Top Tips for Safe Towing

The Ford Ranger is built to handle tough jobs with confidence, and that includes towing heavy loads with ease. In South Africa, where road trips and outdoor adventures are a way of life, towing caravans, trailers, and boats is an integral part of exploring the country’s breathtaking landscapes. With the Ranger’s combination of power, precision, and exceptional 3500kg towing capacity, owners can take everything they need to make their next adventure epic.  

With the April holidays around the corner many South Africans will be hitting the road, towing caravans, trailers, and boats to their favourite holiday destinations. However, this time of year is also known for increased traffic and a higher risk of accidents, making towing safety more important than ever. Ensuring that you follow the correct towing methods can make a significant difference in keeping you, your passengers, and other road users safe.

Towing a trailer requires additional knowledge, safety precautions and driving skills. The driver must be aware of challenges such as decreased acceleration and braking performance, and reduced vehicle control and manoeuvrability.

“The Ford Ranger is equipped with innovative systems and technologies designed to make towing safer, more controlled and more convenient. These technologies assist in hitching and manoeuvring, help reduce sway, and will even tailor the powertrain’s performance accordingly. Whether you’re an experienced tower or towing for the first time, these smart systems take the stress out of the journey, allowing you to focus on the road ahead and enjoy the adventure,” said Sunil Sewmohan, Director Product Marketing at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (Manufacturing) (Pty) Ltd.

Included in the purchase of all new Ranger 4×4 and Everest 4×4 models is complimentary introductory off-road driver training, empowering customers to make the most of their vehicle’s impressive all-terrain capabilities.

Ranger’s unique towing features set new benchmarks in the bakkie segment, enabling customers to make the most of this vehicle’s impressive load-hauling abilities, enhancing the outdoor and adventure-oriented lifestyles of South African customers and capturing the essence of what it means to ‘Live the Ranger Life’. Some of the key features include:

Dynamic Hitch Assist 

Hitching a trailer can be tricky and stressful, especially when working alone. Aligning the tow ball perfectly under the hitch receiver often takes multiple attempts. The 360-degree camera (which is available on Ranger Tremor, Wildtrak, Wildtrak X, Platinum and Ranger Raptor models) provides a top-down view, while the reverse camera’s dynamic guidelines help align the tow ball with precision. A dedicated hitch view offers a zoomed-in perspective for ultimate accuracy.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance 

The Ranger Tremor, Wildtrak X, Ranger Raptor and Ranger Platinum are equipped with Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance. Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps the driver get the trailer positioned where you want it, quickly and easily. It utilises the rotary Selectable Drive Modes controller on the centre console, along with the steering wheel and a suite of cameras to take the guesswork and anxiety out of reversing the vehicle with a trailer attached.

After a few measurements have been entered into the SYNC® 4 screen and the trailer has been calibrated (including its hitch position and length), the camera tracks the trailer while reversing and guides it accordingly. The driver simply rotates the knob left or right in the direction you want the trailer to go while the system controls the steering wheel.

With Trailer Reverse Guidance, the system provides informational graphics and up to seven camera views to help reverse the trailer while the driver uses the steering wheel to control the direction. This mode displays which direction to turn the wheel to keep the trailer straight. Up to 10 trailers can be stored in the system for ease of use.

Tow Haul Drive Mode

Towing a trailer for the first time can be intimidating but Ranger’s capability and safety features are designed to make it a lot easier. 

The dedicated Tow/Haul drive mode ensures Ranger provides the best balance of power and control for the driver. It holds gears longer to help maintain power delivery when needed and will help provide engine braking when driving in hilly areas. It also increases resistance on the steering wheel for better control and comfort.

Trailer Sway Control

The Ranger’s innovative Trailer Sway Control is another piece of technology that works in the background to provide added stability when towing and helping to reduce unwanted side-to-side movement.

The system works with the vehicle’s Electronic Stability Control system to monitor performance while towing. If the trailer begins to sway from side to side, the system will warn the driver to slow down and, if necessary, apply brake pressure to individual wheels on the Ranger to address the issue. It will even reduce engine power to help the driver regain control.

BLIS with Trailer Coverage

For added peace of mind and safer driving, Ford’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) helps you to change lanes with more confidence – even when towing a trailer. BLIS uses radar sensors to monitor adjacent lanes for vehicles and inform you of any hazards, and can be configured to cover both the vehicle and the trailer or caravan. 

The system allows drivers to simply input the length of their towed load into the vehicle’s interface. Once this information is entered, the blind spot monitoring system intelligently adjusts its detection range to account for the added length. This ensures that drivers receive timely alerts if a vehicle enters their blind spot, thereby increasing safety during lane changes.

Checking everything

Ranger’s trailer connection checklist provides a handy step-by-step reference guide for towing novices and experts. Integrated into the SYNC system, it guides owners through the steps required to safely connect the trailer before setting off. Owners can also check that the trailer lights are working without the need for a spotter by either pressing a button on the SYNC screen, or by using their FordPass app. 

The system will run a test pattern of the taillamps, brake lights and indicator lights, cycling through the pattern five times, to give owners plenty of time to confirm everything is working properly before driving off.

Top tips for safe towing

Towing a trailer or caravan necessitates adjustments to driving techniques. Here are some quick and handy reminders:

• Plan your journey carefully, considering height restrictions, weather conditions, and extra travel time.
• When loading a trailer, it is essential to distribute the weight evenly, with approximately 60% of the load positioned over the front half of the trailer and the centre of gravity slightly ahead of the axle.
• Safety chains must be correctly attached and crossed under the trailer tongue to act as a backup in case of coupling failure.
• Always adhere to vehicle manufacturer guidelines regarding weight limitations.
• Understand the towing capacity (the maximum weight a vehicle can tow), tongue weight (the pressure exerted by the trailer on the hitch), and aggregate trailer mass (the total loaded weight of the trailer).
• Inspect tyres for damage and correct tread depth, verifying the functionality of trailer brakes and lights, ensuring secure and lubricated tow couplings, and checking wheel bearings.
• Maintain a safe following distance, as braking distances will be longer.
• Take turns wider than usual to accommodate the trailer’s path.
• Avoid sudden steering manoeuvres that might cause the trailer to sway.
• Be gentle with the accelerator and brakes, and steer smoothly, especially in wet or slippery conditions.
• Slow down well before entering corners and curves.
• Expect stronger effects from wind gusts and wind shifts caused by large trucks.
• Only overtake when you have enough space and time.
• Be mindful of your trailer’s size and load height when driving, parking, and navigating roads with height restrictions.
• Consider the trailer’s tendency to “cut in” on corners and curves when merging or turning.