Tires, Wheels and Loading -> Recreational towing for Your Ford Fusion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

Tires, Wheels and Loading  
A final example for your vehicle with 1400 lb. (635 kg) of 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 2 years. Measuring the inside of  
the vehicle with the rear seat folded down, you have room for  
12-100 lb. (45 kg) bags of cement. Do you have enough load capacity  
to transport the cement to your home? If you and your friend each  
weigh 220 lb. (99 kg), the calculation would be: 1400 - (2 x 220) - (12  
x 100) = 1400 - 440 - 1200 = - 240 lb. No, you do not have enough  
cargo capacity to carry that much weight. In metric units, the  
calculation would be: 635 kg - (2 x 99 kg) - (12 x 45 kg) = 635 - 198 -  
540 = -103 kg. You will need to reduce the load weight by at least  
240 lb. (104 kg). If you remove 3-100 lb. (45 kg) cement bags, then  
the load calculation would be:  
1400 - (2 x 220) - (9 x 100) = 1400 - 440 - 900 = 60 lb. Now you have  
the load capacity to transport the cement and your friend home. In  
metric units, the calculation would be: 635 kg - (2 x 99 kg) - (9 x  
45 kg) = 635 - 198 - 405 = 32 kg.  
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 found on the edge of the driver’s door.  
TRAILER TOWING  
WARNING: Never tow a trailer with this vehicle. Your vehicle is  
not equipped to tow. No towing packages are available through  
an authorized dealer.  
RECREATIONAL TOWING  
Follow these guidelines for your specific powertrain combination to tow  
your vehicle for personal travel (such as behind a motor home or a  
truck).  
Note: Put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to  
prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. Refer to the Climate  
Controls chapter for more information.  
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle, please refer to  
Wrecker towing in the Roadside Emergencies chapter.  
These guidelines are designed to prevent damage to your vehicle after it  
is hooked-up to the RV or tow dolly.  
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2011 Fusion (fsn)  
Owners Guide, 3rd Printing  
USA (fus)  
Tires, Wheels and Loading  
Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles equipped with a 2.5L or 3.0L  
engine can be towed 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  
are towing with all four wheels on the ground, refer to the towing  
instructions below.  
All-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles equipped with a 3.0L engine can  
be towed with all four wheels on the ground or with all four wheels off  
the ground using a vehicle transport trailer. Do not tow your AWD  
vehicle with the front wheels off the ground (by using a tow  
dolly) and the rear wheels on the ground; this will cause damage  
to your AWD system. If you are using a vehicle transport trailer, follow  
the instruction specified by the equipment provider. If you are towing  
with all four wheels on the ground, refer to the towing instructions  
below.  
If you tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground, follow these  
instructions:  
Vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission should have the  
transmission fluid level checked by an authorized dealer. For the  
correct transmission fluid level when flat towing (all four wheels on  
the ground), refer to Transmission fluid in the Maintenance and  
Specifications chapter.  
Tow only in the forward direction.  
Release the parking brake.  
Place the transmission shift lever in N (Neutral).  
Place the ignition to the accessory position (refer to Starting in the  
Driving chapter).  
Do not exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) if the vehicle is equipped with an  
automatic transmission or 70 mph (113 km/h) if equipped with a  
manual transmission.  
Vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission need to start the  
engine and allow it to run for five minutes at the beginning of each  
day and every six hours thereafter. With the engine running and your  
foot on the brake, shift into D (Drive) and then into R (Reverse)  
before shifting back into N (Neutral).  
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2011 Fusion (fsn)  
Owners Guide, 3rd Printing  
USA (fus)  
Tires, Wheels and Loading  
Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles equipped with a 3.5L engine  
can’t be towed with the front drive wheels on the ground or transmission  
damage may occur. It is recommended to tow your vehicle with the front  
drive wheels on a dolly or with all four wheels off the ground on a  
car-hauling trailer.  
All-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles equipped with a 3.5L engine can’t  
be towed with any wheels on the ground, as vehicle or transmission  
damage may occur. It is recommended to tow your vehicle with all four  
wheels off the ground such as when using a car-hauling trailer.  
Otherwise, no recreational towing is permitted.  
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2011 Fusion (fsn)  
Owners Guide, 3rd Printing  
USA (fus)