Ford Fusion Quiz
Tow/Haul

Towing a Trailer

In this manual: Tow/Haul
Introduction — 7Environment — 1At a Glance — 1Child Safety — 9Seat Belts — 8Personal Safety System™ — 1Additional Restrictions — 8Keys and Remote Controls — 8MyKey™ — 5Doors & Locks — 10Safety — 3Steering Wheel — 5Wipers and Washers — 4Lighting — 8Automatic High Beam Control — 3Windows and Mirrors — 6Instrument Cluster — 4Information Displays — 5Climate Control — 10Seats — 9Garage Door Opener — 1Auxiliary Power Points — 3Storage Compartments — 1Starting and Stopping the Engine — 4Unique Driving Characteristics (if equipped) — 1Fuel and Refueling — 9Engine Emission Control — 5Infection Transmission — 1All-Wheel Drive — 1Brakes — 4Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 1Park Aid — 13Cruise Control — 10Driver Assistance — 14Loading — 1Tow/Haul — 5Driving Tips — 3Roadside Emergencies — 5Customer Assistance — 6Fuses — 3Maintenance — 16Vehicle Care — 9Wheels and Tires — 13Capacities and Specifications — 11Connected Vehicle — 1Wi-Fi Hotspot — 1Audio System — 7SYNC™ — 7SYNC™ 3 — 16Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 3Scheduled Maintenance — 5Appendices — 4
~1min read

Your vehicle's load capacity is rated by weight, not by volume, so you cannot necessarily use all of the available space when loading the vehicle or trailer.

When towing a trailer, additional load is placed on your vehicle's engine, transmission, axle, brakes, tires, and suspension. Inspect these components periodically during and after any towing operation.

Load Placement

To minimize the effect of trailer movement on your vehicle while driving:

  • Load the heaviest items as close as possible to the trailer floor.
  • Load the heaviest items centered between the left and right trailer wheels.
  • Load the heaviest items above the trailer axle or slightly forward toward the trailer tongue. Make sure the final tongue weight of the trailer does not go above or below 10-15% of the loaded trailer weight.
  • Select a ball mount with the correct rise or drop. When both the loaded vehicle and trailer are connected, the trailer frame should be level or slightly angled downward toward your vehicle when viewed from the side.

When driving with a trailer or payload, a slight vibration or shimmy may be present due to the increased payload weight. For more information on proper loading and setup of the trailer for your towing vehicle, refer to the Load Capacity chapter.

You can also find information in the Recreational Vehicle and Trailer Towing Guide, available from your authorized dealer or online.

Ford Fusion. Towing a Trailer

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