Can 1997 Ford F-150 Lariat 4X4 with Electronic Shift Be Safely Flat Towed Behind Motorhome

Question:

I have a 1997 Ford Lariat 4X4 with electronic shift and I want to know if there is any way it be made flat towable behind my RV?

asked by: Al P

Expert Reply:

A vehicle's ability to be safely flat-towed without damage depends on a few factors. Usually the printed owner's manual is the best resource for information on whether flat towing is possible, and what preparation steps might be needed to ready the vehicle for that activity. Generally a manual transmission is more easily flat towed than an automatic but sometimes modifications can make this possible even with an automatic transmission vehicle.

I reviewed several online manuals for your 1997 F-150 and these offer limited information. There is no index included and the terms 'flat tow' and 'recreational tow' do not appear. This is not a good sign for your flat towing prospects.

Given this your best options are to check your original printed manual if you have it, or to contact a local dealership who can look up the truck's VIN to see what transmission it has. I recommend speaking to Ford directly before making any attempt to tow the vehicle 4-wheels-down.

expert reply by: Adam R