GEN 1 Flat Towing Gen 1

[dixonk]

Just got a new motorhome and want to bring Raptor along for excursions. Anyone ever flat tow the truck? Any recommendations on tow bar and equipment needed? Procedure for putting transfer case and driveline in correct mode?


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[Booth9999]

What does the owners manual say?

 

[dixonk]

What does the owners manual say?

Haven’t got a chance to look at it yet. On the road not near my truck.


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[Booth9999]

From another forum
“The transfer case in the Raptor cannot be put into a neutral position, so the turning of the driveshaft would be spinning transmissions components that are not being lubricated since the transmission pump is not being driven by the engine. The rear driveline could be disconnected to avoid this but another problem with flat towing the Raptor is that the IWE (integrated wheel ends) are a vacuum controlled hub lock that are held in the disengaged position with vacuum. Thus, the default position is "locked in" with loss of vacuum so that you could use your 4WD in the event of a failure of the vacuum portion of the system. If the veh is not running and being towed, the front wheel ends are engaged and "back driving" the front driveline into the transfer case, again turning components. This would not likely cause damage as "sling" fluid would lubricate components in the transfer case. If you wanted to go to all the trouble to disconnect the front and rear drivelines at each pinion yoke, I suppose you could flat tow it without consequence, but seems like a Pain in the A$$ to me. Any parts moving while being towed are wearing.........I'm with the others, put it on a trailer.”

 

[dixonk]

From another forum
“The transfer case in the Raptor cannot be put into a neutral position, so the turning of the driveshaft would be spinning transmissions components that are not being lubricated since the transmission pump is not being driven by the engine. The rear driveline could be disconnected to avoid this but another problem with flat towing the Raptor is that the IWE (integrated wheel ends) are a vacuum controlled hub lock that are held in the disengaged position with vacuum. Thus, the default position is "locked in" with loss of vacuum so that you could use your 4WD in the event of a failure of the vacuum portion of the system. If the veh is not running and being towed, the front wheel ends are engaged and "back driving" the front driveline into the transfer case, again turning components. This would not likely cause damage as "sling" fluid would lubricate components in the transfer case. If you wanted to go to all the trouble to disconnect the front and rear drivelines at each pinion yoke, I suppose you could flat tow it without consequence, but seems like a Pain in the A$$ to me. Any parts moving while being towed are wearing.........I'm with the others, put it on a trailer.”

That’s the info I was looking for. I found plenty of tutorials about a regular f150 and flat towing but nothing raptor specific. The regular f150 has a flat tow mode.


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[xtela]

This is cut from the 2014 raptor supplement.

Note: If the vehicle is towed by other means
or incorrectly, vehicle damage may occur.
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.
• Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
• Maximum distance is 50 miles (80
kilometers).

Recreational Towing <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Note: Put your climate control system in
recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust
fumes from entering your vehicle.
Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational towing, such as towing
your vehicle behind a motorhome. We
designed these guidelines to prevent
damage to your transmission.
Four-wheel-down Towing
You can only tow a four-wheel drive
vehicle with all wheels on the ground by
placing the transfer case in its neutral
position and engaging the
four-wheel-down towing feature. Perform
the steps outlined in the following section
after positioning your vehicle behind the
tow vehicle and properly securing them
together.
1. Turn the ignition to the on position. Do
not start the engine.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch to
2H.
4. Shift the transmission to position N.
5. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch
from 2H to 4L and back to 2H five
times within seven seconds.
Note: If completed successfully, the
information display shows NEUTRAL TOW
LEAVE IN N or NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED
LEAVE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL.
This indicates that your vehicle is safe to
tow with all wheels on the ground
Note: If you do not see the message in the
display, you must perform the procedure
again from the beginning.
Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts into its neutral position.
This is normal.
6. Leave the transmission in position N
and turn the ignition as far as it will go
toward the off position (it will not turn
fully off when the transmission is in
position N. You must leave the key in
the ignition while towing. To lock and
unlock your vehicle, use the keyless
entry keypad or extra set of keys.
7. Release the brake pedal.
13
F150 (TF6)
Towing
Do not disconnect the battery during
recreational towing. Doing so will
prevent the transfer case from
shifting properly and may cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is in P
(Park).
Shifting the transfer case to its
neutral position for recreational
towing may cause the vehicle to be
able to roll even if the transmission is in P
(Park). The driver or others could be
injured. Make sure the foot brake is
depressed and the vehicle is in a secure
and safe position while the transfer case
is being shifted to its neutral position.
Failing to put the transfer case in its
neutral position will damage vehicle
components.
Note: You can check four-wheel-down
towing status at any time by opening the
driver's door or turning the ignition to the
accessory or on position and verifying the
NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED message
displays in the cluster.
To exit four-wheel-down towing and return
the transfer case to its 2H position:
1. With your vehicle still properly secured
to the tow vehicle, press and hold the
brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to the on position. Do
not start the engine.
3. Shift the transmission out of N and into
any gear.
4. Release the brake pedal.
Note: If completed successfully, the
instrument cluster displays 4X2, and
NEUTRAL TOW DISABLED.
Note: If the indicator light and message do
not display, you must perform the procedure
again from the beginning.
Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts out of its neutral
position. This is normal.
5. Apply the parking brake, and then
disconnect the vehicle from the tow
vehicle.
6. Release the parking brake, start the
engine, and shift the transmission to
position D to make sure the transfer
case is out of position N.
7. If the transfer case does not
successfully shift out of position N, set
the parking brake until you can have
your vehicle serviced.
14
F150 (TF6)
Towing

