Tow Technology Package
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
I have a cousin who's got all these bells and whistles. His SD has a fault in the adaptive steering somewhere; it will randomly turn the wheel to the right. Scary; so much so that he abandoned the truck in SC while on vacation, fly home and told them he would come to pick it up when they "get it right". Do I really need "adaptive steering", or "tow command steering" or other such nuances? Not me. I've been backing up trailers for four decades just fine. I can maneuver in a parking lot with ease and don't need variable ratio steering to get out to the street.
Many of the "advances" in automotive driving are band-aids for people who don't pay attention in the first place, or struggle to handle complex maneuvering situations. Do I need a 360 deg camera? Do I need BLIS? Do I need lane-keep assist? If you're so tired that you cannot stay awake and need lane-keeping tech, get your butt out of the driver's seat and stop for some coffee. If you need BLIS because you cannot judge distances in a mirror, or keep track of traffic as you pass them (or they pass you), then again, get your butt out of the driver's seat.
My opinion only; this is the continual dumb'ing down of the driving experience. People whom are either incapable of handling complex situations, and/or are too weak to say no to distractions (cell phones, food, drinks) should not be driving in the first place.
There are some technologies that are very worthwhile; air bags, ABS, and such things like that. I cannot pump the brakes as fast as solenoids can; that technology does not hinder my driving, but greatly improves my ability to control a vehicle in slick conditions. Airbags do not improve my driving, but they intercede on my behalf when undesired events take place. Electronic combustion management (fuel injection and cylinder design) makes for more power-dense products with greater efficiency. Etc.
Some technology is good, but like most things, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, and it's just a cover-up for either bad driving behaviors or ineptness.
Many of the "advances" in automotive driving are band-aids for people who don't pay attention in the first place, or struggle to handle complex maneuvering situations. Do I need a 360 deg camera? Do I need BLIS? Do I need lane-keep assist? If you're so tired that you cannot stay awake and need lane-keeping tech, get your butt out of the driver's seat and stop for some coffee. If you need BLIS because you cannot judge distances in a mirror, or keep track of traffic as you pass them (or they pass you), then again, get your butt out of the driver's seat.
My opinion only; this is the continual dumb'ing down of the driving experience. People whom are either incapable of handling complex situations, and/or are too weak to say no to distractions (cell phones, food, drinks) should not be driving in the first place.
There are some technologies that are very worthwhile; air bags, ABS, and such things like that. I cannot pump the brakes as fast as solenoids can; that technology does not hinder my driving, but greatly improves my ability to control a vehicle in slick conditions. Airbags do not improve my driving, but they intercede on my behalf when undesired events take place. Electronic combustion management (fuel injection and cylinder design) makes for more power-dense products with greater efficiency. Etc.
Some technology is good, but like most things, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, and it's just a cover-up for either bad driving behaviors or ineptness.
i wanted adaptive cruise, and lane alert.. any additional info to help me, I'll take it. BLIS doesn't help as much without the audio , I have to look AT the mirror to see the light, and while looking AT the mirror I can see beside me. I would like auto dimming side mirrors.. had those on 2008 suburban.. didn't know how much I liked it.. til I don't have it..
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 107
Likes: 6
If you plan on lifting or leveling your truck I would opt out of the adaptive steering. since the 2" level the truck wanders a lot, seems like your constantly adjusting the steering on the highway. Having said that BDS has said I need to get the adaptive steering position and effort sensor calibrated but I haven't gotten to it yet.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 306
From: Mills River
How many of you have this package your SD truck? I test drove a few SD’s but none had the adaptive steering. Is this any good ? Haven’t seen a lot of comments on the adaptive steering. Is the” lane keeping alert “ in the Tow Technology Package the same as the BLIS option or similar? My wife has this lane keeping alert in her 2014 GMC Sierra and the seats will vibrate when you cross over the center line. I really like that feature.
Adsptive Steering. Speeds up steering input at low vehicle speed when (I believe) not in Tow/Haul mode. It’s very helpful when maneuvering the switchbacks in our neighborhood. Our 2017 F350 did not have AS, and it took a whole lotta crankin’ to make some of the turns.
Our 2019’s steering seems to unwind much better (farther back to straight)after a sharp turn than did our 2017 without AS. I don’t know if that’s a side benefit of AS or just truck-to-truck variation.
