Of all the many ways that Ford trucks and SUVs help make life easier for drivers, Pro Trailer Backup Assist is one of the most celebrated and most helpful. Ford vehicles, from the 2020 Ford F-150 to the 2020 Ford Expedition, offer reliable towing, and this feature makes backing up a trailer easier than ever because the driver doesn’t have to do any of the steering. This can be especially helpful as camping becomes increasingly popular for vacations, and more people may be pulling trailers and campers for the first time.
After following the steps to set up the Pro Trailer Backup Assist (including taking some measurements and entering the numbers into the system on the dashboard), the driver operates the accelerator and brake normally and simply controls the direction of the trailer by turning a knob next to the steering wheel in the desired direction. The vehicle takes care of the steering while accounting for the length of the trailer. This can help both new and experienced drivers maneuver trailers with confidence and precision.
How to Set Up Pro Trailer Backup Assist
To set up Pro Trailer Backup Assist in your Ford vehicle, simple complete the following steps:
- Gather the supplies you’ll need, including your Quick Start set up guide with measurements chart, checkered sticker, pencil, and tape measure.
- Connect your Ford vehicle to the trailer on a level service with an appropriate draw bar, and line up the vehicle and trailer by pulling forward until they’re lined up.
- To begin, press the center of the Pro Trailer Backup Assist button, located to the right of steering wheel.
- Spell out name of the trailer (the system can track up to ten different trailers, boat, and/or campers) and press OK.
- Select the brake system and brake effort (low is recommended for most trailers, higher for those that need more aggressive braking for larger heavier), and then select “Yes” to confirm that you want Pro Trailer Backup Assist for that trailer.
- Place the checkered sticker within 7-22 inches from center of trailer hitch ball, on a flat, horizontal surface so it’s visible by camera. Then, measure the distance from your license plate to the hitch ball, the hitch ball to the sticker, and the camera to the sticker. Also, measure the distance from the tailgate to the center axle on single-axle, or in between the two axles if it’s double-axle. Write all these down and input the measurements into your vehicle.
- Drive straight forward until calibration is complete.
Finding a Vehicle with Pro Trailer Backup Assist
If drivers near Waterloo, IA are interested in test-driving a vehicle with Pro Trailer Backup Assist to see how the feature works in person, come pay us a visit here at Bill Colwell Ford. We can show you this innovative feature and let you see for yourself how much easier it makes towing for Ford drivers