warning FORD SUPER DUTY 2015 3.G Owners Manual

WARNING
The appropriate loadingcapacity of your vehicle canbe limited either by volumecapacity (how much space isavailable) or by payload capacity(how much weight the vehicleshould carry). Once you havereached the maximum payload ofyour vehicle, do not add morecargo, even if there is spaceavailable. Overloading orimproperly loading your vehiclecan contribute to loss of vehiclecontrol and vehicle rollover.
Example only:
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WARNING
Exceeding the SafetyCompliance CertificationLabel vehicle weight rating limitscould result in substandardvehicle handling or performance,engine, transmission and/orstructural damage, seriousdamage to the vehicle, loss ofcontrol and personal injury.
GCW (Gross Combined Weight)- is the Gross Vehicle Weight plusthe weight of the fully loadedtrailer.
GCWR (Gross CombinedWeight Rating) - is the maximumallowable weight of the vehicleand the loaded trailer, includingall cargo and passengers, that thevehicle can handle without riskingdamage. (Important: The towingvehicle’s braking system is rated
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for operation at Gross VehicleWeight Rating, not at GrossCombined Weight Rating.)Separate functional brakes shouldbe used for safe control of towedvehicles and for trailers where theGross Combined Weight of thetowing vehicle plus the trailerexceed the Gross Vehicle WeightRating of the towing vehicle.TheGross Combined Weight mustnever exceed the GrossCombined Weight Rating.
Maximum Loaded TrailerWeight - is the highest possibleweight of a fully loaded trailer thevehicle can tow. It assumes avehicle with mandatory options,driver and front passenger weight(150 pounds [68 kilograms]each), no cargo weight (internalor external) and a tongue load of10–15% (conventional trailer) orking pin weight of 15–25% (fifthwheel trailer). Consult anauthorized dealer (or the RV andTrailer Towing Guide available atan authorized dealer) for moredetailed information.
Tongue Load or Fifth WheelKing Pin Weight - refers to theamount of the weight that a trailerpushes down on a trailer hitch.
Examples: For a 5000 pound(2268 kilogram) conventionaltrailer, multiply 5000 by 0.10 and0.15 to obtain a proper tongueload range of 500 to 750 pounds(227 to 340 kilograms). For an11500 pound (5216 kilogram) fifthwheel trailer, multiply by 0.15 and0.25 to obtain a proper king pinload range of 1725 to 2875 pounds(782 to 1304 kilograms).
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR orthe GAWR specified on theSafety Compliance CertificationLabel.
Do not use replacement tireswith lower load carryingcapacities than the original tiresbecause they may lower thevehicle’s GVWR and GAWRlimitations. Replacement tireswith a higher limit than the originaltires do not increase the GVWRand GAWR limitations.
Exceeding any vehicle weightrating limitation could resultin serious damage to the vehicleand/or personal injury.
Steps for determining thecorrect load limit:
1.Locate the statement "Thecombined weight of occupantsand cargo should never exceedXXX kg or XXX lb." on yourvehicle’s placard.
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be: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99kilograms) - (12 x 45 kilograms) =635 - 198 - 540 = -103 kilograms.You will need to reduce the loadweight by at least 240 pounds(104 kilograms). If you removethree 100-pound (45-kilogram)cement bags, then the loadcalculation would be:1400 - (2 x220) - (9 x 100) = 1400 - 440 -900 = 60 pounds. Now you havethe load capacity to transport thecement and your friend home. Inmetric units, the calculation wouldbe: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99kilograms) - (9 x 45 kilograms) =635 - 198 - 405 = 32 kilograms.
The above calculations alsoassume that the loads arepositioned in your vehicle in amanner that does not overloadthe Front or the Rear Gross AxleWeight Rating specified for yourvehicle on the Safety ComplianceCertification Label. The label shallbe affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the dooredge that meets the door-latchpost, next to the driver's seatingposition.
Special Loading Instructionsfor Owners of Pick-up Trucksand Utility-type Vehicles
WARNING
Loaded vehicles may handledifferently than unloadedvehicles. Extra precautions, suchas slower speeds and increasedstopping distance, should betaken when driving a heavilyloaded vehicle.
Your vehicle can haul more cargoand people than most passengercars. Depending upon the typeand placement of the load,hauling cargo and people mayraise the center of gravity of thevehicle.
TAILGATE
Tailgate Lock
The tailgate lock can help prevent theft ofthe tailgate.
Insert the ignition key into the tailgate lock.Turn it to the right to lock the tailgate. Turnit to the left to unlock the tailgate.
