Thoughts on new Ford trucks with Pro Trailer Backup Assist

Them dern automatic transmissions will never be worth having, I tell ya!

Bird Freak wrote:

wing_zealot wrote:
So how does someone learn how to "properly and accurately" back up a trailer if you can't drive one until you know how? How dumb a statement is that? Everyone has to start out dumb and learn as they go along in life.

Empty parking lot. :B

^^^^This^^^^

I am a firm believer in that if you are going to tow something other than a light duty single axles trailer, you need to take a truckers course. Learn how to handle a long box, back it up, parallel park one, and learn how to do avoidance driving in one, especially to avoid sway over control. Anyone who has done a skid pad course in an 18 wheeler will tell you how much it opens your eyes. Down and around, even 30 years later I still remember those two simple words used to teach someone how to back up a trailer. Right hand at 2 o'clock, move trailer left, down, move trailer right, around.

As for the Ford backing assistant, there are stickers that attach to the frame of the trailer that the rear camera looks for, and those are what it uses to help guide the trailer. No programming needed, just proper placement of those stickers.

The big benefit from ABS is that you do not have to try and modulate the amount of pressure you put on the brake pedal. You just stomp it and don't back off. The computer then takes over and takes the brake pressure right up to the edge of brake lockup and then backs off. Then it does that same thing again and again - multiple times per second. And each wheel individually. Quite amazing actually.

GoPackGo wrote:

SkiMore wrote:
It sounds pretty cool to me (future first time trailer owner).

You don't need ABS breaks, but they do make the roads safer.

Really ? Apparently you've never needed ABS brakes. Once you've had to use them, you will understand.

In fact, I'm pretty sure there is one young female car passenger that is alive today because I had ABS on my 2500HD Duramax. Her boyfriend (driving) turned right in front of me, completely oblivious to my presence, as I was traveling at 45 mph in the middle lane of a 3-lane city street. My only chance to not hit them was to absolutely stand on my brakes with no regard for any possible skid. It worked. My front bumper ended up about a foot away from the passenger door of their compact car. At the last moment, she saw me coming and tried to climb onto his lap to get away. I will never forget her eyes as I bore down on them.

Sounds like a hell of an experience.

Sorry for the confusion. I think you need ABS, but I've never had a life and death experience with them. When they came out some people said "a good driver can do without."

wing_zealot wrote:
So how does someone learn how to "properly and accurately" back up a trailer if you can't drive one until you know how? How dumb a statement is that? Everyone has to start out dumb and learn as they go along in life.

Empty parking lot. :B

SkiMore wrote:
It sounds pretty cool to me (future first time trailer owner).

You don't need ABS breaks, but they do make the roads safer.

Really ? Apparently you've never needed ABS brakes. Once you've had to use them, you will understand.

In fact, I'm pretty sure there is one young female car passenger that is alive today because I had ABS on my 2500HD Duramax. Her boyfriend (driving) turned right in front of me, completely oblivious to my presence, as I was traveling at 45 mph in the middle lane of a 3-lane city street. My only chance to not hit them was to absolutely stand on my brakes with no regard for any possible skid. It worked. My front bumper ended up about a foot away from the passenger door of their compact car. At the last moment, she saw me coming and tried to climb onto his lap to get away. I will never forget her eyes as I bore down on them.

It sounds pretty cool to me (future first time trailer owner).

You don't need ABS breaks, but they do make the roads safer.

rbpru wrote:
We can almost always zip into position, unless someone we know is watching.

Yeah, pretty much. Funny how that works.

So how does someone learn how to "properly and accurately" back up a trailer if you can't drive one until you know how? How dumb a statement is that? Everyone has to start out dumb and learn as they go along in life.

6.7 tow rig wrote:

4X4Dodger wrote:
I am of the opinion that if you cannot properly and accurately back up your trailer you shouldnt be pulling one.

I couldn't agree more.

Ditto