 

[dixonk]

This is cut from the 2014 raptor supplement.



Note: If the vehicle is towed by other means

or incorrectly, vehicle damage may occur.

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.

• Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).

• Maximum distance is 50 miles (80

kilometers).



Recreational Towing <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Note: Put your climate control system in

recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust

fumes from entering your vehicle.

Follow these guidelines if you have a need

for recreational towing, such as towing

your vehicle behind a motorhome. We

designed these guidelines to prevent

damage to your transmission.

Four-wheel-down Towing

You can only tow a four-wheel drive

vehicle with all wheels on the ground by

placing the transfer case in its neutral

position and engaging the

four-wheel-down towing feature. Perform

the steps outlined in the following section

after positioning your vehicle behind the

tow vehicle and properly securing them

together.

1. Turn the ignition to the on position. Do

not start the engine.

2. Press and hold the brake pedal.

3. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch to

2H.

4. Shift the transmission to position N.

5. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch

from 2H to 4L and back to 2H five

times within seven seconds.

Note: If completed successfully, the

information display shows NEUTRAL TOW

LEAVE IN N or NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED

LEAVE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL.

This indicates that your vehicle is safe to

tow with all wheels on the ground

Note: If you do not see the message in the

display, you must perform the procedure

again from the beginning.

Note: You may hear an audible noise as the

transfer case shifts into its neutral position.

This is normal.

6. Leave the transmission in position N

and turn the ignition as far as it will go

toward the off position (it will not turn

fully off when the transmission is in

position N. You must leave the key in

the ignition while towing. To lock and

unlock your vehicle, use the keyless

entry keypad or extra set of keys.

7. Release the brake pedal.

13

F150 (TF6)

Towing

Do not disconnect the battery during

recreational towing. Doing so will

prevent the transfer case from

shifting properly and may cause the vehicle

to roll even if the transmission is in P

(Park).

Shifting the transfer case to its

neutral position for recreational

towing may cause the vehicle to be

able to roll even if the transmission is in P

(Park). The driver or others could be

injured. Make sure the foot brake is

depressed and the vehicle is in a secure

and safe position while the transfer case

is being shifted to its neutral position.

Failing to put the transfer case in its

neutral position will damage vehicle

components.

Note: You can check four-wheel-down

towing status at any time by opening the

driver's door or turning the ignition to the

accessory or on position and verifying the

NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED message

displays in the cluster.

To exit four-wheel-down towing and return

the transfer case to its 2H position:

1. With your vehicle still properly secured

to the tow vehicle, press and hold the

brake pedal.

2. Turn the ignition to the on position. Do

not start the engine.

3. Shift the transmission out of N and into

any gear.

4. Release the brake pedal.

Note: If completed successfully, the

instrument cluster displays 4X2, and

NEUTRAL TOW DISABLED.

Note: If the indicator light and message do

not display, you must perform the procedure

again from the beginning.

Note: You may hear an audible noise as the

transfer case shifts out of its neutral

position. This is normal.

5. Apply the parking brake, and then

disconnect the vehicle from the tow

vehicle.

6. Release the parking brake, start the

engine, and shift the transmission to

position D to make sure the transfer

case is out of position N.

7. If the transfer case does not

successfully shift out of position N, set

the parking brake until you can have

your vehicle serviced.

14

F150 (TF6)

Towing

Thanks that is exactly what I was looking for.


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[Black_Valkyrie]

It's in the manual in your glove box. Mine weighs 6820lbs with a tank of gas. Make sure you have the towing capacity.

 

[dixonk]

It's in the manual in your glove box. Mine weighs 6820lbs with a tank of gas. Make sure you have the towing capacity.

Towing capacity isn’t an issue. I was shocked at how much it costs to prep the truck for flat towing. Looking at around 4500 bucks parts and labor with everything!


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[Black_Valkyrie]

Correct. You need a supplemental braking system, you need to tag into your lighting. You'll need a tow bar and a baseplate. It's involved. We flat tow our Jeep behind our motorhome. It is definitely an investment.