trailer FORD F-250 2020 Owner's Guide

LOAD LIMIT
Vehicle Loading - with and
without a Trailer
This section guides you in the
proper loading of your vehicle,
trailer, or both. Keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design
rating capability, with or without
a trailer. Properly loading your
vehicle provides maximum return
of vehicle design performance.
Before you load your vehicle,
become familiar with the
following terms for determining
your vehicle
’s weight rating, with
or without a trailer, from the
vehicle ’s Tire and Loading
Information label or Safety
Compliance Certification label. Tire and Loading Label Information
Example: Payload
Payload is the combined weight
of cargo and passengers that your
vehicle is carrying. The maximum
payload for your vehicle appears
on the Tire and Loading label. The
label is either on the B-pillar or the
edge of the driver door. Vehicles
exported outside the US and
Canada may not have a tire and
loading label. Look for
“The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg OR XXX lb ” for maximum
payload. The payload listed on the
Tire and Loading Information label
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is the maximum payload for your
vehicle as built by the assembly
plant. If you install any additional
equipment on your vehicle, you
must determine the new payload.
Subtract the weight of the
equipment from the payload listed
on the Tire and Loading label.
When towing, trailer tongue
weight or king pin weight is also
part of 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.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)
GAWR is the maximum allowable
weight that a single axle (front or
rear) can carry. These numbers
are on the Safety Compliance
Certification label. The label is
located on the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge
that meets the door-latch post,
next to the driver seating position. The total load on each axle must
never exceed its Gross Axle
Weight Rating.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)
GVWR is the maximum allowable
weight of the fully loaded vehicle.
This includes all options,
equipment, passengers and cargo.
It appears on the Safety
Compliance Certification label.
The label is located on the door
hinge pillar, door-latch post, or the
door edge that meets the
door-latch post, next to the driver
seating position.
The gross vehicle weight must
never exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating.
Safety Compliance Certification Label
Example:
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WARNING: Exceeding the
Safety Compliance Certification
label vehicle weight limits can
adversely affect the
performance and handling of
your vehicle, cause vehicle
damage and can result in the
loss of control of your vehicle,
serious personal injury or death.
Maximum Loaded Trailer
Weight
Maximum loaded trailer weight is
the highest possible weight of a
fully loaded trailer the vehicle can
tow. Consult an authorized dealer
(or the RV and Trailer Towing
Guide available at an authorized
dealer) for more detailed
information.
GCWR (Gross Combined
Weight Rating)
GCWR 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.
Note:
For trailer towing
information refer to the RV and
Trailer Towing Guide available at
an authorized dealer. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the certification
label. WARNING:
Do not use
replacement tires with lower
load carrying capacities than the
original tires because they may
lower your vehicle's GVWR and
GAWR limitations. Replacement
tires with a higher limit than the
original tires do not increase the
GVWR and GAWR limitations. WARNING: Exceeding any
vehicle weight rating can
adversely affect the
performance and handling of
your vehicle, cause vehicle
damage and can result in the
loss of control of your vehicle,
serious personal injury or death.
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Steps for determining the
correct load limit:
1. Locate the statement "The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lb." on your
vehicle ’s Tire and Loading
label.
2. Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lb.
4. The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For
example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1,400 lb. and there will
be five 150 lb. passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lb.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lb.)
5. Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer
will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces the
available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle. Helpful examples for calculating
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity
Suppose your vehicle has a
1400-pound (635-kilogram) cargo
and luggage capacity. You decide
to go golfing. Is there enough load
capacity to carry you, four of your
friends and all the golf bags? You
and four friends average 220
pounds (99 kilograms) each and
the golf bags weigh approximately
30 pounds (13.5 kilograms) each.
The calculation would be: 1400 -
(5 x 220) - (5 x 30) = 1400 - 1100
- 150 = 150 pounds. Yes, you have
enough load capacity in your
vehicle to transport four friends
and your golf bags. In metric units,
the calculation would be: 635
kilograms - (5 x 99 kilograms) -
(5 x 13.5 kilograms) = 635 - 495 -
67.5 = 72.5 kilograms.
