warning FORD F450 SUPER DUTY 2017 Owners Manual

RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/Website
TRAILER REVERSING AIDS
Trailer Reverse Guidance
WARNING
Driving while distracted can result inloss of vehicle control, crash andinjury. We strongly recommend thatyou use extreme caution when using anydevice that may take your focus off theroad. Your primary responsibility is the safeoperation of your vehicle. We recommendagainst the use of any hand-held devicewhile driving and encourage the use ofvoice-operated systems when possible.Make sure you are aware of all applicablelocal laws that may affect the use ofelectronic devices while driving.
Note:The system is not a substitute forsafe driving practices.
Note:You must always be aware of thevehicle and trailer combination and thesurrounding environment.
Note:The system does not detect orprevent the vehicle or trailer from makingcontact with obstacles in the surroundingenvironment.
Note:Keep in mind that the front end ofthe vehicle swings out when changing thedirection of the trailer.
Note:The system relies on usermeasurements to determine stickerplacement and system limits. It is critical totake the key measurements correctly.Incorrect measurements can result in theimproper function of the system up to andincluding contact between the vehicle andtrailer.
Note:The system limits vehicle speed whenbacking up. The system is not a replacementfor proper use of the throttle and brakepedals.
Principle of Operation
Trailer Reverse Guidance (TRG) is a driverassistance feature that helps take theguesswork out of getting your trailerpositioned where you want it, quickly andeasily, while you're driving in reverse.
Each trailer you use with your vehicle hasto be setup once.
Sticker placement is extremely importantand there are specific placement rules.
Setting Up Trailer ReverseGuidance
Note:Once you have entered a trailer'sinformation into the system, it is stored foreasy recall. A maximum of 10 trailers can beadded to the system.
Step 1: Position your Vehicle and Trailer
Hitch your trailer to the truck and connectthe electrical wiring harness. Check tomake sure that the wiring is working SeeEssential Towing Checks (page 281).
Park your vehicle and hitched trailer on alevel surface.
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Accurate measurements are critical tocorrect system function. If you need tocheck measurements entered or changethem you can access them through thetrailer menus in the information display.Choose the option to change the stickerfrom the change trailer settings menu. It isnot necessary to remove the sticker if youare just reviewing or changingmeasurements.
The following menu warnings or difficultiesmay occur during setup. Tips to resolvethem are listed below.
Measurement A has reached maximum orminimum value:
•The system is designed to work withdrawbars that have a license plate tohitch ball center measurement of 9 in(229 mm) to 16 in (406 mm) wheninstalled. Do not attempt to usedrawbars that have a length outsidethis range as the system performancewill be degraded and could causeimproper system function.
•Make sure that the measurement beingmade is the horizontal distance onlyfrom license plate and the hitch ballcenter. A straight line distance thatincludes any vertical rise or drop willincrease the measurement and makeit inaccurate. Inaccuratemeasurements will degrade systemperformance and could cause impropersystem function. See step 4 of thesetup instruction to reviewmeasurement instructions.
Measurement B has reached maximum orminimum value:
•Make sure that the sticker placementinstruction in step 3 of the setup hasbeen followed. Stickers placed outsidethe allowed zone will adversely affectthe system performance and couldcause improper feature function.
•Make sure that the measurement beingmade is the horizontal distance onlyfrom center of sticker to the hitch ballcenter. A straight line distance thatincludes any vertical rise or drop willincrease the measurement and causean inaccurate value to be entered intothe system. See step 4 of the setup foradditional measurement instructions.
Measurement C has reached maximum orminimum value:
•Make sure that the sticker placementinstructions in step 3 of the setup havebeen followed. Stickers placed outsidethe allowed zone will adversely affectthe system performance and couldcause improper feature function. If youhave met all the criteria for stickerplacement and you see this messagethis sticker is either too far below or tooclose to the camera to properlyrecognize the sticker. In order for thesystem to operate correctly the stickerheight must be lowered if you receivethe minimum warning or the stickerheight must be raised if you receive themaximum warning.
•Only one sticker can be placed onthe trailer for correct systemfunction. The previous sticker mustbe removed or covered so only onesticker is visible to the camera.
•Measurement B and C must bemeasured again if a new sticker isplaced on the trailer.
