Flat towing is a convenient way to tow a car behind your RV, but only some vehicles are safe to flat tow. Which vehicles among Ford's impressive fleet can be flat towed? We've put together a complete list to answer your Ford flat towing questions.
You can flat tow these Ford vehicles:
- F-150 (with four-wheel drive)
- Super Duty (with four-wheel drive)
- This includes the F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and F-600
- Expedition (with 4x4 Low)
- Maverick (hybrid models)
- Escape (hybrid models)
- Edge (ST models)
- Bronco (except the Bronco Sport)
- Ranger (with four-wheel drive for 2019-2022)
- Explorer (model years before 2018/ 2018 - 2019 models with 3.5-liter engine)
- Focus (only manual before 2012, all except ST models 2012 to 2018)
- Fiesta (except ST models)
- Fusion (hybrid models, 2.7-liter Ecoboost models, and models with manual transmission)
- Taurus
- Flex
In this article, we'll take a look at each of these vehicles, what configurations you need to flat tow them, and more information to help you flat tow your Ford safely. Keep reading to learn all about flat towing your Ford.
Which Ford Vehicles Can Be Flat Towed?
The Ford Vehicles that you can flat tow come from a range of model years and configurations. Let's look at each more closely.
Ford F-150
The F-150 is the lightest of Ford's F-series trucks, which has been America's best-selling series of pickup trucks for half a century.
While the F-150 is a potent towing vehicle in its own right, it is also a candidate for flat towing as long as it has a four-wheel-drive drivetrain.
Before flat towing your F-150, you must ensure it is safely connected to your RV and switched to a neutral tow mode. The process varies somewhat between model years, so consult your model year.
The video from Ford below covers how to flat tow models from 2017 to 2020, but the process is similar for more recent model years too.
Ford Super Duty
Ford's Super Duty trucks include the F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and F-600. These are Ford's premier heavy-duty trucks when it comes to power, perfect for towing and off-roading.
Much like the F-150, Ford's Super Duty trucks can be flat towed, but only if equipped with the four-wheel-drive drivetrain.
As always, consult your owner's manual before flat towing your vehicle. You can find a digital owner's manual that covers flat towing 2021 Super Duty pickups here, under recreational towing.
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV that features four doors and three rows of seats, so you don't have to leave anything, or anyone, behind.
You won't need to leave the Expedition behind on your next RV road trip either, as long as it has the four-wheel-drive powertrain with the 4x4 Low setting. These Expedition models can be flat towed, although their two-wheel-drive counterparts cannot.
You can learn more about flat towing the Ford Expedition in our article: Can You Flat Tow A Ford Expedition?
Ford Maverick
The Ford Maverick has been catching eye since it was unveiled in June of 2021. Not to be confused with the vintage sports car, the new Ford Maverick is the smallest pickup truck in their current lineup.
The Maverick is available with either a hybrid drivetrain or a conventional engine. However, you can only flat-tow hybrid models of the Maverick.
You can learn more about flat towing the Ford Maverick in our article: Can You Flat Tow A Ford Maverick?
Ford Escape
Ford's compact crossover SUV, the Escape, has been available since 2000 in four different generations.
In 2020, Ford introduced the newest generation of Escape models after a hiatus since 2013. As with the Ford Maverick, you can only flat tow the Ford Escape hybrid models since its 2020 return.
Certain models from previous generations can also be flat-towed. The Escape Hybrid available from 2006 to 2012 is also compatible with flat towing. You can also flat tow any Ford Escape from 2004 to 2013 that has a manual transmission.
You can find the owner's manual for the 2021 Escape on Ford's website here.
Ford Edge
Ford Edge is a mid-size crossover SUV, positioned between the Escape and the Explorer.
The Ford Edge is available in a variety of trim levels, but only the Edge ST can be flat towed in the current generation. However, you can also flat tow models from previous generations of the Ford Edge.
You can learn more about flat towing the Ford Edge in our article: Can You Flat Tow A Ford Edge?
Ford Bronco
This compact SUV saw a renaissance in 2021 when it was brought back after a 25-year hiatus. The Ford Bronco is available with an automatic or manual transmission, but both are compatible with flat towing.
While you can safely flat tow the Ford Bronco, Ford has not approved the Bronco Sport for flat towing.
