2023 Ford Ranger flat towing

[Dodge Guy]

So my buddy has a 2023 Ford Ranger 4 wheel drive with the N T case and is flat towable. He mentioned about not liking that he has to leave the key in the ignition after the truck is put in N tow mode. He showed me the owners manual. In the 30+ years I have never heard of leaving the auto trans in N after shifting the T-case to N.
Is anyone else towing a new 4X4 ranger? If so is this the proper procedure? It just doesn’t sound right. Unless the new 10 speed pumps fluid from the input shaft the trans can and will still spin a little even with the transcase in N.
Maybe someone can correct me if I’m wrong.
I know there are issues with some F150’s burning up from flat towing. Don’t want this to be an issue for him.

[Sbrownstein]

That is what you do with Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse put transaxle in neutral, tow no faster than 65 and run the engine for a few minutes after 250 miles.

[depmur]

I don’t think the 23 has changed from the 22. These are the directions available via Google. I would reference the owners manual though.

To flat tow a 2022 Ford Ranger, you only need to make sure that the transfer case is in neutral. To do this, follow these steps:
Switch your vehicle to accessory mode by pressing the push-button ignition switch without pressing the brake pedal.
Press and hold the brake pedal.
Rotate the four-wheel drive control to 2H.
Shift the transmission to neutral.
Using the instrument cluster controls on the steering wheel, select Settings.
Select Vehicle.
Select Neutral Tow.
Press and hold the OK button until a confirmation message appears in the information display.
You’re ready to roll!

[theroc]

^ that does seem to correspond to the 2023 manual too ...here's the exact page from the Ford website that should reflect what is printed in the hard copy of the manual (but the OP has said that he already has seen this):

Towing - Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels - 2023 Ford Ranger

I'm not sure why he'd want to do anything else but to follow the instructions given in the manual. It's under warranty so the more he can do to follow what Ford says, I'd suspect would be the prudent advice.

Pertaining to the key, I wonder if he could use a "dummy" key, i.e. one that doesn't have a chip for immobilizer? I know many older toads that have ignition keys, like some I had, you could use a door key (chip-less) and it would still allow the ignition switch be put in "ACC" so that the steering column was free but just wouldn't start the engine. We put a towel over the column to hide the key so that if we were in a restaurant, etc. somebody walking by wouldn't be tempted to break a window and attempt to take the car since they could spot a key in the ignition (assuming that they would know how to unhook it and also if they wanted to bother with a manual transmission which all of our cars have had) --but even if they did break in, the key wouldn't start the engine regardless.

[Dodge Guy]

Yes, he follows the manual exactly. Im just wondering why the trans has to stay in N after the t-case is in N. And you can’t use a “dummy key as it would require you to put it in Park, which would defeat the purpose of leaving the trans in N.

[twinboat]

Maybe it has something to do with the warning about locking the steering with the key off.

[Dodge Guy]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Maybe it has something to do with the warning about locking the steering with the key off.

Maybe, I’m not sure if the Ranger column locks. If so then why have the trans in N? I’ll have to check with the guys at Ford, I’m sure one of the techs over there will know something.

[Newmar2856]

All of these new transmissions are electronically controlled. I suspect leaving it in neutral is just part of the process to tell the computer what to do. It’s not like the old days where you mechanically shifted the transmission with a transfer case.

Also, the Rangers don’t have a locking steering column.

[Donhdm]

I bought a 2019 Ranger 4x4 crew cab to flat tow, set up is easy. I use printed card I leave in the truck so I don't forget anything. Have 10K miles towing it. Mine has a push button and keys remain with me in the MH. I leave doors looked and mirrors in.



