warning FORD ESCAPE 2016 3.G Owners Manual

ROOF RACKS AND LOAD
CARRIERS
WARNING
When loading the roof racks, we
recommend you evenly distribute the
load, as well as maintain a low
center of gravity. Loaded vehicles, with
higher centers of gravity, may handle
differently than unloaded vehicles. Take
extra precautions, such as slower speeds
and increased stopping distance, when
driving a heavily loaded vehicle. The maximum recommended load, evenly
distributed on the crossbars, is:
•
100 pounds (45 kilograms) for vehicles
without a moonroof
• 45 pounds (20 kilograms) for vehicles
with a moonroof.
Note: Never place loads directly on the roof
panel. The roof panel is not designed to
directly carry a load.
For correct roof rack system function, you
must place loads directly on crossbars
affixed to the roof rack side rails. When
using the roof rack system, we recommend
you use Ford Genuine Accessory crossbars
designed specifically for your vehicle.
Make sure that you securely fasten the
load. Check the tightness of the load
before driving and at each fuel stop. Adjusting the Crossbar (If Equipped)
Note: For less wind noise and better
aerodynamics, only install the crossbars
when you need them for carrying cargo. If
you prefer to keep the crossbars installed,
the front crossbar has two positions. The
front position is quieter for wind noise. The
rear position may help to reduce wind noise
from an open moonroof. Follow the steps
to reposition or remove the front crossbar.
You can remove the rear crossbar fasteners
by unscrewing the assembly. 1.
Remove the crossbar thumbwheels at
both sides of the front crossbar by
turning them counterclockwise.
Note: If you cannot loosen the thumbwheel
with your hand, loosen the fastener head.
You can also use a small screwdriver or
similar tool to loosen the thumbwheel by
inserting the shaft between the two paddles
of the thumbwheel and rotating it loose.
2. Remove the crossbar by sliding the ends off of the shoulder bolts in the
side rails.
3. Move the crossbar to the new side rail position and slide the crossbar onto
the shoulder bolt at that position.
4. Replace and tighten the thumbwheels
at both sides of the crossbar by turning
them clockwise until tight. You can use
a small screwdriver or similar tool to
tighten if necessary.
171
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Load CarryingE142448

authorized-dealer installed
equipment on the vehicle, you
must subtract the weight of the
equipment from the payload listed
on the Tire Label in order to
determine the new payload.
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. Example only:
173
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Load CarryingE210944 E210945 E143817CARGO

Example only:
WARNING
Exceeding the Safety
Compliance Certification
Label vehicle weight rating limits
could result in substandard
vehicle handling or performance,
engine, transmission and/or
structural damage, serious
damage to the vehicle, loss of
control and personal injury. 175
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Load CarryingE198828 E143819GCW
GVW

GCW (Gross Combined Weight)
- is the Gross Vehicle Weight plus
the weight of the fully loaded
trailer.
GCWR (Gross Combined
Weight Rating) - is the maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle
and the loaded trailer, including
all cargo and passengers, that the
vehicle can handle without risking
damage. (Important: The towing
vehicle ’s braking system is rated
for operation at Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating, not at Gross
Combined Weight Rating.)
Separate functional brakes should
be used for safe control of towed
vehicles and for trailers where the
Gross Combined Weight of the
towing vehicle plus the trailer
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating of the towing vehicle. The
Gross Combined Weight must
never exceed the Gross
Combined Weight Rating.
Maximum Loaded Trailer
Weight -
is the highest possible
weight of a fully loaded trailer the
vehicle can tow. It assumes a
vehicle with mandatory options,
driver and front passenger weight
(150 pounds [68 kilograms]
each), no cargo weight (internal
or external) and a tongue load of
10– 15% (conventional trailer) or
king pin weight of 15– 25% (fifth
wheel trailer). Consult an
authorized dealer (or the RV and
Trailer Towing Guide available at
an authorized dealer) for more
detailed information. Tongue Load or Fifth Wheel
King Pin Weight -
refers to the
amount of the weight that a trailer
pushes down on a trailer hitch.
Examples:
For a 5000 pound
(2268 kilogram) conventional
trailer, multiply 5000 by 0.10 and
0.15 to obtain a proper tongue
load range of 500 to 750 pounds
(227 to 340 kilograms). For an
11500 pound (5216 kilogram) fifth
wheel trailer, multiply by 0.15 and
0.25 to obtain a proper king pin
load range of 1725 to 2875 pounds
(782 to 1304 kilograms). WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label. Do not use replacement tires
with lower load carrying
capacities than the original tires
because they may lower the
vehicle ’s GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires
with a higher limit than the original
tires do not increase the GVWR
and GAWR limitations. Exceeding any vehicle weight
rating limitation could result
in serious damage to the vehicle
and/or personal injury. Steps for determining the
correct load limit:
176
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Load Carrying

