trailer LINCOLN MKZ 2013 User Guide

Cargo Weight – includes all
weight added to the Base Curb
Weight, including cargo and
optional equipment. When towing,
trailer tongue load or king pin
weight is also part of cargo weight.
GAW (Gross Axle Weight) -
is
the total weight placed on each
axle (front and rear) – including
vehicle curb weight and all
payload. GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) -
is the maximum
allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front or
rear). These numbers are shown
on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label. The label
shall be affixed to either the
door hinge pillar, door-latch
post, or the door edge that
meets the door-latch post, next
to the driver's seating position.
The total load on each axle
must never exceed its GAWR.
Note: For trailer towing information
refer to the RV and Trailer Towing
Guide provided by your authorized
dealer. 221
Load CarryingE143817CARGO E143818GVW

WARNING
Exceeding the Safety
Compliance Certification Label
vehicle weight rating limits could
result in substandard vehicle handling
or performance, engine, transmission
and/or structural damage, serious
damage to the vehicle, loss of control
and personal injury. GCW (Gross Combined Weight)
- is the weight of the loaded
vehicle (GVW) plus the weight of
the fully loaded trailer GCWR (Gross Combined
Weight Rating) -is the maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle
and the loaded trailer -including
all cargo and passengers - that
the vehicle can handle without
risking damage. (Important: The
towing vehicle
’s braking system is
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Load CarryingE142524 E143819GCW
GVW

rated for operation at GVWR, not
at GCWR.) Separate functional
brakes should be used for safe
control of towed vehicles and for
trailers where the GCW of the
towing vehicle plus the trailer
exceed the GVWR of the towing
vehicle.
The GCW must never
exceed the GCWR.
Maximum Loaded Trailer
Weight - is the highest possible
weight of a fully loaded trailer the
vehicle can tow. It assumes a
vehicle with only mandatory
options, no cargo (internal or
external), a tongue load of
10– 15% (conventional trailer) or
king pin weight of 15– 25% (fifth
wheel trailer), and driver only (150
lb. [68 kg]). Consult your
authorized dealer (or the RV
and Trailer Towing Guide
provided by your authorized
dealer) for more detailed
information.
Tongue Load or Fifth Wheel
King Pin Weight -
refers to the
amount of the weight that a trailer
pushes down on a trailer hitch. Examples:
For a 5000 lb. (2268
kg) conventional trailer, multiply
5000 by 0.10 and 0.15 to obtain a
proper tongue load range of 500
to 750 lb. (227 to 340 kg). For an
11500 lb. (5216 kg) fifth wheel
trailer, multiply by 0.15 and 0.25
to obtain a proper king pin load
range of 1725 to 2875 lb. (782 to
1304 kg). WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or the
GAWR specified on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label. Do not use replacement tires
with lower load carrying
capacities than the original tires
because they may lower the vehicle ’s
GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Replacement tires with a higher limit
than the original tires do not increase
the GVWR and GAWR limitations. Exceeding any vehicle weight
rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and/or
personal injury. 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.
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Load Carrying

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.). In metric units (635-340
(5 x 68) = 295 kg.)
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.
The following gives you a few
examples on how to calculate the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity: *Suppose your vehicle has a 1400
lb. (635 kg) cargo and luggage
capacity. You decide to go golfing.
Is there enough load capacity to
carry you, 4 of your friends and all
the golf bags? You and four
friends average 220 lb. (99 kg)
each and the golf bags weigh
approximately 30 lb. (13.5 kg)
each. The calculation would be:
1400 - (5 x 220) - (5 x 30) = 1400
- 1100 - 150 = 150 lb. 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 kg
- (5 x 99 kg) - (5 x 13.5 kg) = 635
- 495 - 67.5 = 72.5 kg.
*Suppose your vehicle has a 1400
lb. (635 kg) 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 2 years.
Measuring the inside of the vehicle
with the rear seat folded down,
you have room for 12-100 lb. (45
kg) bags of cement. Do you have
enough load capacity to transport
the cement to your home? If you
and your friend each weigh 220 lb.
(99 kg), the calculation would be:
1400 - (2 x 220) - (12 x 100) =
1400 - 440 - 1200 = - 240 lb. No,
you do not have enough cargo
capacity to carry that much
weight. In metric units, the
225
Load Carrying

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or the
GAWR specified on the
certification label. Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended gross
trailer weight exceeds the limit of the
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover and personal
injury. Note:
There may be electrical items
such as fuses or relays that can affect
trailer towing operation. See Fuses
(page 251).
Weight, not volume designates your
vehicle's load capacity. You cannot
necessarily use all available space
when loading a vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an additional
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and
suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during, and
after, any towing operation.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects the vehicle when
driving:
• Load the heaviest items closest to
the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items in the
center of the left and right side
trailer tires. •
Load the heaviest items above the
trailer axles or just slightly forward
toward the trailer tongue. Do not
allow the final trailer tongue
weight to go above or below
10-15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
• Select a tow bar with the correct
rise or drop. When both the loaded
vehicle and trailer are connected,
the trailer frame should be level,
or slightly angled down toward the
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
When driving with a trailer or payload,
a slight takeoff vibration or shudder
may be present due to the increased
payload weight. Additional
information regarding proper trailer
loading and setting your vehicle up for
towing is located in another chapter
of this manual. See Load Limit (page
219). You can also find the information
in the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide,
available at your authorized dealer.
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note: Do not exceed the trailer weight
for your vehicle configuration listed in
the chart below.
Note: Be sure to take into
consideration trailer frontal area. Do
not exceed 20 feet 2
(1.86 meters 2
).
Note: For high altitude operation,
reduce the gross combined weight by
2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)
starting at the 1000 foot (300 meter)
elevation point.
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Towing

