towing FORD SUPER DUTY 2015 3.G Owner's Guide

gain setting is at a point justbelow trailer wheel lock-up. Iftowing a heavier trailer, trailerwheel lock-up may not beattainable even with themaximum gain setting of 10.
Initial Output Setting
The trailer brake controller letsyou customize how aggressivelythe trailer brakes engage. Thedefault value is set to “Light”. Werecommend this setting for themajority of trailers. If you are usingan EOH trailer with a high settingvoltage, or if you prefer to feelmore brake feedback from thetrailer, then select “Medium” or“Heavy”.
Trailer Brake Effort Setting
The trailer brake controller allowsthe user to customize howaggressively the trailer brakesengage. The default value is "Low"and is the recommended settingfor most trailers. If your trailer'sbrakes require more initial voltage,or if you prefer more aggressivetrailer braking, then select eitherthe "Medium" or the "High"setting.
Information Display WarningMessages
Note:An authorized dealer candiagnose the trailer brake controllerto determine exactly which trailerfault has occurred. However, yourFord warranty does not cover thisdiagnosis if the fault is with thetrailer.
TRAILER BRAKE MODULEFAULT
Displays in response to faultssensed by the trailer brakecontroller, accompanied by asingle tone. If this messageappears, contact an authorizeddealer as soon as possible fordiagnosis and repair. Thecontroller may still function, but
with degraded performance.
WIRING FAULT ON TRAILER
Displays when there is a shortcircuit on the electric brake outputwire.
If this message displays,accompanied by a single tone,with no trailer connected, theproblem is with your vehicle wiringbetween the trailer brakecontroller and the 7-pin connectorat the bumper.
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If the message only displays witha trailer connected, the problemis with the trailer wiring. Consultyour trailer dealer for assistance.This can be a short to ground(such as a chaffed wire), short tovoltage (such as a pulled pin ontrailer emergency breakawaybattery) or the trailer brakes maybe drawing too much current.
Points to Remember
Note:Do not attempt removal ofthe trailer brake controller withoutconsulting the Workshop Manual.Damage to the unit may result.
•Adjust gain setting before usingthe trailer brake controller forthe first time.
•Adjust gain setting, using theprocedure above, wheneverroad, weather and trailer orvehicle loading conditionschange from when the gainwas initially set.
•Only use the manual controllever for proper adjustment ofthe gain during trailer setup.Misuse, such as applicationduring trailer sway, could causeinstability of trailer or towvehicle.
•Avoid towing in adverseweather conditions. The trailerbrake controller does notprovide anti-lock control of thetrailer wheels. Trailer wheelscan lock up on slipperysurfaces, resulting in reducedstability of trailer and towvehicle.
•The trailer brake controller isequipped with a feature thatreduces output at vehiclespeeds below 11 mph (18 km/h)so trailer and vehicle braking isnot jerky or harsh. This featureis only available when applyingthe brakes using your vehicle'sbrake pedal, not the controller.
•The controller interacts withthe brake control system andpowertrain control system ofyour vehicle to provide the bestperformance on different roadconditions.
•Your vehicle's brake systemand the trailer brake systemwork independently of eachother. Changing the gainsetting on the controller doesnot affect the operation of yourvehicle's brakes whether youattach a trailer or not.
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•When you switch the engineoff, the controller output isdisabled and the display andmodule shut down. Thecontroller module and displayturn on when you switch theignition on.
•The trailer brake controller isonly a factory-installed ordealer-installed item. Ford isnot responsible for warranty orperformance of the controllerdue to misuse or customerinstallation.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING
Never connect any trailerlamp wiring to the vehicle'stail lamp wiring; this may damagethe electrical system resulting infire. Contact your authorizeddealer as soon as possible forassistance in proper trailer towwiring installation. Additionalelectrical equipment may berequired.
Trailer lamps are required on mosttowed vehicles. Make sure allrunning lights, brake lights, turnsignals and hazard lights areworking.
Using a Step Bumper (IfEquipped)
The rear bumper is equipped withan integral hitch and only requiresa ball with a one-inch (25.4millimeter) shank diameter. Thebumper has a 5000-pound (2268kilogram) trailer weight and a500-pound (227 kilogram) tongueweight capacity
If it is necessary to relocate thehitch ball position, you must installa frame-mounted trailer hitch.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping andbacking up to get the feel of yourvehicle-trailer combination beforestarting on a trip. When turning,
make wider turns so the trailerwheels clear curbs and otherobstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•Do not drive faster than 70mph (113 km/h) during the first500 miles (800 kilometers).
•Do not make full-throttlestarts.
•Check your hitch, electricalconnections and trailer wheel
lug nuts thoroughly after youhave traveled 50 miles (80kilometers).
