Forum Discussion

jerryleejr's avatar
jerryleejr
Explorer
Oct 28, 2021

Truck tech

Since my last truck was a bare bones 08 dodge dually, seems there’s all kinds of gadgets and gizmos available now. My question is how much is useful and usable with a TC mounted? For example when I tow with my Toyota I have to turn the parking sensors off or they will constantly beep because of the trailer. So Ram offers all these towing cameras and sensors as well as digital rear view mirror etc. How much can actually still be used? And what is rendered useless and not needed?

JJ
  • the rear sensors are turned off when you plug something into the trailer hitch. or you can turn off the switch.
    when you take tailgate off there is a connector that comes with the truck you should put on the wire harness that disconnected from tailgate. but if you have a bed camera it will still work, but all you will see is the camper.
    if you have sirius xm you will loose coverage lots of times with camper covering roof (unless you add a secondary antenna out on hood).
    everything will still work.
    my favorite truck was the ram with all the options, those cooled leather seats were great.
  • I still find my adaptive cruise, cooled and heated seats, heated steering wheel and dual climate control quite useful. Also the 360 camera is very handy. Not a premium option but I do find the tight turning radius of my F450 a big plus. Will all those features last, I don't know. Its not something I worry about. I just enjoy a comfortable quiet cab on the slightly more premium trim.
  • I have always avoided higher trim models with the thought that these options will be too expensive or impossible to fix beyond warranty since I keep vehicles for 10+ years. You will lose rear sensors and cameras with a truck camper, but will retain front and side mounted systems. Some functions on the rear can be restored with additions added to the camper and patched into the truck wiring.
  • JimK-NY wrote:
    This seems like a silly post. Clearly a tailgate camera, an automatic rearview mirror and rear sensors are not going to be of any use. Nor would a skylight.

    My truck came with all sorts of other accessories, many of which are really nice. I like the voice activated electronics including audio, nav and climate control. I thought the heated/cooled seat and heated steering wheel would be of little use. I was wrong. I really like them. My wife and I like the auto seat/mirror adjustments and we can easily push a single button to make the adjustments when we change drivers. Even things like the rain activated wipers are minor conveniences.

    It’s not a silly post for someone that’s never had a TC and decided to order all the towing bells and whistles offered to find out half of them won’t work once the TC is loaded,,,

    JJ
  • This seems like a silly post. Clearly a tailgate camera, an automatic rearview mirror and rear sensors are not going to be of any use. Nor would a skylight.

    My truck came with all sorts of other accessories, many of which are really nice. I like the voice activated electronics including audio, nav and climate control. I thought the heated/cooled seat and heated steering wheel would be of little use. I was wrong. I really like them. My wife and I like the auto seat/mirror adjustments and we can easily push a single button to make the adjustments when we change drivers. Even things like the rain activated wipers are minor conveniences.