Pro Trailer Backup Assist
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,653
Likes: 4,740
From: Itinerant
Why CDL? Because you will spend 8 hours a day practice, practice, practicing. I actually hired onto a company & drove their truck for a year, then got really stupid and bought one. About 100,00 in their truck and 750,000 in mine. (10-12K a month) Made some money and gained confidence I can put the 36ft 5W any where I want it. Your right practice does make a differance just not many will spend 8hrs a couple days to learn and I will guarantee the class will be far more structured. I know after pushing 75ft of truck that many miles not much will worry you about where you can park. I've been to CG's that tell me all they a have left are back in's and some when told will leave. Did you know many back in sites are less money because they use less space? The class may not be for everyone but I'm sure it will be cheaper than adding all the backup BS to a truck. Simply GOAL then back in.
It's not rocket science to go to a parking lot and practicing or if it's easier to look like a ding dong backing into a space don't practice, run things over, bang your rig up, insurance companies will just charge you more.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 764
Likes: 194
From: Elephant Butte NM
SWIFT ..... Yep lots of steering wheel holders, game changes a bunch when it's your class 8. Yes practice if the do and not just an hour, think they will serpentine or know blind side from sight side, even try a blind side back? 31 years I'm sure you can do them all. I took the CDL to learn to drive something that large that bends in the middle. I drove the command bus but with the star on the door no one asked questions. Wife picked a 40ft 5W and the CC long bed, I wanted to be able to handle large. Been on M/C's since HS and thought I could ride until I went to the police M/C school .... found out I didn't know crap about it, but I learned a lot from people know a lot.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,898
Likes: 185
I agree. Waste of money on both my F150 and F350. It was bad enough on the F150 but I figured enough "newbies" buy those that they might use it but to put it on a SD? Come on now?
New User
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 18
Likes: 3
From: Sisters, OR
For six years I backed my previous camping trailer with my 2015 F150 using traditional counter steering. I always got the trailer parked, but it was awkward sometimes. My 2021 F350 has trailer backup assist so I thought I would try it with our new 5th wheel. I've used it a couple times and love it. For me, it is much easier to watch the cameras and guidance indicators on the display screen while turning the backup assist **** to steer the truck. I still check the mirrors, but not as much. When I'm ready to straighten out of a turn, just release the **** and the truck straightens itself and will continue in a straight line. The backup assist has been helpful for me.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 764
Likes: 194
From: Elephant Butte NM
For six years I backed my previous camping trailer with my 2015 F150 using traditional counter steering. I always got the trailer parked, but it was awkward sometimes. My 2021 F350 has trailer backup assist so I thought I would try it with our new 5th wheel. I've used it a couple times and love it. For me, it is much easier to watch the cameras and guidance indicators on the display screen while turning the backup assist **** to steer the truck. I still check the mirrors, but not as much. When I'm ready to straighten out of a turn, just release the **** and the truck straightens itself and will continue in a straight line. The backup assist has been helpful for me.
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 659
Likes: 312
From: Fort Worth
Does it use or need the trailer camera? I have the backup feature on my 2020 450 but did not get the camera for the trailer/5thwheel. I have the yaw sensor and factory gooseneck/ 5thwheel prep .
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,157
Likes: 7,994
From: Texas
All this sounds like something needed by young a-holes to be able to back up a trailer so they can then bitch about the old guys on the road that CAN back a trailer without all the electronic BS.
By the time my back up assist gets to where I need them, I have already done the GOAL thing. I already know where I want the trailer. The only thing my assistant needs to do is watch while I am backing in, in case something changes. I already know which way to point the trailer to get it where I want it. I have also looked at everything above so I know I am not going to rip something off the top of my trailer.
All this is just more expensive crap that more than likely is useless when one REALLY needs it. Odds are long when you really want to use the backup assist all the cameras will see are shadows or glare unless one happens to be oriented with the sun just perfectly.
By the time my back up assist gets to where I need them, I have already done the GOAL thing. I already know where I want the trailer. The only thing my assistant needs to do is watch while I am backing in, in case something changes. I already know which way to point the trailer to get it where I want it. I have also looked at everything above so I know I am not going to rip something off the top of my trailer.
All this is just more expensive crap that more than likely is useless when one REALLY needs it. Odds are long when you really want to use the backup assist all the cameras will see are shadows or glare unless one happens to be oriented with the sun just perfectly.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,477
Likes: 4,069
From: Raceland, La.
All this sounds like something needed by young a-holes to be able to back up a trailer so they can then bitch about the old guys on the road that CAN back a trailer without all the electronic BS.
By the time my back up assist gets to where I need them, I have already done the GOAL thing. I already know where I want the trailer. The only thing my assistant needs to do is watch while I am backing in, in case something changes. I already know which way to point the trailer to get it where I want it. I have also looked at everything above so I know I am not going to rip something off the top of my trailer.
All this is just more expensive crap that more than likely is useless when one REALLY needs it. Odds are long when you really want to use the backup assist all the cameras will see are shadows or glare unless one happens to be oriented with the sun just perfectly.
By the time my back up assist gets to where I need them, I have already done the GOAL thing. I already know where I want the trailer. The only thing my assistant needs to do is watch while I am backing in, in case something changes. I already know which way to point the trailer to get it where I want it. I have also looked at everything above so I know I am not going to rip something off the top of my trailer.
All this is just more expensive crap that more than likely is useless when one REALLY needs it. Odds are long when you really want to use the backup assist all the cameras will see are shadows or glare unless one happens to be oriented with the sun just perfectly.