Ford C-MAX Hybrid (2018 year). Manual — part 44

be used for safe control of towed
vehicles and for trailers where the
Gross Combined Weight of the
towing vehicle plus the trailer
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating of the towing vehicle.

The gross combined weight must
never exceed the Gross Combined
Weight Rating.

Note: For trailer towing
information refer to the RV and
Trailer Towing Guide available at
an authorized dealer.

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 your
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 your vehicle,
personal injury or both.

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

- 1200 = - 240 pounds. No, you do
not have enough cargo capacity
to carry that much weight. In
metric units, the calculation would
be: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99
kilograms) - (12 x 45 kilograms) =
635 - 198 - 540 = -103 kilograms.
You will need to reduce the load
weight by at least 240 pounds
(104 kilograms). If you remove
three 100-pound (45-kilogram)
cement bags, then the load
calculation would be:1400 - (2 x
220) - (9 x 100) = 1400 - 440 -
900 = 60 pounds. Now you have
the load capacity to transport the
cement and your friend home. In
metric units, the calculation would
be: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99
kilograms) - (9 x 45 kilograms) =
635 - 198 - 405 = 32 kilograms.

The above calculations also
assume that the loads are
positioned in your vehicle in a
manner that does not overload
the front or the rear gross axle
weight rating specified for your
vehicle on the Safety Compliance
Certification label.

Special Loading Instructions
for Owners of Pick-up Trucks
and Utility-type Vehicles

WARNING

Loaded vehicles may handle
differently than unloaded

vehicles. Take extra precautions,
such as slower speeds and
increased stopping distance, when
driving a heavily loaded vehicle.

TOWING A TRAILER

WARNING

Your vehicle is not approved
for trailer towing. Never tow

a trailer with your vehicle.

TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS

Emergency Towing

WARNING

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

towed.

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:
•

Tow only in the forward direction.

•

The transmission is in neutral (N). If
you cannot move the transmission into
neutral (N), you may need to override
it. See Automatic Transmission
(page 150).

•

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 the vehicle. See
Climate Control (page 106).

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. We
designed these guidelines to prevent
damage to your transmission.

You can tow your vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground or with the front
wheels off the ground by using a tow dolly.
If you are using a tow dolly follow the
instructions specified by the equipment
provider.

If you tow your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground:
•

Tow only in the forward direction.

•

Release the parking brake.

•

Shift the transmission into neutral (N).

Vehicles with Push Button Start

1.

Start the vehicle by pressing the brake
pedal, and then pressing the ENGINE
START/STOP button until the vehicle
starts.

2. Press the brake pedal and shift the

transmission into neutral (N).

3. Turn the vehicle off by pressing the

ENGINE START/STOP button once.
(Trip Summary appears in the left
instrument cluster screen when the
vehicle is off.)

Note: You can remove the key fob from the
vehicle while towing.

Vehicles with Ignition Key

1.

Start the vehicle by pressing the brake
pedal, and then turning the ignition key
until the vehicle starts.

2. Press the brake pedal and shift the

transmission into neutral (N).

3. Turn the vehicle off by turning the

ignition key past the accessory position.
The key position is between the
accessory and off positions. See
Ignition Switch (page 125). (Trip
Summary appears in the left
instrument cluster screen when the
vehicle is off.)

Note: If your vehicle is equipped with an
ignition key, you cannot remove the key from
the ignition cylinder when the transmission
is in neutral (N) and your vehicle is off.

All Vehicles

•

Do not exceed 70 mph (113 km/h).

•

Place the transmission in park (P), start
the vehicle, and allow the engine to run
for one minute at the beginning of each
day (you may need to press the
accelerator pedal in order to start the
engine). After allowing the vehicle to
run, place the transmission back into
neutral (N) and the ignition in the off
position.

Note: A SHIFT TO PARK or
TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK message
may appear in the information display when
the transmission is in neutral (N) and the
ignition is in the off position.