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Is there a break in period before I can tow?

georgialawn88
Explorer
Explorer
I am buying a new 2017 f250 0 miles on Friday. We leave out for a 3 hour tow 8700 lb travel trailer 6 days after that. Is there a certain mileage I should but on this before hooking and towing?
44 REPLIES 44

drsteve
Explorer
Explorer
I purchased the truck in my sig new in 2006. When it had 200 miles on it I hook a 30'TT to it, put six people in the cab, and headed down the road for a 700 mile round trip. 96,000 miles later, truck runs great, and never a problem with gear noise.
2006 Silverado 1500HD Crew Cab 2WD 6.0L 3.73 8600 GVWR
2018 Coachmen Catalina Legacy Edition 223RBS
1991 Palomino Filly PUP

Fordlover
Explorer
Explorer
My john deere says to change the factory oil out at 8 hours, then every 100 hours afterwards. But I'm sure it's just a ploy to use up the worlds supply of motor oil. j/k

My 2018 F-250 said 1000 miles before towing. We pulled on the freeway on our maiden voyage at 1002 miles. I also kept the revs below 3,500 for the first thousand miles.
2016 Skyline Layton Javelin 285BH
2018 F-250 Lariat Crew 6.2 Gas 4x4 FX4 4.30 Gear
2007 Infiniti G35 Sport 6 speed daily driver
Retired 2002 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 4x4
Sold 2007 Crossroads Sunset Trail ST19CK

DallasSteve
Nomad
Nomad
Maury82 wrote:
I'm in the same boat. I'm retired and living in a small town without much of a required commute, and my truck is not my daily driver.

I have to come up with places to go in order to get my miles in before towing. I'm going to visit friends in the Cleveland area, and visit a festival in Cincinnati.

I guess we could sign up with Uber and earn a few dollars while we break them in.
2022 JAYCO JAY FLIGHT SLX 8 324BDS
2022 FORD F-250 XL CREW CAB 4X4
All my exes live in Texas, that's why I live in an RV

Samsonsworld
Explorer
Explorer
Pop-Pop C wrote:
" DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT"!


BOOM! There you go!

You won't hurt anything.

Maury82
Explorer
Explorer
I'm in the same boat. I'm retired and living in a small town with much of a required commute, and my truck is not my daily driver.

I have to come up with places to go in order to get my miles in before towing. I'm going to visit friends in the Cleveland area, and visit a festival in Cincinnati.

Maury82
Explorer
Explorer
I'm in the same boat. I'm retired and living in a small town without much of a required commute, and my truck is not my daily driver.

I have to come up with places to go in order to get my miles in before towing. I'm going to visit friends in the Cleveland area, and visit a festival in Cincinnati.

Pop-Pop_C
Explorer
Explorer
500-1000 miles depending on model and brand. I would take a short road trip before putting a load of it. There is also the philosophy, " DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT"!

Huntindog
Explorer
Explorer
DallasSteve wrote:
Bobbo wrote:
Tom/Barb wrote:
Ya think FORD has a CYA built into their owners manual?

I guarantee it. All makes do.

As far as those who don't want to follow the manual's recommendations, don't. It is your truck.

My concern is they may deny a warranty claim if they find out I towed during the official break in period.


I will say this... GM would be the one in the best position to know what you are doing with Onstar... Having said that. My present GM truck had the check engine light come on at 440 miles.... It had a TT attached at the time, as we were nearing camp. I called the dealer immeadiatly, they said continue with your trip, hope you have a good time.... If any other symptoms show up, give us a call, and we will take care of it.
It was a malfunctioning EGR valve.
Huntindog
100% boondocking
2021 Grand Design Momentum 398M
2 bathrooms, no waiting
104 gal grey, 104 black,158 fresh
FullBodyPaint, 3,8Kaxles, DiscBrakes
17.5LRH commercial tires
1860watts solar,800 AH Battleborn batterys
2020 Silverado HighCountry CC DA 4X4 DRW

DallasSteve
Nomad
Nomad
Bobbo wrote:
Tom/Barb wrote:
Ya think FORD has a CYA built into their owners manual?

I guarantee it. All makes do.

As far as those who don't want to follow the manual's recommendations, don't. It is your truck.

My concern is they may deny a warranty claim if they find out I towed during the official break in period.
2022 JAYCO JAY FLIGHT SLX 8 324BDS
2022 FORD F-250 XL CREW CAB 4X4
All my exes live in Texas, that's why I live in an RV

Bobbo
Explorer II
Explorer II
Tom/Barb wrote:
Ya think FORD has a CYA built into their owners manual?

I guarantee it. All makes do.

As far as those who don't want to follow the manual's recommendations, don't. It is your truck.
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

Tom_Barb
Explorer
Explorer
Our friends blew up their old truck back east, bought a new F-250, hooked up their trailer and finished their trip. The first 8,000 miles of the trucks life had the trailer hooked up.
Truck runs great, no noise, no problems .

Ya think FORD has a CYA built into their owners manual?
2000 Newmar mountain aire 4081 DP, ISC/350 Allison 6 speed, Wrangler JL toad.

Lynnmor
Explorer
Explorer
DallasSteve wrote:

Seriously? Because if I'm going to buy a new F-150 to tow a trailer I would have to wait until it has 1,000 miles on it before I can tow the trailer. I only drive about 500 miles a month right now. If it only has about 20 miles on it I would have to wait 2 months before I could start towing or take a trip to Tennessee and back. That not only costs time but also about $200 in gas.


You should have known that at the time of purchase. If that doesn't suit you, simply buy a used one or do without.

DallasSteve
Nomad
Nomad
jfkmk wrote:
DallasSteve wrote:
Does Ford sell any new trucks with 1,000 miles on them? Seriously.

?? What are you talking about? They say to break it in for 1000 miles before towing. What does selling a new truck have to do with the break in before towing? Seriously.

Seriously? Because if I'm going to buy a new F-150 to tow a trailer I would have to wait until it has 1,000 miles on it before I can tow the trailer. I only drive about 500 miles a month right now. If it only has about 20 miles on it I would have to wait 2 months before I could start towing or take a trip to Tennessee and back. That not only costs time but also about $200 in gas.
2022 JAYCO JAY FLIGHT SLX 8 324BDS
2022 FORD F-250 XL CREW CAB 4X4
All my exes live in Texas, that's why I live in an RV

Maury82
Explorer
Explorer
My 2018 3.5 EB call for 300 break-in miles on the tires, and 1,000 miles on the engine before towing.

jfkmk
Explorer
Explorer
DallasSteve wrote:
Does Ford sell any new trucks with 1,000 miles on them? Seriously.

?? What are you talking about? They say to break it in for 1000 miles before towing. What does selling a new truck have to do with the break in before towing? Seriously.