fginak

I am wondering about how many miles I should have on my new F150 before I can tow our camper?

Cover Dog

IIRC Ford says to have 1k on the motor before towing.

Eco-Mica

iTrader: (1)

read this

https://www.f150forum.com/f82/break-question-308183/

atwowheelguy

The answer is in the owner's manual in the Towing section along with lots of other good information.

Steve Osborne

at a 1000km-650mile approx. I started to haul my utility trailer--small light loads...once I hit 1600km-1000mile...giver....only driveline fail was a pinion seal around 30000kms...

smokeywren

Assuming you want the truck to have a long and productive life, then there are two answers. The simplistic answer is to drive it in normal commuter-car fashion for at least 1,000 miles. That does NOT mean to hit the super slab and cruise at 70 MPH for 1,000 miles.


But if it's a new tow vehicle and you want to leave on a towing trip soon, then there's a shortcut. The purpose of a "break in" period is to allow the metal and other wear surfaces to mate. Piston rings to cylinder walls, brake pads to rotors, etc.


So here's the trick. Drive around suburbia for around 500 miles, on streets and highways with over 45 MPH speed limit and lots of stop signs and traffic signals. No jack-rabbit starts, and no slamming on the brakes. Accelerate gently up to the speed limit. At every stop sign or red light, purposely coast as much as traffic will allow, then baby the brakes when you stop. Keep it up all day, or until about 500 mles on the clock.


Then hook up the trailer and head out. But vary speed at least 10 MPH every 10 miles or so. For the next 500 miles, follow a routine similar to this:


Exit the freeway at every exit that is 10 miles or more than the last time you exited the freeway, coasting to a low speed then baby the brakes to a stop. Accelerate gently to get back up to speed. When on the highway:


65 MPH for about 10 miles
55 MPH for about 10 miles
45 MPH for about 10 miles
then repeat
65 MPH for about 10 miles
55 MPH for about 10 miles
45 MPH for about 10 miles


If traffic won't allow you to safely cruise at 45 MPH, then without using the brakes, decelerate from 55 to 45 whenever traffic will allow.


Yes, towing under those conditions will be a long boring day, but your truck will thank you by lasting a long and productive life. After you hit the 1,000 mile mark, then drive normally for the remainder of your trip - but no hard acceleration and continue to baby the brakes

acadianbob

In addition to engine break-in, I believe another purpose is to allow the rear axle and gears to wear in properly.

Loki 5.0

It was my understanding that this was the purpose of the 1000 miles. With modern honing techniques the rings are seated from the factory is my understanding. I started towing at 250 miles with a 2500-3000 lb trailer , with short local trips. I had no choice as this is work truck. I have seen no negative results from this in my new truck or my last two new trucks. I am easy on it though until 1000 mi.

colormegreen

So,how does this work when you can go to a rv dealer and buy a complete set-up? Truck and trailer and drive off the lot

smokeywren

Baby rig until can park the trailer. Then drop the trailer and do your 500 miles of city/suburban driving with lots of throttle-off deceleration before you hook back up to the trailer.


That throttle-off deceleration (coasting) is a key to proper break-in. That's the reason for so many miles of city-suburban driving, and for exiting the freeway every 10 miles or so when towing with a new rig with less than 1,000 miles on the tow vehicle.


Fleet and other work vehicles are rarely broken in properly. And they're usually driven by hired hands who don't give a rat's pootootie about longevity of the vehicle. That's a reason they wear out sooner than most personal vehicles. If you must buy a used vehicle, then don't buy a used fleet or work vehicle if you want it to last for more than normal lifetime.