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•When stopped in congested orheavy traffic during hotweather, place the gearshift inposition P to aid engine andtransmission cooling and tohelp A/C performance.
•Turn off the speed control withheavy loads or in hilly terrain.The speed control may turn offautomatically when you aretowing on long, steep grades.
•Shift to a lower gear whendriving down a long or steephill. Do not apply the brakescontinuously, as they mayoverheat and become lesseffective.
•If your transmission is equippedwith a Grade Assist orTow/Haul feature, use thisfeature when towing. Thisprovides engine braking andhelps eliminate excessivetransmission shifting foroptimum fuel economy andtransmission cooling.
•If your vehicle is equipped withAdvanceTrac with RSC, thissystem may turn on duringtypical cornering maneuverswith a heavily loaded trailer.This is normal. Turning thecorner at a slower speed whiletowing may reduce thistendency.
•If you are towing a trailerfrequently in hot weather, hillyconditions, at the grosscombined weight rating (or anycombination of these factors),consider refilling your rear axlewith synthetic gear lubricant (ifthe axle is not already filledwith it). See Capacities andSpecifications (page 301).
•Allow more distance forstopping with a trailerattached. Anticipate stops andbrake gradually.
•Avoid parking on a grade.However, if you must park on agrade:
1.Turn the steering wheel topoint your vehicle tires awayfrom traffic flow.
2.Set your vehicle parking brake.
3.Place the automatictransmission in position P.
4.Place wheel chocks in frontand back of the trailer wheels.(Chocks not included withvehicle.)
Your vehicle may be equippedwith a temporary or conventionalspare tire. A "temporary" spare tireis different in size (diameter orwidth), tread-type (All-Season orAll Terrain) or is from a differentmanufacturer than the road tireson your vehicle. Consultinformation on the tire label orSafety Compliance label forlimitations when using.
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Launching or Retrieving a Boator Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Note:Disconnect the wiring to thetrailer before backing the trailerinto the water.
Note:Reconnect the wiring to thetrailer after you remove the trailerfrom the water.
When backing down a rampduring boat launching or retrieval:
•Do not allow the static waterlevel to rise above the bottomedge of the rear bumper.
•Do not allow waves to breakhigher than 6 inches (15centimeters) above the bottomedge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allowwater to enter vehiclecomponents:
•Causing internal damage to thecomponents.
•Affecting driveability,emissions, and reliability.
Replace the rear axle lubricantanytime the rear axle has beensubmerged in water. Water mayhave contaminated the rear axlelubricant, which is not normallychecked or changed unless a leakis suspected or other axle repair isrequired.
TOWING POINTS
WARNINGS
Using recovery hooks is dangerousand should only be done by a personfamiliar with proper vehicle recoverysafety practices. Improper use of recoveryhooks may cause hook failure or separationfrom the vehicle and could result in seriousinjury or death.
Always slowly remove the slack fromthe recovery strap prior to pulling.Failure to do so can introducesignificantly higher loads which can causethe recovery hooks to break off, or therecovery strap to fail which can causeserious injury or death.
Never link two straps together witha clevis pin. These heavy metalobjects could become projectiles ifthe strap breaks and can cause seriousinjury or death.
Your vehicle comes equipped withframe-mounted front recovery hooks.These hooks should never have a loadapplied to them greater than the grossvehicle weight rating of your vehicle.
Before using recovery hooks:
•Make sure all attaching points aresecure and capable of withstandingthe applied load.
•Never use chains, cables or tow strapswith metal hook ends.
•Only use recovery straps that have aminimum breaking strength two tothree times the gross vehicle weight ofthe stuck vehicle.
•Make sure the recovery strap is in goodcondition and free of visible cuts, tearsor damage.
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•Use a damper device such as a tarp,heavy blanket or piece of carpetdraped over the recovery strap to helpabsorb the energy in the event thestrap breaks.
•Make sure the stuck vehicle is notloaded heavier than its gross vehicleweight rating specified on thecertification label.
•Always align the tow vehicle and stuckvehicle in a straight line (within 10degrees).
•Keep bystanders to the sides of thevehicle, at a distance of at least twicethe length of the recovery strap. Thishelps avoid injury from the hazard of arecovery hook or strap breaking, or avehicle lurching into their path.
TRANSPORTING THE VEHICLE
If you need to have your vehicle towed,contact a professional towing service or,if you are a member of a roadsideassistance program, your roadsideassistance service provider.
We recommend the use of a wheel lift anddollies or flatbed equipment to tow yourvehicle. Do not tow with a slingbelt. FordMotor Company has not approved aslingbelt towing procedure. Vehicledamage may occur if towed incorrectly, orby any other means.
Ford Motor Company produces a towingmanual for all authorized tow truckoperators. Have your tow truck operatorrefer to this manual for proper hook-upand towing procedures for your vehicle.
