Clifford the Big Red Truck, an F150 Story

[Jake]

Mileage: 500

I got the trailer brake controller all set up at the dealership on Saturday. The truck has every option on it but didn't have the $100 integrated brake controller. Why that is a separate option from the "Max Tow" package, I don't know. Anyway, it's installed and working now, at a cost of $0 to me.

After the install, I went to the trailer lot to set up the truck and trailer together. My original goal was to get the M3 in the trailer for an easy exit down 95 on Thursday, but with water in the cooling system and a few 20-something-degree nights anticipated this week, I figured the garage was a warmer, safer option. Regardless, got the trailer set up.

This is the view backing up:



The camera is aimed perfectly at the hitch, and the 360° view also shows the trailer as you approach it. Once I got the trailer hooked up, I went through the setup of Ford's two killer features - Trailer Blind Spot Monitoring and Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

Trailer Blind Spot Monitoring
This is pretty simple, sensors in the truck's taillights work for not only truck BLIS but trailer BLIS as well. When you configure a new trailer in the dash computer, you input the trailer's overall length and select if you want BLIS enabled or not. It supports trailers up to 33' overall, and mine is about 26'. It worked eerily well on my brief test drive up I-95.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist
I'm a real man, I can park a trailer on my own. I also like technology so I couldn't resist setting this up since, after all, I paid for it.

You basically stick a sticker on one of the trailer frame "arms" and take some measurements. Ford includes a little card to help you walk through the steps, then the dashboard walks you through the rest. You measure:



After that, you enter the details in the dash computer and confirm the sticker's placement on the main navigation screen - it shows where it thinks it is with a red circle. Once those are set up, you can just push the "Backup Assist" knob and it will have you confirm which trailer is hooked up. From there, you turn the knob the direction that you want the trailer to go and modulate the brake/throttle. If you let go of the knob after setting the trajectory, it will wiggle the truck around to straighten the rig out.

In my trials in the trailer lot, it worked pretty well, although I need to more practice after three or so years of backing up a trailer traditionally. I may still do that, but it's cool to have this option as well.

My trailer's battery was totally dead - I believe the Range Rover never sent +12V through the trailer plug, which meant every use of the winch and trailer jack drained things more and more. I met up with Tom when he picked up his intercooler and we pulled the trailer battery to recharge via jumper cables. All was well after that, and Ford definitely sends power through the plug, so I shouldn't face issues moving forward.

Off to VIR on Thursday!

Oh, also, I'm on a new project for work and their parking garage has 6'8" clearance. The truck fits but anything shorter and I may be SOL. Good to know.