Can I Tow 2017 Ford F-150 with 4 Wheels on The Ground And Parts To Tow It

Question:

I see I can dingy tow 4 wheels down on my 2017 xlt 4x4 f150. Correct? Will it put miles on my truck this way?

asked by: Mike D

Expert Reply:

I researched the owner's manual for the The 2017 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 and it can be towed with all 4 wheels on the ground as long as the truck is switched to neutral tow mode. The 2017 Ford F-150 still records miles as it is being flat towed. The only way to avoid recording miles is to tow the vehicle on a trailer with all 4 wheels off the ground.

I recommend the Roadmaster Baseplate kit part # RM-524431-5 for the Ford. I like this design because when you are not towing the Ford you can remove the arms easily with the pull rings. The brackets are hardly visible because they are designed to fit further back.

For a tow bar I recommend The Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain part # RM-522 to fit the Roadmaster baseplate. The design of the Falcon allows you to unhook the bars if you are on uneven terrain. Most tow bars can be difficult to disconnect unless they are on level ground without binding. If you ever need to unhook your vehicle when you are on a small incline the latch on the Falcon releases the tension in the bars so you can unhook your vehicle.

Since the Falcon does not come with safety cables I recommend Roadmaster part # RM-653 for safety cables. To allow the Ford's tail lights to illuminate with the Motorhome's lights I recommend Hopkins Custom Tail Light Wiring part # HM56009. The Hopkins wiring harness is designed to plug into the vehicle's wiring near the spare tire location. I have attached a video that shows the installation. There is not any splicing required with this kit so a lot of customers prefer this harness compared to other wiring that requires splicing into the tail lights.

Most states require a braking system when towing the Ford behind the motorhome so that the towed vehicle brakes when the motorhome's brakes are activated. I recommend the Stay-IN-Play DUO part # SM99251 if the motorhome has hydraulic brakes because its operating unit installs under the hood. Other braking systems can be bulky and have to be removed every time you need to drive the vehicle. The Operating system of the Stay-IN-Play sends a signal to a small pressurized actuating cylinder that is attached to Ford's brake pedal and it depresses the brake while being towed. The cylinder is small enough to stay attached to the brake pedal while the Ford is being driven without interference. If your motorhome has air brakes you need the Air Force One part # SM99243 which has the same design but designed for air brake systems. The Ford does require a brake light relay to be installed when you use the a supplemental braking system part # RM-88400.

You most likely need a high-low adapter to tow the Ford level with the motorhome. You can figure out which adapter you need by measuring from the ground to the bottom of the base plate arms that attach to the tow bar. Then measure from the ground to the top of the receiver opening on the RV. I have attached a link of the high-low adapters we carry.