Forum Discussion

canman4800's avatar
canman4800
Explorer
May 27, 2022

towing a f-150 wheels down

I have a 2018 f-150 with push button start. can it be towed wheels down and what would have to be done to allow it?
  • Start with the owners manual. Look up the 2018 RV Flat Tow/Dinghy guide here via Camping world, I think links at top of page.

    I looked into towing our 2016 F150 flat down and it was doable. Went with a Jeep, now wife tags along behind as we downsized expenses so oldest could go to college.

    I'm sure others here will have experience with your application.
  • You can find the owner's manual on the Ford website here. Page 311-312 says that if the vehicle is 2WD it cannot be towed with ANY wheels on the ground, ever. If the truck is 4WD, there is a procedure on p312 that tells you how to put the transfer case in neutral and prepare for 4-down towing.
  • Suggest you follow Ford instructions and limitations to the letter...and save a repair bill.
  • JoeH's avatar
    JoeH
    Explorer III
    As others said, if it's a 4x4, you can tow 4 down. I've been towing my 2015 since new with no issues.
  • BurbMan wrote:
    You can find the owner's manual on the Ford website here. Page 311-312 says that if the vehicle is 2WD it cannot be towed with ANY wheels on the ground, ever.


    I'm not about to argue with the ford engineer that wrote that manual. But it would have been nice if they had explained how the vehicle can be damaged by towing with the front wheels on the ground on a 2wd truck.

    Two-wheel Drive Vehicles
    You cannot tow a two-wheel drive vehicle
    with any wheels on the ground as vehicle
    or transmission damage may occur. You
    must tow your vehicle with all four wheels
    off the ground, such as when using a
    car-hauling trailer.
  • opnspaces wrote:
    BurbMan wrote:
    You can find the owner's manual on the Ford website here. Page 311-312 says that if the vehicle is 2WD it cannot be towed with ANY wheels on the ground, ever.


    I'm not about to argue with the ford engineer that wrote that manual. But it would have been nice if they had explained how the vehicle can be damaged by towing with the front wheels on the ground on a 2wd truck.

    Two-wheel Drive Vehicles
    You cannot tow a two-wheel drive vehicle
    with any wheels on the ground as vehicle
    or transmission damage may occur. You
    must tow your vehicle with all four wheels
    off the ground, such as when using a
    car-hauling trailer.


    Because a two wheel drive truck the transmission will have some gears and clutches turning but without lubricant being pumped around/through them. That's why there will be transmission damage.
  • More likely because a 2WD truck is RWD, so to use a dolly under the rear wheels would mean towibg backwards which doesnt sound like a good idea.