trailer FORD RANGER 2020 Owner's Manual

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 placard.
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. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the maximum vertical load on
the tow ball. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in
the loss of control of your
vehicle, personal injury or death. WARNING:
Do not tow a
trailer fitted with electric trailer
brakes unless your vehicle is
fitted with a compatible
aftermarket electronic trailer
brake controller. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in
the loss of control of your
vehicle, personal injury or death.
For additional information and
assistance, we recommend that
you contact an authorized
dealer.
Note: Your vehicle includes trailer
stability control if it has an
electronic stability program (ESP).
When towing a trailer:
• Obey country specific
regulations for towing a trailer.
• Do not exceed
62 mph
(100 km/h) even if a country
allows higher speeds under
certain conditions.
• Place loads as low as possible
and central to the axle of your
trailer. For best stability of the
trailer in an unladen vehicle,
place the load in the trailer
towards the nose within the
maximum nose load as this
gives the best stability. See
Recommended Towing
Weights
(page 221).
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•
Reduce the stipulated
maximum permitted gross
combination mass by 10% for
every additional 1,000 ft
(300 m) in high altitude
regions above 1,000 ft
(300 m).
• Use a low gear when
descending a steep downhill
slope.
The stability of your vehicle to
trailer combination is dependent
on the quality of the trailer.
TRAILER SWAY CONTROL
(IF
EQUIPPED) WARNING: Turning off trailer sway
control increases the risk of loss of
vehicle control, serious injury or death.
Ford does not recommend disabling this
feature except in situations where speed
reduction may be detrimental (such as
hill climbing), the driver has significant
trailer towing experience, and can control
trailer sway and maintain safe operation.
Note: This feature does not prevent trailer
sway, but reduces it once it begins.
Note: This feature cannot stop all trailers
from swaying.
Note: In some cases, if vehicle speed is too
high, the system may activate multiple
times, gradually reducing vehicle speed. This feature applies your vehicle brakes at
individual wheels and, if necessary, reduces
engine power. If the trailer begins to sway,
the stability control light flashes and the
message
TRAILER SWAY REDUCE
SPEED appears in the information display.
The first thing to do is slow your vehicle
down, then pull safely to the side of the
road and check for proper tongue load and
trailer load distribution. See
Load
Carrying (page 214).
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS 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.
Note: Certain states require
electric trailer brakes for trailers
over a specified weight. Be sure to
check state regulations for this
specified weight. The maximum
trailer weights listed may be limited
to this specified weight, as your
vehicle's electrical system may not
include the wiring connector
needed to use electric trailer
brakes.
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Trailer Hitch Identification
Using the illustration that follows,
identify the type of trailer hitch on
your vehicle. This helps to
determine the correct towing
capacity.
Light Duty Trailer Hitch.
1
Heavy Duty Trailer Hitch.
2 Towing Capacities
If your vehicle has a light duty
trailer hitch, the maximum towing
capacity is 3,500 lb (1,588 kg).
If your vehicle has a heavy duty
trailer hitch, use the chart that
follows to find your towing
capacity.
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Max Tow
With
Trailer Brake
Max Tow
Without TrailerBrake
Gross
Combina- tion Mass
FDR
Drive
Body Style
7,500 lb
(3,400 kg)
1,650 lb
(750 kg)
12,500 lb
(5,670 kg)
3.73
2WD
SuperCab
Chassis
7,500 lb
(3,400 kg)
1,650 lb
(750 kg)
12,150 lb
(5,510 kg)
3.73
2WD
SuperCab 7,500 lb
(3,400 kg)
1,650 lb
(750 kg)
12,400 lb
(5,620 kg)
3.73
4WD
7,500 lb
(3,400 kg)
1,650 lb
(750 kg)
12,250 lb
(5,555 kg)
3.73
2WD
SuperCrew
Cab 7,500 lb
(3,400 kg)
1,650 lb
(750 kg)
12,500 lb
(5,670 kg)
3.73
4WD
Trailer Nose Weight Maximum Nose
Weight
Minimum Nose
Weight
Variant
350 lb (159 kg)
10% of the towed
weight
Light Duty Trailer Hitch
750 lb (340 kg)
10% of the towed
weight
Heavy Duty Trailer
Hitch
ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
• Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws
for towing a trailer. •
See the instructions included with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment
specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer. See your scheduled
maintenance information. See
Scheduled Maintenance (page 412).