You can learn more about flat towing the Ford Bronco in our article: Can You Flat Tow A Ford Bronco?
Ford Ranger
Another great pickup truck by Ford, the Ranger falls between the Maverick and the F-150 in terms of size and power.
You can flat tow your Ford Ranger from any year since it was brought back in 2019 as long as it has four-wheel drive and you follow the necessary process to secure it to your RV and get it into neutral tow mode.
Some Rangers from 2004 to 2011 can also be flat towed. These include those with the manual transmission, whether two- or four-wheel-drive.
Rangers from 2006 to 2010 with an automatic transmission can also be flat towed, as long as they have four-wheel drive and the dealer-installed neutral tow kit.
You can see the process for flat towing recent model years of the Ford Ranger in the video from Ford below.
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a mid-size SUV that comes a bit larger than the Ford Edge. While you cannot flat tow the most recent years of the Explorer, there are previous model years and configurations that you can.
All Explorers from the 2011 to 2017 model year can be flat towed, and those models from 2018 and 2019 equipped with a 3.5-liter engine (either regular or Ecoboost) can also be flat towed.
You can also tow Explorers from the 2006 to 2010 model years as long as they have the dealer-installed neutral tow kit.
Ford Focus
Although no longer a part of Ford's North American lineup, the Ford Focus is still a staple of the American roadway.
For model years before 2012, you can only flat tow your Ford Focus if it has a manual transmission. For model years 2012 and later, both manual and automatic transmissions became flat-tow capable, with the exception of the Focus ST models.
You can learn more about flat towing your Ford Focus in our article: Can You Flat Tow A Ford Focus?
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta has long been a part of Ford's international lineup. While predominantly popular in Europe, this supermini vehicle was available in the United States for select model years.
The Fiesta is one of Ford's vehicles that is compatible with flat towing as long as you follow the correct procedure. However, the Fiesta ST, which was available in the US between 2014 and 2019, is not compatible with flat towing.
Ford Fusion
This mid-size car was available in the United States for model years from 2007 to 2020. In its two generations, the Ford Fusion was available in a variety of gas and hybrid engine options.
Although no longer in production, several previous model years of the Fusion are flat-tow compatible.
Flat towable models include any manual transmission Fusion from 2007 to 2012, 2010, and 2011 automatic transmission Fusions, all model years of the Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi, and Fusions from 2017 to 2020 with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine.
You can learn more about flat towing the Ford Fusion in our article: Can You Flat Tow A Ford Fusion?
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus had a revival in 2008 and stayed in Ford's lineup through 2019.
During that eleven-year run, the Taurus was never available with manual transmission. Unlike most of the automatic cars of those years, though, it was always flat-tow capable.
Ford Flex
The Ford Flex was introduced in 2009 as a successor to the Ford Taurus X. This full-size crossover SUV stayed in production through 2019.
As long as you follow the correct procedure, you can flat tow any model of the Ford Flex. The process differs depending on the model year and features such as keyless ignition, so be sure to consult your owner's manual.
You can find owner's manuals for different model years of the Ford Flex as well as the other vehicles we've seen through Ford's support site.
Which 2021 Ford vehicles can be flat towed?
The list above, with the exception of the Explorer and those vehicles no longer in production, applies to Ford's 2021 lineup as well as the currently announced vehicles in their 2022 lineup.
The flat towing capability of Ford's vehicles hasn't changed much over the years. Even as the vehicles have become more powerful and advanced, Ford has strived to maintain some consistency in terms of flat-towing compatibility.
There are some exceptions to this rule. As we've seen, the Ranger, Explorer, and Fusion have all undergone changes in their flat towing capabilities. Be sure to check your owner's manual to verify that your vehicle is safe for flat towing and how to properly set it up.
If you want more information about towing capabilities and compatibilities, you can also check Ford's database of towing guides for various model years.
Final Thoughts
Flat towing saves you from having to choose between your RV when you head out for an adventure. Finding a vehicle that you can flat tow safely can be tricky, but now you know which Ford models and configurations are approved for flat towing.
We've also seen how changes over the years have affected the flat towing compatibility of certain models, while others have stayed consistent across time.
Now you'll be ready to choose the best Ford for your next road trip!