New Fords Weigh Themselves

[BurbMan]

Interesting article from Truck Camper Magazine on the new F-150s that will have built in weight sensors. You can get an accurate payload number from the infotainment screen, your smartphone app, or from the tail lights. The tail lights have 4 "bars" that light up like a battery gauge that tell you from the outside when you are loading the truck when it has reached 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of rated payload. Once you exceed payload, the tail lights blink.

TC magazine opines that this function will be added to SuperDutys next year and that other mfrs will follow suit.

I wonder if there will be a way to override the blinking tail lights when running overloaded? It's not a stretch to picture this tied into the PCM so that the truck won't start if it's overloaded, or maybe is limited to 5mph "limp" mode when loaded over the GVWR.

[JRscooby]

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.

[rjstractor]

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]

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.

[joerg68]

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?