It is acceptable to have your two-wheeldrive vehicle towed with the front wheelson the ground (without dollies) and therear wheels off the ground.
We recommend towing a four-wheel drivevehicle with all wheels off the ground, suchas using a wheel lift and dollies or flatbedequipment. However, it is acceptable touse a wheel lift to raise the rear of yourvehicle so long as, depending on vehicleconfiguration, you perform the followingbefore towing:
•If your vehicle is equipped with amanual-shift transfer case, make surethe front wheel hub locks are in theFREE position before towing.
•If your vehicle is equipped with anelectronic shift-on-the-fly transfercase, make sure you turn thefour-wheel drive control to the 2Hposition before towing.
Note:Towing an electronic shift-on-the-flyfour-wheel drive vehicle with the frontwheels on the ground without disengagingthe front hubs may cause damage to theautomatic transmission.
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Note:Towing a two-wheel drive vehicle oran electronic shift-on-the-fly four-wheeldrive vehicle with the rear wheels on theground for more than 50 miles (80 km) orfaster than 35 mph (56 km/h) may causedamage to the automatic transmission.
Note:Using wheel lift equipment to tow adual rear wheel vehicle requires removingan outer rear wheel before towing.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS
Emergency Towing
If your vehicle becomes inoperable(without access to wheel dollies,car-hauling trailer, or flatbed transportvehicle), it can be flat-towed (all wheelson the ground, regardless of the powertrainand transmission configuration) under thefollowing conditions:
•Your vehicle is facing forward fortowing in a forward direction.
•Place the transmission in position N. Ifyou cannot move the transmission intoN, you may need to override it. SeeTransmission (page 144).
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 miles (80kilometers).
Recreational Towing
Note:Put your climate control system inrecirculated air mode to prevent exhaustfumes from entering your vehicle. SeeClimate Control (page 103).
Follow these guidelines if you have a needfor recreational towing, such as towingyour vehicle behind a motorhome. Wedesigned these guidelines to preventdamage to your transmission.
Two-wheel Drive Vehicles andFour-wheel Drive Vehicles Equippedwith an Electronic-shift Transfer Case
Do not tow your vehicle with any wheelson the ground, as vehicle or transmissiondamage may occur. It is recommended totow your vehicle with all four (4) wheelsoff the ground, such as when using acar-hauling trailer. Otherwise, you cannottow your vehicle.
Four-wheel Drive Vehicles Equippedwith a Manual-shift Transfer Case
1.Put the transmission in position N.
2.Put the transfer case in position N.
3.Put the hub locks in the FREE position.Always make sure that both hub locksare set to the same position.
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BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires forapproximately 300 miles (480kilometers). During this time, your vehiclemay exhibit some unusual drivingcharacteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first 1000miles (1600 kilometers). Vary your speedfrequently and change up through thegears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1000 miles(1600 kilometers).
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Your fuel economy is affected by severalthings, such as how you drive, theconditions you drive under, and how youmaintain your vehicle.
You may improve your fuel economy bykeeping these things in mind:
•Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,moderate fashion.
•Drive at steady speeds withoutstopping.
•Anticipate stops; slowing down mayeliminate the need to stop.
•Combine errands and minimizestop-and-go driving.
•Close the windows for high-speeddriving.
•Drive at reasonable speeds (travelingat 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% lessfuel than traveling at 65 mph [105km/h]).
•Keep the tires properly inflated and useonly the recommended size.
•Use the recommended engine oil.
•Perform all regularly scheduledmaintenance.
Avoid these actions; they reduce your fueleconomy:
•Sudden accelerations or hardaccelerations.
•Revving the engine before turning it off.
•Idle for periods longer than one minute.
•Warm up your vehicle on coldmornings.
•Use the air conditioner or frontdefroster.
•Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
•Rest your foot on the brake pedal whiledriving.
•Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow atrailer.
•Carry unnecessary weight(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] islost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] ofweight carried).
•Driving with the wheels out ofalignment.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing atrailer may reduce fuel economy at anyspeed.
•Adding certain accessories to yourvehicle (for example bug deflectors,rollbars, light bars, running boards, skiracks or luggage racks) may reducefuel economy.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drivewith the tonneau cover installed (ifequipped).
•Using fuel blended with alcohol maylower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lowertemperatures during the first 8–10miles (12–16 kilometers) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improvedfuel economy as compared to drivingon hilly terrain.
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ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Vehicles Sold In The U.S.: GettingRoadside Assistance
To fully assist you should you have avehicle concern, Ford Motor Companyoffers a complimentary roadsideassistance program. This program isseparate from the New Vehicle LimitedWarranty. The service is available:
•24 hours, seven days a week.
•for the coverage period listed on theRoadside Assistance Card included inyour Owner's Manual portfolio.
