Hauling and Towing Tech Offers Simpler, Safer Travel

The 2022 Ford F150 can haul the most of any light duty truck, if it has the right engine and drivetrain.  This gives the owner both an incredible opportunity and awesome responsibility.  

Hauling and trailering can become safety hazards. For owners, the danger of ruining their expensive truck is of equal concern.  

To accomplish more with less stress, onboard scales and a smart hitch system are now on the F150 menu. These unique features aim to help owners who tow and haul load their trucks daily while adding on-road confidence.  In addition, Ford trucks now offer an adaptive suspension option. This allows Ford to take on the competition from another angle, namely Ram’s advanced system. 

Let’s explore these traits below.

Onboard Scales

The 2022 Ford F150 can weigh how much payload is in the truck. Smart tail lamps let the user know if it is loaded or overloaded. Here, four tail lights function like battery charge indicators. Hence, they come on when you load the truck. And, if you overload the truck, the top light will blink automatically.

Allowing you to check remotely, there are functions on the Ford app or the touch screen. A passenger load reminder tells users to remember the gross weight limit,  which includes the passengers and cargo in the cabin.  The app or screen can warn the user if the truck is Exceeding Maximum Payload.

If you are at a store and a helper just loaded more lumber, the driver can check the weight from the cab. They just zero out the scale using the scale mode and get an accurate new reading. This onboard payload estimation is more accurate than the typical estimates made by an owner. 

Smart Hitch 

Many people struggle with towing a large trailer safely.  Improper weight distribution leads to breakdowns and accidents.  This isn’t just from carelessness or ignorance of the process. There’s too much guesswork involved for even the most seasoned users.

The goal of the Smart Hitch is to help you make better decisions.  This system measures the tongue weight and the additional poundage on the back of your truck. Also, it guides the user as they seek to distribute the load. The owner still has some responsibility for understanding the basics, but this is a much more scientific method for hooking up a trailer properly.

Already there are a number of safer hitch systems with cameras to assist with safer hookups.  These can be found on many brands of trucks, and hopefully are becoming widely used.   

Road Protections

On the road, continuously controlled damping of the shocks is a welcome addition that can cope with the weight and any improper weight distribution. It is a smart feature that enables the truck to read the road ahead and adjust the damping forces on the fly. 

When using the tow and haul mode, the F150 truck will adjust its damping algorithm to remain stiff for a confident yet smooth ride. The goal isn’t just a better ride today. The ultimate goal is a strong pickup truck suspension with a longer road life. 

Another protection that more trucks need to have is the extended blind spot protection which Ford includes as standard with its BLIS system. This watches the sides of the trailer, not just the vehicle. It warns the driver if anything is too close for a safe lane change.  

Parking Assistance

Ford has had its parking assistance system for a few years.  This allows the driver to use both the truck’s reverse and the special system’s reverse to maneuver the tandem trailer into place.  It works with the turn of a dial on the dash, allowing the trailer to move to the right or left while the truck continues to move straight back.  

Conclusion

By advising the user on weight and helping them correct an overload or any other cargo load problem, these devices speed up the driver’s ability to load or hitch up safely.  The on-the-road safety benefits belong to both the truck’s passengers and any vehicles on the road with them. Hopefully, more car manufacturers will take note and begin offering these same technologies in all trucks.