WARNING:
Off-roading can be extremely dangerous and carries
inherent risks that may not be preventable even with the best
precautions. Ford strongly recommends driving within your ability and
taking every safety precaution, including those found here and at other
off-road driving organizations such as the Best in the Desert Racing
(www.bitd.com) and SCORE International Off-Road Racing.
Off-road screen
The real-time status of the Raptor’s off-road systems can be continuously
monitored using the first off-road screen found under the Truck Apps
menu in the message center.
See
Message center
in the
Instrument Cluster
chapter of your Owner’s
Guide for more information.
Basic off-road driving techniques
•
Grip the steering wheel with thumbs on the outside of the rim. This
will reduce the risk of injury due to abrupt steering wheel motions
that occur when negotiating rough terrain. Do not grip the steering
wheel with thumbs inside the rim.
•
Throttle, brake and steering inputs should be made in a smooth and
controlled manner. Sudden inputs to the controls can cause loss of
traction or “upset” the vehicle, especially while on sloped terrain or
while crossing obstacles such as rocks or logs.
•
Look ahead on your route noting upcoming obstacles, surface texture
or color changes or any other factors which may indicate a change in
available traction, and adjust the vehicle speed and route accordingly.
During pre-run, mark obstacles with GPS markers to ensure
appropriate speeds are used to avoid potential vehicle damage.
•
When driving off-road, if the front or rear suspension is bottoming-out
and/or excessive contact with the skid-plates is encountered, reduce
vehicle speed to avoid potential damage to the vehicle.
•
When running with other vehicles, it is recommended that
communication is used, and the lead vehicle notify other vehicles of
obstacles that could cause potential vehicle damage.
•
Always keep available ground clearance in mind and pick a route that
minimizes the risk of catching the underside of the vehicle on an
obstacle.
Driving
19
2012 F-150
(f12)
Supplement, 1st Printing
USA
(fus)
