How to Flat-Tow a Gen 2 Raptor Behind an RV (Neutral Tow, 2017–2020)
Ten deliberate steps, a success message to confirm, and one warning worth repeating: the truck can roll even in Park once the transfer case is in neutral.
Video: How to Flat-Tow: Ranger and F-150 Raptor | Ford How-To | Ford by Ford Motor Company on YouTube.
RaptorCentral isn't affiliated with the creator; the steps below are our own write-up.
Who this is for
This covers Ford's recreational neutral tow procedure for the Gen 2 Raptor, 2017 through 2020 — the setup you'd use to flat-tow it behind an RV with all four wheels on the ground. If you own a Gen 3, stop here: Ford uses a different procedure on that truck, built around a temporary neutral mode rather than the steps below, so follow the "Recreationally Towing Your Vehicle – 4x4" section in your own Gen 3 manual instead of trying to adapt this one. There's nothing to take apart here and no tools involved, which is exactly why it's worth treating carefully — it reads like a menu sequence, so it's tempting to half-follow it and assume a truck sitting in Neutral is a truck that's safe to tow. It isn't. The procedure exists to put the transfer case into a state where the driveline can turn freely with the engine off, and the confirmation message in the cluster is the only thing that tells you it actually got there. Ford's own 2017 and 2019 supplements describe the same ten steps, so this applies across the generation rather than splitting by year the way the fluid capacities in this library do. Do it in the driveway once before the trip rather than for the first time in a campground at dusk with a line of traffic behind you — it takes a couple of minutes, and the exit sequence is worth having done once too.
Tools
- Nothing mechanical — this is entirely a procedure done from the driver's seat and instrument cluster
Parts
No parts required for this job.
Steps
Know the difference between recreational neutral tow and emergency towing
This guide covers the recreational setup for towing behind an RV with the engine off the whole time. Ford has a separate emergency procedure for an inoperable truck being towed with all four wheels down: forward-facing, transmission in Neutral, a maximum speed of 35 mph, and a maximum distance of 50 miles. Don't substitute one procedure for the other.
Turn the ignition on with the engine off
On a push-button truck, press START/STOP once without touching the brake pedal to bring the ignition on without starting the engine.
Press and hold the brake pedal
Keep the brake held through the next few steps — the transmission needs to be shifted while the brake's applied.
Rotate the 4WD switch to 2H
Neutral tow is set up from 2H, not 4-Auto or 4L — rotate the switch accordingly before continuing.
Shift to Neutral
With the brake still held, move the shifter to N.
Open Neutral Tow in the cluster and confirm
In the instrument cluster, go to Settings, then Advanced Settings, then Vehicle, then Neutral Tow, and press and hold OK. You're looking for a success message — "Neutral Tow Leave in N" or "Neutral Tow Enabled Leave Transmission in Neutral." If you don't see it, start over from the ignition-on step; some transfer case noise during this process is normal, not a fault.
Leave it in Neutral and power down
With Neutral Tow confirmed, leave the shifter in N and turn the ignition as far toward off as it will go. On a key truck, leave the key in the ignition; on a push-button truck, press START/STOP once without the brake and the keys don't need to stay in the vehicle.
Release the brake and recirculate the cabin air
Once everything's confirmed, release the brake pedal. It's also worth setting the climate system to recirculate for the tow, since outside air quality varies more than you'd think over a long tow.
Know the exit procedure before you need it
To come out of neutral tow: ignition on with the engine off, hold the brake, shift out of N into any gear, then release the brake — the cluster should show 4X2 and "Neutral Tow Disabled." Then apply the parking brake, disconnect from the towing vehicle, release the brake, start the engine, and shift to D to confirm everything's back to normal.
Use Shift Delayed Pull Forward for a quick spot-check
If you want to confirm neutral tow is actually disabled without the full exit sequence, Ford's Shift Delayed Pull Forward trick works: hold the brake, confirm N, start the engine, shift to D, and roll forward up to three feet — that's enough to confirm "Neutral Tow Disabled" shows in the cluster.
Specs
| Neutral tow setup (2017 and 2019) | Same 10-step procedure both model years, confirmed by the cluster message "Neutral Tow Leave in N" / "Neutral Tow Enabled Leave Transmission in Neutral" Source: Ford 2017 + 2019 F-150 Raptor Supplements |
|---|---|
| Emergency tow limits (not recreational) | Inoperable truck with all four wheels down: forward facing, transmission in Neutral, maximum 35 mph (56 km/h), maximum 50 mi (80 km) Source: Ford 2019 F-150 Raptor Supplement |
| Recreational flat-tow speed limit | Not published in the Ford supplements we're working from — don't assume the 35 mph emergency figure applies here, and don't assume there is no practical limit either; check your own manual Source: Ford 2017 + 2019 F-150 Raptor Supplements (no figure given) |
Safety notes
- Never disconnect the battery while the truck is in recreational neutral tow.
- Shifting the transfer case to neutral can let the truck roll even while it's in Park — hold the brake and make sure the truck's secured before you let go of it.
- Ford doesn't publish a maximum speed for recreational flat-towing in this configuration; the 35 mph / 50 mile limit is specifically for the separate emergency towing procedure, not this one.
- Check your local laws on supplemental braking requirements for a towed vehicle before you tow on public roads.
- This procedure is Gen 2-specific — the Gen 3 uses a different temporary neutral mode; follow your own manual's section for that truck instead.
Owner questions
- Can I flat-tow any Gen 2 Raptor behind an RV?
- Ford's recreational neutral tow feature covers the 2017–2020 Gen 2 Raptor through the procedure above. Always confirm the success message in the cluster before trusting the setup for a real tow.
- Is this the same as the emergency towing procedure?
- No. This is the recreational setup for towing with the engine off, typically behind an RV. Ford's separate emergency procedure — for an inoperable truck, all four wheels down — caps speed at 35 mph and distance at 50 miles; that limit doesn't apply here.
- Does this work on a Gen 3 Raptor?
- No — the Gen 3 uses a different procedure built around a temporary neutral mode. Follow the "Recreationally Towing Your Vehicle – 4x4" section in your Gen 3 owner's manual instead.
- Is there a maximum speed for flat-towing this way?
- Ford doesn't publish one for this recreational configuration in what we're working from here — that limit only exists for the separate emergency towing procedure. Check your manual and use reasonable judgment.
- Do I need supplemental brakes on the towed truck?
- Check your local and state laws — requirements for supplemental braking on a towed vehicle vary by jurisdiction, and that's worth confirming before you tow on public roads.