TOWING A TRAILER - MACH 1
WARNING: Your vehicle isnot approved for trailer towing.Never tow a trailer with yourvehicle.
TOWING A TRAILER
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.
Note:There may be electricalitems such as fuses or relays thatcan affect trailer towing operation.See Fuses (page 246).
The load capacity of your vehicleis designated by weight notvolume. You may not necessarilybe able to use all available spacewhen loading your vehicle ortrailer.
Towing a trailer places extra loadon the engine, transmission, axle,brakes, tires, and suspension.Inspect these components before,during and after towing.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailermovement affects the vehiclewhen driving:
•Load the heaviest items closestto the trailer floor.
•Load the heaviest items in thecenter of the left and right sidetrailer tires.
•Load the heaviest items abovethe trailer axles or just slightlyforward toward the trailertongue. Do not allow the finaltrailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of theloaded trailer weight.
•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 thevehicle, when viewed from theside.
When driving with a trailer orpayload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due tothe increased payload weight.Additional information regardingproper trailer loading and settingyour vehicle up for towing islocated in the Load Carryingchapter. See Load Limit (page214).
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You can also find information inthe RV & Trailer Towing Guideavailable at your authorizeddealer, or online.
RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/Website
RECOMMENDED TOWING WEIGHTS
WebsiteMarket
https://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/United States of America
https://www.fleet.ford.ca/towing-guides/Canada
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ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•Do not tow a trailer until you drive yourvehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).
•Consult your local motor vehicle lawsfor towing a trailer.
•See the instructions included withtowing accessories for the properinstallation and adjustmentspecifications.
•Service your vehicle more frequently ifyou tow a trailer. See your scheduledmaintenance information.
•If you use a rental trailer, follow theinstructions the rental agency givesyou.
You can find information on loadspecification terms found on the tire labeland Safety Compliance label as well asinstructions on calculating your vehicle'sload in the Load Carrying chapter. SeeLoad Limit (page 214).
Remember to account for the trailertongue weight as part of your vehicle loadwhen calculating the total vehicle weight.
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps ontothe bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of thetotal trailer weight is on the tongue.
Safety Chains
Note:Never attach safety chains to thebumper.
Always connect the safety chains to thehook retainers of your vehicle hitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross themunder the trailer tongue and allow enoughslack for turning tight corners. Do not allowthe chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
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.
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.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING: Never connect anytrailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's taillamp wiring; this may damage theelectrical system resulting in fire. Contactyour authorized dealer as soon aspossible for assistance in proper trailertow wiring installation. Additionalelectrical equipment may be required.
Trailer lamps are required on most towedvehicles. Make sure all running lights, brakelights, direction indicators and hazard lightsare working.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing upto get the feel of your vehicle-trailercombination before starting on a trip.When turning, make wider turns so thetrailer wheels clear curbs and otherobstacles.
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•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 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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2023 Mustang (CZG) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 14-11-2022, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingDriving Hints E266447
3.Release the hood latch by pushing thesecondary release lever to yourleft-hand side.
4.Open the hood. Support the hood withthe strut.
Closing the Hood
1.Remove the hood strut from the catchand secure it correctly after use.
2.Lower the hood and allow it to dropunder its own weight for the last8–12 in (20–30 cm).
Note:Make sure that the hood is correctlyclosed.
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Federal Motor Vehicle SafetyStandard No. 139. Grades B and Arepresent higher levels ofperformance on the laboratorytest wheel than the minimumrequired by law.
Glossary of Tire Terminology
*Tire label: A label showing theoriginal equipment tire sizes,recommended inflation pressureand the maximum weight thevehicle can carry.
*Tire Identification Number(TIN): A number on the sidewallof each tire providing informationabout the tire brand andmanufacturing plant, tire size anddate of manufacture. Also referredto as DOT code.
*Inflation pressure: A measureof the amount of air in a tire.
*Standard load: A class ofP-metric or Metric tires designedto carry a maximum load at setpressure. For example: ForP-metric tires 35 psi (2.4 bar) andfor Metric tires 36 psi (2.5 bar).Increasing the inflation pressurebeyond this pressure will notincrease the tire capability.
*Extra load: A class of P-metricor Metric tires designed to carry aheavier maximum load at 42 psi(2.9 bar). Increasing the inflationpressure beyond this pressure willnot increase the tire’s loadcarrying capability.
*kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit ofair pressure.
*PSI: Pounds per square inch, astandard unit of air pressure.
*Cold tire pressure: The tirepressure when the vehicle hasbeen stationary and out of directsunlight for an hour or more andprior to the vehicle being driven for1 mi (1.6 km).
*Recommended inflationpressure: The cold inflationpressure found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label(affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the dooredge that meets the door-latchpost, next to the driver's seatingposition), or Tire Label located onthe B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver’s door.
* B-pillar: The structural memberat the side of the vehicle behindthe front door.
*Bead area of the tire: Area ofthe tire next to the rim.
* Sidewall of the tire: Areabetween the bead area and thetread.
*Tread area of the tire: Area ofthe perimeter of the tire thatcontacts the road when mountedon the vehicle.
*Rim: The metal support (wheel)for a tire or a tire and tubeassembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
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Information Contained on theTire 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.
Information on P Type Tires
P215/65R15 95H is an example ofa tire size, load index and speedrating. The definitions of theseitems are listed below. (Note thatthe tire size, load index and speedrating for your vehicle may bedifferent from this example.)
A.P: Indicates a tire, designatedby the Tire and Rim Association,that may be used for service oncars, sport utility vehicles,minivans and light trucks.Note: Ifyour tire size does not begin witha letter this may mean it isdesignated by either the EuropeanTire and Rim TechnicalOrganization or the Japan TireManufacturing Association.
B.215: Indicates the nominalwidth of the tire in millimetersfrom sidewall edge to sidewalledge. In general, the larger thenumber, the wider the tire.
C.65: Indicates the aspect ratiowhich gives the tire's ratio ofheight to width.
D.R: Indicates a radial type tire.
E.15: Indicates the wheel or rimdiameter in inches. If you changeyour wheel size, you will have topurchase new tires to match thenew wheel diameter.
F.95: Indicates the tire's loadindex. It is an index that relates tohow much weight a tire can carry.You may find this information inyour owner’s manual. If not,contact a local tire dealer.
Note:You may not find thisinformation on all tires because itis not required by federal law.
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19 in. x 10.5 in. front wheel, withthe valve hole in a smallerwindow.
C
19 in. x 11 in. rear wheel, with thevalve hole in a larger window.D
Note:For the base 5-star wheel, you canidentify the correct wheel size by checkingbehind the wheel spokes.
To make sure that your tires perform asintended, it is important that you properlymaintain your tires:
•Your original equipment tires areoptimized for performance in both wetand dry conditions. We do notrecommend using the originalequipment tires when temperaturesdrop to about 45°F (7°C) or below(depending on tire wear andenvironmental conditions) or in snowand ice conditions.
•The tires were designed for track useand may exhibit significantly reducedtread life and increased tire noisecompared to the standard equipmenttires under normal driving conditions.Increasing the front camber settingsbeyond the factory settings may furtheraccelerate tread wear and induce tirenoise.
•For tire pressures, see the placardlocated on the B-pillar inside the driverdoor.
•Always maintain your tire pressuresaccording to the tire informationplacard on the driver door jamb, usingan accurate gauge.
•Tire pressures are specified cold andshould be checked after the vehicle hasbeen parked for at least three hours.Do not reduce the pressure of warmtires.
•Check your tire pressure often tomaintain it properly. Tire pressure candiminish over time and fluctuate withtemperature.
•Do not overload your vehicle.Maximum vehicle and axle weights arelisted on the tire information placard.
•Extra caution should be taken whenoperating the vehicle near its maximumload, including assuring proper tirepressure and reducing speeds.
•Extra caution should be taken whenoperating on rough roads to avoidimpacts that could cause tire damage.
•In the event that you encounter anabnormally harsh impact, inspect yourtires for damage.
•Inspect your tires for damage on aregular basis. If a tire is damaged,immediately replace it.
•Proper suspension alignment is criticalfor maximum performance andoptimal tire wear. If you notice uneventire wear, have your alignment checked.
•Rotate tires as recommended in thetire rotation information. See Tire Care,in the Wheels and Tires Chapter of theOwner's Manual.
•Follow the rotation pattern for"Vehicles equipped with different sizetires on the front and rear axle".
•When replacing tires, the only way tomaintain original performance is to usethe original equipment tire. If a differenttire is used, it should be the same size,speed rating and load rating and bereplaced as a set of four. Never mix tirebrands.
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