Community Forums

johns1959 · 08-19-2021, 05:09 PM

Hello All,

I want to set up my truck's trailer backup assist (2021 F350 SRW) for towing a utility trailer. I went to the dealership today to get the decal to apply to the A-frame on the trailer. The parts guy looked at me like I was crazy but I finally convinced him that I was asking for an actual Ford part. He looked it up and finally found it but the spec sheet he printed out indicated the decal was for 2015-2019 trucks. I vaguely recall reading somewhere that the 2020+ trucks use a module (like the ones used for fifth wheel trailers) instead of the decal. Has anyone set up the trailer backup assist on a 2020+ Ford truck? Will the 2015-2019 decal work? Also, they want $70 for the decal which seems a bit pricey to me. Is there another source for these? Please advise...

Regards,

John

4x4ord · 08-19-2021, 08:13 PM

^^^^

If your truck has Pro Trailer Backup Assist it should have come with several decals as well as a module for fifth wheels .... the decals should be in your owner's manual. The 2021 F150 uses the module but the Super Duty still uses the decal for tag trailers and a module for gooseneck/fifth wheels.

tuffr2 · 08-19-2021, 08:33 PM

Look under the rear seat, glove box, under the bucket front seats, center console for the stickers that should be with your truck.

I found the fuse for trailer lights in my glovebox in 2012 and a packet of stuff in my 2017 under the back seat.

Gammel · 08-19-2021, 11:06 PM

The decals, I got 4 or 5, were in the manual. I don't recall any 'module' for a fiver. Did I get shorted? Compared to my '16 F150 this Pro Trailer Backup system was a royal pain to set up. Seems like it needed a really long straight stretch to do the final reckoning. It's working well now but it is still a bit finicky and the 10 seconds it takes to come to life seems an eternity when you're holding up traffic.

JHinman · 08-19-2021, 11:12 PM

I just set up the backup assist on my 2018 F350. The guide lines do not seem particularly helpful, but the cameras in the mirrors are a little further out than the mirrors themselves, and that helps with vision a bit.

This is with a TT, not a 5th wheel.

4x4ord · 08-20-2021, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gammel

The decals, I got 4 or 5, were in the manual. I don't recall any 'module' for a fiver. Did I get shorted? Compared to my '16 F150 this Pro Trailer Backup system was a royal pain to set up. Seems like it needed a really long straight stretch to do the final reckoning. It's working well now but it is still a bit finicky and the 10 seconds it takes to come to life seems an eternity when you're holding up traffic.

Mine came with the decals in the manual and under the back seat was a plastic bag containing a wiring harness and a module. The truck was equipped with a 12 pin plug mounted under the 7 pin trailer plug. PTBA came as part of the Platinum package on my truck.

4x4ord · 08-20-2021, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHinman

I just set up the backup assist on my 2018 F350. The guide lines do not seem particularly helpful, but the cameras in the mirrors are a little further out than the mirrors themselves, and that helps with vision a bit.

This is with a TT, not a 5th wheel.

I think you are talking about Reverse Guidance Assistance. ProTrailer Backup Assist steers the truck while backing up. It requires electric over hydraulic steering which I believe didn’t come out on the Super Duty till 2020?? It’s likely a little easier to learn to backup a trailer using PTBA than doing it with the steering wheel. I would think most people who are good at backing up a trailer would find little to no value in PTBA, however, I would say the system works well.

johns1959 · 08-21-2021, 04:58 AM

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I did look in the manual and found the package of decals! I will be setting it up today...

Regards,

John

JHinman · 08-21-2021, 07:30 AM

Yes, I mis-understood the system being discussed. I have seen advertisements for the system where the trailer can be steered with a knob on the dash, but it is not clear to me how it actually works.

I finally set up the reverse assistance on my trailer this spring. I had to tweak things on the trailer tongue to make room for the decal. Once done the lines show where the trailer will go, but I still have trouble relating that path to the actual world.

Even though I have been towing RV trailers for 30 years I am not that good at it. Often the trailer goes right where I want it to, but then there are those times when it does not!

4x4ord · 08-21-2021, 08:54 AM

^^^^ You would likely appreciate PTBA. In my case it’s not really very useful. I can back up a single trailer without thinking. Just throw the truck in reverse, push my foot to the floor and let my subconscious mind take over. My 2017 would do 35 mph backwards pushing a trailer. The new truck only about 25 mph. On three occasions I’ve had opportunity to back up double trailers. Last weekend was one of those occasions with a bunch of onlookers watching. It felt kind of good knowing I’ve developed a skill to a level that is higher than most. This is the problem I see with PTBA … it prevents people from learning and developing a useful skill.