How to Flat Tow Your Ford Ranger in A Few Simple Steps
1) Connect truck to MH before Flat Tow Setup.
2) Get Inside Your Car
a. The first step is getting inside your Ford Range and pressing the start/stop button without stepping the brake pedal.
b. Note: If you have a vehicle with key ignition, then you just have to simply turn the key to the ON or ACCESSORY mode position.
3) Press the Brake
a. The next step is to press and hold the brake pedal and make sure it is in 2 HIGH on the four-wheel drive selector.
4) Put it in Neutral
a. Next, you will want to shift your transmission from PARK to NEUTRAL mode.
5) Use Your Controls
a. Use the controls on your steering wheel and go to where you see an OK button surrounded by four arrows, then press the arrow pointing to your left.
b. Then using the up and down arrows, go to SETTINGS, VEHICLE, and select NEUTRAL TOW.
c. Please do not move onto the next step until you are one hundred percent sure that your Ford Ranger is in neutral mode. We cannot stress enough how important this one step is. If car is NOT in NEUTRAL mode, it will damage transmission.
6) Go back to the OK button
a. Now go back to the OK button that is surrounded by arrows, the same button used in the previous step.
b. Next, press the OK button to initialize the NEUTRAL tow.
c. Be sure to hold the OK button until this message is displayed on screen, “NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED, LEAVE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL.”
d. DO NOT go to next step until you see this message. If message doesn’t show up, continue pressing OK button until it does.
e. IF you DO NOT see message displayed, you must perform procedure over again from beginning, Repeat as necessary.
f. If after a few tries you still do not see this message, call local Ford dealer and ask them, there could be an error in the engine.
7) Press the Start/Stop button
a. If your vehicle is key-less, then press the start/stop button once without pressing the brake pedal to turn it off.
b. If you have a key, then turn it as far towards the off position as possible. This is because your Ford Ranger will not turn off fully if your transmission is in neutral. This is important to note so you do not press the key too far back and end up damaging your Ford Ranger in the process. Just go as far as you can, then stop.
c. If you have a key, then leave it in the ignition as you tow.
8) Message on Display
a. Note that every time you open or close driver’s door while you are on accessory mode, you’ll see a message pop up on your display screen, “NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED, LEAVE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL.”
b. This is to reassure you that your vehicle is indeed in neutral tow mode.
c. ENSURE Brake, Turn signals, Hazzard lights work properly.

HOW TO EXIT
a. To exit out of four wheels down towing, with your Ford Ranger still properly secured to the tow vehicle, turn the ignition to ACCESSORY MODE by pressing the start/stop button without pressing the brake pedal.

b. Then, press and hold the brake pedal while in accessory mode and shift the transmission out of NEUTRAL and into PARK.
c. If you have a key, then turn the key to the ON position.
d. Then press and hold the brake pedal and shift the transmission out of NEUTRAL.
2) Check your Display Screen
a. You will get a message saying your vehicle is out of NEUTRAL mode.
b. And that is it!

[specialk196]

Dodge Guy,

Youtube Video from Ford.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8i6IJkme0U

Michael Kellogg
Temle, TX

[Dodge Guy]

Thanks everyone. I have read and understand the process. My question comes from the mechanical side. I’m a tech at a CDJR dealer. All of our vehicles require the trans to be in P with the transfer case in N. So I’m just wondering why leave the trans in N. Unless there is no N position in the transfer case? This is how my Explorer is. Depress the manual release for the shifter and shift the trans to N.

[Newmar2856]

Don’t know what else to say, other than that is how the engineers designed it.

All 3 of my towable cars have always required the transmission be left in neutral. So, from my perspective, why would you have a transmission in park to tow it?

[DRM901]

Originally Posted by Newmar2856

All of these new transmissions are electronically controlled. I suspect leaving it in neutral is just part of the process to tell the computer what to do. It’s not like the old days where you mechanically shifted the transmission with a transfer case.

Also, the Rangers don’t have a locking steering column.

I think that is the reason. The software was programmed that way. If all the conditions are not met, then the computer will not execute the tow mode.

[Gary RVRoamer]

It's seems likely to me that having the transmission selector in Park would activate the PARK brake/lock of the rear wheels. Electronically, not mechanically as in the old days. That would be independent of the transfer case Neutral mode.