Get Towing Guide for Ford Ecosport SUV 2020

Towing

Load Placement

TOWING A TRAILER

To help minimize how trailer movement

affects your vehicle when driving:

WARNING:Towing trailers beyond

the maximum recommended gross

trailer weight exceeds the limit of your

vehicle and could result in engine

damage, transmission damage,

structural damage, loss of vehicle

control, vehicle rollover and personal

injury.

•

Load the heaviest items closest to the

trailer floor.

Load the heaviest items centered

between the left and right side trailer

tires.

Load the heaviest items above the

trailer axles or just slightly forward

toward the trailer tongue. Do not allow

the final trailer tongue weight to go

above or below 10-15% of the loaded

trailer weight.

Select a ball mount with the correct

rise or drop and load capacity. When

both the loaded vehicle and trailer are

connected, the trailer frame should be

level, or slightly angled down toward

your vehicle, when viewed from the

side.

•

WARNING: Do not exceed the

GVWR or the GAWR specified on the

certification label.

•

Note: See Towing a Trailer (page 181).

Your vehicle may have electrical items,

such as fuses or relays, related to towing.

See Fuses (page 203).

Your vehicle's load capacity designation

is by weight, not by volume, so you cannot

necessarily use all available space when

loading a vehicle or trailer.

Towing a trailer places an extra load on

your vehicle's engine, transmission, axle,

brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these

components periodically during, and after,

any towing operation.

When driving with a trailer or payload, a

slight takeoff vibration or shudder may be

present due to the increased payload

weight. Additional information regarding

proper trailer loading and setting your

vehicle up for towing is located in another

chapter of this manual. See Load Limit

(page 176).

You can also find information in the RV &

Trailer Towing Guide available at your

authorized dealer, or online.

RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online

http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

Website

Note: This feature cannot stop all trailers

from swaying.

TRAILER SWAY CONTROL

Note: In some cases, if your vehicle speed

is too high, the system may turn on multiple

times, gradually reducing your vehicle speed.

Note: This feature does not prevent trailer

sway, but reduces it once it begins.

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Towing

This feature applies your vehicle brakes at

Note: Certain states require

electric trailer brakes for trailers

over a specified weight. Be sure to

check state regulations for this

specified weight. The maximum

trailer weights listed may be limited

to this specified weight, as the

vehicle’s electrical system may not

include the wiring connector

needed to activate electric trailer

brakes.

Your vehicle may tow a trailer

provided the maximum trailer

weight is less than or equal to the

maximum trailer weight listed for

your vehicle configuration on the

following chart.

individual wheels and if necessary, reduces

engine power. If the trailer begins to sway,

the traction control warning lamp flashes

and a message will appear in the

information display. Slow your vehicle

down, pull safely to the side of the road

and check for correct load distribution.

See Load Carrying (page 174).

RECOMMENDED TOWING

WEIGHTS

Note: Do not exceed the trailer

weight for your vehicle

configuration listed in the chart

below.

Note: For high altitude operation,

reduce the gross combined weight

by 2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)

starting at the 1000 foot (300

meter) elevation point.

Maximum

Powertrain

trailer weight¹tongue weight¹

GCWR

1.0 L Ecoboost

2.0 L 4WD

4,960 lb

1,400 lb

143 lb (65 kg)

(2,250 kg)

(635 kg)

5,754 lb

2,000 lb

(907 kg)

198 lb (90 kg)

(2,610 kg)

¹Calculated with SAE J2807 method.

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Towing

When attaching the trailer wiring connector

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS

Follow these guidelines for safe towing:

to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting

connector that works with the vehicle and

trailer functions.

•

Do not tow a trailer until you drive your

Note: Install the water proof protection cap

back onto the trailer towing connector

whenever it is not in use. This helps to

prevent water damage and trailer towing

connector malfunction.

Note: You cannot use a seven-pin trailer

wiring connector for your vehicle and the

trailer lighting equipment.

vehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).

Consult your local motor vehicle laws

for towing a trailer.

See the instructions included with

towing accessories for the proper

installation and adjustment

specifications.

•

Service your vehicle more frequently if

you tow a trailer. See your scheduled

maintenance information.

If you use a rental trailer, follow the

instructions the rental agency gives

you.

Color

Function

Yellow

Left direction indicator

and stop lamp

White

Green

Ground (-)

You can find information on load

Right direction indicator

and stop lamp

specification terms found on the tire label

and Safety Compliance label as well as

instructions on calculating your vehicle's

load in the Load Carrying chapter. See

Load Limit (page 176).

Brown

Running lights

Hitches

Remember to account for the trailer

tongue weight as part of your vehicle load

when calculating the total vehicle weight.

Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto

the bumper or attaches to the axle.

Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the

total trailer weight is on the tongue.

Trailer Towing Connector(If Equipped)

Safety Chains

Note: Never attach safety chains to the

bumper.

Always connect the safety chains to the

hook retainers of your vehicle hitch.

To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross

them under the trailer tongue and allow

enough slack for turning tight corners. Do

not allow the chains to drag on the ground.

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Towing

Trailer Brakes

Before Towing a Trailer

Practice turning, stopping and backing up

to get the feel of your vehicle-trailer

combination before starting on a trip.

When turning, make wider turns so the

trailer wheels clear curbs and other

obstacles.

WARNING: Do not connect a

trailer's hydraulic brake system directly

to your vehicle's brake system. Your

vehicle may not have enough braking

power and your chances of having a

collision greatly increase.

When Towing a Trailer

•

Do not drive faster than 70 mph

(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi

(800 km).