be: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99
kilograms) - (12 x 45 kilograms) =
635 - 198 - 540 = -103 kilograms.
You will need to reduce the load
weight by at least 240 pounds
(104 kilograms). If you remove
three 100-pound (45-kilogram)
cement bags, then the load
calculation would be: 1400 - (2 x
220) - (9 x 100) = 1400 - 440 -
900 = 60 pounds. Now you have
the load capacity to transport the
cement and your friend home. In
metric units, the calculation would
be: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99
kilograms) - (9 x 45 kilograms) =
635 - 198 - 405 = 32 kilograms.
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. The label shall
be affixed to either the door hinge
pillar, door-latch post, or the door
edge that meets the door-latch
post, next to the driver seating
position.
Special Loading Instructions
for Owners of Pick-up Trucks
and Utility-type Vehicles WARNING
Loaded vehicles may handle
differently than unloaded
vehicles. Extra precautions, such
as slower speeds and increased
stopping distance, should be
taken when driving a heavily
loaded vehicle. Your vehicle can haul more cargo
and people than most passenger
cars. Depending upon the type
and placement of the load,
hauling cargo and people may
raise the center of gravity of the
vehicle.
178
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Load Carrying

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the
certification label. Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the
limit of the vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transmission damage, structural
damage, loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and personal
injury. Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See the Fuses
chapter.
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extra
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation. Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires.
• Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
• Select a tow bar with the
correct rise or drop. When both
the loaded vehicle and trailer
are connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
manual. See
Load Limit (page
172).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.
179
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Towing

RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Website
TRAILER SWAY CONTROL (If
Equipped) WARNING
Turning off trailer sway control
increases the risk of loss of vehicle
control, serious injury or death. Ford
does not recommend disabling this feature
except in situations where speed reduction
may be detrimental (such as hill climbing),
the driver has significant trailer towing
experience, and can control trailer sway
and maintain safe operation. Note:
This feature does not prevent trailer
sway, but reduces it when it begins.
Note: This feature cannot stop all trailers
from swaying.
Note: In some cases, if your vehicle speed
is too high, the system may turn on multiple
times, gradually reducing your vehicle speed.
The system applies the brakes to the
individual wheels and reduces engine
torque to aid vehicle stability. If the trailer
begins to sway, the stability control
warning lamp flashes and a message
appears in the information display. See
Information Messages
(page 91). Slow
your vehicle down, pull safely to the side
of the road and check for correct load
distribution.
You can switch this feature off in the
information display. When you switch the
ignition on, the system automatically turns
on. RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note:
Do not exceed the trailer
weight for your vehicle
configuration listed in the chart
below.
Note: Be sure to take into
consideration trailer frontal area.
Do not exceed 20 feet 2
(1.86
meters 2
) if your vehicle is not
equipped with a towing package or
30 feet 2
(2.79 meters 2
) if your
vehicle is equipped with a towing
package.
Note: For high altitude operation,
reduce the gross combined weight
by 2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)
starting at the 1000 foot (300
meter) elevation point.
Note: Certain states require
electric trailer brakes for trailers
over a specified weight. Be sure to
check state regulations for this
specified weight. The maximum
trailer weights listed may be limited
to this specified weight, as the
vehicle ’s electrical system may not
include the wiring connector
needed to activate electric trailer
brakes.
180
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Towing

