My brand new 2007 F150 SuperCrew Lariat 4x4 with 3.73 axle ratio just came into the dealership and I'm picking it up in a couple of days. About 2 weeks later I plan to haul my 6000lb travel trailer with it on vacation. My question is what could/should I be doing for break in purposes?

I know you're supposed to drive it at least 500 miles before towing and you are supposed to vary the speed. I have to drive to a customer that's about 370 miles round trip so that, plus regular driving, should get me to the 500 rather easily. The 370 miles is mainly turnpike driving. Should vary the speed a lot (i.e., 55 to 65 to 75 and back down)? I work from home so I suppose I could also have my wife drive it ( ) around town to break it in with city driving.

Is there anything else special I should be doing to break it in before I start towing?

thanks!

 

Break-in period??? Whats that???

I'd just drive it like any other vehicle you've had. Some people baby their truck for a few 1,000 miles while others dog the poo out of them. I just drove it normally.

 

funny, but to the OP, yes drive for 500 miles and vary speed during this time frame as much as possible. second, when u do tow the trailer, DON'T go over 55mph for the first 500 miles of towing. This is reccomended by Ford. it allows the differential to go through several "heat" cycles and to "seat" properly as to give you the best performance and life span possible. (all this was explained to me by a ford tech after I pulled my 7000# utility trailer right after getting the truck, and melting my LSD and cracking my ring gear)

 

Personally I like to drive fairly reserved for the first 500 miles or so and then change the oil, but that's just me being ****.

You should be fine... just dont' dog on it too hard.

As for varying the speed during break in... I don't think it's all that crucial and especially between 55-75 there's not much difference.

My friend and I were on a road trip from Michigan to Florida in his 1986 Bronco when the motor blew up in Key West. We wen't to the local Ford dealership and he bought a brand new 1998 F-150. Took the truck straight to U-Haul to rent a trailer and we towed the Bronco nearly 1,500 miles with a truck that only had 8 miles on it when we started. Today the truck has about 130,000 miles and it's been trouble free from anything powertrain or drivetrain related.

Good luck!

 

bah... Drive it like you stole it.

Breakin are a thing of the past.

 

LOL, that's what I say too and it's ususally the advice I give, but when it's my own vehicle my tune changes a bit... I tend to be a little more cautious.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. How about oil? Should I go with synthetic early on if I'll be towing?

thanks!

 

I would suggest it, but after your 500 miles of "differential/engine break in"

 

did you say your transmission was going out?

 

Maybe for the engine, but for towing he needs to break in the differential.