trailer FORD EXPLORER 2023 Owner's Manual

Note: When towing, the camera only seeswhat you are towing. This might not provideadequate coverage as it usually provides innormal operation and some objects mightnot be seen. In some vehicles, the guidelinesmay disappear when you connect the trailertow connector.
The camera may not operate correctlyunder the following conditions:
•Nighttime or dark areas if one or bothreverse lamps are not operating.
•Mud, water or debris obstructs thecamera's view. Clean the lens with asoft, lint-free cloth and non-abrasivecleaner. You can also use the rearwasher to clean the camera. See RearWindow Wiper and Washers (page85).
•The rear of your vehicle is hit ordamaged, causing the camera tobecome misaligned.
Camera System Settings
The rear view camera system settings canbe accessed through the touchscreen. SeeSettings (page 458).
Camera Guidelines
Note:Active guidelines are only availablewhen the transmission is in reverse (R).
Active guidelines (If equipped)A
CenterlineB
Fixed guideline: Green zoneC
Fixed guideline: Yellow zoneD
Fixed guideline: Red zoneE
Rear bumperF
Active guidelines are only shown with fixedguidelines. To use active guidelines, turnthe steering wheel to point the guidelinestoward an intended path. If you changethe steering wheel position while reversing,your vehicle might deviate from the originalintended path.
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HOW DOES ADAPTIVE CRUISE
CONTROL WITH STOP AND GO
WORK
Adaptive cruise control with stop and gouses radar and camera sensors to adjustthe speed of your vehicle to maintain a setgap from the vehicle in front of you in thesame lane while following it to a completestop. You can also engage the system tofollow a vehicle in front of you and adjustset speed while stopped.
WHAT IS ADAPTIVE CRUISE
CONTROL WITH LANE
CENTERING
Adaptive cruise control with lane centeringuses radar and camera sensors to helpkeep your vehicle in the lane by applyingcontinuous assistance steering torqueinput toward the lane center on highways.
Note:The adaptive cruise control gapsetting operates normally.
WHAT IS INTELLIGENT
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Intelligent adaptive cruise controlcombines speed sign recognition withadaptive cruise control to adjust the cruiseset speed to the speed limit detected bythe speed sign recognition system. Forexample, if the speed sign recognitionsystem detects a 50 mph (80 km/h)speed limit, the cruise set speed is updatedto 50 mph (80 km/h) +/- the driver'sselected speed offset.
Note:The adaptive cruise control gapsetting operates normally.
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
PRECAUTIONS - VEHICLES
WITH: LANE CENTERING
Adaptive cruise control precautions applyto lane centering unless stated otherwiseor contradicted by a lane centeringprecaution. See Adaptive Cruise ControlPrecautions (page 241).
WARNING: Do not use the systemwhen towing a trailer. Failure to followthis instruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Do not use the systemif any changes or modifications to thesteering wheel have been made. Anychanges or modifications to the steeringwheel could affect the functionality orperformance of the system. Failure tofollow this instruction could result in theloss of control of your vehicle, personalinjury or death.
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
PRECAUTIONS - VEHICLES
WITH: STOP AND GO
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.
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WARNING: Pay close attention tochanging road conditions such asentering or leaving a highway, on roadswith intersections or roundabouts, roadswithout visible lanes of travel, roads thatare winding, slippery, unpaved, or steepslopes.
WARNING: The system does notcontrol speed in low traction conditionsor extremely steep slopes. The systemis designed to be an aid and does notrelieve you of your responsibility to drivewith due care and attention. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury.
WARNING: The system is not acrash warning or avoidance system.
WARNING: Do not use the systemwhen towing a trailer that hasaftermarket electronic trailer brakecontrols. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in the loss of control of yourvehicle, personal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not use tire sizesother than those recommended becausethis can affect the normal operation ofthe system. Failure to do so may resultin a loss of vehicle control, which couldresult in serious injury.
WARNING: Do not use the systemwith a snow plow blade installed.
WARNING: Do not use the systemin poor visibility, for example fog, heavyrain, spray or snow.
When Following a Vehicle
WARNING: When following avehicle that is braking, your vehicle doesnot always decelerate quickly enough toavoid a crash without driver intervention.Apply the brakes when necessary. Failureto follow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
Hilly Condition Usage
You should select a lower gear when thesystem is active in situations such asprolonged downhill driving on steepgrades, for example in mountainous areas.The system needs additional enginebraking in these situations to reduce theload on the vehicle’s regular brake systemto prevent it from overheating.
