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Table of contents
Introduction 2
Notice to 4X2 utility vehicle owners 3
4WD and AWD systems 3
4WD Or AWD operation on the road 6
Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD 9
Trailer towing 14
Tires, replacement requirements 15
Maintenance and modifications 17
Hauling cargo and vehicle handling 18
Index 20
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Introduction INTRODUCTION Welcome to Ford Motor Company’s world of four-wheel driving! Your new 4WD or AWD vehicle opens up a completely different and challenging world of travel unlike what you have ever experienced with a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle. Now, you’ll be able to travel places where roads don’t. You’ll be able to travel when weather conditions have made roads impassible for two-wheel drive vehicles. Most importantly, you’ll be able to travel with the safety, comfort and depe
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Notice to 4x2 utility vehicle owners All occupants should always wear the safety belts provided and children/infants should use appropriate restraints to minimize the risk of injury or ejection. Driving at speeds safe for road conditions and the use of safety belts are the best means of avoiding the possibility of accident and serious injury. Ford Motor Company reserves the right at any time to change information provided herein, including specifications, design or testing procedures without inc
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4WD and AWD systems drive over terrain and road conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle can’t. Power is supplied to all four wheels through a transfer case. On 4WD vehicles the transfer case allows you to select 4WD when necessary. Information on transfer case operation, shifting procedures and maintenance can be found in your “Owner’s Guide.” You should become thoroughly familiar with this information before you operate your vehicle. Normal characteristics ² On some 4WD models, t
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4WD and AWD systems How your vehicle differs from other vehicles 4WD and AWD vehicles can differ from some other vehicles in a few noticeable ways. Your 4WD or AWD may be: ² Higher — to allow it to travel over rough terrain without getting hung up or damaging underbody components, and to accommodate 4WD components. ² Shorter — to give it the capability to approach inclines and drive over the crest of a hill without getting hung up or damaging underbody components. A shorter wheelbase may make yo
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4WD or AWD operation on the road 4WD OR AWD OPERATION ON THE ROAD Basic operating principles ² Do not use 4WD on dry, hard surfaced roads (except models equipped with Auto 4WD or AWD). This may damage the drivelines and axles. ² Drive slower in strong crosswinds which can affect the normal steering characteristics of your vehicle. ² Be extremely careful when driving on pavement made slippery by loose sand, water, gravel, snow or ice. If your vehicle goes off the edge of the pavement ² If your ve
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4WD or AWD operation on the road rather than attempt a sudden return to the pavement which could cause the vehicle to slide sideways out of control or rollover. Remember, your safety and the safety of others should be your primary concern. Emergency maneuvers ² In an unavoidable emergency situation where a sudden sharp turn must be made, remember to avoid “over-driving” your vehicle, i.e., turn the steering wheel only as rapidly and as far as required to avoid the emergency. Excessive steering w
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4WD or AWD operation on the road Snow and ice Your 4WD or AWD vehicle will have advantages over two-wheel drive vehicles in snow and on ice by providing increased driving traction. However, if you suddenly change speed or direction you may lose control. 4WD and AWD vehicles can slide on slippery roads just like any other vehicle. Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control. Avoid sudden braking as w
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Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD operation of the anti-lock brake system. Parking Before leaving the driver’s seat, you should make sure that the gearshift is engaged in P (Park) with an automatic transmission or either 1 (First) or R (Reverse) with a manual transmission. Set the parking brake fully, shut off the ignition and remove the key. On some 4WD vehicles, when the transfer case is in the N (Neutral) position, the engine and transmission are disconnected from the rest of the driveline. Th
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Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as rocks and stumps. You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area before driving. Map out your route before driving in the area. To maintain steering and braking control of your vehicle, you must have all four wheels on the ground and they must be rolling, not sliding or spinning. Sand When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid area of the trail. Avoi
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Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD and AWD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of the slide until you regain control of the vehicle. After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an imbalance that could damage vehicle components. “Tread Lightly” is an e
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Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD Water Before driving through water, determine the depth. Avoid water higher than the bottom of the wheel hubs. Proceed slowly to avoid splashing, if the ignition system gets wet, the vehicle may stall. Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. You can dry the brakes faster by driving the vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal. Deep snow 4WD and AWD vehicles are unique in th
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Driving off-road with 4WD or AWD diagonally up or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up or straight down. Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill without the aid of
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Trailer Towing Descend a hill in the same gear you would use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive brake application and brake overheating. Do not descend in neutral, disengage overdrive or manually shift to a lower gear. When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden hard braking as you could lose control. When you brake hard, the front wheels can’t turn and if they aren’t turning, you won’t be able to steer. The front wheels have to be turning in order to steer the vehicle. Rapid pumping of the
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Tires, replacement requirements TIRES, REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS Your 4WD or AWD vehicle is equipped with tires designed to provide for safe ride and handling capability. Do not use a size and type of tire and wheel other than that originally provided by Ford because it can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could lead to loss of vehicle control or rollover and serious injury. Make sure all tires and wheels on the vehicle are of the same size, type, tread design, brand and l
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Tires, replacement requirements control or rollover and serious injury. Tires can be damaged during off-road use. For your safety, tires that are damaged should not be used for highway driving because they are more likely to blow out or fail. You should carefully observe the recommended tire inflation pressure found on the safety compliance certification label attached to the left front door lock facing or door latch post pillar. Failure to follow tire pressure recommendations can adversely affe
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Maintenance and modifications Inspect the tire side walls for cuts, bruises and other damage. If internal damage to the tire is suspected, have the tire demounted and inspected in case it needs to be repaired or replaced. MAINTENANCE AND MODIFICATIONS The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed and tested to provide both reasonably safe, predictable performance whether loaded or empty and durable load carrying capability. For this reason, Ford strongly recommends that
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Hauling cargo and vehicle handling components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to heavy off-road usage. Refer to the “Owner’s Guide” and “Service Guide” for proper maintenance instructions and schedules. HAULING CARGO AND VEHICLE HANDLING When using your vehicle to haul cargo, make sure it is properly loaded to help ensure safe handling. Cargo should be evenly distributed over the floor of the cargo area, with the heaviest cargo on the bottom and ahead of the rear axle. If you must hau
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Hauling cargo and vehicle handling Loading the vehicle improperly can deteriorate handling capability and contribute to loss of vehicle control. Once you have reached the weight capacity of the vehicle, do not add more cargo, even if there is space available. Make sure you consult the safety compliance certification label attached to your vehicle and the “Owner’s Guide” for information on maximum safe vehicle weight limits. 19
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Index All-Wheel Drive System, The .......3 Lift Kits ........................................15 AWD Vehicle Operation ................6 Maintenance and Modifications .17 Cargo, Hauling and Vehicle Mud, Driving in ...........................10 Handling ......................................18 Off-Road Driving ...........................9 Differences in Four-Wheel Operating Your AWD Vehicle Drive ..............................................5 on the Road ...................................6 Drivi