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Measurement D has reached maximum orminimum value:
•Make sure that the measurement beingmade is the horizontal distance onlyfrom tailgate to the center of the singleaxle or the center of all the axles on thetrailer. See step 4 of the setup foradditional measurement instructions.The TBA system does not supporttrailer lengths outside the rangeallowed by the information display.
System is circling something beside thesticker or system cannot find the sticker:
•Make sure the rear camera is clean andthe sticker is clearly visible in thecamera image. Clean the camera andsticker if necessary.
•The camera system uses the enteredmeasurements to help locate thesticker. Inaccurate stickermeasurements will degrade thesystem’s ability to locate the sticker.Verify the measurements entered intothe system are accurate.
•Remove the incorrectly circled label ordecal if possible.
•If you cannot resolve the issue a newsticker location should be tried. Thesticker location must still meet therequirements noted in step 3 of thesetup instructions. Only one sticker canbe placed on the trailer for correctsystem function. The previous stickermust be removed or covered so onlyone sticker is visible to the camera.
Calibration
The system monitors various vehicleparameters to ensure your vehicle is beingdriven straight and the trailer straightbehind your vehicle. Any steering input ortrailer movement will pause the calibration.
For best results:
•Use a long, straight and smooth roadwhen attempting to calibrate.
•Drive straight forward.
•Drive between 4 mph (6 km/h) and24 mph (39 km/h).
System Operation
The following warnings or difficulties mayoccur during feature operation. Tips toresolve them are listed below.
The system is not available:
•The system relies on manysub-systems in your vehicle to operatecorrectly. If those sub-systems are notoperating correctly the system may notbe available.
•Low battery voltage is a conditionwhich will prevent the system fromoperating. Please make sure thebattery is correctly charged if thesystem is not available.
•You may need to drive your vehiclestraight forward above 25 mph(40 km/h) before the system isavailable again.
•If the message still displays take yourvehicle to an authorized dealer forservice.
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slowly turning the wheel until the traileris following your desired path and thenholding the wheel in that position. Ifyou would like to recalibrate thesystem for straight backing, you can doso with the following procedure.
•Go into the trailer menu, selecttrailer options, select change trailersetting and then select the changesticker option. Your savedmeasurements will be displayed.Do not change them but continueto confirm measurements. Onceyou confirm the measurements, thesystem will then prompt you toperform the calibration procedure.
Note:The system is designed to be usedwith the same trailer connection every timethe trailer is chosen from the selectionmenu. Using a different drawbar or adifferent pin hole (on drawbars with morethan one) when connecting the drawbar toyour vehicle will affect the trailermeasurements. Take the measurementsagain and update if required.
TRAILER SWAY CONTROL (If
Equipped)
WARNING
Turning off trailer sway controlincreases the risk of loss of vehiclecontrol, serious injury or death. Forddoes not recommend disabling this featureexcept in situations where speed reductionmay be detrimental (such as hill climbing),the driver has significant trailer towingexperience, and can control trailer swayand maintain safe operation.
Note:This feature does not prevent trailersway, but reduces it once it begins.
Note:This feature cannot stop all trailersfrom swaying.
Note:In some cases, if vehicle speed is toohigh, the system may activate multipletimes, gradually reducing vehicle speed.
This feature applies your vehicle brakes atindividual wheels and, if necessary, reducesengine power. If the trailer begins to sway,the stability control light flashes and themessage TRAILER SWAY REDUCESPEED appears in the information display.The first thing to do is slow your vehicledown, then pull safely to the side of theroad and check for proper tongue load andtrailer load distribution. See LoadCarrying (page 261).
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
WARNING
You must use the heavy-dutydrawbar pin supplied with
your vehicle when using theheavy-duty hitch. Failure to followthis instruction could result in theloss of control of your vehicle,personal injury or death.
Note:Vehicles with a heavy-dutyhitch must use the drawbar pinstamped 21,000 LBS. You canobtain a replacement drawbar pinat your Ford dealer.
Note:Make sure to take intoconsideration trailer frontal area.Do not exceed 60 feet2 (5.6
meters2) trailer frontal area for
conventional trailers. Do notexceed 75 feet2 (6.9 meters2) trailer
frontal area for 5th wheel andgooseneck trailers.
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This equals the maximum loadedtrailer weight for this combination.
Note:The trailer tongue load isconsidered part of the payload foryour vehicle. Reduce the totalpayload by the final trailer tongueweight.
Note:Consult an authorized dealerto determine the maximum trailerweight allowed for your vehicle ifyou are not sure.
