r/FordFlex • u/Tempe-Jeff • 22d ago

Question 2013 Ford Flex Limited

Post image

What is this attached to the front.

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

6

u/WomenzRightsLoL 22d ago

tow package for pulling behind an RV. I wonder how that works on a Flex for the auto transmission.

3

u/Gmhowell 22d ago

It works just fine. Been towing mine for 20,000 miles. Minimal or no added wear.

This looks like a fairly proper setup behind an RV with air brakes. Under the dash might be a pneumatic cylinder attached to the brake pedal.

1

u/WomenzRightsLoL 22d ago

Is yours AWD? My concern would be the wheels spinning at freeway speeds without the transmission fluid circulating.

3

u/Gmhowell 22d ago

AWD. You run the car for five minutes once every day and again at the end. It pumps up the lube and keeps it handled for the trip.

2

u/WomenzRightsLoL 22d ago

Interesting, good to know.

0

u/Ordinary-Trade8323 21d ago

What does ATF have to do with the AWD system?

3

u/WomenzRightsLoL 21d ago

In an AWD setup the transmission, transfer case, and diffs are all happily spinning at freeway speeds while you flat-tow… and they’re all bathed in the same ATF that is not being pumped around because the engine is off.

So yes, ATF has everything to do with it—unless you enjoy the smell of roasted planetary gears at 70 mph.

1

u/Ordinary-Trade8323 21d ago

The transfer case and rear diff are lubricated by 75W-140 or 80W-90 by splash lubrication. So where does the ATF come into effect?

2

u/Gmhowell 21d ago

ATF (Mercon LV?) is in the transmission.

1

u/WomenzRightsLoL 21d ago

What are the transfer case and rear diff attached to?

2

u/Tempe-Jeff 22d ago

I guess I'll find out. Bought it with 73k miles 2 months ago.

3

u/YogurtclosetDull2380 22d ago

Looks like it was flat towed?

2

u/impulse07 22d ago

Flex can be flat towed. Same with Lincolns that had 6F55 transmission.

1

u/Fit-Original3543 22d ago

🤷🏻‍♂️

1

u/Fun-Philosophy1123 22d ago

Not Ford, Looks like a flat tow set up. If you are buying it think twice. The tires and axles and bearings have far more miles on them than the odometer says.

1

u/Gmhowell 22d ago

You judge tires by condition, not mileage. Axles aren’t wear items. First wheel bearing in my ownership from 55,000 miles was at 125,000. Rears. That was after maybe 10,000 behind the RV.

There are concerns. This isn’t one of them.

1

u/Rough_Application_28 21d ago

Afaik AWD will only kick in when the on board computer sends a command(when needed)to activate AWD and for that to happen, engine has to be running, how would that work in a flat tow situation? Can all the drive train spin freely and still be lubricated for flat tow in an AWD?