2005 Ford F250 Owner Guide 3rd Printing - Page 202

Driving 4. Move the 4WD control to the 4x4 HIGH (4WD High) or 2WD (2WD High) position. 5. Hold the shift conditions until the LOW RANGE indicator light shuts off. 6. If the LOW RANGE indicator light does not shut off within 15 seconds, drive the vehicle above 5 mph (8 km/h), then repeat steps 1 through 5 before reporting any shift concerns to your dealer. Driving off-road with truck and utility vehicles 4WD vehicles are specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and rough terrain and have operating characteristics that are somewhat different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road. How your vehicle differs from other vehicles Truck and utility vehicles can differ from some other vehicles. Your vehicle may be higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain without getting hung up or damaging underbody components. The differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle differently than an ordinary passenger car. Maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain. Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel motion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do not grip the spokes. Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as rocks and stumps. You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area before driving. Map out your route before driving in the area. To maintain steering and braking control of your vehicle, you must have all four wheels on the ground and they must be rolling, not sliding or spinning. Basic operating principles • Do not use 4WD on dry, hard surfaced roads. Doing so will produce excessive noise, increase tire wear and may damage drive components. 4WD modes are only intended for consistently slippery or loose surfaces. • Drive slower in strong crosswinds which can affect the normal steering characteristics of your vehicle. 202 2005 F250/350/450/550 (f23) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA_English (fus)