This is hopefully a stupid question. Is there an easy way to disable the rear collision/brake assist feature when towing a trailer? I know it does this by itself when you have the trailer plugged in, but I have always taken the precaution of unplugging trailer lights before backing down the boat ramp. And when I try to do that in my 2021 F150, it goes berserk. It thinks the trailer is something I am about to collide with and starts to apply the brakes, makes all kinds of beeping noises, flashing alerts on the dashboard, etc. So I tried going into the menus and turning off every driver assistance feature that looked related to backing up, and it still did it.

I had the truck at the dealer for another reason (power telescoping mirrors wouldn't telescope), and asked them what settings to change for the trailer backing, and the best they could come up with was for me to buy a little trailer wiring tester that you plug into the 7-pin connector, that this would fool the truck into thinking the trailer was wired in and would therefore not apply the brakes and freak out.

Surely there must be an easier way? Or should I just discard the lifelong practice of unplugging before submerging?

 

Go through the options either through the dash or the radio. There should be a way to disable it. I have next to zero behind the wheel time in the new Ford stuff, but the radio is where you can disable it in the new Ram trucks.

 

The brake assist feature can be enabled or disable via the SYNC 4 infotainment system on Ford F-150.

1. Select Features on the touchscreen.
2. Select Driver Assistance.
3. Switch Reverse Brake Assist on or off.

 

As above - ours is acting up, turned it off last night. I've seen it go goo-goo even with a trailer attached, so it's not exactly a perfected technology.

 

I'll find out this weekend (if my new F-150 acts up with a trailer attached). Renting a UHaul to move my daughter (no pics) home from college.

I won't know about backing up with the lights disconnected until next summer when we get the boat out.

 

Just uplug the uhaul harness and back up. No need to wait until next summer.