Tires, Wheels and Loading
Hitches
Donotusehitchesthatclampontothevehiclebumper.Useaload
carryinghitch.Youmustdistributetheloadinyourtrailersothat
10–15%
ofthetotalweightofthetrailerisonthetongue.
Safety chains
Alwaysconnectthetrailer’ssafetychainstohookretainersonthe
vehicle.Toconnectthetrailer’ssafetychains,crossthechainsunderthe
trailertongueandallowslackforturningcorners.
Ifyouusearentaltrailer,followtheinstructionsthattherentalagency
givestoyou.
Donotattachsafetychainstothebumper.
Trailer brakes
Electric,manual,automaticorsurge-typebrakes,ifcompatiblewiththe
vehicle,aresafeifinstalledproperlyandadjustedtothemanufacturer’s
specifications.ThetrailerbrakesmustmeetlocalandFederal
regulations.
WARNING:Donotconnectatrailer’shydraulicbrakesystem
directlytoyourvehicle’sbrakesystem.Yourvehiclemaynot
haveenoughbrakingpowerandyourchancesofhavingacollision
greatlyincrease.
Thebrakingsystemofthetowvehicleisratedforoperationatthe
GVWRnotGCWR.
Trailer lamps
Trailerlampsarerequiredonmosttowedvehicles.Makesureallrunning
lights,brakelights,turnsignalsandhazardlightsareworking.Donot
connecttrailerlampsdirectlytoyourvehicle’staillamps.Thiscancause
damagetoyourvehicle’selectricalsystem.Contactyourauthorized
dealerortrailerrentalagencyforproperinstructionsandequipmentfor
hookinguptrailerlamps.
Driving while you tow
Whentowingatrailer:
•
Toensureproper“break-in”ofpowertraincomponents,donottrailer
towduringthefirst1,000miles(1,600km)ofanewvehicle.
•
Toensureproper“break-in”ofpowertraincomponentsduringthefirst
500
miles(800km)oftrailertowing,drivenofasterthan70mph
(113
km/h)withnofullthrottlestarts.
192
| Categories | Ford Escape Manuals, Ford Manuals |
|---|---|
| Model Year | 2009 |
| Download File |
|
| Document File Type | |
| Copyright | Attribution Non-commercial |
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