Base Plates and Accessories for Flat Towing a 2011 Ford F150 Lariat 5.0L  

Question:

Helpful Expert Reply:

For your 2011 F150 Lariat with the 5.0L engine, I would recommend the Roadmaster # 495-1A base plate kit. I have phoned Roadmaster and confirmed the compatibility of this kit with your vehicle.

According to the 'recreational towing' section of your owner's manual, 2WD and 4x4 vehicles equipped with an electronic transfer case cannot be flat towed as-is. 4x4 vehicles with a MANUAL transfer case can be flat towed without modification. The steps required to flat tow the vehicle are very specific- in order to avoid damaging your vehicle be sure to follow what's outlined in the manual.

In addition to the tow bar and base plate kit, you will also need a wiring solution, safety cables and a supplementary braking system.

For wiring, the Roadmaster Bulb and Socket system, part # RM-155 is easy to install, and allows the flat towing lighting function to remain independent of the vehicle wiring. The system installs by drilling holes in the rear of the tail light assemblies to allow the extra bulb to be inserted into the assembly. If you prefer an option that uses the bulbs already in the taillights, you will need to hardwire in a diode kit like part # RM-154.

For safety cables, I would recommend the # RM-643.

An easy to use braking system is the Roadmaster Even Brake, part # RM-9400. The Even Brake operates wirelessly, and will not require any splicing into the wiring of your F150.

I have linked you to some FAQ articles about flat towing that you might find helpful.

expert reply by: Mike L

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