto use trailer reverse guidance. This is aone-time setup process and the systemsaves the trailer information for the nexttime you use that trailer.
The system only works with conventionaltrailers. It does not work with other typesincluding fifth-wheel and gooseneck. Thefollowing illustration shows examples ofconventional trailers on the left-hand side.
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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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6.Always keep available groundclearance in mind and pick a route thatminimizes the risk of catching theunderside of the vehicle on an obstacle.
7.When negotiating low speed obstacles,applying light brake pressure inconjunction with the throttle will helpprevent the vehicle from jerking andwill allow you to negotiate the obstaclein a more controlled manner. Using 4Lwill also help with this.
8.Off-roading requires a high degree ofconcentration. Even if your local lawdoes not prohibit alcohol use whiledriving off-road, Ford stronglyrecommends against drinking if youplan to off-road.
Crossing Obstacles
•Review the path ahead beforeattempting to cross any obstacle. It isbest if the obstacle is reviewed fromoutside the vehicle so that there is agood understanding of terrain conditionboth in front of and behind theobstacle.
•Approach obstacles slowly.
•If a large obstacle such as a rockcannot be avoided, choose a path thatplaces the rock directly under the tirerather than the undercarriage of thevehicle. This will help prevent damageto the vehicle.
•Ditches and washouts should becrossed at a 45° angle, allowing eachwheel to independently cross theobstacle.
Hill Climbing
WARNING: Extreme care shouldbe used when steering the vehicle inreverse down a slope so as not to causethe vehicle to swerve out of control.
•Always attempt to climb a steep hillalong the fall line of the slope and notdiagonally.
•If the vehicle is unable to make it upthe hill, DO NOT attempt to turn backdown the slope. Place the vehicle inlow range and slowly back down inreverse.
•When descending a steep slope, selectlow gear and engage hill descentcontrol. Use the throttle and brakepedals to control your descent speed.
Note:Hill descent control is functional inreverse and should be used in this situation.
BASIC OFF-ROAD DRIVINGTECHNIQUES - RAPTOR
Grip the steering wheel with your thumbson the outside of the rim. This reduces therisk of injury due to abrupt steering wheelmotions that occur when negotiating roughterrain.
If you are driving in a dusty area, be sure toleave ample distance between your vehicleand any other vehicles to allow foradequate vision.
DRIVING OFF-ROAD - RAPTOR
Driving In Snow and Ice
WARNING: Do not becomeoverconfident in the ability of four-wheeldrive vehicles. Although a four-wheeldrive vehicle may accelerate better thana two-wheel drive vehicle in low tractionsituations, it won't stop any faster thantwo-wheel drive vehicles. Always driveat a safe speed.
Make sure you allow sufficient distancebetween your vehicle and other vehiclesfor stopping.
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Driving In Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all fourwheels on the most solid area of the trail.
Driving In Mud
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehiclespeed or direction when you are driving inmud.
After driving through mud, clean yourvehicle. Excess mud stuck on the wheelsand tires and rotating components cancause an imbalance and result in damage.
Note:The vehicle brakes are less effectivewhen wet or muddy.
Driving Over Rocks and Gravel
Never attempt to straddle a rock that islarge enough to strike your axles orundercarriage.
Leave a generous gap between yourvehicle and other vehicles to minimize therisk of damage. Avoid dust clouds as theyreduce visibility.
Climbing A Hill
WARNING: Extreme care shouldbe used when steering the vehicle inreverse down a slope so as not to causethe vehicle to swerve out of control.
Do not drive over the crest of a hill withoutseeing what conditions are on the otherside. Do not drive in reverse over a hillwithout the aid of an observer.
Note:Avoid turning on steep slopes or hills.A danger lies in losing traction, slippingsideways and possible vehicle roll over.
Note:Too much acceleration can causethe tires to slip, spin or lose traction,resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Driving Through Water
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.
The key to a safe crossing is the waterdepth, current and bottom of the water'scondition. On soft bottoms, the vehiclesinks in, effectively increasing the waterlevel on the vehicle. Make sure to considerthis when determining the depth of water.
Determine the depth and speed of thecurrent before attempting a water crossing.
Be aware that obstacles and debris couldbe beneath the water’s surface.
Note:Cross flowing water at an angleheading slightly upstream.
Note:Tread lightly and avoid damage tothe environment.
Water can cause permanent damage thatmay not be covered by your vehiclewarranty. See Driving Through WaterLimitations (page 470).
Note:Failure to follow the recommendedspeeds can result in vehicle damage.
Muddy waters can reduce the coolingsystem effectiveness by depositing debrisinto the radiator.
High currents even in shallow water canwash the dirt out from around your tires orpush your vehicle across slippery rocks orsurfaces.
Do not cross any body of water that is fastflowing and rising.
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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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