2025 Ranger 6G - 4-Wheel Flat Towing behind RVs - YES!

[unsavory]

Im seeing an online 2025 RR manual here
https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...e=USA&VIN=&userMarket=USA&div=f&buildtype=web


Recreationally Towing Your Vehicle

WARNING: Do not disconnect the battery when recreationally towing your vehicle. This prevents the transfer case from shifting properly and could cause the vehicle to roll, even if the transmission is in park (P). WARNING: Placing the transfer case in its neutral position could cause your vehicle to freely roll. Make sure you press and hold the brake pedal and the vehicle is in a secure, safe position when you place the transfer case in its neutral position.

Follow these guidelines if you have a need for recreational towing. An example of recreational towing would be towing your vehicle behind a motorhome. These guidelines are to make sure that you do not damage the transmission.
You can only tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground by placing the transfer case in its neutral position by engaging the recreational tow feature. Perform the following steps after positioning your vehicle behind the tow vehicle and properly securing them together.
Note: Switch the climate control system to recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust fumes from entering your vehicle.
Note: Failure to put the transfer case in its neutral position can damage vehicle components.
Note: You can check the towing status at any time by opening the driver door or turning the ignition to the accessory or on position.Neutral Tow Enabled Leave Transmission in Neutral appears in the instrument cluster display to confirm you can recreationally tow your vehicle.
Note: : Make sure the vehicle is off after you activate the neutral tow feature to prevent the transfer case from switching out of neutral when the battery voltage is low.
Switching Neutral Tow On

1. Start your vehicle

1. Press the 2H button on the four-wheel drive mode control.

1. Place your vehicle in temporary neutral mode. See Entering Temporary Neutral Mode.

1. Switch your vehicle off by pressing the push button ignition switch once or turning the key as far toward the off position as possible. A message appears in the instrument cluster display.

1. Switch your vehicle to accessory mode by pressing the push button ignition switch once without pressing the brake pedal or by turning the key to the on position.

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.

1. Using the instrument cluster controls on the steering wheel, select Settings.

1. Select Neutral Tow.

1. Press and hold the OK button until a confirmation message appears in the information display.

Note: If successfully completed, the instrument cluster display shows 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 a confirmation message in the instrument cluster display, perform the procedure again from the beginning.
Note: You may hear noise as the transfer case shifts into its neutral position. This is normal.

1. Release the brake pedal.

1. Leave the transmission in neutral (N) and switch your vehicle off by pressing the push button ignition switch once without pressing the brake pedal or turning the key as far toward the off position.

Note: If your vehicle has an ignition key, you cannot remove the key from the ignition when the transmission is in neutral (N) and your vehicle is off. Use the keyless entry keypad or an extra set of keys to lock and unlock your vehicle.
Switching Neutral Tow Off
Note: Make sure that the vehicle is safely secured to the towing vehicle before proceeding.

1. Press and hold the brake pedal and start the engine.

1. Switch your vehicle off by pressing the push button ignition switch once or turning the key as far toward the off position and release the brake pedal.

1. Place your vehicle in accessory mode by pressing the push button ignition switch once without pressing the brake pedal or by turning the ignition key to the on position.

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.

1. Shift into park (P).

1. Release the brake pedal.

Note: If successfully completed, the transfer case returns to 2H and the instrument cluster displays Neutral Tow Disabled.
Note: Perform the switching neutral tow on and switching neutral tow off procedures again from the beginning if the indicator and message do not display.
Note: You may hear a noise as the transfer case shifts out of its neutral position. This is normal.

1. Apply the parking brake, then disconnect your vehicle from the tow vehicle.

1. Release the parking brake, start the engine, and shift into drive (D) to make sure the transfer case is out of the neutral tow position.

1. If the transfer case does not successfully shift out of its neutral position, set the parking brake. Have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.

Resolving the Shift Delayed Drive Forward Message

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.

1. Start your vehicle.

1. Shift into neutral (N).

1. With the vehicle running, shift into drive (D) and let the vehicle roll forward up to 3 ft (1 m).

Note: You may hear a noise as the transfer case shifts out of its neutral position. This is normal.

1. Make sure the instrument cluster displays Neutral Tow Disabled.

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[unsavory]

This is 2024 manual, says you cant
https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...e=USA&VIN=&userMarket=USA&div=f&buildtype=web


Recreationally Towing Your Vehicle

You cannot recreational tow your vehicle with all wheels on the ground because vehicle or transmission damage could occur. You must recreational tow your vehicle with all four wheels off the ground, such as when using a car-hauling trailer. Otherwise, you cannot recreational tow your vehicle.

 

[TimmyB]

This is 2024 manual, says you cant
https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...e=USA&VIN=&userMarket=USA&div=f&buildtype=web


Recreationally Towing Your Vehicle

You cannot recreational tow your vehicle with all wheels on the ground because vehicle or transmission damage could occur. You must recreational tow your vehicle with all four wheels off the ground, such as when using a car-hauling trailer. Otherwise, you cannot recreational tow your vehicle.

This thread is regarding the 2025 MY. The 24 was a known issue.

 

[unsavory]

This thread is regarding the 2025 MY. The 24 was a known issue.

agree, i posted links to both manuals to show there is a change, hopefully not an error, Im about to order a 2025 because of this

 

[lmlayfield]

The manual says that the ignition should be turned off after you place the vehicle in Neutral Tow mode. So….

