Can I flat tow my 2018 F150 Crew Cab?

[earlsflyin01]

We just purchased a class A motor home an I am wondering if I can flat tow my 2018 F150 Crew Cab behind the motor home. I know the weight of the truck is under the weight of the motor home tow rating so that is not the question, I'm wondering if the truck can be flat towed without any damage? Is there something special that needs to be done to/with the truck to make it flat towable? Thanks, Earl

[AquaMan]

I believe so, as long as it's a 4x4 model.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Owners manual should answer your question. Going thru my manual on my new 2019 Colorado and it has a section on what needed to be done to flat tow.

[jd50i]

only if 4X4 and there are steps you need to take setting switches to get the transfer case in neutral.


From my 2016 manual;


Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system in
recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust
fumes from entering your vehicle. See
Climate Control (page 139).

Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational towing, such as towing
your vehicle behind a motorhome. We
designed these guidelines to prevent
damage to your transmission.
Two-wheel Drive Vehicles
You cannot tow a two-wheel drive vehicle
with any wheels on the ground as vehicle
or transmission damage may occur. You
must tow your vehicle with all four wheels
off the ground, such as when using a
car-hauling trailer.
Four-wheel Drive Vehicles
You can only tow a four-wheel drive
vehicle with all wheels on the ground by
placing the transfer case in its neutral
position and engaging the
four-wheel-down towing feature. Perform
the steps outlined in the following section
after positioning your vehicle behind the
tow vehicle and properly securing them
together.
Note: Make sure you properly secure your
vehicle to the tow vehicle.
Four-wheel-down Towing
1. Put the ignition in the on position, but
do not start the engine. If your vehicle
has an ignition key, turn the key to on.
If your vehicle has intelligent access,
press the engine START/STOP button
once without pressing the brake pedal.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch to
2H.
4. Shift the transmission to position N.
5. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch
from 2H to 4L and back to 2H five
times within seven seconds.
Note: If completed successfully, the
information display shows NEUTRAL TOW
LEAVE IN N or NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED
LEAVE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL.
This indicates that your vehicle is safe to
tow with all wheels on the ground.
Note: If you do not see the message in the
display, you must perform the procedure
again from the beginning.
Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts into its neutral position.
This is normal.
6. Leave the transmission in position N
and turn the ignition as far as it will go
toward the off position (it will not turn
fully off when the transmission is in
position N). If your vehicle has an
ignition key, you must leave the key in
the ignition while towing. To lock and
unlock your vehicle, use the keyless
entry keypad or extra set of keys. If your
vehicle has intelligent access, press the
engine START/STOP button once
without pressing the brake pedal. You
do not need to leave your keys in the
vehicle. You can lock and unlock your
vehicle as you normally do.
7. Release the brake pedal.
WARNINGS
Do not disconnect the battery during
recreational towing. Doing so will
prevent the transfer case from
shifting properly and may cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is in P
(Park).
Shifting the transfer case to its
neutral position for recreational
towing may cause the vehicle to be
able to roll even if the transmission is in P
(Park). The driver or others could be
injured. Make sure the foot brake is
depressed and the vehicle is in a secure
and safe position while the transfer case
is being shifted to its neutral position.

WARNINGS
Failing to put the transfer case in its
neutral position will damage vehicle
components.
Note: You can check four-wheel-down
towing status at any time by opening the
driver's door or turning the ignition to the
accessory or on position and verifying the
NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED message
displays in the cluster.
To exit four-wheel-down towing and return
the transfer case to its 2H position:
1. With your vehicle still properly secured
to the tow vehicle, put the ignition in
the on position, but do not start the
engine. If your vehicle has an ignition
key, turn the key to on. If your vehicle
has intelligent access, press the engine
START/STOP button once without
pressing the brake pedal.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission out of N and into
any gear.
4. Release the brake pedal.
Note: If completed successfully, the
instrument cluster displays 4X2, and
NEUTRAL TOW DISABLED.
Note: If the indicator light and message do
not display, you must perform the procedure
again from the beginning.
Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts out of its neutral
position. This is normal.
Note: If SHIFT DELAY PULL FORWARD
displays in the instrument cluster, transfer
case gear tooth blockage is present. See the
instructions after this section.
5. Apply the parking brake, and then
disconnect the vehicle from the tow
vehicle.
6. Release the parking brake, start the
engine, and shift the transmission to
position D to make sure the transfer
case is out of position N.
7. If the transfer case does not
successfully shift out of position N, set
the parking brake until you can have
your vehicle serviced.

[gastan]

For a 2-wheel drive you would need to install a driveline disconnect. It would replace your OEM driveshaft with one with an added decoupling device that would separate your rear drive wheels and allow them to spin freely. The transmission would stay in park so no wear & tear on it while towing. I think there is/was an option that would stop miles being added to the odometer, too.

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by gastan

For a 2-wheel drive you would need to install a driveline disconnect. It would replace your OEM driveshaft with one with an added decoupling device that would separate your rear drive wheels and allow them to spin freely. The transmission would stay in park so no wear & tear on it while towing. I think there is/was an option that would stop miles being added to the odometer, too.

I don't know that any modern vehicle adds mileage to odometer while being towed, since there is no longer any mechanical link to the odometer.

[A32Deuce]

Originally Posted by gastan

For a 2-wheel drive you would need to install a driveline disconnect. It would replace your OEM driveshaft with one with an added decoupling device that would separate your rear drive wheels and allow them to spin freely. The transmission would stay in park so no wear & tear on it while towing. I think there is/was an option that would stop miles being added to the odometer, too.

If the drive shaft is disconnected from the trans, there is no od change since the output shaft of the trans has to turn to change it. Speed is not from the wheels except early VWs.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by earlsflyin01

We just purchased a class A motor home an I am wondering if I can flat tow my 2018 F150 Crew Cab behind the motor home. I know the weight of the truck is under the weight of the motor home tow rating so that is not the question, I'm wondering if the truck can be flat towed without any damage? Is there something special that needs to be done to/with the truck to make it flat towable? Thanks, Earl

Your answer is in posts #2 & 4.

[aircommuter]

They sure didn’t engineer that from the start! My truck simply has a transfer case N button.

[jd50i]

Originally Posted by aircommuter

They sure didn’t engineer that from the start! My truck simply has a transfer case N button.

My old one did also.

[EricNJ]

Google “Dinghy Guide” to get info on which vehicles are towable and how for each year.

[Chuck_S]

I'm always surprised folks ask truck questions here rather than on the truck websites. There's several active and robust F150 websites.

And some of us got owner's manuals with our trucks which adequately describe flat towing of these vehicles. At least mine does.

-- Chuck

[sugarray40]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

I'm always surprised folks ask truck questions here rather than on the truck websites. There's several active and robust F150 websites.

And some of us got owner's manuals with our trucks which adequately describe flat towing of these vehicles. At least mine does.

-- Chuck

Yes, a simple reading of the owner's manual would have answered this. I looked at a 2017 F150 just 5 days ago and read the owner's manual to see if I could flat tow it.