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives
you.
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See Load limits in the Load Carrying
chapter for load specification terms found
on the tire label and Safety Compliance
label and instructions on calculating your
vehicle's load. See Load Limit (page 214).
Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of your vehicle load
when calculating the total vehicle weight.
Trailer Towing Connector When attaching the trailer wiring connector
to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting
connector that works with the vehicle and
trailer functions. Some seven-position
connectors may have the SAE J2863 logo,
which confirms that it is the proper wiring
connector and works correctly with your
vehicle. Function
Color
Left turn signal and stop lamp
Yellow
Ground (-)
White
Electric brakes
Blue
Right turn signal and stop
lamp
Green
Battery (+) 1
Orange
Running lights
Brown
Reverse lights
Grey
1 Your vehicle must recognize the trailer
before the trailer can receive power.
Safety Chains
Note: Do not attach safety chains to the
bumper. Always connect the safety chains
to the frame or hook retainers of your trailer
hitch.
Install trailer safety chains to the trailer
hitch as recommended by the
manufacturer. Cross the chains under the
trailer tongue and allow enough slack for
turning tight corners. Do not allow the
chains to drag on the ground. If the trailer safety chain hook has a latch,
make sure the latch is fully closed.
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Trailer Brakes
WARNING: Do not connect a
trailer's hydraulic brake system directly
to your vehicle's brake system. Your
vehicle may not have enough braking
power and your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them to
the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Separate functioning brake systems
are required for safe control of towed
vehicles and trailers weighing more
than 1500 lb (680 kg) when loaded.
Trailer Lamps WARNING:
Never connect any
trailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's tail
lamp wiring; this may damage the
electrical system resulting in fire. Contact
your authorized dealer as soon as
possible for assistance in proper trailer
tow wiring installation. Additional
electrical equipment may be required.
Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working. Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up
to get the feel of your vehicle-trailer
combination before starting on a trip.
When turning, make wider turns so the
trailer wheels clear curbs and other
obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•
Do not drive faster than
70 mph
(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi
(800 km).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
transmission in park (P) to aid engine
and transmission cooling and to help
A/C performance.
• Turn off the speed control with heavy
loads or in hilly terrain. The speed
control may turn off automatically
when you are towing on long, steep
grades.
• Shift to a lower gear when driving down
a long or steep hill. Do not apply the
brakes continuously, as they may
overheat and become less effective.
• If your transmission is equipped with a
Grade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, use
this feature when towing. This provides
engine braking and helps eliminate
excessive transmission shifting for
optimum fuel economy and
transmission cooling.
• If your vehicle is equipped with
AdvanceTrac with RSC, this system
may turn on during typical cornering
maneuvers with a heavily loaded trailer.
This is normal. Turning the corner at a
slower speed while towing may reduce
this tendency.
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•
If you are towing a trailer frequently in
hot weather, hilly conditions, at the
gross combined weight rating, or any
combination of these factors, consider
refilling your rear axle with synthetic
gear lubricant if the axle is not already
filled with it. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 323).
• Allow more distance for stopping with
a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a grade. However, if
you must park on a grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away from traffic flow.
2. Set your vehicle parking brake.
3. Place the automatic transmission in park (P).
4. Place wheel chocks in front and back of the trailer wheels. Chocks are not
included with your vehicle.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
temporary or conventional spare tire. A
temporary spare tire is different in diameter
or width, tread-type, or is from a different
manufacturer than the road tires on your
vehicle. Consult information on the tire
label or Safety Compliance label for
limitations when using.
Launching or Retrieving a Boat or
Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Note: Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before
backing the trailer into the water.
Note: Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after
removing the trailer from the water. When backing down a ramp during boat
launching or retrieval:
•
Do not allow the static water level to
rise above the bottom edge of the rear
bumper.
• Do not allow waves to break higher
than
6 in (15 cm) above the bottom
edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water to
enter vehicle components:
• Causing internal damage to the
components.
• Affecting driveability, emissions, and
reliability.
Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime
the rear axle has been submerged in water.
