ground clearance FORD F-150 2021 Owners Manual

OFF-ROAD DRIVING
WHAT IS OFF-ROAD DRIVING
Off-road driving is driving your vehicle on
unsurfaced roads or trails, made from dirt,
rocks, sand and mud.
OFF-ROAD DRIVING
PRECAUTIONS - RAPTOR
WARNING: If you continue to drive
your vehicle when the engine is
overheating, the engine could stop
without warning. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle.
Before going off-road driving, consult with
all the appropriate government entities to
determine where you are legally allowed
to operate your vehicle and what permits
or registrations are required to do so.
Inspect your vehicle before and after any
off-road driving.
Familiarize yourself with the dimensions
of your vehicle including approach angles,
breakover angles, and ground clearance.
Also familiarize yourself with the features
of your vehicle. Some of these features
such as drive modes and cameras can
improve your off-road driving experience.
Secure loose objects inside your vehicle
and in the cargo area.
BASIC OFF-ROAD DRIVING
TECHNIQUES - RAPTOR
Grip the steering wheel with your thumbs
on the outside of the rim. This reduces the
risk of injury due to abrupt steering wheel
motions that occur when negotiating rough
terrain. If you are driving in a dusty area, be sure to
leave ample distance between your vehicle
and any other vehicles to allow for
adequate vision.
BASIC OFF-ROAD DRIVING
TECHNIQUES
Off-road Driving Hints
Before taking your vehicle off-roading, a
basic vehicle inspection should be done to
make sure that the vehicle is in top working
condition. It is always recommended that
at least two vehicles are used while
off-roading. The buddy system helps make
sure that help is close at hand should a
vehicle become stuck or damaged. It is also
wise to take supplies such as a first aid kit,
supply of water, tow strap, cell or satellite
phone with you any time an off-road
excursion is planned.
1. Grip the steering wheel with thumbs
on the outside of the rim. This will
reduce the risk of injury due to abrupt
steering wheel motions that occur
when negotiating rough terrain.
2. Throttle, brake and steering inputs should be made in a smooth and
controlled manner. Sudden inputs to
the controls can cause loss of traction
or upset the vehicle, especially while
on loose terrain or while crossing
obstacles such as rocks or logs.
3. Look ahead on your route noting upcoming obstacles, or any other
factors which may indicate a change
in available traction, and adjust the
vehicle speed and route accordingly.
4. When driving off-road, if the front or rear suspension is bottoming out
and/or excessive contact with the
skid-plates is encountered, reduce
vehicle speed to avoid potential
damage to the vehicle.
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5. When with other vehicles, it is
recommended that communication is
used, and the lead vehicle notify other
vehicles of obstacles that could cause
potential vehicle damage.
6. Always keep available ground clearance in mind and pick a route that
minimizes the risk of catching the
underside of the vehicle on an obstacle.
7. When negotiating low speed obstacles,
applying light brake pressure in
conjunction with the throttle will help
prevent the vehicle from jerking and
will allow you to negotiate the obstacle
in a more controlled manner. Using 4L
will also help with this.
8. Off-roading requires a high degree of concentration. Even if your local law
does not prohibit alcohol use while
driving off-road, Ford strongly
recommends against drinking if you
plan to off-road.
Crossing Obstacles
• Review the path ahead before
attempting to cross any obstacle. It is
best if the obstacle is reviewed from
outside the vehicle so that there is a
good understanding of terrain condition
both in front of and behind the
obstacle.
• Approach obstacles slowly.
• If a large obstacle such as a rock
cannot be avoided, choose a path that
places the rock directly under the tire
rather than the undercarriage of the
vehicle. This will help prevent damage
to the vehicle.
• Ditches and washouts should be
crossed at a 45° angle, allowing each
wheel to independently cross the
obstacle. Hill Climbing WARNING:
Extreme care should
be used when steering the vehicle in
reverse down a slope so as not to cause
the vehicle to swerve out of control.
• Always attempt to climb a steep hill
along the fall line of the slope and not
diagonally.
• If the vehicle is unable to make it up
the hill, DO NOT attempt to turn back
down the slope. Place the vehicle in
low range and slowly back down in
reverse.
• When descending a steep slope, select
low gear and engage hill descent
control. Use the throttle and brake
pedals to control your descent speed.
Note: Hill descent control is functional in
reverse and should be used in this situation.