For additional information ontrailer weights, reference the RV& Trailer Towing Guide availableat your authorized dealer, oronline.
RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/Website
ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
WARNING
Do not exceed the maximumpermissible nose weight, e.g. verticalweight on the tow ball. Failure toadhere to this warning could result in lossof vehicle control, serious personal injuryor death.
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•Do not tow a trailer until you drive yourvehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).
•Consult your local motor vehicle lawsfor towing a trailer.
•See the instructions included withtowing accessories for the properinstallation and adjustmentspecifications.
•Service your vehicle more frequently ifyou tow a trailer. See your scheduledmaintenance information.
•If you use a rental trailer, follow theinstructions the rental agency givesyou.
See Load limits in the Load Carryingchapter for load specification terms foundon the tire label and Safety Compliancelabel and instructions on calculating yourvehicle's load.
Vehicles with a diesel engine have anengine braking feature. See GeneralInformation (page 221).
Remember to account for the trailertongue weight as part of your vehicle loadwhen calculating the total vehicle weight.
Some vehicles will have the ability tomodify trailer towing features. SeeGeneral Information (page 111).
Trailer Towing Connector
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The active guidelines fade in and outdepending on the steering wheel position.The active guidelines are not shown whenthe steering wheel position is straight.
Always use caution while reversing.Objects in the red zone are closest to yourvehicle and objects in the green zone arefarther away. Objects are getting closer toyour vehicle as they move from the greenzone to the yellow or red zones. Use theside view mirrors and rear view mirror toget better coverage on both sides and rearof your vehicle.
Refer to the Rear View Camera section foradditional information. See Rear ViewCamera (page 232).
Hitches
Note:On pick-up trucks, the trailer hitchprovided on this vehicle enhances crashprotection for the fuel system. Do notremove!
Note:Do not cut, drill, weld or modify trailerhitches. Modifying trailer hitches can reducehitch rating.
Do not use a hitch that either clamps ontothe bumper or attaches to the axle. Youmust distribute the load in your trailer sothat 10-15% for conventional towing or15-25% for fifth wheel towing of the totalweight of the trailer is on the tongue.
Hitch components (If Equipped)
The following components will be includedin certain vehicles.
•A 5/8 inch hitch pin rated to tow up to21,000 lbs.
•A 3 inch drawbar.
•A hitch pin sleeve to be used whenmounting the 3 inch drawbar.
•A clevis pin to help keep the hitch pinin place.
Weight-distributing Hitches
WARNING
Do not adjust the spring bars so thatyour vehicle's rear bumper is higherthan before attaching the trailer.Doing so will defeat the function of theweight-distributing hitch, which may causeunpredictable handling, and could resultin serious personal injury.
When hooking-up a trailer using aweight-distributing hitch, always use thefollowing procedure:
1. Park the loaded vehicle, without thetrailer, on a level surface.
2. Measure the height to the top of yourvehicle's front wheel opening on thefender. This is H1.
3.Attach the loaded trailer to your vehiclewithout the weight-distributing barsconnected.
4. Measure the height to the top of yourvehicle's front wheel opening on thefender a second time. This is H2.
5. Install and adjust the tension in theweight-distributing bars so that theheight of your vehicle's front wheelopening on the fender is approximatelyhalfway between H1 and H2.
6.Check that the trailer is level or slightlynose down toward your vehicle. If not,adjust the ball height accordingly andrepeat Steps 2-6.
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Once the trailer is level or slightly nosedown toward the vehicle:
•Lock the bar tension adjuster in place.
•Check that the trailer tongue securelyattaches and locks onto the hitch.
•Install safety chains, lighting, and trailerbrake controls as required by law or thetrailer manufacturer.
Fifth-wheel Trailer Hitch (If Equipped)
Note:The mounting pads in the bed arespecifically designed for certain fifth-wheeltrailer hitches and gooseneck ball hitches.Do not use these mounting pads for otherpurposes.
Note:Contact an authorized dealer topurchase gooseneck and fifth-wheel hitchesthat are compatible with your vehicle.
Your vehicle may be equipped with afifth-wheel prep package. This packageenables your vehicle to accept certainfifth-wheel trailer hitches and gooseneckball hitches. The fifth-wheel trailer hitchattaches to the four mounting pads in thepick-up bed. An optional 7-pin trailer wiringconnector may be in the bed as well. Thegooseneck ball hitch is a separatemounting pad from the fifth-wheel hitch,located in the center of the bed.
