How to use Pro Trailer Backup Assist with your Ford truck

How does Pro Trailer Backup Assist work?

Driving a vehicle is as natural as walking for many of us, but when you add in extra elements, sometimes it can get confusing. Backing up with a trailer attached can be a challenge, but luckily Ford has a solution for you. Select Ford vehicles, like the 2020 Ford Super Duty F-350, will be equipped with Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which can help you get your trailer where you need it to go. Read and watch the video below to learn how to use Pro Trailer Backup Assist with your Ford truck.

Twelve steps to setting up Pro Trailer Backup Assist

1. Gather the following supplies:

• Your start setup guide with measurement card
• A tape measure
• A pen or pencil
• An assistant
• The checkered sticker accompanying your setup guide

2. Connect your vehicle to your trailer. Make sure to do so on a level surface. A drawbar can help you ensure that the connection is level.

3. Move your vehicle forward, which should pull your trailer in line with your vehicle.

4. Inside your vehicle, press the centre of the Pro Trailer Backup Assist button, located to the right of the steering wheel. Watch the video guide below if you have trouble locating this button.

5. Spell out the name of your trailer on the screen. This is to save a profile for that trailer. You can use the up and down and left and right arrows to spell out a name. Pressing the right arrow will take you to the next letter. Once you are finished, press OK.

6. Choose the correct type of brake system on your trailer. The default is Electric/Surge, but you can also choose Electric over Hydraulic if that describes your trailer. You’ll also be asked to select the braking effort for your trailer. Low is recommended for most trailers, but if you have a large trailer that requires more aggressive braking, then choose medium or high. Next, it will move onto a screen that confirms that your trailer is conventional since Pro Trailer Backup Assist is not set up for Fifth Wheel or Gooseneck trailers. Confirm this and confirm that you want to use Pro Trailer Backup Assist on the next screen.

7. Shift your vehicle into park with your vehicle and trailer aligned in a straight line.

8. Place your checkered sticker on your trailer tongue, 15 to 55 centimetres from the centre of the trailer hitch ball. Watch the video guide below for an example of how to place the sticker.

9. Use the tape measure to record the following measurements:

• The horizontal distance from the license plate to the centre of the hitch ball
• The horizontal distance from the centre of the hitch ball to the centre of the sticker
• The diagonal distance from the centre of the rear-view camera to the centre of the sticker
• The horizontal distance from the tailgate to the centre of the trailer axle for single-axle trailers or the horizontal distance from the tailgate to the centre point between both axles for dual-axle trailers

10. Get back inside your vehicle and input the measurements that you just recorded. Use the up and down arrows on the five-way switch on the left side of your steering wheel to control the inputs and press OK when you have the correct data. After inputting the measurements, it will ask you to check that they are all accurate.

11. The system will automatically search for the sticker target now and ask you to confirm that it has found the sticker. Select yes if the sticker is circled on the display screen. If not, select no, and double-check your measurements and placement.

12. Lastly, drive the vehicle forward between 4 and 25 mph to complete the calibration. A message will tell you when the process is complete.

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How to Set up Pro Trailer Backup Assist ™ video by FordCanada

This video guide goes over the same information that we have recorded above. Feel free to watch and follow along with the video as you go.

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