DRIVING OFF-ROAD - RAPTOR
Driving In Snow and Ice WARNING:
Do not become
overconfident in the ability of four-wheel
drive vehicles. Although a four-wheel
drive vehicle may accelerate better than
a two-wheel drive vehicle in low traction
situations, it won't stop any faster than
two-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive
at a safe speed.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance
between your vehicle and other vehicles
for stopping.
Driving In Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four
wheels on the most solid area of the trail.
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Vehicles used to traverse water should be
periodically inspected for signs of water
ingestion in all of the vehicle's fluids. If
water is found inside your vehicle fluids,
service your vehicle or see an authorized
dealer.
Avoid Getting High-Centered
Always keep available ground clearance
in mind and pick a route that minimizes the
risk of catching the underside of the vehicle
on an obstacle and getting high-centered.
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle
WARNING: Do not spin the wheels
at over 34 mph (55 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Recovery hooks are mounted to the
vehicle's structure and are used to pull out
the vehicle from a surface or location when
stuck. Recover your vehicle using various
towing apparatus attached to your
recovery hook such as winch, open hook,
or strap.
Note: Do not use recovery hooks to
recreationally tow your vehicle. See
Recreationally Towing Your Vehicle (page
490
).
Note: Do not rock your vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature as
damage to the transmission could occur.
Note: Do not rock your vehicle for more
than a minute as damage to the
transmission and tires could occur or the
engine could overheat.
If you are unable to free your vehicle call
roadside assistance. See
Roadside
Assistance (page 483). Crossing A Ravine, Gully, Ditch,
Washout Or Rut
Review the path ahead before attempting
to cross any obstacle.
Driving Over Logs
Review the path ahead before attempting
to cross any obstacle.
DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE AT HIGH
SPEEDS - RAPTOR
If you plan on using your vehicle for severe,
high speed off-road use, we recommend
the following:
•
Equipping your vehicle with the safety
equipment appropriate for off-road
recovery.
• Using personal safety equipment,
including a certified helmet and
approved neck restraint device.
• Doing a low speed reconnaissance run
in unfamiliar areas to become aware
of any obstacles that you could
encounter.
Your vehicle can incur damage if driven
beyond its capabilities. Skid plates, shock
guards and running boards are designed
to help limit damage to vital components
and exterior finishes, but cannot prevent
all damage if driven in extreme off-road
conditions. Damage to skid plates, shock
guards, running boards and exterior
finishes as well as bent, cracked or broken
body, frame and chassis components may
not be covered by warranty.
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CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
If you get a flat tire when driving, do not
apply the brake heavily. Instead, gradually
decrease your speed. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and slowly move to a safe
place on the side of the road.
Have a flat serviced by an authorized
dealer to prevent damage to the system
sensors. See Tire Pressure Monitoring
System Precautions (page 560). Replace
the spare tire with a road tire as soon as
possible. When repairing or replacing the
flat tire, have the authorized dealer inspect
the system sensor for damage.
Note: The use of tire sealant could damage
your tire pressure monitoring system. Only
use in roadside emergencies.
Note: The tire pressure monitoring system
indicator light illuminates when the spare
tire is in use. To restore the full function of
the monitoring system, you must mount all
road wheels that come with tire pressure
monitoring sensors on this vehicle.
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and Tire
Assembly Information WARNING:
Failure to follow these
guidelines could result in an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or
death.
If you have a dissimilar spare wheel and
tire, the intent of the spare wheel is for
temporary use only. This means that if you
need to use it, replace it as soon as
possible with a road wheel and tire
assembly that is the same size and type
as the road tires and wheels originally
provided by Ford. We define a dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly as a spare wheel and tire
assembly that is different in brand, size or
appearance from the road tires and
wheels.
Full-size dissimilar spare
When driving with the full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly, do not:
•
Exceed
70 mph (113 km/h).
• Use more than one dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly at a time.
• Use snow chains on the end of the
vehicle with the dissimilar spare wheel
and tire assembly.
Engage any four-wheel drive mode. See
Four-Wheel Drive Limitations (page 292).
The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly can lead to
impairment of the following:
• Handling, stability and braking
performance.
• Comfort and noise.
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs.
• Winter weather driving capability.
• Wet weather driving capability.
• Four-wheel drive capability.
When driving with the full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly, give
additional caution to:
• Towing a trailer.
• Driving vehicles that come with a
camper body.
• Driving vehicles with a load on the
cargo rack.
Drive cautiously when using a full-size
dissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly
and seek service as soon as possible.
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