Shorter pick-up boxes, such as the 6½-footbox on the F-250 and F-350, provide lessclearance between the cab and thefifth-wheel and gooseneck trailercompared to longer box pick-ups, such asan 8-foot box on the F-250 or F-350. Whenselecting a trailer and tow vehicle, it iscritical to check that this combinationprovides clearance between the front ofthe trailer and tow vehicle for turns up to90 degrees. Failure to follow this
recommendation could result in the trailercontacting the cab of the tow vehicleduring tight turns that are typical duringlow-speed parking and turning maneuvers.This contact could result in damage to thetrailer and tow vehicle.
Safety Chains
Note:Do not attach safety chains to thebumper.
Always connect the safety chains to theframe or hook retainers of your vehiclehitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross thechains under the trailer tongue and allowenough slack for turning tight corners. Donot allow the chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulicbrake system directly to yourvehicle's brake system. Your vehiclemay not have enough braking power andyour chances of having a collision greatlyincrease.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic orsurge-type trailer brakes are safe if youinstall them properly and adjust them tothe manufacturer's specifications. Thetrailer brakes must meet local and federalregulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's brakingsystem operation is at the gross vehicleweight rating, not the gross combinedweight rating.
Separate functioning brake systemsare required for safe control of towedvehicles and trailers weighing morethan 1500 pounds (680 kilograms)when loaded.
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Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
(If Equipped)
WARNINGS
The anti-lock brake system does notcontrol the trailer brakes.
Use the integrated trailer brakecontroller to properly adjust thetrailer brakes and check allconnections before towing a trailer. Failureto follow this instruction could result in theloss of control of your vehicle, personalinjury or death.
Note:The integrated Ford brake controlleris compatible with trailers equipped withelectric-actuated drum brakes andelectric-over hydraulic brake systems.
Note:The integrated Ford brake controllerdoes not control hydraulic surge-stylebrakes.
When used properly, the trailer brakecontroller assists in smooth and effectivetrailer braking by powering the trailer’selectric or electric-over-hydraulic brakeswith a proportional output based on thetowing vehicle’s brake pressure.
You can adjust the amount of initial trailerbrake output by selecting one of threesettings through the message center.
Ford has tested the trailer brake controllerto be compatible with several majorbrands of electric-over-hydraulic trailerbrakes. Contact an authorized dealer forinformation on which brands you can use.
The controller user interface consists ofthe following:
A: + and - (Gain adjustment buttons):Pressing these buttons adjusts thecontroller's power output to the trailerbrakes in 0.5 increments. You can increasethe gain setting to 10.0 (maximum trailerbraking) or decrease it to 0 (no trailerbraking). Pressing and holding a buttonraises or lowers the setting continuously.The gain setting displays in the messagecenter as follows: TBC GAIN = XX.X.
B: Manual control lever: Slide the controllever to the left to switch on the trailer'selectric brakes independent of the towvehicle's. See the following Procedure foradjusting gain section for instructions onproper use of this feature. If you use themanual control while the brake is alsoapplied, the greater of the two inputsdetermines the power sent to the trailerbrakes.
•Stop lamps: Using the manual controllever lights both the trailer brake lampsand your vehicle brake lamps.
Trailer brake control messages appear inthe information display as follows:
•TBC GAIN = XX.X NO TRAILER:Shows the current gain setting.
•TBC GAIN = XX.X OUTPUT=/ / / // /: Displays when braking. The barsindicate the amount of power going tothe trailer brakes.
•TRAILER CONNECTED: Displayswhen the system senses a correcttrailer wiring connection.
•TRAILER DISCONNECTED: Displayswhen the system senses a trailerdisconnection.
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Procedure for Setting Trailer BrakeController Effort
Choose either the electric option for trailerswith electromagnetic drum brakes, or theelectric over hydraulic option for trailerswith these brake systems.
Trailer Brake Effort Setting
The trailer brake controller allows the userto customize how aggressively the trailerbrakes engage. The default value is the lowsetting and is the recommended settingfor most trailers. If your trailer's brakesrequire more initial voltage, or if you prefermore aggressive trailer braking, then selecteither the medium or the high setting.
Procedure for Setting Trailer BrakeController Mode
Choose the low, medium or high settingfor the required initial trailer brake output.