Note:An audible alarm sounds and thesystem shuts down if it applies brakes foran extended period of time. This allows thebrakes to cool. The system functionsnormally again after the brakes cool.
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
LIMITATIONS - VEHICLES
WITH: LANE CENTERING
Adaptive cruise control limitations applyto lane centering unless stated otherwiseor contradicted by a lane centeringlimitation. See Adaptive Cruise ControlLimitations (page 243).
The system may not correctly operate inany of the following conditions:
•The lane is too narrow or wide.
•The system does not detect at leastone lane marking or when lanes mergeor split.
•Limited steering torque input is applied.
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Switching the System On and Off
To switch the system on or off, adjust thesetting. Depending on your vehicle options,the setting could be in the following:
•Information display. See GeneralInformation (page 115).
•Touchscreen. See Settings (page 458).
When you switch the system off, a warninglamp illuminates and the alert indicatorsflash twice.
Note:The system remembers the lastsetting when you start your vehicle.
To permanently switch the system off,contact an authorized dealer.
Blind Spot Information Systemwith Trailer Tow (If Equipped)
The design of the system is to aid you indetecting vehicles that could enter thedetection area zone (A). The detectionarea is on both sides of your vehicle andtrailer, extending rearward from theexterior mirrors to the end of your trailer.When you attach and have setup a trailer,the blind spot information system withtrailer tow becomes active when drivingforward above 6 mph (10 km/h).
You can switch the system off in theinformation display. See GeneralInformation (page 115).If you switch theblind spot information system off, blindspot information system with trailer towturns off.
Setting up a Trailer
You can setup a trailer through theinformation display. See GeneralInformation (page 115).
Trailer length.A
Trailer width.B
Trailer hitch ball.C
Note:Measure the width of the trailer atthe front of the trailer, not the widest point.The maximum width that the system cansupport is 8.2 ft (2.5 m)(B).
Note:The trailer length is the distancebetween the trailer hitch ball and the rearof the trailer. The maximum length that thesystem can support is 33 ft (10 m)(A).
When setting up a trailer, a sequence ofscreens appear asking for trailerinformation:
•Select trailer screen: None, Trailer A,Trailer B or Trailer C.
Note:You can select only one trailer onsmall information displays.
Select one of the trailers and press OK. Themenu goes to the next screen.
•Width less than 8.2 ft (2.5 m) andlength less than 33 ft (10 m)?
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Note:You do not need to enter an exacttrailer width measurement. You only needto confirm that the width of the trailer is8.2 ft (2.5 m) or less.
If no, the system turns off.
If yes, the menu goes to the next screen.
•Enter length of trailer:
Toggling up or down using the menubuttons increases or decreases themeasurement by 1 ft (0.3 m). Select alength that is equal to or within 1 ft (0.3 m)of the actual measured length. Forexample, if the actual measured length is25 ft (7.6 m), toggle the length in the menuto 25 ft (8 m). When you enter the lengthof the trailer, this saves the system setup.
Note:When you connect a trailer, but donot setup a trailer in the blind spotinformation system, the system turns offand a warning appears in the informationdisplay.
Note:If the trailer is a bike rack or cargorack with electrical lighting, enter a lengthof 3 ft (1 m). Cross Traffic Alert remains onfor trailers with a length of 3 ft (1 m) or less.
Note:The system requires propermeasurement and measurement entry tofunction as designed.
System Operation
If you select a trailer in the informationdisplay prior to connecting a trailer, thesystem loads that configuration and theinformation display shows a messagewhen you connect the trailer. A secondmessage appears stating cross traffic alertis off, unless a trailer is set up with a lengthof 3 ft (1 m). The blind spot informationsystem with trailer tow still functionsnormally when driving forward.
If you connect a trailer, a message appearsindicating that you attached a trailer. If youhave not selected a trailer previously,another message appears requesting youto select one of the trailers in the list or adda new trailer. The blind spot informationsystem with trailer tow does not functionwithout a trailer selected. If you do notselect a trailer, a message appears in theinformation display stating the system hasturned this feature off.This message mightnot appear until your vehicle speed reaches22 mph (35 km/h).
The blind spot information system withtrailer tow activates when driving forwardfor that particular trailer set up. If you cyclethe ignition, the blind spot informationsystem with trailer tow continues tofunction using the last trailer you selected.
Trailer Considerations
The system works with a trailer with a frontwidth of 8.2 ft (2.5 m) or less, and a totallength from the trailer hitch ball to the rearof the trailer of 33 ft (10 m) or less.
