2014 Ford F150 SuperCrew Cab F-150 Raptor Supplement Printing 1 - Page 23

Driving Hints Driving in Deep Snow • • Maintain vehicle momentum. Apply the throttle very gently to avoid spinning the tires. Spinning the tires will potentially dig the vehicle deeper into the snow. Drive in a controlled manner, avoiding aggressive steering wheel movements, and keep braking to a minimum. Extremely deep snow may cause the vehicle to high center causing the vehicle to become stuck. Test the depth of the snow before trying to drive through it. • Always attempt to climb a steep hill along the fall line of the slope and not diagonally. If the vehicle is unable to make it up the hill, DO NOT attempt to turn back down the slope. Place the vehicle in low range and slowly back down in reverse. When descending a steep slope, select low gear and engage hill descent control. Use the throttle and brake pedals to control your descent speed as described earlier in this section using hill descent control. Note that hill descent control is functional in reverse and should be used in this situation. • • • • Crossing Obstacles • Review the path ahead before attempting to cross any obstacle. It is best if the obstacle is reviewed from outside the vehicle so that there is a good understanding of terrain condition both in, front of, and behind the obstacle. Approach obstacles slowly and slowly inch the vehicle over. If a large obstacle such as a rock cannot be avoided, choose a path that places the rock directly under the tire rather than the undercarriage of the vehicle. This will help prevent damage to the vehicle. Ditches and washouts should be crossed at a 45 degree angle, allowing each wheel to independently cross the obstacle. Water Wading Your vehicle is designed to operate in water depths up to 30 inches (760 millimeters). However, as the water depth increases, vehicle speed must be reduced to avoid potential vehicle damage Always determine the depth before attempting a water crossing. Proceed slowly and avoid splashing water any more than is necessary. Be aware that obstacles and debris may be beneath the water's surface. Keep the doors fully closed during the water crossing. Upon completion of the water crossing, slowly drive a short distance and check the brakes for full effectiveness. • • • Hill Climbing WARNING Extreme care should be used when steering the vehicle in reverse down a slope so as not to cause the vehicle to swerve out of control. Refer to chart below for the maximum allowable speeds when driving through water. Note: Failure to follow the recommended speeds may result in vehicle damage. 21 F150 (TF6)