Get Hill Descent Control -> Towing Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Sixth Generation (2012-2020)

Towing

Load Placement

TOWING A TRAILER

To help minimize how trailer

movement affects your vehicle

when driving:

WARNING: Towing trailers

beyond the maximum

•

Load the heaviest items closest

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.

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.

WARNING: Do not exceed

the GVWR or the GAWR

specified on the certification

label.

Note: See Recommended

Towing Weights (page 289).

Y o ur vehicle may have electrical

items, such as fuses or relays,

related to towing. See Fuses

(page 312).

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.

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

282).

You can also find information in

the RV & Trailer Towing Guide

available at your authorized

dealer, or online.

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Towing

RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online

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

RECOMMENDED TOWING

TRAILER SWAY CONTROL(IF

WEIGHTS

EQUIPPED)

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 ft2 (1.86 m2) if

your vehicle can tow a class I

trailer, or 55 ft2 (5.11 m2) if your

vehicle can tow a class III trailer

weighing more than 5,000 lb

(2,267 kg).

WARNING: Turning off trailer sway

control increases the risk of loss of

vehicle control, serious injury or death.

Ford does not recommend disabling this

feature except in situations where speed

reduction may be detrimental (such as

hill climbing), the driver has significant

trailer towing experience, and can control

trailer sway and maintain safe operation.

Note: This feature does not prevent trailer

sway, but reduces it when it begins.

Note: This feature cannot stop all trailers

Note: Your vehicle could have

reduced performance when

operating at high altitudes, and

when heavily loaded or towing a

trailer. When driving at elevation,

in order to match driving

from swaying.

Note: In some cases, if your vehicle speed

is too high, the system may turn on multiple

times, gradually reducing your vehicle speed.

The system applies the brakes to the

individual wheels and reduces engine

torque to aid vehicle stability. If the trailer

begins to sway, the stability control

warning lamp flashes and a message

appears in the information display. See

Information Messages (page 121). Slow

your vehicle down, pull safely to the side

of the road and check for correct load

distribution. See Load Carrying (page

282).

performance as perceived at sea

level, reduce gross vehicle weight

and gross combination weight by

2% per 1,000 ft (300 m) of

elevation.

You can switch this feature off in the

information display. When you switch the

ignition on, the system automatically turns

on.

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Towing

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 could 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 can 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

Engine

Transmission

Drive

Weight

2WD¹

3,000 lb (1,360 kg)

2WD²

4WD¹

5,300 lb (2,404 kg)

10-Speed Auto-

matic Transmis-

sion (10R60)

2.3L GTDI

3,000 lb (1,360 kg)

4WD²

5,300 lb (2,404 kg)

4WD¹

4WD²

2WD¹

2WD²

3,000 lb (1,360 kg)

10-Speed Auto-

matic Transmis-

sion (10R60)

3.0L GTDI

3.3L PF/DI

5,600 lb (2,540 kg)

3,000 lb (1,360 kg)

5,600 lb (2,540 kg)

10-Speed Auto-

matic Transmis-

sion (10R60)

4WD¹

3,000 lb (1,360 kg)

4WD²

5,600 lb (2,540 kg)

2WD¹

2WD²

3,000 lb (1,360 kg)

10-Speed Auto-

matic Transmis-

sion (10R80)

3.3L PF/DI

HEV

5,000 lb (2,267 kg)

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Towing

Maximum Trailer

Weight

3,000 lb (1,360 kg)

Engine

Transmission

Drive

4WD¹

4WD²

5,000 lb (2,267 kg)

¹Without Trailer Tow Package.

²With Trailer Tow Package.

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Towing

To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS

Follow these guidelines for safe towing:

them under the trailer tongue and allow

enough slack for turning tight corners. Do

not allow the chains to drag on the ground.

•

Do not tow a trailer until you drive your

vehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).

Trailer Brakes

Consult your local motor vehicle laws

for towing a trailer.

See the instructions included with

towing accessories for the proper

installation and adjustment

specifications.

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.

•

Service your vehicle more frequently if

you tow a trailer. See Scheduled

Maintenance (page 482).

If you use a rental trailer, follow the

instructions the rental agency gives

you.

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.

Safe control of towed vehicles requires

separate functioning brake systems for

vehicles and trailers weighing more than

1,500 lb (680 kg) when loaded.

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 282).

Remember to account for the trailer

tongue weight as part of your vehicle load

when calculating the total vehicle weight.

Hitches

Trailer Lamps

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.

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.

A weight distributing hitch is not required

for your vehicle.

Safety Chains

Note: Do not attach safety chains to the

bumper.

Most towed vehicles require trailer lamps.

Make sure all running lights, brake lights,

direction indicators and hazard flashers

are working.

Always connect the safety chains to the

hook retainers of your vehicle hitch.

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Towing

2. Set your vehicle parking brake.

Before Towing a Trailer

3. Place the automatic transmission in

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.

park (P).

4. Place wheel chocks in front and back

of the trailer wheels. (Chocks not

included with vehicle.)

Launching or Retrieving a Boat or

When Towing a Trailer

Personal Watercraft (PWC)

•

Do not drive faster than 70 mph

(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi

(800 km).

Note: Disconnect the wiring to the trailer

before backing the trailer into the water.

Note: Reconnect the wiring to the trailer

•

Do not make full-throttle starts.

after removing the trailer from the water.

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.

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.

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.

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Towing

Recreational Towing - Rear-Wheel

TOWING THE VEHICLE ON

FOUR WHEELS

Emergency Towing

Drive Vehicles (If Equipped)

You cannot recreational tow your vehicle

with all wheels on the ground because

vehicle or transmission damage could

occur. We recommend towing your vehicle

with all four wheels off the ground, such

as when using a car-hauling trailer.

Otherwise, you cannot recreational tow

your vehicle.

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 - All-Wheel

and Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles ^(If

Equipped)

If your vehicle becomes inoperable without

access to wheel dollies or a vehicle

transport trailer, it can be flat-towed with

all wheels on the ground, regardless of the

powertrain and transmission configuration,

under the following conditions:

You cannot recreational tow your vehicle

with all wheels on the ground because

vehicle or transmission damage could

occur. We recommend towing your vehicle

with all four wheels off the ground, such

as when using a car-hauling trailer.

Otherwise, you cannot recreational tow

your vehicle.

•

Your vehicle is facing forward for

towing in a forward direction.

•

Refer to the Manual Park Release

procedure. See Automatic

Transmission (page 201). Failing to

do so could result in damage to the

transmission.

•

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

Maximum distance is 50 mi (80 km).

Note: If you are unsure of the vehicle’s

configuration, contact an authorized dealer.

RecreationalTowing-Front-Wheel

Drive Vehicles (If Equipped)

You cannot recreational tow your vehicle

with all wheels on the ground because

vehicle or transmission damage could

occur. Place the front wheels on a

two-wheel tow dolly. If you are using a tow

dolly, follow the instructions specified by

the equipment provider.

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Hill Descent Control -> Towing for Your Ford Explorer SUV Sixth Generation (2012-2020)

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