Procedure for Adjusting Gain
Note:Only perform this procedure in atraffic-free environment at speeds ofapproximately 20-25 mph (30-40 km/h).
The gain setting adjusts the trailer brakecontroller for the specific towing condition.You should change the setting as towingconditions change. Changes to towingconditions include trailer load, vehicle load,road conditions and weather.
The gain should be set to provide themaximum trailer braking assistance whilemaking sure the trailer wheels do not lockwhen using the brakes. Locked trailerwheels may lead to trailer instability.
1.Make sure the trailer brakes are in goodworking condition, functioning normallyand properly adjusted. See your trailerdealer if necessary.
2. Hook up the trailer and make theelectrical connections according to thetrailer manufacturer's instructions.
3. When you plug in a trailer with electricor electric-over-hydraulic brakes, aconfirmation message appears in theinformation display.
4. Use the gain adjustment (+ and -)buttons to increase or decrease thegain setting to the desired startingpoint. A gain setting of 6.0 is a goodstarting point for heavier loads.
5. In a traffic-free environment, tow thetrailer on a dry, level surface at a speedof 20-25 mph (30-40 km/h) andsqueeze the manual control levercompletely.
6. If the trailer wheels lock up, indicatedby squealing tires, reduce the gainsetting. If the trailer wheels turn freely,increase the gain setting. Repeat Steps5 and 6 until the gain setting is at apoint just below trailer wheel lock-up.If towing a heavier trailer, trailer wheellock-up may not be attainable evenwith the maximum gain setting of 10.
Information Display Warning Messages
Note:An authorized dealer can diagnosethe trailer brake controller to determineexactly which trailer fault has occurred.However, your Ford warranty does not coverthis diagnosis if the fault is with the trailer.
TRAILER BRAKE MODULE FAULT
Displays in response to faults sensed bythe trailer brake controller, accompaniedby a single tone. If this message appears,contact an authorized dealer as soon aspossible for diagnosis and repair. Thecontroller may still function, but withdegraded performance.
WIRING FAULT ON TRAILER
Displays when there is a short circuit onthe electric brake output wire.
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If this message displays, with no trailerconnected, the problem is with your vehiclewiring or trailer brake controller. Contactan authorized dealer.
If the message only displays with a trailerconnected, the problem is with the trailerwiring. Consult your trailer dealer forassistance. This can be a short to ground(such as a chaffed wire), short to voltage(such as a pulled pin on trailer emergencybreakaway battery) or the trailer brakesmay be drawing too much current.
Points to Remember
Note:Do not attempt removal of the trailerbrake controller without consulting theWorkshop Manual. Damage to the unit mayresult.
•Adjust gain setting before using thetrailer brake controller.
•Adjust gain setting, using the procedureabove, whenever road, weather, traileror vehicle loading conditions changefrom when the gain was initially set.
•Only use the manual control lever forproper adjustment of the gain duringtrailer setup. Misuse, such asapplication during trailer sway, couldcause instability of trailer or towvehicle.
•Avoid towing in adverse weatherconditions. The trailer brake controllerdoes not provide anti-lock control ofthe trailer wheels. Trailer wheels canlock up on slippery surfaces, resultingin reduced stability of trailer and towvehicle.
•The trailer brake controller is equippedwith a feature that reduces output atvehicle speeds below 11 mph (18 km/h)so trailer and vehicle braking is not jerkyor harsh. This feature is only activewhen applying the brakes using yourvehicle's brake pedal, not thecontroller.
•The controller interacts with the brakecontrol system and powertrain controlsystem of your vehicle to provide thebest performance on different roadconditions.
•Your vehicle's brake system and thetrailer brake system workindependently of each other. Changingthe gain setting on the controller doesnot affect the operation of yourvehicle's brakes.
•When you switch the engine off, thecontroller output is disabled and thedisplay and module shut down.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING
Never connect any trailer lamp wiringto the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; thismay damage the electrical systemresulting in fire. Contact your authorizeddealer as soon as possible for assistancein proper trailer tow wiring installation.Additional electrical equipment may berequired.
Trailer lamps are required on most towedvehicles. Make sure all running lights, brakelights, turn signals and hazard lights areworking.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing upto get the feel of your vehicle-trailercombination before starting on a trip.When turning, make wider turns so thetrailer wheels clear curbs and otherobstacles.
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