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Tailgate Removal
WARNING
Always properly secure cargo toprevent shifting cargo or cargo fallingfrom vehicle, which could result incompromised vehicle stability and seriouspersonal injury to vehicle occupants orothers.
You can remove the tailgate for moreloading room.
Note:Skip to Step 4 if your vehicle doesnot have a rearview camera.
1.Locate and disconnect the rearviewcamera in-line connector. It is underthe pickup box on the right-hand sideof the vehicle near the spare tire.
2.There is a tethered cap on the wireassembly. Install it on the in-lineconnector that remains under thepickup box.
3.Partially lower the tailgate. Carefullyfeed the tailgate harness up throughthe gap between the pickup box andthe bumper and place it out of the wayunder the pickup box.
4.Lower the tailgate.
5.Use a screwdriver to gently pry thespring clip on each connector past thehead of the support screw. Disconnectthe cable.
6.Disconnect the other cable.
7.Lift the tailgate to a 45-degree anglefrom horizontal.
8.Lift the right side off its hinge.
9.Lift the tailgate to an 80-degree anglefrom horizontal.
10.Remove the tailgate from the left sidehinge by sliding it to the right.
Reverse the steps to reinstall the tailgate.
Tailgate Step (If Equipped)
Use the step to make entering the truckbed easier.
To reduce the risk of falling:
•Only operate the step when yourvehicle is on a level surface.
•Only operate the step in areas withsufficient lighting.
•Always open the step panel to widenthe step.
•Always use the grab handle whenclimbing on the step.
•Do not use the step with bare feet.
•Make sure the step is clean before use.
•Keep the step load, you plus the load,below 350 pounds (159 kilograms).
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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR orthe GAWR specified on thecertification label.
Towing trailers beyond themaximum recommendedgross trailer weight exceeds thelimit of the vehicle and couldresult in engine damage,transmission damage, structuraldamage, loss of vehicle control,vehicle rollover and personalinjury.
Your vehicle may have electricalitems, such as fuses or relays,related to towing. See the Fuseschapter.
Your vehicle's load capacitydesignation is by weight, not byvolume, so you cannot necessarilyuse all available space whenloading a vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an extraload on your vehicle's engine,transmission, axle, brakes, tiresand suspension. Inspect thesecomponents periodically during,and after, any towing operation.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailermovement affects your vehiclewhen driving:
•Load the heaviest items closestto the trailer floor.
•Load the heaviest itemscentered between the left andright side trailer tires.
•Load the heaviest items abovethe trailer axles or just slightlyforward toward the trailertongue. Do not allow the finaltrailer tongue weight to goabove or below 10-15% of theloaded trailer weight.
•Select a tow bar with thecorrect rise or drop. When boththe loaded vehicle and trailerare connected, the trailer frameshould be level, or slightlyangled down toward yourvehicle, when viewed from theside.
When driving with a trailer orpayload, a slight takeoff vibrationor shudder may be present due tothe increased payload weight.Additional information regardingproper trailer loading and settingyour vehicle up for towing islocated in another chapter of thismanual. See Load Limit (page178). You can also find theinformation in the RV & TrailerTowing Guide, available at anauthorized dealer.
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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 178).
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note:Do not exceed a trailerweight of 5000 pounds (2268kilograms) when towing with, orby, bumper only.
Note:Make sure to take intoconsideration trailer frontal area.Do not exceed 60 feet2 (5.6
meters2) trailer frontal area.
Note:Exceeding this limitationmay significantly reduce theperformance of your towingvehicle. Selecting a trailer with alow aerodynamic drag and roundedfront design helps optimizeperformance and fuel economy.
Note:For high altitude operation,reduce the gross combined weightby 2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)starting at the 1000 foot (300meter) elevation point.
Note:Certain states requireelectric trailer brakes for trailersover a specified weight. Be sure tocheck state regulations for thisspecified weight. The maximumtrailer weights listed may be limitedto this specified weight, as yourvehicle's electrical system may notinclude the wiring connectorneeded to use electric trailerbrakes.
Your vehicle may tow a class I, II,III and IV trailer or fifth-wheeltrailer provided the maximumtrailer weight is less than or equalto the maximum trailer weightlisted for your vehicleconfiguration on the followingchart.
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Active guidelinesA
CenterlineB
Fixed guideline: GreenzoneC
Fixed guideline: YellowzoneD
Fixed guideline: Red zoneE
Rear bumperF
Fixed guidelines are always shownin the display, but the activeguidelines only display when thesteering wheel is turned. To useactive guidelines, turn the steeringwheel to point the guidelinestoward an intended path. If thesteering wheel position is changedwhile reversing, your vehicle mightdeviate from the original intendedpath.