Suppose your vehicle has a
1400-pound (635-kilogram) cargo
and luggage capacity. You and
one of your friends decide to pick
up cement from the local home
improvement store to finish that
patio you have been planning for
the past two years. Measuring the
inside of the vehicle with the rear
seat folded down, you have room
for twelve 100-pound
(45-kilogram) bags of cement. Do
you have enough load capacity to
transport the cement to your
home? If you and your friend each
weigh 220 pounds (99 kilograms),
the calculation would be: 1400 -
(2 x 220) - (12 x 100) = 1400 - 440
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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the certification
label. WARNING:
Towing trailers
beyond the maximum
recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of your
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and personal injury. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the lowest rating capacity for
your vehicle or trailer hitch.
Overloading your vehicle or
trailer hitch can impair your
vehicle stability and handling.
Failure to follow this instruction
could result in the loss of control
of your vehicle, personal injury or
death. WARNING:
Do not cut,
drill, weld or modify the trailer
hitch. Modifying the trailer hitch
could reduce the hitch rating. Note:
To prevent your trailer from
accumulating distance, and the
trailer information status appearing
when you restart your vehicle after
disconnecting your trailer, you must
deactivate your trailer. Using the
information display, go to the
Towing menu and then the Select
Trailer option. Select the No active
trailer option. See
Information
Displays (page 109).
Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See
Fuses
(page 329).
Your vehicle may have ability to
modify trailer towing features.
See
General Information (page
109).
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.
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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 ball mount 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
265).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online. RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Website
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TRAILER REVERSING AIDS (IF
EQUIPPED)
Pro Trailer Backup Assist With
Trailer Reverse Guidance WARNING: Driving while distracted
can result in loss of vehicle control, crash
and injury. We strongly recommend that
you use extreme caution when using any
device that may take your focus off the
road. Your primary responsibility is the
safe operation of your vehicle. We
recommend against the use of any
hand-held device while driving and
encourage the use of voice-operated
systems when possible. Make sure you
are aware of all applicable local laws
that may affect the use of electronic
devices while driving. WARNING:
This system is an extra
driving aid. It does not replace your
attention and judgment, or the need to
apply the brakes. This system does NOT
automatically brake your vehicle. If you
fail to press the brake pedal when
necessary, you may collide with another
vehicle.
This feature helps you to steer your vehicle
when reversing with a trailer by:
• Using the control knob with Pro Trailer
Backup Assist.
• Using the steering wheel with Trailer
Reverse Guidance.
Each trailer you use with your vehicle has
to be setup once.
You must take care to follow the setup
process accurately to correctly place the
sticker or sensor.
Contact your dealership if you need
assistance setting up your trailer. Note:
Your vehicle saves the trailer
information when you enter it into the
system. You can add a maximum of 10
trailers to the system.
Note: The system is not a substitute for
safe driving practices.
Note: You must always be aware of your
vehicle and trailer combination, and the
surrounding environment.
Note: The system does not detect or
prevent your vehicle or trailer from making
contact with obstacles in the surrounding
environment.
Note: Keep in mind that the front end of
your vehicle swings out when changing the
direction of the trailer.
Note: The system relies on user
measurements to determine sticker
placement or user installation of a sensor
to determine system limits. It is critical to
correctly take the key measurements or
properly install the sensor. Incorrect
measurements or sensor placement can
result in the improper function of the system
up to and including contact between your
vehicle and trailer. Even with correct
measurements and sensor placement, the
system cannot determine if the trailer body
may contact your vehicle. Check the
clearance between your vehicle and trailer,
especially for sharp turns.
Note: The system limits vehicle speed when
backing up. The system is not a replacement
for proper use of the throttle and brake
pedals.
Note: The system does not support backing
up when towing multiple trailers. If you are
towing more than one trailer, you must
disconnect the additional trailers before
using the system.
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Positioning Your Vehicle and
Trailer
Hitch your trailer to your vehicle and
connect the electrical wiring harness.
Check to make sure that the wiring is
working. See Essential Towing Checks
(page 295). Park your vehicle and hitched trailer on a
level surface.
For best results, make sure that your trailer
rides level with the ground when you hitch
your vehicle. More information on selecting
your towbar is available in the Towing
section. See
Towing (page 272).
Make sure that the trailer and your vehicle
are in line with each other. You can do this
by putting the transmission in drive (D) and
pulling straight forward. Setting Up the System
1. Press the button to switch the system
on.
