FORD F-150 2021 Owners Manual
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The above calculations also
assume that the loads are
positioned in your vehicle in a
manner that does not overload
the front or the rear gross axle
weight rating specified for your
vehicle on the Safety Compliance
Certification label.
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PICKUP BED PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Do not allow people or
animals in truck beds that have
modifications, such as bed covers or
slide-in campers, when the engine is
running. Exhaust fumes are toxic. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death. WARNING: It is extremely
dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside
or outside of a vehicle. In a crash, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow
people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and
seatbelts. Make sure everyone in your
vehicle is in a seat and properly using a
seatbelt. Failure to follow this warning
could result in serious personal injury or
death.
PICKUP BED ANCHOR POINTS
PICKUP BED ANCHOR POINT
PRECAUTIONS WARNING: Always properly secure
cargo to prevent shifting cargo or cargo
falling from the vehicle. Failure to do so
could result in compromised vehicle
stability and serious personal injury to
vehicle occupants or others. WARNING:
The appropriate
loading capacity of your vehicle can be
limited either by volume capacity (how
much space is available) or by payload
capacity (how much weight the vehicle
should carry). Once you have reached the maximum payload of your vehicle,
do not add more cargo, even if there is
space available. Overloading or
improperly loading your vehicle can
contribute to loss of vehicle control and
vehicle rollover.
WARNING:
It is extremely
dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside
or outside of a vehicle. In a crash, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow
people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and
seatbelts. Make sure everyone in your
vehicle is in a seat and properly using a
seatbelt. Failure to follow this warning
could result in serious personal injury or
death. WARNING:
Do not use the load
retaining fixtures for towing. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury. WARNING:
Do not exceed the
maximum load rating of the load
retaining fixtures. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Check the load
retaining fixtures for damage before
using them. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury.
LOCATING THE PICKUP BED
ANCHOR POINTS
The pickup bed anchor points are located
at each corner of the pickup bed.
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INSTALLING AND REMOVING THE
PICKUP BED TIE-DOWN CLEATS
(If Equipped)
Installing the Cleats
1. Insert the key into the lock and turn
clockwise to unlock.
2. Insert the cleat into the pickup bed anchor point and slide upward.
3. Turn the key counterclockwise to lock. Note:
Leave the key in the lock when
removing or installing the cleats. The key
cannot be removed unless it is in the locked
position.
Removing the Cleats
To remove, reverse the installation
procedure.
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PICKUP BED ANCHOR POINT
LOAD CAPACITIES
B
A
Maximum force
between diagonally opposed cleats
600 lb (272 kg).
Maximum force
between directly opposed cleats276 lb (125 kg).
Note: You could damage the pickup bed
walls if you overload the tie downs.
Note: Make sure that you properly balance
and secure the cargo load. Failure to do this
can cause cargo instability and damage to
the box.
Note: Do not secure cargo with tie downs
connected from the tie down brackets to
the cargo box tie downs. This could cause
the tailgate to detach. TAILGATE ANCHOR POINTS
LOCATING THE TAILGATE
ANCHOR POINTS
The tailgate anchor points are located at
each side of the tailgate.
Note:
You could damage the tailgate if you
overload the tie downs.
TAILGATE ANCHOR POINT LOAD
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A
The maximum force between the tailgate anchor points 400 lb (181 kg).
Note: Do not secure cargo from a pickup
bed anchor point to a tailgate anchor point.
This could cause the tailgate to detach.
PICKUP BED RAMPS
PICKUP BED RAMP
PRECAUTIONS WARNING:
When sliding the ramp
up or down, take care not to get your
fingers or hands caught in the
mechanism. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Make sure that you
correctly install the ramp to the tailgate
plate. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Do not step or sit on
the ramp when it is in the stowed
position. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Only install the ramp
within the prescribed ramp angles.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury.
Note: Each pickup bed ramp has a
maximum capacity of
400 lb (181.4 kg).
Note: Verify the ramp is on stable ground
before usage. Note:
For loading and unloading
equipment, your ramp should be set
between 10 degrees upward and 26 degrees
downward to avoid damage to the ramp
claw and tailgate plate.
Note: When using your vehicle for off-road
operation, remove the bed ramps from the
vehicle and store them in a safe location
away from your vehicle.
INSTALLING AND REMOVING THE
PICKUP BED RAMP HOLDER
Installing the Ramp Holder 1. Hook the top of the ramp holder over
the mounting plate and rotate the
ramp holder into position. 2. Slide the ramp holder studs upwards
into the installed position.
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3. Tighten the ramp holder nut.
Note:
The nut should be on the upper stud.
Removing the Ramp Holder
Remove in the reverse order.
INSTALLING AND REMOVING THE
PICKUP BED RAMPS
Note: You cannot use the pickup bed ramps
with the tailgate work surface or tailgate
step.
Installing the Bed Ramp
1. Remove the front and rear cables. 2.
Open the cam lever arms and unscrew
the cam bolts.
3. Remove the ramp from the ramp holder. 4. Rotate the stops at the underside of
the ramp to the open position.
