suspension FORD F150 2014 12.G Raptor Supplement Manual

Off-road Screen
The real-time status of your vehiclesoff-road systems can be continuouslymonitored using the first off-road screenfound under the Truck Apps menu in theinformation displays screen. See theInformation Displays chapter of yourOwner’s Manual for more information.
Basic Off-road Driving Techniques
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•Grip the steering wheel with thumbson the outside of the rim. This willreduce the risk of injury due to abruptsteering wheel motions that occurwhen negotiating rough terrain. Do notgrip the steering wheel with thumbsinside the rim.
•Throttle, brake and steering inputsshould be made in a smooth andcontrolled manner. Sudden inputs tothe controls can cause loss of tractionor upset the vehicle, especially whileon sloped terrain or while crossingobstacles such as rocks or logs.
•Look ahead on your route notingupcoming obstacles, surface textureor color changes or any other factorswhich may indicate a change inavailable traction, and adjust thevehicle speed and route accordingly.During pre-run, mark obstacles withGPS markers to make sure appropriatespeeds are used to avoid potentialvehicle damage.
•When driving off-road, if the front orrear suspension is bottoming-outand/or excessive contact with theskid-plates is encountered, reducevehicle speed to avoid potentialdamage to the vehicle.
•When running with other vehicles, it isrecommended that communication isused, and the lead vehicle notify othervehicles of obstacles that could causepotential vehicle damage.
•Always keep available groundclearance in mind and pick a route thatminimizes the risk of catching theunderside of the vehicle on an obstacle.
•When negotiating low speed obstacles,applying light brake pressure inconjunction with the throttle will helpprevent the vehicle from jerking andwill allow you to negotiate the obstaclein a more controlled manner. Using 4Lwill also help with this.
•Use and equip supplemental safetyequipment as discussed later in thischapter.
•Please consult your local off-roadgroup for other helpful tips.
•Off-roading requires a high degree ofconcentration. Even if your local lawdoes not prohibit alcohol use whiledriving off-road, Ford stronglyrecommends against drinking if youplan to off-road.
Operating a Performance Vehicleat Higher than Normal Speeds
Your vehicle is capable of operating athigher than normal off-road speeds and isequipped with tires rated for the vehicles’maximum speed. However, it is importantto remember to always drive safely, obeyall traffic laws and only operate yourvehicle at higher than normal speeds atlocations and under conditions where suchcan be done safely.
19F150 (TF6)Driving Hints

•Proper suspension alignment is criticalfor maximum performance andoptimal tire wear. If you notice uneventire wear, have your alignment checked.
•When replacing tires, the only way toassure original performance is to usethe original equipment tire. If a differenttire is used, it should be the same size,speed rating and load rating.
Tire Rotation
Because your vehicle’s tires performdifferent jobs, they often wear differently.To make sure your tires wear evenly andlast longer, have them rotated.
The front tires are shown at the left of theillustration.
Note:Your vehicle requires tire rotationsevery 5000 miles (8000 kilometers). If younotice that the tires wear unevenly, havethem checked.
Spare Tire and Wheel
Your vehicle is equipped with anLT315/70R17 spare tire. The sparetire/wheel assembly has the samecapability as the road tire/wheel assembly,but is not equipped with a tire pressuremonitoring sensor.
USING SNOW CHAINS
The original equipment tires on your vehicleare not designed to be used with snowchains. If you will be operating your vehiclewith snow chains, use a smaller tire andwheel combination as recommended inyour Owner’s Manual.
WHEELS
Your vehicle is equipped with uniquewheels matched to the tires. To avoiddamage to your wheels:
•Maintain proper tire pressure. See TireCare (page 26).
•Due to extreme tire/wheel width, thisvehicle cannot be taken through anautomatic car wash that usesmechanical tracks, as wheel damagemay result.
•When installing wheels, always torquelug nuts to specification with a torquewrench.
•Inspect your wheels for damage on aregular basis. If you have a damagedwheel, replace it immediately.
•In the event that you encounter anabnormally harsh impact, inspect theouter diameter of your wheels, bothinside and out, for damage.
Optional Bead-Lock CompatibleWheel
Note:SVT only recommends usingbead-lock rings from Ford Racing, inconjunction with the OEM tire. Any othercombination using this wheel could resultin air loss or tire failure.
Note:Converting the bead-lock compatiblewheel to true bead-locks is for off-road useonly. On road driving is not permitted.
27F150 (TF6)Wheels and TiresE142548