Auto High-Beam Headlights. Seems to work fairly well, with some override capability. Can be disabled.
Rain-sensing Wipers. Do not work particularly well, IMHO; way too sensitive. Can be disabled.
Lane-keeping Alert. Seems to work reasonably well, intensity is adjustable.
Driver Alert System. My understanding is that this feature is supposed to detect signs of drowsy driving and alert the driver to take a read break. I’ve not seen it in operation.
Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System. Adds four cameras (front, driver-side, pass-side, bed) to the tailgate camera to provide many different views outside the truck.Very helpful, IMHO. Also allows for connecting an optional trailer-mounted camera.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 741
Likes: 2
From: IA/GA/HI/FL/VA/CA/ME
I really like the 360 camera, however I use it more just centering the truck in parking lots than I do with the trailer. The mirrors on this thing are great. The power extend/fold function is sweet because I can easily put them out when I hook up the trailer, and I need to fold them to park in the garage. The camera up front also allows me to get within inches of the front of the garage without having to have a tennis ball hanging from the ceiling. It might be more useful if I had a camera on my trailer to hook into it, but really if I am pulling into a place where I can't see if I'm going to hit something behind the trailer I'm using a spotter or checking myself instead of relying on the camera.
I never use the lane departure. Like never. Ever. To me it is only useful on the interstate where the lanes are big and wide. On all the back roads and old county highways I go down the steering wheel was vibrating all the time with it turned on. Since the truck is so wide it only takes a couple inches left or right to vibrate the steering wheel. I turned it off a few days after I got the truck and haven't used it since.
I also don't really use the blind spot indicator. Again, the mirrors on this are great. I'd never merge or turn without looking in the mirror anyways, and I'd never rely solely on the light to give me an all clear, so I'm checking the mirrors regardless of if the BLIS light is on or not.
I don't like the auto wipers. They seem to either be too sensitive or not enough. After a year of ownership I'm still undecided on the auto headlights too. Sometimes they go back on bright when there's a car in front of me when I'm going around a sharp curve or if there's a hill I hit people in the eyes as they pop up over the hill before the truck sees them. I can see their lights and dim myself if I remember, but sometimes I anticipate the truck doing it for me and it does it too late.
Someone also mentioned the adaptive cruise. I don't use it much and never when towing. If a car merges in front of me and starts slowing quickly the adaptive cruise quickly slows the truck, when in most cases I'm actually going to want to accelerate to pass. It's hell on the front pads too. Drive 100 miles on the interstate with it on and check the brake dust compared to 100 miles with it off.
If only Ford allowed you to pick every option by itself instead of groups! If I could get just the camera system and power extend/fold mirrors, nav/touch screen, and the fancy seats with a/c & massage I'd be set. I rarely use any of the other gadgets on my truck.
I never use the lane departure. Like never. Ever. To me it is only useful on the interstate where the lanes are big and wide. On all the back roads and old county highways I go down the steering wheel was vibrating all the time with it turned on. Since the truck is so wide it only takes a couple inches left or right to vibrate the steering wheel. I turned it off a few days after I got the truck and haven't used it since.
I also don't really use the blind spot indicator. Again, the mirrors on this are great. I'd never merge or turn without looking in the mirror anyways, and I'd never rely solely on the light to give me an all clear, so I'm checking the mirrors regardless of if the BLIS light is on or not.
I don't like the auto wipers. They seem to either be too sensitive or not enough. After a year of ownership I'm still undecided on the auto headlights too. Sometimes they go back on bright when there's a car in front of me when I'm going around a sharp curve or if there's a hill I hit people in the eyes as they pop up over the hill before the truck sees them. I can see their lights and dim myself if I remember, but sometimes I anticipate the truck doing it for me and it does it too late.
Someone also mentioned the adaptive cruise. I don't use it much and never when towing. If a car merges in front of me and starts slowing quickly the adaptive cruise quickly slows the truck, when in most cases I'm actually going to want to accelerate to pass. It's hell on the front pads too. Drive 100 miles on the interstate with it on and check the brake dust compared to 100 miles with it off.
If only Ford allowed you to pick every option by itself instead of groups! If I could get just the camera system and power extend/fold mirrors, nav/touch screen, and the fancy seats with a/c & massage I'd be set. I rarely use any of the other gadgets on my truck.
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