That's how I feel about Android Auto. Give me a decent RV Mapping App that works through Android Auto and the F350's 12" screen and I'll pay for it rather than having another piece of hardware on the dash.

 

I agree and I love Car Play, but I haven't been able to find a GPS app that's compatible with Car Play or Android Auto that includes RV specific routing.

Exactly, and I'd gladly pay for a functional RV GPS app from Ford or Garmin or anyone else if it displays through my infotainment screen. Ford and other OEM's have an advantage though, because they only have to make their software work with their own screen and operating system. GPS suppliers like Garmin and software companies like Roadtrippers have to get their software approved by Car Play and Android Auto, which they don't own. I can understand their reluctance to spend the R&D money with no control over design changes or product lifespan. I'm not complaining about capitalism, but sometimes healthy competition requires some regulation to make sure everyone plays nice together. Unfortunately our government seems to have trouble finding agreement on simple things let alone a complex issue like this, so I'm not holding my breath.

And as long as we're wishing for things, how about making hands free the only way your phone works while your vehicle is moving. I'm tired of getting stuck behind knuckleheads doing 40 on the Interstate because they're incapable of doing two things at once.

 

Picked up my F-550 the end of Feb-‘22. Been at conversion facility until end of June. Been tinkering with it since getting it home, three weeks now, and have never once been able to even get a glimpse of the trailer navigation feature. Have done chat sessions with Ford, direct phone calls and been to two dealerships. Every single one of these contacts were clueless. They all said they didn’t know a thing about what I was talking about. Even after telling them the page number of the manual where the feature is described they just said; “Sorry, can’t help you”.

For each one of us that have found our way to this thread there have to be hundreds more that have this problem. Something smells fishy. Ford can’t be as clueless as they let on with this many of us rattling the cages.

 

Yep - I gave up on checking for the feature to become active. I purchased a Garmin RV 890 gps. At this point, I trust Garmin way more than I could trust the Ford navigation system to keep me out of trouble with low bridges, etc.

 

Just picked up a new truck about 10 days ago. Before doing anything I went to the NAV system and looked for the setting for nav while towing. It wasn't anywhere to be found. Not sure we'll ever see it.

 

I don't know why the car manufacturers and the GPS makers don't partner up and put a real app on the vehicles. The GPS makers could also create mapping apps for iOS and Android devices instead of locking their apps to their hardware.

 

I wish Garmin made it possible to purchase an upgrade to the NuviCam to make it RV/Truck compatible, or even their Kenwood or other embedded dash units. I have a Kenwood in my 2012 with Garmin embedded and would love to have an RV map in it.

 

For what it's worth, I called Ford's customer service number for Connected Navigation this morning. The woman I spoke with had a heavy accent, but she did clearly understand my complaint about the missing trailer navigation feature. She said they have received many, many complaints about it, and they are working on the problem. She was confidant at some point they will have a software update for Sync to activate the trailer tow feature, but she could not provide any timing. She added my call to the list of complaints about this feature so please go ahead and call if you haven't already, it might help move the mountain just a bit. The number is 866-861-0420 in case you're interested.

For now I'm still using Apple Maps through Car Play, and I have a Garmin RV 780 to help keep me out of trouble. I'm glad I had the Garmin this past week because we were at a COE campground with no wi-fi and zero to spotty cell service in the whole area which rendered Apple Maps and Google Maps obsolete. Had I thought about it I could have downloaded the area into Google Maps ahead of time, but I just didn't think of it. The Garmin still worked fine, and so did Ford's Connected Navigation map even though I haven't paid the $80.00 subscription fee and can't plug in directions.

I discovered that I actually like the detail on the Ford map better than the Garmin, and I'd prefer one (big) screen, so I'm still planning to sign up when they get this fixed. The other thing I discovered is that none of these mapping programs are perfect, including the Garmin. No problem though, I'm old school when I'm towing so I still plan my route ahead of time and take written directions with me.

 

Just got a phone call from Ford. The return call was based on a call I made to them a couple of weeks ago and posted about in this forum. I was told by the lady, which sounded like the same person I talked to before, that a “resolution” had been determined for my trailer navigation in Sync4. The resolution is that there is no resolution. Ford has determined that the current Sync4 system for my F-550 is incapable of handling the trailer navigation programming and that it ‘might’ be available in the 2023 models. And that they were very sorry that there were instructions in the user manual for my truck for the trailer navigation. They don’t know why they were there, they should not have been.

So it is back to the Rand McNally RV GPS stuck to the windshield. I sure was looking forward to not having that clutter and the big screen. Oh well.

 

Thanks for the update. “Wow” is all that I can say.

 

I just got this gem.Hi **********,

Your Connected Navigation service is coming to an end for F350 and will expire on 08/19/2022 if you choose not to renew.

Renew today to continue enjoying our smart in-vehicle navigation experience featuring:

• The latest maps — including a trailering feature on select vehicles that suggests the best route based on your towing specifications
• Real-time traffic conditions and integrated weather forecasts
• Enhanced point-of-interest information to help you find nearby restaurants, gas stations, parking and more

 

I have a 2022 XLT so I have Sync 3 and no navigation but I bought the Garmin RV GPS for my 43ft 5th wheel. Not having a GPS on my dash screen was a bummer but knowing it costs a subscription fee and I would have had to have a Lariat or above and it still wouldn't work with my trailer I'm glad I got the Garmin. I drove over 5,000 miles with it towing across the country and even though I'm gas not diesel, every gas station it has recommended has been large enough for my truck and trailer to fit at the gas pumps with only 1 exception and that was cause the canopy height wasn't listed and it looked too close when pulling up to it.

Garmin GPS was a better choice for me than anything Ford would have offered at a fee for the option then a subscription fee on top of that, no thanks.
It is a bummer I need an extra screen but for the money savings I'm happy with it and can live with it.

 

I'd sure like to see it function before I spend however much on the renewal.

 

Are there any Ford vehicles that have the "trailering feature" ?

 

Apparently, Ford’s left hand is not working with the right hand. Anybody with a SD have one of those “select” vehicles? 😀