Would someone please explain to me in plain english [not Ford english] the best way to operate the TCS, RSC in adverse weather in both 2WD and 4WD .

 

Best way to operate or deactivate? They are always-on safety systems that you don't have to do anything special to get the benefits of.

 

Start the truck and drive it. If you feel the need for more wheel slip, like some snow or sand, then push the RSC disable button once. As statikuz said, it is a safety system designed to be on (which it is every ignition cycle). You should only disable if there is a situation where you think it is intervening too much.

 

I brought this question up after trying to park.Wet pavement ,4WD, RSC ON. It wasn't smooth at all .After putting RSC OFF things were more normal.

 

You will find that when parking - especially on dry pavement - you're better off getting out of 4 wheel drive. That's because of binding in the 4WD system and nothing to do with TC / ABS / Stabilty Control, etc. Your Owner's Manual has a pretty good section on this.

 

I'm comparing all this to my '03 and while 4WD is not the smoothest for parking it's not like the '09.
After a long lifetime with manual I'm learning to use auto tranny - be patient with me , I am suspecious of gadgets !

 

No problem. Having owned both stick and automatic 4WD trucks for many years, I can tell you from personal experience that the latest generation truck is light years ahead of even the 2004-2008 generation in terms of both ease and transparency of use. As APT suggested, just let the truck do almost everything for you and you should be pretty happy. I’ve found that I can actually leave my 2010 in 2WD drive much more of the time in the snow than my 2005 just because all of all of the new technology working automatically in the background. About the only thing you’ll have to do is to remember to take it out of 4WD when making tight turns. But then again, your truck will tell you it’s unhappy anyway.

 

That's a good explaination ! Thanks !

 

I agree with you, that has been my experience too, in the snow.

 

Do not do this. 4WD is for snow, dirt, sand, etc.

While this does not say wet surfaces, I do not recommend using on any pavement unless it covered in snow or dirt.

 

I know this is what the manual says. However around here it's often a matter of winding mountain roads where you may see alternating patches of ice/snow/dry.To try to turn 4WD on and off for each patch you'd go nuts .So I keep 4WD ON as I've done with two other F-150s without problem.

 

Why do you need 4wd on roads that are only patchy? All 4wd does is help you go - it adds absolutely nothing to steering or stopping capability. If you want a vehicle that's sure-footed under all conditions with no intervention, get one with automatic all-wheel drive that has a center differential.

 

I do radio work at www.rallynewyork.net. We just had a winter rally with lots of ice !It was very obvious what happens when you brake on the ice !!! The experienced drivers were spending time telling the new ones no braking on ice ! There are videos of the rally to prove it !
No I don't have 4WD to brake .Steering by powering sometimes yes.
So when I hit a snow/ice patch I power through and 4WD helps ! That's knowledge from 45 years of driving !!

 

4WD locked does help vehicle stability. It is not only a benefit for accelerating. But your truck has electronic stability control and traction control and you should not be using 4WD on patchy snow/ice/dry or wet pavement, especially while turning when the transfer case gears can bind up.

As long as you accept the tradeoffs, I don't care. It's your truck/money.