Adaptive stearing regrets?
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 2
From: Hatfield's side of river
Something tells me I'm about to though...
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I have no regrets on the adaptive steering...I didn't order it. Truck steers fine. As to the comment about a dump truck...well, if you bought a 350 with adaptive steering and put a dump body on it...it also would drive like a dump truck.
Hill Descent is useless for almost all users. Low range and manually selected gear + locked rear end gives you the same level of control but without burning up the brakes.
Hill Descent is useless for almost all users. Low range and manually selected gear + locked rear end gives you the same level of control but without burning up the brakes.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Upstate, NY
Still has normal power steering. The adaptive steering unit is an electric motor in the steering wheel that multiplies the number of turns that the steering shaft actually turns depending on your speed. It basically sits between the steering wheel and steering shaft and takes input from the steering wheel.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
I agree with kab449, it was so much easier backing my 40' 5er into the camp site this weekend. I guess I hadn't even thought about it being the adaptive steering, my 2011 F350 turned slower than an aircraft carrier. I looked like I knew what I was doing! I also just got the skid plates and locking diff, no FX4 package.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 7
From: 46th State
I'm still a little bit old school. If "adaptive steering" is the option that has to do with backing a trailer then I would suggest not getting that option. Like a lot of other things these days, if we have forgotten how to back a trailer we had better stay home.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I didn't want it simply because I don't see any great value with it. I have no problem driving my dually with "standard" steering, and I like having a direct connection between the steering wheels and the steer wheels. Our old Audi A8 had this feature; never cared for the changing ratios.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Central PA
Has nothing to do with your skill level. Just allows you to accomplish the task quicker. Kinda like removing a bolt using a ratchet rather than a box wrench.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 12
My F450 is 4 turns lock-to-lock with the adaptive steering. That's the same number of turns as the non-wide-track trucks without adaptive steering. My wide-track means that my front wheels turn 45* instead if 38*, so the adaptive steering gives me 7* more wheel turn for the same steering wheel turn.
I like the adaptive steering a lot. With the F450, it actually feels quite "nimble" with the wide-track + adaptive steering. (I know how silly F450 and nimble sound together - you really need to drive one to understand.)
I like the adaptive steering a lot. With the F450, it actually feels quite "nimble" with the wide-track + adaptive steering. (I know how silly F450 and nimble sound together - you really need to drive one to understand.)
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 7
From: 46th State
It will work great if you have a truck from now on with adaptive steering. My only point was, if you get used to adaptive steering and all of a sudden find yourself in a truck without it, it could be a bit of a challenge for some to back a trailer the old way. It's kind of like when I go to get into my new Platinum Super Duty I automatically reach into my pocket for my key when I don't need it.
