Ford Super Duty (2018 year). Manual — part 73

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 park (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 transmission in park (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

WARNING

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

towed.

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 neutral (N).
If you cannot move the transmission
into neutral (N), you may need to
override it. See Transmission (page
210).

•

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 148).

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

Two-wheel Drive Vehicles

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 neutral (N).

2. Put the transfer case in neutral (N).

3. Put the hub locks in the FREE position.

Always make sure that both hub locks
are set to the same position.

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

Only tow a four-wheel drive vehicle that
has an electronic-shift transfer case with
all wheels on the ground. To do this, place
the transfer case in its neutral position and
engage the four-wheel-down towing
feature.

Perform the steps in the following section
after positioning your vehicle behind the
tow vehicle and properly securing them
together.

Note: Make sure you properly secure your
vehicle to the tow vehicle.

Four-wheel-down Towing

1.

Put the ignition in the on position, but
do not start the engine. If your vehicle
has an ignition key, turn the key to on.
If your vehicle has intelligent access,
press the engine START/STOP button
once without pressing the brake pedal.

2. Press and hold the brake pedal.

3. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch to

2H.

4. Shift the transmission to neutral (N).

5. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch

from 2H to 4L and back to 2H five
times within seven seconds.

Note: If completed successfully, the
information display shows a message
indicating that your vehicle is safe to tow
with all wheels on the ground.

Note: If you do not see the message in the
display, you must perform the procedure
again from the beginning.

Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts into its neutral position.
This is normal.

6. Leave the transmission in neutral (N)

and turn the ignition as far as it will go
toward the off position (it will not turn
fully off when the transmission is in
neutral). If your vehicle has an ignition
key, you must leave the key in the
ignition while towing. To lock and
unlock your vehicle, use the keyless
entry keypad or extra set of keys. If your
vehicle has intelligent access, press the
engine START/STOP button once
without pressing the brake pedal. You
do not need to leave your keys in the
vehicle. You can lock and unlock your
vehicle as you normally do.

7.

Release the brake pedal.

WARNINGS

Do not disconnect the battery during
recreational towing. It prevents the
transfer case from shifting properly

and may cause the vehicle to roll, even if
the transmission is in park (P).

Shifting the transfer case to its
neutral position for recreational
towing may cause the vehicle to roll,

even if the transmission is in park (P). It
may injure the driver and others. Make sure
you press the foot brake and the vehicle is
in a secure, safe position when you shift to
neutral (N).

Note: Failing to put the transfer case in its
neutral position while towing with all four
wheels on the ground will damage vehicle
components.

Note: You can check four-wheel-down
towing status at any time by opening the
driver's door or turning the ignition to the
accessory or on position and verifying a
message displays in the cluster.

To exit four-wheel-down towing and return
the transfer case to its 2H position:

1.

With your vehicle still properly secured
to the tow vehicle, put the ignition in
the on position, but do not start the
engine. If your vehicle has an ignition
key, switch the key to on. If your vehicle
has intelligent access, press the engine
START/STOP button once without
pressing the brake pedal.

2. Press and hold the brake pedal.

3. Shift the transmission out of neutral

(N) and into any other gear.

4. Release the brake pedal.

Note: If completed successfully, the 2H
indicator light illuminates and a
confirmation message displays in the
instrument cluster.

Note: If the indicator light and message do
not display, you must perform the procedure
again from the beginning.

Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts out of its neutral
position. This is normal.

Note: If a message displays in the
instrument cluster stating there is a shift
delay, transfer case gear tooth blockage
may be present. See Resolving the Shift
Delay Issue after this section.

5. Apply the parking brake and disconnect

the vehicle from the tow vehicle.

6. Release the parking brake, start the

engine and shift the transmission to
drive (D) to make sure the transfer
case is out of neutral (N).

7.

If the transfer case does not
successfully shift out of neutral (N),
set the parking brake until you can have
your vehicle serviced.

Resolving the Shift Delay Issue

If the instrument cluster displays a shift
delay message, See Information
Messages (page 131). You need to
perform the following steps:

1.

Press and hold the brake pedal.

2. Put the transmission into neutral (N),

and then start the engine.

3. With the engine running, shift the

transmission to drive (D) and let the
vehicle roll forward, up to 3 ft (1 m).
You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts out of its neutral
position. This is normal.

4. When the issue is resolved, the

instrument cluster displays a message
stating neutral tow is disabled.