The active guidelines fade in andout depending on the steeringwheel position. The activeguidelines are not shown when thesteering wheel position is straight.
Always use caution whilereversing. Objects in the red zoneare closest to your vehicle andobjects in the green zone arefarther away. Objects are gettingcloser to your vehicle as theymove from the green zone to theyellow or red zones. Use the sideview mirrors and rear view mirrorto get better coverage on bothsides and rear of your vehicle.
Refer to the Rear View Camerasection for additional information.See Rear View Camera (page173).
Hitches
WARNING
On pick-up trucks, the trailerhitch provided on this vehicleenhances crash protection for thefuel system. Do not remove!
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Do not use a hitch that eitherclamps onto the bumper orattaches to the axle. You mustdistribute the load in your trailerso that 10-15% for conventionaltowing or 15-25% for fifth wheeltowing of the total weight of thetrailer is on the tongue.
Weight-distributing Hitches
WARNING
Do not adjust aweight-distributing hitch toany position where the rearbumper of the vehicle is higherthan it was before attaching thetrailer. Doing so will defeat thefunction of the weight-distributinghitch, which may causeunpredictable handling, and could
result in serious personal injury.
When hooking-up a trailer using aweight-distributing hitch, alwaysuse the following procedure:
1.Park the loaded vehicle,without the trailer, on a levelsurface.
2.Measure the height to the topof your vehicle's front wheelopening on the fender. This isH1.
3.Attach the loaded trailer toyour vehicle without theweight-distributing barsconnected.
4.Measure the height to the topof your vehicle's front wheelopening on the fender a secondtime. This is H2.
5.Install and adjust the tensionin the weight-distributing barsso that the height of yourvehicle's front wheel openingon the fender is approximatelyhalfway between H1 and H2.
6.Check that the trailer is level orslightly nose down toward yourvehicle. If not, adjust the ballheight accordingly and repeatSteps 2-6.
Once the trailer is level or slightlynose down toward the vehicle:
•Lock the bar tension adjusterin place.
•Check that the trailer tonguesecurely attaches and locksonto the hitch.
•Install safety chains, lighting,and trailer brake controls asrequired by law or the trailermanufacturer.
Fifth-wheel Trailer Hitch (IfEquipped)
WARNINGS
The mounting pads in the bedare specifically designed forcertain fifth-wheel trailer hitchesand gooseneck ball hitches. Donot use these mounting pads forother purposes. Doing so couldresult in vehicle structural
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WARNINGS
damage, loss of vehicle control,and personal injury. Contact anauthorized dealer to purchasegooseneck and fifth-wheel hitchesthat are compatible with yourvehicle.
Towing trailers beyond themaximum limit of the towingsystem could result in vehiclestructural damage, loss of vehiclecontrol and personal injury.
The hitch rating listed on thetrailer hitch label is themaximum possible trailer rating.To find the maximum trailerweight allowed for your specificvehicle, consult an authorizeddealer or the RV & Trailer TowingGuide provided by an authorizeddealer.
Your vehicle may be equippedwith a fifth-wheel prep package.This package enables your vehicleto accept certain fifth-wheeltrailer hitches and gooseneck ballhitches. The fifth-wheel trailerhitch attaches to the fourmounting pads in the pick-up bed.An optional 7-pin trailer wiringconnector may be in the bed aswell. The gooseneck ball hitch isa separate mounting pad from thefifth-wheel hitch, located in thecenter of the bed.
Shorter pick-up boxes, such as the6½-foot box on the F-250 andF-350, provide less clearancebetween the cab and thefifth-wheel and gooseneck trailercompared to longer box pick-ups,such as an 8-foot box on theF-250 or F-350. When selecting atrailer and tow vehicle, it is criticalto check that this combinationprovides clearance between thefront of the trailer and tow vehiclefor turns up to 90 degrees. Failureto follow this recommendationcould result in the trailercontacting the cab of the towvehicle during tight turns that aretypical during low-speed parkingand turning maneuvers. Thiscontact could result in damage tothe trailer and tow vehicle.
Safety Chains
Note:Do not attach safety chainsto the bumper.
Always connect the safety chainsto the frame or hook retainers ofyour vehicle hitch.
To connect the safety chains,cross the chains under the trailertongue and allow enough slack forturning tight corners. Do not allowthe chains to drag on the ground.
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