Anyone Tried the Ford PTBA?

I have a coworker who has extensive experience pulling trailers with his truck, and is more than capable of doing it himself. He was part of a group of employees who got to try out the feature as part of its development.

He wants it.

He said that even though he's more than capable, the system actually works really well for what it does.

Basically it's for people that can't figure out which way to move the steering wheel while backing- I will pass. If you can't back a trailer then don't own one. LOL

rexlion wrote:

What if the sun (or a foreign power) delivers an EMP that fries all those nice computer-controlled features?

If that happens, we will have a lot more serious matters to worry about than hitching up a trailer !

Sport45 wrote:
At some point you just have to trust the computers to work. Hardly any of us would get out of the driveway in the morning without them. When you push the pedal on the right you are not opening a throttle plate or increasing flow from the injection pump. You are only signalling the computer that you want the engine to turn faster.

Steer by wire will no doubt be coming, it's just a matter of time. I can see future vehicles recognizing a trailer is attached and backing will be no different with or without. You'll just put it in reverse and use the steering wheel to put it where you like. With the right sensors backing doubles could be just as easy.

We've come a long way from the days of manual chokes foot pumps for windshield squirters. The really old cars even had a lever for setting the spark advance.

I, for one, think innovation is a good thing.

People got around just fine for decades with carburetors, manual chokes, physical-linkage gas pedals, and all the rest. We've come a long way, and that's not necessarily good. I have read plenty of new vehicle owners' tales about their electronics problems. What if the sun (or a foreign power) delivers an EMP that fries all those nice computer-controlled features?

rjstractor wrote:

rexlion wrote:
And how does the system know where you want the trailer backed up into? What if it "decides" that the trailer should be backed into a place where you don't want it? (scratching head)

From what I understand you direct the combo's direction via a small rotary dial. The computer handles the countersteering and such to make the trailer go where you want it. You still have to watch the trailer in the mirrors and pay attention to clearances, you just don't have to worry about which way to turn the steering wheel. FWIW, trailer backing is a skill I don't want to lose, so I have little use for this option. It would be fun to try it though.

Backing a long camper into a spot is pretty easy, but backing a short utility trailer or even a boat down a boat ramp at 4:30 am can be a bit challenging.

I like new technology and especially having built in GPS makes paper maps obsolete. I can check local fuel prices and gas station locations and plan my fuel stops. Something a road map could never deliver.

rexlion wrote:
And how does the system know where you want the trailer backed up into? What if it "decides" that the trailer should be backed into a place where you don't want it? (scratching head)

From what I understand you direct the combo's direction via a small rotary dial. The computer handles the countersteering and such to make the trailer go where you want it. You still have to watch the trailer in the mirrors and pay attention to clearances, you just don't have to worry about which way to turn the steering wheel. FWIW, trailer backing is a skill I don't want to lose, so I have little use for this option. It would be fun to try it though.

3oaks wrote:
It may be a good thing and I am not against advanced technology. But I think people have become too dependent on electronics and modern technology. Generations of people will be totally lost in the event of a computer failure.

X2
With these advancements many people pay less and less attention to the task called driving. They instead rely on these features to save them. Even worst is the ads for these features, showing a totally distracted driver survive a drive through town.
I don't see as an option I would waste my money on, backing a single is a simple skill that just requires just a bit of time and practice to master.

There are already steer by wire cars on the road.

http://www.wired.com/2013/05/al_drivebywire/

At some point you just have to trust the computers to work. Hardly any of us would get out of the driveway in the morning without them. When you push the pedal on the right you are not opening a throttle plate or increasing flow from the injection pump. You are only signalling the computer that you want the engine to turn faster.

Steer by wire will no doubt be coming, it's just a matter of time. I can see future vehicles recognizing a trailer is attached and backing will be no different with or without. You'll just put it in reverse and use the steering wheel to put it where you like. With the right sensors backing doubles could be just as easy.

We've come a long way from the days of manual chokes foot pumps for windshield squirters. The really old cars even had a lever for setting the spark advance.

I, for one, think innovation is a good thing.

If folks get dependent on the self-backing system, pretty soon no one will know how to back up for themselves if the system fails.

And how does the system know where you want the trailer backed up into? What if it "decides" that the trailer should be backed into a place where you don't want it? (scratching head)