2002 Ford Escape Owner's Manual - Page 187

Driving • Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer's wheels. Launching or retrieving a boat 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 15 cm (6 inches) above the bottom edge of the rear bumper. Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter critical vehicle components, adversely affecting driveability, emissions, reliability and causing internal transmission damage. Replace the rear axle lubricant any time the axle has been submerged in water. Rear axle lubricant quantities are not to be checked or changed unless a leak is suspected or repair required. Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer into the water. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after the trailer is removed from the water. RECREATIONAL TOWING An example of "recreational towing" is towing your vehicle behind a motorhome. If your vehicle is automatic transmission equipped, with a 4x2 (front-wheel drive only) configured powertrain, "recreational towing" is permitted by trailering the vehicle with its front wheels on a dolly. This protects the transmission's internal mechanical components from potential lack of lubrication damage. If your vehicle is automatic transmission equipped, with a 4x4 (all-wheel drive) configured powertrain, "recreational towing" is permitted only if the vehicle is trailered with all four (4) wheels off the ground. Otherwise, no "recreational towing" is permitted. If your vehicle is manual transmission equipped, shifting the transmission into neutral permits "flat-towing" (all wheels on the ground) for pulling behind a motorhome. Your vehicle may be towed up to a speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) but you should always obey local speed limits. For other towing requirements, refer to Wrecker Towing in the Roadside emergencies chapter. 187