Pro trailer back up assist
I'm curious why someone would practice using this feature rather than practicing using the steering wheel to back up? For those of you who have it on your truck, is it even worth hooking it up?
Forum Discussion
4x4ord wrote:Bionic Man wrote:
Why do manufacturers think we need more trinkets? One, because it is profitable for them. Two, because many people can't back up. Lots of folks out there that rarely if ever pull trailers. This is a great system for them.
One of the reasons I'm asking how useful people are finding this technology is that I am looking at the differences between what Ram offers vs Ford. Because I generally don't keep my trucks that long I wondered if, 3 or 4 years down the road, selling a Ford with back up assist would be an easier sell than a truck without it. So far it seems that very few people see much value in it. In a way this thread is kind of funny ..... we are all expert backer uppers yet the campgrounds and boat launches are full of people who haven't a clue how to back up a trailer.:)
First, that individual feature wouldn't sway me one way or another.
Second, I think that trying to make any decision on a particular feature from feedback from THIS forum is .........unwise. It is just way too small of a sample size, and consists of folks with a VERY narrow, yet common, interest. I'd be shocked if anyone on this site would fess up to NEEDING the system. Everyone here is experts (as you said).
Third, the system, at least in my mind, would see a higher % of use in the 150 and less capable vehicles, as those are the ones that are even LESS likely to frequently pull a trailer. IMO, most of the folks that buy a 350 buy it because they need some of that capability, not just because they like a truck.
Finally, some of the features that come with the back up assist, I do think make the truck more appealing than other brands. I do like the ability to set up multiple trailers. It's nice to have a separate settings for my flat bed vs boat vs 5th wheel, and not have to remember where I usually leave the gain set on the trailer brake control. I also like the cumulative mileage for each trailer, as well as the different lengths of blind spot that you can set up. To my knowledge, other manufacturers don't do that. So, you do in fact get more than just the back up assist.