Some trailers could cause a slight changein system performance:
•Wide box trailers, especially thosewider than the towing vehicle, couldcause false alerts to occur when drivingnext to infrastructure or near parkedcars. A false alert could also occurwhile making a 90-degree turn ordriving through a roundabout.
•Wide trailers that have a total lengthgreater than 20 ft (6 m) could causedelayed alerts when a vehicle ispassing at high speeds.
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•Box trailers that have a width greaterthan 8.2 ft (2.5 m) could cause earlyalerts when you pass a vehicle.
•Clam shell or V-Nose box trailers witha width greater than 8.2 ft (2.5 m)could cause delayed alerts when avehicle traveling the same speed asyour vehicle merges lanes.
System Errors
If the system detects a fault, a warninglamp illuminates and a message displays.See Information Messages (page 119).
Switching the System On and Off
You can switch the blind spot informationsystem with trailer tow off by not selectinga trailer in the information display. SeeGeneral Information (page 115). In thiscase, the system turns off as long as atrailer is attached to your vehicle. As soonas you disconnect the trailer, the blind spotinformation system becomes active.
When you switch the system off, a warninglamp illuminates and the alert indicatorsflash twice.
Note:The system remembers the lasttrailer setting when you start your vehicle.
You cannot switch off the blind spotinformation system with trailer tow whenusing MyKey, but you can still change thetrailer settings. See MyKey™ (page 64).
To permanently switch the system off,contact an authorized dealer.
CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT
WARNING: Do not use the crosstraffic alert system as a replacement forusing the interior and exterior mirrors orlooking over your shoulder beforereversing out of a parking space. Thecross traffic alert system is not areplacement for careful driving.
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.
The system alerts you of vehiclesapproaching from the sides behind yourvehicle when you shift into reverse (R).
Using Cross Traffic Alert
The system detects vehicles that approachat a speed between 4 mph (6 km/h) and37 mph (60 km/h). Coverage decreaseswhen the sensors are partially, mostly orfully obstructed. Slowly reversing helpsincrease the coverage area andeffectiveness.
The system turns on when you start theengine and you shift into reverse (R). Thesystem turns off when you shift out ofreverse (R).
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Zone coverage also decreases whenparking at narrow angles. The sensor onthe left-hand side is mostly obstructed andzone coverage on that side is severelyreduced.
Cross Traffic Alert System Sensors
The sensors are behind the rear bumperon both sides of your vehicle.
Note:Keep the sensors free from snow, iceand large accumulations of dirt.
Note:Do not cover the sensors with bumperstickers, repair compound or other objects.
Note:Blocked sensors could affect systemperformance.
Note:Bike and cargo racks could causefalse alerts due to obstruction of the sensor.We recommend switching the feature offwhen using a bike or cargo rack.
If the sensors are blocked, a message mayappear in the information display whenyou shift into reverse (R).
Cross Traffic Alert SystemLimitations
The system may not correctly operatewhen any of the following occur:
•The sensors are blocked.
•Adjacently parked vehicles or objectsare obstructing the sensors.
•Vehicles approach at speeds less than4 mph (6 km/h) or greater than 37 mph(60 km/h).
•The vehicle speed is greater than 7 mph(12 km/h).
•You reverse out of an angled parkingspace.
Cross Traffic Alert Behavior WhenTrailer is Attached
Note:The system may not correctly operatewhen towing a trailer. For vehicles with anapproved trailer tow module and tow bar,the system turns off when you attach atrailer. For vehicles with an aftermarkettrailer tow module or tow bar, werecommend that you switch the system offwhen you attach a trailer.
Cross traffic alert remains on when youattach a trailer in vehicles that come withblind spot information system with trailertow under the following conditions:
•You connect a trailer.
•The trailer is a bike rack or cargo rackwith a maximum length of 3 ft (1 m).
•You set the trailer length to 3 ft (1 m)in the information display.
See Blind Spot Information System(page 259).
Switching the System On and Off
To switch the system on or off, adjust thesetting. Depending on your vehicle options,the setting could be in the following:
•Information display. See GeneralInformation (page 110).
•Touchscreen. See Settings (page 458).
Note:The system turns on every time youswitch the ignition on. To permanentlyswitch the system off, contact an authorizeddealer.
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Cross Traffic Alert Indicator
When the system detects anapproaching vehicle, a tonesounds, a warning lampilluminates in the relevant exterior mirrorand arrows appear in the informationdisplay to show which side theapproaching vehicle is coming from.
Note:If arrows do not display, a messageappears in the information display.
