Ford F-550 (2017 year). Manual — part 71

When Towing a Trailer

•

Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).

•

Do not drive faster than 70 mph
(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi
(800 km).

•

Do not make full-throttle starts.

•

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.

•

If your vehicle is equipped with
Adaptive Steering and you have
enabled Tow/Haul, the Adaptive
Steering system adjusts the steering
response to match your vehicle’s load.
The system reduces vehicle sensitivity
to steering inputs at higher vehicle
speeds while it maintains the ease of
parking and maneuverability at low
speeds.

•

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.

•

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).

•

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

position P.

4. Place wheel chocks in front and back

of the trailer wheels. (Chocks not
included with vehicle.)

Your vehicle may be equipped with a
temporary or conventional spare tire. A
"temporary" spare tire is different in size
(diameter or width), tread-type
(All-Season or All Terrain) 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 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 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

Emergency Towing

If your vehicle becomes inoperable
(without access to wheel dollies,
car-hauling trailer, or flatbed transport
vehicle), it can be flat-towed (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 position N. If
you cannot move the transmission into
N, you may need to override it. See
Transmission (page 205).

•

Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).

•

Maximum distance is 50 mi (80 km).

WARNING

If your vehicle has a steering wheel
lock make sure the ignition is in the
accessory or on position when being

towed.

Recreational Towing

Note: Put your climate control system in
recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust
fumes from entering your vehicle. See
Climate Control (page 145).

Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational towing, such as towing
your vehicle behind a motorhome. We
designed these guidelines to prevent
damage to your transmission.

Two-wheel Drive Vehicles and
Four-wheel Drive Vehicles Equipped
with an Electronic-shift Transfer Case

Do not tow your vehicle with any wheels
on the ground, as vehicle or transmission
damage may occur. It is recommended to
tow your vehicle with all four (4) wheels
off the ground, such as when using a
car-hauling trailer. Otherwise, you cannot
tow your vehicle.

Four-wheel Drive Vehicles Equipped
with 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 locks
are set to the same position.

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.

Drive your new vehicle at least 1,000 mi
(1,600 km) before towing a trailer. Make
sure you use the specified engine oil. See
Capacities and Specifications (page
418).

Do not add friction modifier compounds
or special break-in oils during the first few
thousand miles (kilometers) of operation.
These additives may prevent piston ring
seating.

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 8–10
miles (12–16 kilometers) of driving.

•

Driving on flat terrain offers improved
fuel economy as compared to driving
on hilly terrain.

•

Transmissions give their best fuel
economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure
on the gas pedal.

•

Four-wheel-drive operation (if
equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.

•

Close the windows for high-speed
driving.

DRIVING THROUGH WATER

WARNING

Do not drive through flowing or deep
water as you may lose control of your
vehicle.

Note: Driving through standing water can
cause vehicle damage.

Note: Engine damage can occur if water
enters the air filter.

Before driving through standing water,
check the depth. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of the wheel
hubs.

E176913

When driving through standing water, drive
very slowly and do not stop your vehicle.
Your brake performance and traction may
be limited. After driving through water and
as soon as it is safe to do so:

•

Lightly press the brake pedal to dry the
brakes and to check that they work.

•

Check that the horn works.

•

Check that the exterior lights work.

•

Turn the steering wheel to check that
the steering power assist works.

FLOOR MATS

WARNINGS

Always use floor mats that are
designed to fit the foot well of your
vehicle. Only use floor mats that

leave the pedal area unobstructed. Only
use floor mats that are firmly secured to
retention posts so that they cannot slip out
of position and interfere with the pedals
or impair safe operation of your vehicle in
other ways.

Pedals that cannot move freely can
cause loss of vehicle control and
increase the risk of serious personal

injury.

Always make sure that the floor
mats are properly attached to the
retention posts in the carpet that are

supplied with your vehicle. Floor mats must
be properly secured to both retention posts
to make sure mats do not shift out of
position.

Never place floor mats or any other
covering in the vehicle foot well that
cannot be properly secured to

prevent them from moving and interfering
with the pedals or the ability to control the
vehicle.