I recently bought a 2019 King Ranch, 3.5 Ecoboost, 4x4 at my local Ford dealer (Ford certified preowned which gave me a 2 year/100,000 mile drivetrain warranty). I specifically mentioned to the salesman that I wanted to be able to place the transfer case in neutral to flat tow behind my RV, and was assured that there was a process to do it (even though the switch no longer has an "N"). Sure enough, I found a Ford video that showed the process but it won't work as shown. Figuring it would be covered under the warranty (last I checked, the transfer case is part of the drivetrain), I took it back to the dealership and both the service tech and the service manager are telling me the video is incorrect and that the truck is simply flat towed by placing the transmission in neutral and that there is no transfer case neutral. I'm not buying it. I'm not beyond diagnosing the problem myself first to have more ammo for argument when I go back. Anybody have this problem and know of an electronic module or system that may be the culprit?

 

Don't know if this will help but here's the procedure from my owner's manual:

Four-wheel-down Towing
1. Put the ignition in the on position, but
do not start the engine. If your vehicle
has an ignition key, turn the key to on.
If your vehicle has intelligent access,
press the engine START/STOP button
once without pressing the brake pedal.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch to
2H.
4. Shift the transmission to position N.
5. Rotate the four-wheel drive switch
from 2H to 4L and back to 2H five
times within seven seconds.
Note: If completed successfully, the
information display shows NEUTRAL TOW
LEAVE IN N or NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED
LEAVE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL.
This indicates that your vehicle is safe to
tow with all wheels on the ground.
Note: If you do not see the message in the
display, you must perform the procedure
again from the beginning.
Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts into its neutral position.
This is normal.
6. Leave the transmission in position N
and turn the ignition as far as it will go
toward the off position (it will not turn
fully off when the transmission is in
position N). If your vehicle has an
ignition key, you must leave the key in
the ignition while towing. To lock and
unlock your vehicle, use the keyless
entry keypad or extra set of keys. If your
vehicle has intelligent access, press the
engine START/STOP button once
without pressing the brake pedal. You
do not need to leave your keys in the
vehicle. You can lock and unlock your
vehicle as you normally do.
7. Release the brake pedal.
WARNINGS
Do not disconnect the battery during
recreational towing. Doing so will
prevent the transfer case from
shifting properly and may cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is in P
(Park).
Shifting the transfer case to its
neutral position for recreational
towing may cause the vehicle to be
able to roll even if the transmission is in P
(Park). The driver or others could be
injured. Make sure the foot brake is
depressed and the vehicle is in a secure
and safe position while the transfer case
is being shifted to its neutral position.
Failing to put the transfer case in its
neutral position will damage vehicle
components.
Note: You can check four-wheel-down
towing status at any time by opening the
driver's door or turning the ignition to the
accessory or on position and verifying the
NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED message
displays in the cluster.
To exit four-wheel-down towing and return
the transfer case to its 2H position:
1. With your vehicle still properly secured
to the tow vehicle, put the ignition in
the on position, but do not start the
engine. If your vehicle has an ignition
key, turn the key to on. If your vehicle
has intelligent access, press the engine
START/STOP button once without
pressing the brake pedal.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission out of N and into
any gear.
4. Release the brake pedal.
Note: If completed successfully, the
instrument cluster displays 4X2, and
NEUTRAL TOW DISABLED.
Note: If the indicator light and message do
not display, you must perform the procedure
again from the beginning.
Note: You may hear an audible noise as the
transfer case shifts out of its neutral
position. This is normal.
Note: If SHIFT DELAY PULL FORWARD
displays in the instrument cluster, transfer
case gear tooth blockage is present. See the
instructions after this section.
5. Apply the parking brake, and then
disconnect the vehicle from the tow
vehicle.
6. Release the parking brake, start the
engine, and shift the transmission to
position D to make sure the transfer
case is out of position N.
7. If the transfer case does not
successfully shift out of position N, set
the parking brake until you can have
your vehicle serviced.

 

Follow as PupnDuck says, I have a friend who flat tows their 2019 Lariat. A word of caution, make absolute sure your battery is charged and in good condition. A low battery can change something in the electronics while towing and completely trash your transmission. Whoever set's up your truck will / should give you full instructions.

 

Ford put this info out in a very clear video. Ironically, the dealership service manager and technician both refuse to watch the video but still claim the video is wrong. I've tried this several times in the past week since I bought the truck and never get the "NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED" message, never hear any movement in the transfer case, and don't see the reminder message on the cluster screen when I open the door (as the video claims I should). I'm more curious as to if anybody else has had the same problem so I might diagnose what might be wrong.

 

Back to my post# 3, I would insure your battery is fully charged. One way on your King Ranch, does your Auto start/stop work as it should? If no (and it hasn't been tampered with) is a sign that battery does not meet minimum requirements.

 

SSM 47782 - 2019 F-150 - Difficulty Enabling Neutral Tow Mode - Built On Or Before 4-Jan-2019


Some 2019 F-150 vehicles built on or before 4-Jan-2019 may experience difficulty enabling neutral tow mode to allow four-wheel-down towing of the vehicle. To correct this condition, reconfigure the instrument panel cluster (IPC) using As-Built Programming. Make sure you are connected to the internet when entering module programming to obtain the latest data.

 

THANK YOU!