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe
towing:
•
Do not tow a trailer until you
drive your vehicle at least 1000
miles (1600 kilometers).
• 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 your scheduled
maintenance information.
• If you use a rental trailer, follow
the instructions the rental
agency gives you.
You can find information on load
specification terms found on the
tire label and Safety Compliance
label as well as instructions on
calculating your vehicle's load in
the Load Carrying chapter. See
Load Limit (page 172).
Remember to account for the
trailer tongue weight as part of
your vehicle load when calculating
the total vehicle weight.
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either
clamps onto the bumper or
attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so
10-15% of the total trailer weight
is on the tongue. Weight-distributing Hitches WARNING
Do not adjust a
weight-distributing hitch to
any position where the rear
bumper of the vehicle is higher
than it was 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. When hooking-up a trailer using a
weight-distributing hitch, always
use the following procedure:
1. Park the loaded vehicle,
without the trailer, on a level
surface.
2. Measure the height to the top
of your vehicle's front wheel
opening on the fender. This is
H1.
3. Attach the loaded trailer to
your vehicle without the
weight-distributing bars
connected.
4. Measure the height to the top
of your vehicle's front wheel
opening on the fender a second
time. This is H2.
5. Install and adjust the tension
in the weight-distributing bars
so that the height of your
vehicle's front wheel opening
on the fender is approximately
half the way down from H2,
toward H1.
182
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Towing

6.
Check that the trailer is level or
slightly nose down toward your
vehicle. If not, adjust the ball
height accordingly and repeat
Steps 2-6.
When the trailer is level or slightly
nose down toward the vehicle:
• Lock the bar tension adjuster
in place.
• Check that the trailer tongue
securely attaches and locks
onto the hitch.
• Install safety chains, lighting,
and trailer brake controls as
required by law or the trailer
manufacturer.
Safety Chains
Note: Never attach safety chains
to the bumper.
Always connect the safety chains
to the hook retainers of your
vehicle hitch.
To connect the trailer ’s safety
chains, cross them under the
trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning tight corners. Do
not allow the chains to drag on the
ground. Trailer Brakes WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's
hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle's brake
system. Your vehicle may not have
enough braking power and your
chances of having a collision
greatly increase. Electric brakes and manual,
automatic or surge-type trailer
brakes are safe if you install them
properly and adjust them to the
manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and
federal regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's
braking system operation is at
the gross vehicle weight rating,
not the gross combined weight
rating.
Separate functioning brake
systems are required for safe
control of towed vehicles and
trailers weighing more than
1500 pounds (680 kilograms)
when loaded.
183
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Towing

Trailer Lamps
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. Trailer lamps are required on most
towed vehicles. Make sure all
running lights, brake lights, turn
signals and hazard lights are
working.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and
backing up to get the feel of your
vehicle-trailer combination before
starting on a trip. When turning,
make wider turns so the trailer
wheels clear curbs and other
obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•
Do not drive faster than 70
mph (113 km/h) during the first
500 miles (800 kilometers).
• Do not make full-throttle
starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical
connections and trailer wheel
lug nuts thoroughly after you
have traveled 50 miles (80
kilometers). •
When stopped in congested or
heavy traffic during hot
weather, place the gearshift in
position P to aid engine and
transmission cooling and to
help A/C performance.
• Turn off the speed control with
heavy loads or in hilly terrain.
The speed control may turn off
automatically when you are
towing on long, steep grades.
• Shift to a lower gear when
driving down a long or steep
hill. Do not apply the brakes
continuously, as they may
overheat and become less
effective.
• If your transmission is equipped
with a Grade Assist or
Tow/Haul feature, use this
feature when towing. This
provides engine braking and
helps eliminate excessive
transmission shifting for
optimum fuel economy and
transmission cooling.
• Allow more distance for
stopping with a trailer
attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a grade.
However, if you must park on a
grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away
from traffic flow.
2. Set your vehicle parking brake.
3. Place the automatic
transmission in position
P.
184
Escape/Kuga (TM2), enUSA, First Printing Towing