Electric brakes and manual, automatic or

surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you

install them properly and adjust them to

the manufacturer's specifications. The

trailer brakes must meet local and federal

regulations.

The rating for the tow vehicle's braking

system operation is at the gross vehicle

weight rating, not the gross combined

weight rating.

Separate functioning brake systems

are required for safe control of towed

vehicles and trailers weighing more

than 1500 lb (680 kg) when loaded.

•

Do not make full-throttle starts.

Check your hitch, electrical connections

and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly

after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).

When stopped in congested or heavy

traffic during hot weather, place the

transmission in park (P) to aid engine

and transmission cooling and to help

A/C performance.

Turn off the speed control with heavy

loads or in hilly terrain. The speed

control may turn off automatically

when you are towing on long, steep

grades.

•

Trailer Lamps

•

Shift to a lower gear when driving down

a long or steep hill. Do not apply the

brakes continuously, as they may

overheat and become less effective.

WARNING: Never connect any

trailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's tail

lamp wiring; this may damage the

electrical system resulting in fire. Contact

your authorized dealer as soon as

possible for assistance in proper trailer

tow wiring installation. Additional

electrical equipment may be required.

If your transmission is equipped with a

Grade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, use

this feature when towing. This provides

engine braking and helps eliminate

excessive transmission shifting for

optimum fuel economy and

Trailer lamps are required on most towed

vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake

lights, turn signals and hazard lights are

working.

transmission cooling.

•

Allow more distance for stopping with

a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and

brake gradually.

Avoid parking on a grade. However, if

you must park on a grade:

1. Turn the steering wheel to point your

vehicle tires away from traffic flow.

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Towing

2. Set your vehicle parking brake.

TOWING POINTS

Front Towing Point

3. Place the automatic transmission in

park (P).

4. Place wheel chocks in front and back

of the trailer wheels. Chocks are not

included with your vehicle.

Launching or Retrieving a Boat or

Personal Watercraft (PWC)

Note: Disconnect the wiring to the trailer

before backing the trailer into the water.

Note: Reconnect the wiring to the trailer

after removing the trailer from the water.

When backing down a ramp during boat

launching or retrieval:

1. Push the cover.

2. Release the cover.

•

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 6 in (15 cm) above the bottom

edge of the rear bumper.

Exceeding these limits may allow water to

enter vehicle components:

•

Causing internal damage to the

components.

Affecting driveability, emissions, and

reliability.

Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime

the rear axle has been submerged in water.

Water may have contaminated the rear

axle lubricant, which is not normally

checked or changed unless a leak is

suspected or other axle repair is required.

3. Install the recovery hook.

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Towing

Rear Towing Point (If Equipped)

TRANSPORTINGTHEVEHICLE

1. Push the cover.

2. Release the cover.

If you need to have your vehicle towed,

contact a professional towing service or,

if you are a member of a roadside

assistance program, your roadside

assistance service provider.

3. Install the recovery hook.

The recovery hook may be in the following

locations:

We recommend towing your vehicle with

•

Inside temporary mobility kit.

Inside Jack and tools storage tray.

a wheel lift and dollies or flatbed

equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt.

Ford Motor Company has not approved a

slingbelt towing procedure.

Note: The recovery hook is available at the

authorized dealer.

It is acceptable to tow a front-wheel drive

vehicle from the front if using proper wheel

lift equipment to raise the front wheels off

the ground. When towing in this manner,

the rear wheels can remain on the ground.

Note: The recovery hook has a left-hand

thread. Turn it counterclockwise to install it

and make sure that it is fully tightened.

Failure to do so could result in the recovery

hook becoming loose.

Note: If your vehicle has a tow bar, use this

to tow other vehicles.

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Towing

Front-wheel drive vehicles must have the

Follow these guidelines if you have a need

for recreational (RV) towing. An example

of recreational towing would be towing

your vehicle behind a motorhome. We

designed these guidelines to prevent

damage to your transmission.

Front-wheel drive vehicles CANNOT be

flat-towed (all wheels on the ground) as

vehicle or transmission damage may occur.

You must place the front wheels on a

two-wheel tow dolly. If you are using a tow

dolly, follow the instructions specified by

the equipment provider.

Four-wheel drive vehicles CANNOT be

flat-towed (all wheels on the ground), as

vehicle or transmission damage may occur.

It is recommended to tow your vehicle with

all four (4) wheels off the ground such as

when using a car-hauling trailer. Otherwise,

you cannot recreational tow your vehicle.

front wheels placed on a two-wheel tow

dolly when towing your vehicle from the

rear using wheel lift equipment. This

prevents damage to the transmission.

Towing a four-wheel drive vehicle requires

that all wheels be off the ground, such as

using a wheel lift and dollies or flatbed

equipment. This prevents damage to the

transmission, four-wheel drive system and

vehicle.

TOWING THE VEHICLE ON

FOUR WHEELS

Emergency Towing

If your vehicle becomes inoperable

(without access to wheel dollies,

car-hauling trailer, or flatbed transport

vehicle), it can be flat-towed (all wheels

on the ground, regardless of the powertrain

and transmission configuration) under the

following conditions:

•

Your vehicle is facing forward for

towing in a forward direction.

•

Place the transmission in position N. If

you cannot move the transmission into

N, you may need to override it. See

Transmission (page 149).

Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).

Maximum distance is 50 mi (80 km).

•

WARNING: If your vehicle has a

steering wheel lock make sure the

ignition is in the accessory or on position

when being towed.

Recreational Towing

Note: Put your climate control system in

recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust

fumes from entering the vehicle. See

Climate Control (page 106).

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Towing for Your Ford Ecosport SUV 2020

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