2. Use the controls on the steering wheel
to select the option to add a trailer in
the information display. See
General
Information (page 109).
3. Add a personalized name for the trailer
using the screen prompts. Use the
down arrow to scroll to the preferred
letter and then press the right arrow to
advance to the next letter. Press OK to
continue.
4. Select the Trailer Brake Type.
Note: Select Default Electric/Surge/None
if your trailer has electric, surge or no brakes.
5. Select the Trailer Brake Effort.
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Note:
The default option is Low. We
recommend this for most trailers. If the
trailer brakes require more initial voltage, or
if you prefer more aggressive braking, select
Medium or High.
6. Select the trailer type.
Note: The system may prompt you to setup
Trailer Blind Spot before continuing the
setup process.
7. Select whether you want to add Pro Trailer Backup Assist.
Conventional Trailer Setup (If
Equipped)
The following are examples of
conventional trailers. Placing the Sticker
You must place the sticker in an area
visible by the rear view camera.
Note:
The cargo and trailer hookup lamps
turn on to improve visibility.
Note: An assistant can help to carry out the
following procedure. Note:
Make sure nothing can obstruct the
rear view camera's view of the sticker. For
example, items such as a jack handle or
wiring.
Note: Position the sticker on a flat, dry and
clean horizontal surface. For best results,
apply the sticker when temperatures are
above
32°F (0°C).
Note: Do not move stickers after placing
them. Do not re-use any stickers if removed.
Note: You can purchase additional stickers
through your authorized dealer. Use the supplied measurement card, a
tape measure and pen to carefully mark
the area to attach the sticker. The sticker
is in the back cover pocket of your quick
start guide. Make sure the entire sticker is
within the green zone between the two
arcs or distance markers on the diagram,
and is also visible in the rear view camera
display.
Once you have found the correct location,
place the sticker.
Taking the Measurements
After you place the sticker on your trailer,
you must take some measurements.
Note:
You must take accurate
measurements for the system to properly
operate.
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Note:
When rounding in inches, round
upward if the measured length is a quarter
inch or greater. Round downward if the
measured length is less than a quarter inch.
For example, 12.25 in (31.11 cm) would be
rounded up to 12.50 in (31.75 cm). 12.13 in
(30.8 cm) would be rounded down to
12.00 in (30.48 cm).
Note: When rounding in centimeters, round
to the nearest whole centimeter. If the
measurement is less than
0.2 in (0.5 cm)
round downward. If the measurement is
more than or equal to 0.2 in (0.5 cm) round
upward. For example, 11.9 in (30.3 cm)
would be rounded down to
11.8 in (30 cm).
12.0 in (30.5 cm) would be rounded up to
12.2 in (31 cm).
Note: Use consistent metric or imperial
units as required by your country or vehicle.
The measurement card requires you to
record four key distances: A, B, C and D.
Record the trailer name for these
measurements. The horizontal distance from the
license plate to the center of the
ball hitch on the trailer.
A
The horizontal distance from the
center of the ball hitch to the
center of the sticker.
B The point to point distance from
the rear view camera to the
center of the sticker.
C
The horizontal distance from the
tailgate to the center of the
trailer axle or axles.
D
Note: Round distance D to the nearest
inch.
Note: Distance D is the center of the axles
for trailers with more than one axle.
Entering the Measurements
Follow the on-screen prompts to enter
each of the measurements. Use the up and
down arrows to increase or decrease the
numbers, as necessary. Press OK to
confirm each measurement. When you add
the last measurement, the information
display shows all the measurements you
entered. You can choose to confirm or
change the measurements.
Confirming the Sticker Location
Check the rear view camera display to see
if the system identifies the sticker. The
system marks the sticker with a red circle.
Confirm that the red circle shows over the
sticker image in the rear view camera
display.
Note: If the system cannot locate the
sticker, try cleaning the camera lens. Make
sure the sticker is within the zone indicated
in Placing the Sticker.
Calibrating the System
To complete setup, drive your vehicle
straight forward between
4– 24 mph
(6– 39 km/h), as directed by the
information display.
The information display shows a message
during calibration and after calibration is
complete
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A
B
C
D
D