Demonstration of the Ford F-150 Pro Trailer Backup Assist

When we read that Ford was claiming to make the process of backing up a trailer as easy as turning a knob we were skeptical. We researched the system, called the Pro Trailer Backup Assist, and after watching some videos decided it was the real thing. First, of course, we had to get a new truck and settled on the F-150. It is a fantastic truck all besides itself.

The Pro Trailer Backup Assist system has to be set up specifically for your trailer before you can use it. That process, which is very simple, is described below.

1. Go to the towing section of the dashboard display system and select the option to add a trailer in the instrument panel.
2. Add a personalized name for the trailer using the screen prompts. In our case we called the trailer “Camplite.” You don’t have to give your trailer a name but if you are going to have more than one it is useful to do so.
3. Select the trailer type. We chose “conventional.” The system will not work with goose neck and fifth wheel trailers.
4. Then you place a Ford-supplied checkerboard system on your hitch.

Since we have a weight-distribution system we placed it as shown below.

After you place the sticker you take measurements as shown below.

The measurements are:

• Distance A - The horizontal distance from the license plate to the center of the ball hitch on the trailer.
• Distance B - The horizontal distance from the center of the ball hitch to the center of the sticker.
• Distance C - The distance from the Rear View Camera to the center of the sticker.
• Distance D - The horizontal distance from the tailgate to the center of the trailer axle (single axle trailers), or the center of the axles (trailers with dual axles or more).

You then enter the measurements using the dashboard control panel. You have to follow the directions closely when it comes to entering the measurements—don’t get lazy!

Finally, to complete the set up, you drive straight forward a bit at about 4 miles per hour.

If you mess up, the system will tell you. You are now ready to go!

 The system uses the measurements you enter to prevent jackknifing. How? Look at the diagram below.

The truck "eyeball" uses the measurements to determine the center of gravity of your hitch, the length of the truck to the trailer and the length of the trailer. The system uses both the eyeball and rear sensing system to back up in such a way that you will not jackknife. 

But wait! That's not all. The truck can also sense, using the side view mirrors, if you are going to back into something with the truck. For example, if someone is giving you directions and that person may be hit if the truck goes too far, the truck will put on the brakes and disengage the system.

But wait! That's not all! Using the measurements you put in the system will also know if you are going to hit something with the trailer. It will flash a message at you and put on the breaks again.

Anyway, here’s how hard it is to use. When you are backing up you turn a knob on the dashboard and the truck does the rest, steering and controlling the vehicle speed with the gas and brake pedals. The rear camera gives the computer a reference angle using the black-and-white sticker for reference, limiting the truck’s rearward speed as the angle of the trailer increases.

However, you do have to keep your foot on the brake to make sure you don’t go too far once you have parked the trailer. You think Ford would have solved that problem too!

Final note: we did run into one small problem. At one point the system would not work because it could not find the sticker. We weren’t sure if it was because the sticker was in the shadows or there was some other problem. My wife got an L-shaped piece of metal, attached a new sticker to it and then attached the metal to our hitch using double-sided tape. That seemed to solve the problem.

Here is a video in which I demonstrate the system.