2010 Ford F150 Regular Cab Owner Guide 3rd Printing - Page 262
2010 Ford F150 Regular Cab Manual
Page 262 highlights
Tires, Wheels and Loading WARNING: Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross trailer weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and could result in engine damage, transmission damage, structural damage, loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover and personal injury. Trailer frontal area considerations: • Not to exceed towing vehicle frontal area 36 ft2 (3.4 m2) without the Class IV trailer towing package. • Not to exceed 45 ft2 (4.18 m2) with the Class IV trailer towing package for vehicles with 3.15 rear axle ratio only. • Not to exceed 60 ft2 (5.52 m2) with the Class IV trailer towing package - excluding vehicles with 3.15 rear axle ratio. Preparing to tow Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer and make sure it is properly attached to your vehicle. Contact your authorized dealer or a reliable trailer dealer as soon as possible if you require assistance. Hitches Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle's bumper or attach to the axle. You must distribute the load in your trailer so that 10-15% of the total weight of the trailer is on the tongue. Weight-distributing hitch When hooking-up a trailer using a load-equalizing hitch, always use the following procedure: 1. Park the unloaded vehicle on a level surface. With the ignition on and all doors closed, allow the vehicle to stand for several minutes so that it can level. 2. Measure the height of a reference point on the front and rear bumpers at the center of the vehicle. 3. Attach the trailer to the vehicle and adjust the hitch equalizers so that the front bumper height is within 1⁄2 in. (13 mm) of the reference point. After proper adjustment, the rear bumper should be no higher than in Step 2. WARNING: Do not adjust a weight-distributing hitch to any position where the rear bumper of the vehicle is higher than it was 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. 262