Imagine lining up the trailer to your truck with just a push of a button. Sound far fetched? That’s exactly what the Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist feature does and it is pretty incredible.
The Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist operates with a push of a trailer backup button allowing the driver to be hands-free and foot-free while the truck backs into position. This new technology was demonstrated at the 2023 New York International Auto Show.
How does the Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist work?
The system uses the truck’s rear camera and radar along with artificial intelligence to align the truck with the trailer.
Once the truck is in position, the driver pushes a button and the truck moves backward towards the trailer.
As it nears the trailer, the truck stops to double check with the driver the trailer height is in the right position before going back any further. This helps prevent smacking into the tailgate or bumper with the trailer.
After the driver hits ok, the truck finishes backing up, puts the truck into park and the driver can then get out and lower the trailer onto the receiver hitch ball.
It is a pretty slick operation as shown in the Twitter video below from Ford CEO Jim Farley.
Here is @Ford’s new Pro Trailer Hitch Assist in action. It uses the truck’s rear camera and radar to quickly align with a trailer. Hands-free (and feet-free) with the push of a button! https://t.co/WVuXvmAmLr pic.twitter.com/WQ68vtjxqE
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) April 7, 2023
Ford has been developing a variety of trailering and hauling tools to make things easier for truck owners.
For example, there is the Pro Trailer Backup Assist which works by turning a knob in the cabin in the direction you want the trailer to go. It basically takes the “turn right to go left” part of trailering out the equation and simplifies the maneuver.
Then, there is the Onboard Scales feature which uses lights on the rear taillights as well as a bar graph inside the cabin to alert the owner to how much weight they have added to the truck when hauling items in the bed. While it doesn’t provide an actual weight, it does provide some idea on total weight. This is pretty useful to avoid overloading your truck.
The bottom line
These features aren’t necessarily for the hard-core truck owners with trailering experience, they are for people who occasionally tow. And, for someone who tows a lot like myself, they can be handy at times.
