New Fords Weigh Themselves

I wonder if there will be a way to override the blinking tail lights when running overloaded?

What will happen when you add airbags, or any other mods to the suspension?
How is it done technically?

I have seen millions interesting inventions, that did not make it in real life, so will watch it.
To my knowledge accurate sensors who can be installed on vehicle don't exist, so if Ford invented it, good for them.

Kayteg1 wrote:
I have seen millions interesting inventions, that did not make it in real life, so will watch it.
To my knowledge accurate sensors who can be installed on vehicle don't exist, so if Ford invented it, good for them.

They are commonly used in commercial trucks, here's just one example

Kayteg1 wrote:
I have seen millions interesting inventions, that did not make it in real life, so will watch it.
To my knowledge accurate sensors who can be installed on vehicle don't exist, so if Ford invented it, good for them.

Springs and scales don't mix real well. OTOH, a pressure gauge with leveling valve can get spot on with air suspension. (good enough that when mine would read FAT, I would dump suspension, close a valve when read legal, then air up. Want to ticket me? Use your scale!)
If I bought a new pickup I would worry this info would be recorded, used to deny warranty repair.
Years back somebody rented a truck from Home Depot to take their stuff home. Stopped to pick up some rock. When got close to what we loaded on pickup a horn started to honk.

Just about all logging trucks have scales and they can be quite accurate..

JRscooby wrote:
Years back somebody rented a truck from Home Depot to take their stuff home. Stopped to pick up some rock. When got close to what we loaded on pickup a horn started to honk.

Happened to me when I loaded on this Lance to get it home. What I found out is that the horn stops honking when you put it in Drive.... stop and put it back in Park and the horn starts up again LOL

joerg68 wrote:

I wonder if there will be a way to override the blinking tail lights when running overloaded?

What will happen when you add airbags, or any other mods to the suspension?
How is it done technically?

Unless you get an engineer to review, sign off and apply for a new rating based on the modifications...the official rating hasn't changed when you add airbags, so I doubt Ford would be interested in letting owners change the limits in the system.

Of course, the ratings do not change when I modify the suspension*. The truck doesn't know anything has changed.
But depending on the engineering solution to determine the weight, the values registered by the truck may now be grossly inaccurate. Thats why I am curious to know how they do it. For example, if pressure readings from TPMS sensors is used, it is difficult to calculate the load when the vehicle is not on a flat surface. At least that is what the control circuit of my truck's airbags has me believe...

*) At the risk of derailing the thread: Here in Germany, the registration document lists the axle weight ratings and GVWR, among many other things. Invariably, it has the values from the door sticker. Changes can be made, but are very difficult to obtain, with all the required documentation being in a foreign language, if it exists at all. The values in the registration document are binding; if you exceed the numbers when you are weighed (which can and does happen), you are in trouble and may have to unload your camper to continue. Exact regulations vary from country to country, Germany usually accepts 5% over, other countries are more strict.
It is always fun to read how relaxed this is seen in the US. Be glad for what you have, believe me.

jaycocreek wrote:
Just about all logging trucks have scales and they can be quite accurate..

+- 300 lb ?

I chuckle at this, had a neighbor in the early 90’s that ran his own log trucks, had load cells installed on the bunks so he knew his loaded weight before leaving the landing.
The interesting thing thing was he could run his truck in three different configurations with or without pup trailer.