Ford Super Duty (2018 year). Manual — part 71

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS

WARNING

Do not exceed the maximum vertical
load on the tow ball. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in the

loss of control of your vehicle, personal
injury or death.

Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•

Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).

•

Consult your local motor vehicle laws
for towing a trailer.

•

See the instructions included with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment
specifications.

•

Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer. See your scheduled
maintenance information. See
Scheduled Maintenance (page 581).

•

If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives
you.

See Load Limits in the Load Carrying
chapter for load specification terms found
on the tire label and Safety Compliance
label and instructions on calculating your
vehicle's load.

Vehicles with a diesel engine have an
engine braking feature. See General
Information (page 227).

Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of your vehicle load
when calculating the total vehicle weight.

Some vehicles will have the ability to
modify trailer towing features. See
General Information (page 114).

Trailer Towing Connector

E163167

When attaching the trailer wiring connector
to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting
connector that works with the vehicle and
trailer functions. Some seven-position
connectors may have the SAE J2863 logo,
which confirms that it is the proper wiring
connector and works correctly with your
vehicle.

Function

Color

Left turn signal and stop lamp

Yellow

Ground (-)

White

Electric brakes

Blue

Right turn signal and stop
lamp

Green

Battery (+)

Orange

Running lights

Brown

Reverse lights

Grey

Note: If your vehicle is equipped with a
factory brake controller, the Battery (+)
Orange wire is powered when you start the
engine and you apply the brakes at least
once when a trailer with brake lamps is
connected. If your vehicle is not equipped
with a factory brake controller, relays control
the system and it becomes active when you
power on your vehicle.

Dynamic Hitching Using the Rear
View Camera System

Note: Active guidelines and fixed guidelines
are only available when the transmission is
in reverse (R).

Use the centerline (B) guideline to assist
you in setting your steering wheel properly
to help align the trailer hitch and tongue.

A

B C

D

F

E

E142436

Active guidelines.

A

Centerline.

B

Fixed guideline: Green zone.

C

Fixed guideline: Yellow zone.

D

Fixed guideline: Red zone.

E

Rear bumper.

F

Fixed guidelines are always shown in the
display, but the active guidelines only
display when the steering wheel is turned.
To use active guidelines, turn the steering
wheel to point the guidelines toward an
intended path. If the steering wheel
position is changed while reversing, your
vehicle might deviate from the original
intended path.

The active guidelines fade in and out
depending on the steering wheel position.
The active guidelines are not shown when
the steering wheel position is straight.

Always use caution while reversing.
Objects in the red zone are closest to your
vehicle and objects in the green zone are
farther away. Objects are getting closer to
your vehicle as they move from the green
zone to the yellow or red zones. Use the
side view mirrors and rear view mirror to
get better coverage on both sides and rear
of your vehicle.

Refer to the Rear View Camera section for
additional information. See Rear View
Camera (page 238).

Hitches

Note: On pick-up trucks, the trailer hitch
provided on this vehicle enhances crash
protection for the fuel system. Do not
remove!

Note: Do not cut, drill, weld or modify trailer
hitches. Modifying trailer hitches can reduce
hitch rating.

Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle. You
must distribute the load in your trailer so
that 10-15% for conventional towing or
15-25% for fifth wheel towing of the total
weight of the trailer is on the tongue.

Hitch Components (If Equipped)

The following components are required.
Some are provided in certain vehicles.

•

A trailer hitch with a 3 inch receiver and
5/8 inch hitch pin rated to tow up to
21,000 lb (9,525 kg).

•

A hitch pin sleeve stored in the glove
box to be used when mounting the 3
inch drawbar.

•

A cotter pin to help keep the hitch pin
in place.

Installing a 3 Inch Drawbar with 3/4
Inch Pin Hole

E247903

The pin sleeve should be inserted in the
3/4 inch pin hole of the 3 inch drawbar.

E247902

Remove reducers before inserting the 3
inch drawbar. Insert the drawbar into hitch
receiver.

E247909

Put the 5/8 inch hitch pin through pin hole.
Place the cotter pin around the neck of
hitch pin.

Weight-distributing Hitches

WARNING

Do not adjust the spring bars so that
your vehicle's rear bumper is higher
than before attaching the trailer.

Doing so will defeat the function of the
weight-distributing hitch, which may cause
unpredictable handling, and could result
in serious personal injury.

When hooking-up a trailer using a
weight-distributing hitch, always use the
following procedure:

1.

Park the loaded vehicle, without the
trailer, on a level surface.

2. Measure the height to the top of your

vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender. This is H1.

3. Attach the loaded trailer to your vehicle

without the weight-distributing bars
connected.

4. Measure the height to the top of your

vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender a second time. This is H2.

5. Install and adjust the tension in the

weight-distributing bars so that the
height of your vehicle's front wheel
opening on the fender is approximately
halfway between H1 and H2.

6. Check that the trailer is level or slightly

nose down toward your vehicle. If not,
adjust the ball height accordingly and
repeat Steps 2-6.

Once the trailer is level or slightly nose
down toward the vehicle:
•

Lock the bar tension adjuster in place.

•

Check that the trailer tongue securely
attaches and locks onto the hitch.

•

Install safety chains, lighting, and trailer
brake controls as required by law or the
trailer manufacturer.

Fifth-wheel Trailer Hitch (If Equipped)

Note: The mounting pads in the bed are
specifically designed for certain fifth-wheel
trailer hitches and gooseneck ball hitches.
Do not use these mounting pads for other
purposes.

Note: Contact an authorized dealer to
purchase gooseneck and fifth-wheel hitches
that are compatible with your vehicle.

Your vehicle may be equipped with a
fifth-wheel prep package. This package
enables your vehicle to accept certain
fifth-wheel trailer hitches and gooseneck
ball hitches. The fifth-wheel trailer hitch
attaches to the four mounting pads in the
pick-up bed. An optional 7-pin trailer wiring
connector may be in the bed as well. The
gooseneck ball hitch is a separate
mounting pad from the fifth-wheel hitch,
located in the center of the bed.