If the system malfunctions, a warning lampilluminates in the instrument cluster anda message appears in the informationdisplay. Have your vehicle checked as soonas possible.
Note:In exceptional conditions, the systemcould alert you, even when there is nothingin the detection zone, for example a vehiclepassing further away from your vehicle.
Cross Traffic Alert Information Messages
ActionMessage
Displays instead of indication arrows when the systemdetects a vehicle. Check for approaching traffic.Cross Traffic Alert
Indicates blocked cross traffic alert system sensors. Cleanthe sensors. If the message continues to appear, have yourvehicle checked as soon as possible.
Cross Traffic Not Avail-able Sensor Blocked SeeManual
The system has malfunctioned. Have your vehicle checkedas soon as possible.Cross Traffic SystemFault
Displays if you attach a trailer to your vehicle.Cross Traffic Alert Deac-tivated Trailer Attached
SPEED SIGN RECOGNITION (IF
EQUIPPED)
Principle of Operation
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: In cold and severeweather conditions the system may notfunction. Rain, snow and spray can alllimit sensor performance.
WARNING: The system may notoperate properly if the sensor is blocked.Keep the windshield free fromobstruction.
The system is designed to detect speedlimit signs to inform you of the currentspeed limit. Detected speed signs appearin the information display. The sensor isbehind the interior mirror.
Note:Do not carry out windshield repairsin the immediate area surrounding thesensor.
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Note:Using deep snow/sand mode on dry,hard surfaces could produce some vibration,driveline bind up, and potential excessivetire wear.
ECO
For efficient driving. This modehelps deliver maximum fuelefficiency and helps to increasedriving range.
NORMAL
For everyday driving. This modeis a perfect balance ofexcitement, comfort andconvenience. This is the default mode aftereach ignition cycle.
SLIPPERY
For less than ideal roadconditions such as snow or icecovered roads. This mode lowersthrottle response, adjusts transmissionshift points, and optimizes vehicle stabilitycontrols to help mitigate wheel spin andmaintain vehicle control when driving inwinter conditions.
Note:Using slippery mode on dry, hardsurfaces could produce some vibration,driveline bind up, and potential excessivetire wear.
SPORT
For sporty driving with improvedperformance handling andresponse. This mode increasesaccelerator pedal response, enhancessteering to provide a sportier feel, andadjusts transmission shift points for quickervehicle acceleration.
TOW/HAUL
For improved transmissionoperation when towing a traileror a heavy load. This modemoves upshifts to higher engine speeds toreduce the frequency of transmissionshifting. This mode also provides enginebraking in all forward gears, which slowsyour vehicle and assists you in controllingyour vehicle when descending a slope. Theamount of downshift braking providedvaries based on the amount you press thebrake pedal.
TRAIL
For off-road driving on muddy,rutted, soft, or uneven terrain.This mode lowers throttleresponse to enhance low speed vehiclecontrol when driving off road. Additionally,the mode optimizes traction and stabilitycontrol settings, helping the vehicle tomaintain forward momentum throughloose deformable surfaces.
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For correct roof rack system function, youmust place loads directly on crossbarsaffixed to the roof rack side rails. Whenusing the roof rack system, we recommendyou use Ford Genuine Accessory crossbarsdesigned specifically for your vehicle.
Make sure that you securely fasten theload. Check the tightness of the loadbefore driving and at each fuel stop.
Note: Never place loads directly on the roofpanel. The roof panel is not designed todirectly carry a load.
Maximum Recommended LoadAmounts
Note:The maximum recommended loadis based on the load being evenly distributedon the crossbars.
Maximum Recommended LoadDescription
75 lb (35 kg)Vehicles with Moonroof
165 lb (75 kg)Vehicles without Moonroof
Adjusting the Crossbar (If Equipped)
1.Loosen the crossbar bolt by using thesupplied tool or similar tool.
2.Move the crossbar to the new position.
3.Tighten the bolt by using the suppliedtool or similar tool.
Note:For less wind noise and betteraerodynamics, only install the crossbarswhen you need them for carrying cargo.
LOAD LIMIT
Vehicle Loading - with andwithout a Trailer
This section guides you in the
proper loading of your vehicle,trailer, or both. Keep your loadedvehicle weight within its designrating capability, with or withouta trailer. Properly loading yourvehicle provides maximum returnof vehicle design performance.Before you load your vehicle,become familiar with thefollowing terms for determiningyour vehicle’s weight rating, withor without a trailer, from thevehicle’s Tire and LoadingInformation label or SafetyCompliance Certification label.
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