Roadside assistance will cover:
•a flat tire change with a good spare, ifprovided with the vehicle (exceptvehicles that have been supplied witha tire inflation kit).
•battery jump start.
•lock-out assistance (key replacementcost is the customer's responsibility).
•fuel delivery — Independent ServiceContractors, if not prohibited by state,local or municipal law, shall deliver upto 2.0 gallons (7.5 liters) of gasoline or5.0 gallons (18.9 liters) of diesel fuelto a disabled vehicle. Fuel deliveryservice is limited to two no-chargeoccurrences within a 12-month period.
•winch out — available within 100 feet(30.5 meters) of a paved or countymaintained road, no recoveries.
•towing — Ford and Lincoln eligiblevehicles towed to an authorized dealerwithin 35 miles (56.3 kilometers) of thedisablement location or to the nearestauthorized dealer. If a memberrequests to be towed to an authorizeddealer more than 35 miles (56.3kilometers) from the disablementlocation, the member shall beresponsible for any mileage costs inexcess of 35 miles (56.3 kilometers).
Trailers shall be covered up to $200 if thedisabled eligible vehicle requires service atthe nearest authorized dealer. If the traileris disabled, but the towing vehicle isoperational, the trailer does not qualify forany roadside services.
Vehicles Sold In The U.S. : UsingRoadside Assistance
Complete the roadside assistanceidentification card and place it in yourwallet for quick reference. This card isfound in the owner's information portfolioin the glove compartment.
U.S. Ford vehicle customers who requireRoadside Assistance, call 1-800-241-3673.
If you need to arrange roadside assistancefor yourself, Ford Motor Company willreimburse a reasonable amount for towingto the nearest dealership within 35 miles(56.3 kilometers). To obtainreimbursement information, U.S. Fordvehicle customers call 1-800-241-3673.Customers will be asked to submit theiroriginal receipts.
Vehicles Sold In Canada : GettingRoadside Assistance
Canadian customers who require roadsideassistance, call 1-800-665-2006.
Vehicles Sold In Canada : UsingRoadside Assistance
For your convenience, you may completethe roadside assistance identification cardfound in the centerfold of your warrantyguide and retain for future reference.
Canadian roadside coverage and benefitsmay differ from the U.S. coverage. If yourequire more information, please refer tothe coverage section of your warrantyguide, call us in Canada at1-800-665-2006, or visit our website atwww.ford.ca.
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When Fail-Safe Mode Is Activated
WARNINGS
Fail-safe mode is for use duringemergencies only. Operate thevehicle in fail-safe mode only as longas necessary to bring the vehicle to rest ina safe location and seek immediate repairs.When in fail-safe mode, the vehicle willhave limited power, will not be able tomaintain high-speed operation, and maycompletely shut down without warning,potentially losing engine power, powersteering assist, and power brake assist,which may increase the possibility of acrash resulting in serious injury.
Never remove the coolant reservoircap while the engine is running or hot.
You have limited engine power when in thefail-safe mode, so drive the vehicle withcaution. The vehicle will not be able tomaintain high-speed operation and theengine will run rough. Remember that theengine is capable of completely shuttingdown automatically to prevent enginedamage, therefore:
1.Pull off the road as soon as safelypossible and turn off the engine.
2.Arrange for the vehicle to be taken toan authorized dealer.
3.If this is not possible, wait a shortperiod for the engine to cool.
4.Check the coolant level and replenishif low.
5.Re-start the engine and take yourvehicle to an authorized dealer.
Note:Driving the vehicle without repairingthe engine problem increases the chance ofengine damage. Take your vehicle to anauthorized dealer as soon as possible.
Engine Fluid TemperatureManagement (If Equipped)
WARNING
To reduce the risk of collision andinjury, be prepared that the vehiclespeed may reduce and the vehiclemay not be able to accelerate with fullpower until the fluid temperatures reduce.
Your vehicle has been designed to pull atrailer, but because of the added load, thevehicle’s engine may temporarily reachhigher temperatures during severeoperating conditions such as ascending along or steep grade while pulling a trailerin hot ambient temperatures.
At this time, you may notice your enginecoolant temperature gauge needle movetoward the H and the POWER REDUCEDTO LOWER TEMP message may appearin the information display.
You may notice a reduction in the vehicle’sspeed caused by reduced engine power.Your vehicle has been designed to enterthis mode if certain high temperature/highload conditions take place in order tomanage the engine’s fluid temperatures.The amount of speed reduction willdepend on the vehicle loading, towing,grade, ambient temperature, and otherfactors. If this occurs, there is no need topull off the road. The vehicle can continueto be driven while this message is active
The air conditioning may also cycle on andoff during severe operating conditions toprotect overheating of the engine. Whenthe engine coolant temperature decreasesto a more normal operating temperature,the air conditioning will turn on once again.If you notice any of the following:
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