Tow Haul is a driving mode available on Ford F-150 trucks which improves the transmission operation for maximum pulling power. This tutorial will show you how to enable this feature on your vehicle as well as explain how it improves trailer towing or hauling a heavy load.
How Tow Haul mode works?
When you enable Tow Haul on your F-150, you’ll notice that the system holds lower gears longer when you accelerate or decelerate. This is particularly useful on mountainous roads when it keeps the truck in a lower gear to give maximum hauling power when climbing and to use engine braking while descending hills, this prevents the brakes from burning up quickly.
Step 1: Press Drive Mode button
F-150 with Column Shifter
In case your truck has a column shifter, press the button at the end of the stick to bring up Drive Mode menu on the instrument cluster screen.
F-150 with Console Shifter
In case your truck has a console shifter, then press the DM button at the left side of the shifter to bring up Drive Mode menu on the instrument cluster screen.
Step 2: Select Tow Haul Mode
On the Drive Mode pop-up selection menu on your instrument cluster screen, you will see that its currently set to Normal, which is its default position: meaning whenever you restart your F-150 truck, your selected mode will reset to Normal mode. As of this writing, it is not possible to permanently turn on any other mode than Normal.
Using the arrow keys on your steering wheel, move the selection to Tow Haul icon on the pop-up menu and press OK button.
Tow Haul icon will appear next to PRNDM, indicating that the mode has been successfully activated.
Troubleshooting:
If the mode does not activate and automatically goes back to Normal, then move your shifter from Drive (D) to Park (P) and try again. If the problem persists, then there is some fault with the system which needs to be checked by a specialist.
My F150 Lariat does not have a button located on my console shifter. This console does fold down to make a desktop. Do you have any idea where I can locate my tow mode?
You have newer 14th gen F-150. The Drive Mode rotary knob is located on the left side of climate control buttons.
See this article: https://www.wheelsjoint.com/ford-f-150-drive-modes-and-their-functions/
And none of the selections is “tow/haul”. I have the newest f150 king ranch available and cannot figure out how to keep it in tow/haul mode. If it ever “magically” turns on, you better not turn your truck off or it’ll deactivate and you’ll never get it back on.