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 the vehicle ’s electrical system may
not include the wiring connector
needed to activate electric trailer
brakes. Your vehicle may tow a Class I trailer
provided the maximum trailer weight
is less than or equal to the maximum
trailer weight listed for your vehicle
configuration on the following charts. Maximum Trailer Weight - lb (kg)
*
Powertrain
1000 (454)
2.0L GTDI
1000 (454)
3.7L TiVCT
* Calculated with SAE J2807 method.
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Towing

ESSENTIAL TOWING
CHECKS
Follow these guidelines to ensure safe
towing:
•
Do not tow a trailer until you drive
your vehicle at least 1000 miles
(1600 kilometers).
• Consult your local motor vehicle
laws for towing a trailer.
• Refer to the instructions included
with towing accessories for the
proper installation and adjustment
specifications.
• Service your vehicle more
frequently if you tow a trailer. Refer
to your scheduled maintenance
information.
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives
you.
You can find information on load
specification terms found on the tire
label and Safety Compliance label as
well as instructions on calculating
your vehicle's load in another chapter
of this manual. See Load Limit (page
219).
Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of the vehicle
load when calculating the total
vehicle weight. Hitches
•
Do not use a hitch that either
clamps onto the bumper or
attaches to the axle.
• Distribute the trailer load so
10-15% of the total trailer weight
is on the trailer tongue.
Safety Chains
Note: Never attach safety chains to
the bumper.
Always connect the trailer ’s safety
chains to the hook retainers of the
vehicle hitch.
To connect the trailer ’s safety chains,
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.
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,
when installed properly and adjusted
to the manufacturer's specifications,
are safe to use. The trailer brakes
must meet local and federal
regulations.
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Towing

The braking system of the tow
vehicle is rated for operation at the
GVWR not GCWR.
Separate functioning brake
systems are required for safe
control of towed vehicles and
trailers weighing more than 1500
pounds (680 kilograms) when
loaded.
Trailer Lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most
towed vehicles. Make sure all running
lights, brake lights, turn signals and
hazard lights are working. Contact
your authorized dealer or trailer rental
agency for proper instructions and
equipment for hooking up the lamps.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and
backing-up to get the feel of the
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
miles (800 kilometers).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical
connections and trailer wheel lug
nuts thoroughly after you have
traveled 50 miles (80 kilometers). •
When stopped in congested or
heavy traffic during hot weather,
place the gearshift in position 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.
• Allow more distance for stopping
with a trailer attached. Anticipate
stops and brake gradually.
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Towing

•
Avoid parking on a grade.
• However, if you must park on a
grade:
•Turn the steering wheel to point
the vehicle tires away from
traffic flow.
• Set the vehicle parking brake.
• Place automatic transmission
in position P.
• Place wheel chocks in front and
back of the trailer wheels.
(Chocks not equipped with
vehicle.)
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 you remove 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 inches (15 centimeters)
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 drivability, emissions, and
reliability. Any time the rear axle submerges in
water, replace the rear axle lubricant.
Water may contaminate the rear axle
lubricant, which is not a normal
maintenance inspection item unless
there is a possibility of a leak or other
axle repair is required.
TRANSPORTING THE
VEHICLE
If you need to have your vehicle
towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member of a
roadside assistance program, your
roadside assistance service provider.
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TowingE143886

We recommend using a wheel lift and
dollies or flatbed equipment. Do not
tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor
Company has not approved a
slingbelt towing procedure. If towed
incorrectly, or by any other means,
vehicle damage may occur.
Ford Motor Company produces a
towing manual for all authorized tow
truck operators. Have your tow truck
operator refer to this manual for
proper hook-up and towing
procedures for your vehicle.
It is acceptable to tow a front-wheel
drive (FWD) vehicle from the front if
using proper wheel lift equipment to
raise the front wheels off the ground.
The rear wheels can remain on the
ground when towed in this fashion.
FWD vehicles can also be towed from
the rear using wheel lift equipment;
however, the front wheels must be
placed on a dolly to prevent damage
to the transmission.
It is required to tow an all-wheel drive
(AWD) vehicle with a wheel lift and
dollies or flatbed equipment, with all
the wheels off the ground, to prevent
damage to the transmission, AWD
system or vehicle.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS
Emergency Towing
You can flat-tow (all wheels on the
ground, regardless of the
powertrain/transmission
configuration) your disabled vehicle
(without access to wheel dollies,
car-hauling trailer, or flatbed transport
vehicle) under the following
conditions:
•
Your vehicle is facing forward so
you tow it in a forward direction.
• You place the transmission in
position N. If you cannot place the
transmission in position N, you
may need to override it. See
Transmission
(page 165).
• Maximum speed is 35 mph (56
km/h).
• Maximum distance is 50 miles (80
kilometers).
Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system
in recirculated air mode to prevent
exhaust fumes from entering the
vehicle. See
Climate Control (page
126).
Follow these guidelines if you have a
need for recreational (RV) towing. An
example of recreational towing would
be towing your vehicle behind a
motorhome. These guidelines are to
make sure you do not damage the
transmission during towing.
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Towing