Note: You can use a smooth surface tool
to rotate the stops. 5. Slide the ramp claw onto the tailgate
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6. Pull the location pin outward and
extend the ramp until the pin is seated
in the usage position, then set the ramp
on even ground.
Removing the Ramp
Remove in the reverse order.
STORING THE PICKUP BED
RAMPS
Storing the Bed Ramp
1. Pick up the ramp. Pull the location pin outward.
2. Slide the ramp into the storage position
until the location pin locks.
Note: Make sure the proper pin location has
been applied for your bed size.
3. Slide the ramp claw off of the tailgate plate.
4. Rotate the stops at the underside of the ramp to the closed position. 5. Place the ramp into the ramp holder.
6.
Install the cam bolts and close the cam
lever arms.
7. Attach the front and rear cables.
Note: Make sure you properly secure the
locking cable. If the locking cable is
unsecured, you may hear a rattling noise.
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CONNECTING A TRAILER
PRECAUTIONS
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 the instructions included with towing
accessories for the proper installation and
adjustment specifications.
Service your vehicle more frequently if you
tow a trailer. See
Normal Scheduled
Maintenance (page 667).
If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives you.
When attaching the trailer wiring connector
to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting
connector that works with the vehicle and
trailer functions.
Account for the trailer coupler weight as
part of your vehicle load when calculating
the total vehicle weight.
Do not exceed the load limits. See
Calculating the Load Limit
(page 415).
HITCHES
HOOKING UP A TRAILER USING A
WEIGHT-DISTRIBUTING HITCH WARNING: Do not adjust the spring
bars so that your vehicle's rear bumper
is higher than before attaching the trailer.
Doing so will defeat the function of the
weight-distributing hitch, which may
cause unpredictable handling, and could
result in serious personal injury.
A weight-distributing hitch helps distribute
tongue load to all towing vehicle and trailer
wheels. For more information, visit the links
in the following table. Website
Market
ht tp s:/ /
www .fl e e t.f or d . c om/
t o wing-g uide s/United States of
America
ht tp s:/ /
www .fl e e t.f or d . c a/
t o wing-g uide s/Canada
CONNECTING A TRAILER
Recognizing a Trailer
1. Attach the trailer and wiring connector
to your vehicle.
2. Switch on your vehicle.
3. Set up a profile for the trailer using the
touchscreen.
Note: If your vehicle does not recognize the
trailer, press and hold the brake pedal for a
few seconds.
Note: Trailer profiles store trailer types,
dimensions, preferences, trailer specific
mileage and fuel economy.
Note: Disabling the trailer detection
notification makes the default trailer profile
active when the system detects a
connection.
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When attaching the trailer wiring connector
to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting
connector that works with the vehicle and
trailer functions.
Safety Chains
Install trailer safety chains to the trailer
hitch as recommended by the
manufacturer. Cross the chains under the
trailer coupler and allow enough slack for
turning tight corners. Do not allow the
chains to drag on the ground.
Note:
Do not attach safety chains to the
bumper. Always connect the safety chains
to the frame or hook retainers of your trailer
hitch. If the trailer safety chain hook has a latch,
fully close the latch.
Trailer Connection Checklist
1. Press Features on the touchscreen.
2. Press
Towing.
3. Press
Connection Checklist.
Electronic Park Hold Applies the electronic parking
brake when you shift to park (P).
The electronic park hold button illuminates
when activated.
The feature prevents your vehicle from
moving in any direction when aligned with
your trailer coupler and you shift to park
(P).
Note: The feature is active for the current
key cycle.
You can also press a zoom button when
using the camera views to switch the
feature on.
Trailer Connection Alarm
The alarm is set when the following occur:
• Your vehicle detects the trailer.
• You locked your vehicle.
• You armed the alarm.
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When the trailer disconnects in this state,
the vehicle alarm sounds, and the system
sends an alert to your FordPass app.
Note:
For reliable trailer detection, the
trailer ’s lamps must be SAE certified for
each intended purpose.
Note: If the trailer is not compatible with
the feature, the turn signals flash twice.
Switching the Trailer Connection
Alarm On and Off
1. Press Features on the touchscreen.
2. Press
Towing.
3. Press
Manage trailers.
4. Press the currently active trailer's name.
5. Switch
Trailer Connection
Notification on or off.
Note: The alarm disables by default and if
the system detects a trailer it can be
configurable.
Note: Settings are applicable only for the
selected trailer profile. TRAILER LIGHTING CHECK WARNING:
Never connect any
trailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's tail
lamp wiring; this may damage the
electrical system resulting in fire. Contact
your authorized dealer as soon as
possible for assistance in proper trailer
tow wiring installation. Additional
electrical equipment may be required.
Perform a trailer light illumination
sequence to confirm that all lights are
functioning by using the FordPass app or
the vehicle's touchscreen.
Performing the Trailer Lighting
Check Using the Touchscreen
1. Press
Features on the touchscreen.
2. Press
Towing.
3. Press
Trailer Light Check.
4. Press
Start.
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