Water may have contaminated the rear
axle lubricant, which is not normally
checked or changed unless a leak is
suspected or other axle repair is required.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS WARNING:
If your vehicle has a
steering wheel lock make sure the
ignition is in the accessory or on position
when being towed.
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Emergency Towing
If your vehicle becomes inoperable without
access to wheel dollies, a car-hauling
trailer or a flatbed transport vehicle, you
can flat-tow with all wheels on the ground,
regardless of the powertrain and
transmission configuration, under the
following conditions:
•
Your vehicle is facing forward for
towing in a forward direction.
• Place the transmission in neutral (N).
If you cannot move the transmission
into neutral (N), you may need to
override the gear shifter. See
Automatic Transmission (page 158).
• Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
• Maximum distance is
50 mi (80 km).
Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system in
recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust
fumes from entering your vehicle.
See
Climate Control (page 117).
Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational towing, such as towing
your vehicle behind a motorhome. These
guidelines are designed to prevent damage
to your transmission.
You can put your vehicle in neutral tow for
recreational towing by placing the transfer
case in its neutral position and engaging
the four-wheel-down towing feature.
Perform the steps in the following section
after positioning your vehicle behind the
tow vehicle and properly securing them
together.
Note: Make sure you properly secure your
vehicle to the tow vehicle. 1. Put the ignition in the on position, but
do not start the engine. If your vehicle
has an ignition key, turn the key to the
on position. If your vehicle has
intelligent access, press the engine
START/STOP
button once without
pressing the brake pedal.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch to 2H
.
4. Shift the transmission to neutral (N).
5. Enable
Neutral Tow by selecting
Settings in the information display
menu.
6. Then select
Vehicle.
7. Then select
Neutral Tow and follow
the instructions on screen.
Note: If successfully completed, the
information display shows NEUTRAL TOW
LEAVE IN N
or Neutral Tow Enabled
Leave Transmission in Neutral. This
indicates that your vehicle is safe to tow
with all wheels on the ground.
Note: If you do not see the message in the
display, you must switch the ignition off and
perform the procedure again from the
beginning.
Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts into its neutral position.
This is normal.
8. Leave the transmission in neutral (N) and turn the ignition key as far as it can
go towards the off position. It does not
turn fully off when the transmission is
in neutral (N). If your vehicle has an
ignition key, you must leave the key in
the ignition when towing. To lock and
unlock your vehicle, use the keyless
entry keypad or an extra set of keys. If
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BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 mi (480 km). During
this time, your vehicle may exhibit some
unusual driving characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first
1,000 mi (1,600 km)
. Vary your speed
frequently and change up through the
gears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first
1,000 mi
(1,600 km).
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Your fuel economy is affected by several
things, such as how you drive, the
conditions you drive under, and how you
maintain your vehicle.
You may improve your fuel economy by
keeping these things in mind:
• Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,
moderate fashion.
• Drive at steady speeds without
stopping.
• Anticipate stops; slowing down may
eliminate the need to stop.
• Combine errands and minimize
stop-and-go driving.
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving.
• Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling
at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% less
fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105
km/h]).
• Keep the tires properly inflated and use
only the recommended size.
• Use the recommended engine oil.
• Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. Avoid these actions; they reduce your fuel
economy:
•
Sudden accelerations or hard
accelerations.
• Revving the engine before turning it off.
• Idle for periods longer than one minute.
• Warm up your vehicle on cold
mornings.
• Use the air conditioner or front
defroster.
• Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
• Rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving.
• Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow a
trailer.
• Carry unnecessary weight
(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is
lost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] of
weight carried).
• Driving with the wheels out of
alignment.
Conditions
• Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a
trailer may reduce fuel economy at any
speed.
• Adding certain accessories to your
vehicle (for example bug deflectors,
rollbars, light bars, running boards, ski
racks or luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
• To maximize the fuel economy, drive
with the tonneau cover installed (if
equipped).
• Using fuel blended with alcohol may
lower fuel economy.
• Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first
5–10 mi
(12 –16 km) of driving.
• Driving on flat terrain offers improved
fuel economy as compared to driving
on hilly terrain.
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Ranger (TFG) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 18-11-2019, LB3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 202002, Second-Printing Driving Hints