Ford Police Interceptor Utility (2018 year). Manual — part 37

TOWING A TRAILER

WARNINGS

Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended

gross trailer weight exceeds the
limit of your vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transmission damage, structural
damage, loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and personal
injury.

Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the

certification label.

Note: See Recommended
Towing Weights (page 152).

Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See Fuses

(page 173).

Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.

Towing a trailer places an extra
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 your vehicle
when driving:
•

Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.

•

Load the heaviest items
centered between 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 ball mount with the
correct rise or drop and load
capacity. When both the
loaded vehicle and trailer are
connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
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
145).

You can also find information in
the RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.

RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online

http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

Website

RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS

Note: Do not tow a trailer during
patrol or pursuit situations.

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 feet² (1.86
meters²).

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.

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 trailer
provided the maximum trailer
weight is less than or equal to the
maximum trailer weight listed for
your vehicle configuration on the
following chart.

Maximum trailer

weight

GCWR

Engine

2,500 lb (1,134 kg)

7,700 lb (3,493 kg)

3.5L GTDI AWD

2,500 lb (1,134 kg)

7,600 lb (3,447 kg)

3.7L TiVCT AWD

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS

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.

•

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 the Load Carrying chapter. See
Load Limit (page 145).

Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of your 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 tongue.

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
half the way down from H2, toward H1.

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.

When 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.

Safety Chains

Note: Never attach safety chains to the
bumper.

Always connect the safety chains to the
hook retainers of your vehicle hitch.

To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross
them 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 are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them to
the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.

The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.

Separate functioning brake systems are
required for safe control of towed vehicles
and trailers weighing more than 1,500 lb
(680 kg) when loaded.

Trailer Lamps

WARNING

Never connect any trailer lamp wiring
to the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; this
may damage the electrical system

resulting in fire. Contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible for assistance
in proper trailer tow wiring installation.
Additional electrical equipment may be
required.

Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working.

Before Towing a Trailer

Practice turning, stopping and backing up
to get the feel of your 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 mi
(800 km).

•

Do not make full-throttle starts.

•

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

•

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.

•

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.