Will the 2025 Ford Ranger brakes function normally using an aftermarket braking system that mechanically depresses the brake pedal while the vehicle is in Neutral Tow Mode and the ignition is turned off? If so, is the Neutral Tow mode using any battery power at all such that an auxiliary line is needed to keep the Ranger battery charged while it is being towed?

Thanks for any information!

 

[unsavory]

My 2019 Chevy Colorado ZR2 did and I assume most do. Roadmaster makes a part, and there's a charge wire built into the cable from tow bar that plugs into your towed car, I installed a famle.receptscle.on front of Chevy . Look up what's needed on etrailer or similar for what's needed for an older ranger or any flat towed vehicle. Can also see pics I posted (if I did)

 

[TimmyB]

The manual says that the ignition should be turned off after you place the vehicle in Neutral Tow mode. So….

Will the 2025 Ford Ranger brakes function normally using an aftermarket braking system that mechanically depresses the brake pedal while the vehicle is in Neutral Tow Mode and the ignition is turned off? If so, is the Neutral Tow mode using any battery power at all such that an auxiliary line is needed to keep the Ranger battery charged while it is being towed?

Thanks for any information!

​

Yes, you should turn your ignition off and yes, your brakes will operate as they should with a supplemental braking system. You should have a hot line directly to your battery for your supplemental brake as your 12V ports will turn off after a brief period of time, leaving your braking system as useless. Absolutely, you want to run a charge wire from the MH to your toad through the umbilical. Additionally, some of us have purchased a device which allows us to keep an eye on the battery level of the toad while underway. With so many destroyed transmissions in the earlier years of the 5G Ranger/Bronco line, and so many clueless dealers blaming it on "user error", it is a small price to pay to ensure that your toad battery is at a safe level so that the vehicle will not fall out of neutral tow mode.

 

[lmlayfield]

Thanks for this information!
Why wouldn’t this important information be in the Ford literature on this topic?

 

[TimmyB]

Thanks for this information!
Why wouldn’t this important information be in the Ford literature on this topic?

Probably because they know most RV'ers don't listen worth a crap and wouldn't do it, anyway!

Seriously though, the important thing is putting the vehicle properly in neutral-tow mode. Most experienced RV'ers already know the value of a charge line to keep your toad battery level up. I agree with you about the power ports turning off. If you have a vehicle that you are certifying is safe to flat tow, it would be in everyone's best interest to either have an always-hot port or as you say, spell that out explicitly in the neutral-tow section of the manual.

It is very easy to get the wire through the firewall to the battery and there is a nice little place to tuck the the added 12V port away down by the hood latch by the driver's side left foot. (At least on my 5G there was; not sure about the 6G interior.)

This is what I bought for my 12V power outlet:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G8WLX14/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8

This is the battery maintainer that I have for power to go from the RV to the toad:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RCXB8A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8

And, this is the battery monitor that sits on my dash of my RV. If you get it, make sure you get the RF model, not the Bluetooth, as the BT will not have enough range to work properly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BZCK7L1H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8

Good luck with your setup!

 

[lmlayfield]

Thanks again! Now I know enough to be dangerous, or at least enough to make sure the installer I hire does it correctly!

 

[TimmyB]

...or at least enough to make sure the installer I hire does it correctly!

This right here! Find a good trailer hitch shop that does RV's. If you're using Blue Ox, they have a nice directory of authorized dealers. Find some near you then look at the reviews for that place and see what others have to say. We've been through this with two different vehicles in two different states and have been exceedingly happy with both.

Feel free to message me if you have any questions.

 

[MileHiGuy]

Thanks for reviving this tread.
Does anyone know what the issue was with the 2024 for flat towing a RR? It almost sounds like a software update and wondering if mine could be updated to allow for this. It would suck take the hit financially as this one has a full clear bra and ceramic coat job applied to it.

Thanks in advance

 

[TimmyB]

Thanks for reviving this tread.
Does anyone know what the issue was with the 2024 for flat towing a RR? It almost sounds like a software update and wondering if mine could be updated to allow for this. It would suck take the hit financially as this one has a full clear bra and ceramic coat job applied to it.

Thanks in advance

Yes, the problem was software and no, you won't be getting an update, sadly. When the 6G Ranger (and corresponding Bronco) were designed, they changed suppliers for the anti-lock braking system. Apparently, the software supplied by that company didn't play well with Ford's software. What's truly strange about the whole thing is, they were able to get the software fixed for the Bronco (and retroactively make those work) but not the Ranger. With the Ranger, they simply punted to the 25 MY, which does work from all reports.

 

[MileHiGuy]

Yes, the problem was software and no, you won't be getting an update, sadly. When the 6G Ranger (and corresponding Bronco) were designed, they changed suppliers for the anti-lock braking system. Apparently, the software supplied by that company didn't play well with Ford's software. What's truly strange about the whole thing is, they were able to get the software fixed for the Bronco (and retroactively make those work) but not the Ranger. With the Ranger, they simply punted to the 25 MY, which does work from all reports.

Unfortunate but thanks for the reply.

 

[Sonofason]

Hi folks, just joined the forum. My father purchased a 2025 Ford Ranger and is configuring it to flat tow.
He used to do this with his Toyota Tundra, where he was able to tap into the Tundras break pedal sensor switch(?) And feed that back into an led in RV, for break on detection.
He'd like to do this with the Ranger but is struggling to find this switch. He's found YT videos for the 2024 and location of switch but nothing for 2025.
Anyone have any suggestions?
TIA...

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