Trailer Lamps; Driving While You Tow; Servicing After Towing; Trailer Towing Tips - Ford Expedition 2008 Owner's Manual

Tires, Wheels and Loading

Trailer lamps

Trailer lamps are required on most towed vehicles. Make sure all running
lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights are working. See your
authorized dealer or trailer rental agency for proper instructions and
equipment for hooking up trailer lamps.

Driving while you tow

When towing a trailer:
• Keep your speed no faster than 70 mph (112 km/h) during the first
500 miles (800 km) of towing a trailer, and don't make full throttle
starts.
• Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
• Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
• To eliminate excessive shifting, use a lower gear. This will also assist
in transmission cooling. (For additional information, refer to Driving
with a 6-speed automatic transmission in the Driving chapter.
• Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
• Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transmission damage may occur.
If your vehicle is equipped with AdvanceTrac with RSC, you may
experience AdvanceTrac with RSC activations during typical cornering
maneuvers with a heavily loaded trailer; this is normal. Cornering at a
slower speed while towing will reduce the tendency of the AdvanceTrac
stability enhancement system to activate.

Servicing after towing

If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your Scheduled Maintenance
Information for more information.

Trailer towing tips

• Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
• Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
• If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear. Do
not apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become
less effective.
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2008 Expedition (exd)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)