I can drive a truck, and I love their capabilities, but towing? I have never had to back up a truck and attach it to a trailer hitch—that’s a different challenge. But I like to be independent and learn new things, so when I heard that Ford was offering a Towing Bootcamp, a class that anyone can take, I signed right up.
Our family has dreams of taking road trips to the national parks and scenic destinations around the country and hauling an RV so we can stay in the wild. But it can seem daunting to back up a truck and align perfectly to a hitch I cannot see. There is a lot of new tech in Ford’s F-Series and Super Duty trucks designed to help with that, but still, it’s a skill.
And, there’s a lot to learn. Our colleague Annika Carter is a pro at towing and shared this post about it, so I had a head start. But actually getting out there and learning to tow? That is where the skill truly starts to build.
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
The First Lesson: The Difference Between Payload and Towing Capacity
This is something everyone should understand, even if your’e not towing. We are taught to ask, how much can this truck tow? But what is a payload capacity impacts tow capacity, so you have to know that number too.
Payload capacity is what your truck can hold in the cabin and the truck bed. If the payload capacity is what the actual truck can carry, then the towing capacity is how much weight your truck can safely tow behind it.
If you’re freshening up the yard and need to load mulch into your truck bed, then the payload would be the amount of mulch that you can bring home without a trailer. But if you need pallets of sod and require a trailer to haul it, then you’ll want to pay attention to the towing capacity. As Annika says in her post, both these numbers need to come in under the gross vehicle weight rating, so you have to do a little math when figuring out how much you can really tow.
With the F-Series and Super Duty trucks, the payload and towing capacity varies based on model and trim levels, but no matter what, capacity is capacity, right? Ford, trying to simplify things for its owners, developed both Smart Hitch to make it easier to connect the hitch to the trailer, and onboard scales to ensure the payload and/or towing capacity fall within the weight limit. Then, you can adjust and lower the hitch into place so the truck and trailer to sit evenly and will seamlessly respond to braking.
Smart Hitch camera views are clear and easy to see right on the touch screen even for towing newbies.
Read: Towing 101: What You Need to Know to Tow with Confidence
Setting Yourself Up for Success to Align the Trailer Hitch
With all the tech assistance, it seems pretty easy to hitch up your trailer. And then you have to actually back up the truck.
First, we had to select which type of trailer we had and get it set up with the right Smart Hitch selection. The visual guides made it easy to understand which trailer looks like the one you have behind your truck: conventional, weight distance hitch, gooseneck, or fifth wheel.
Then our Towing Bootcamp instructor coached us to use the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist dial on the dashboard. Press and hold the button and the truck’s tech takes over. The truck will do the hard work from steering and accelerating, and even braking, as you approach the hitch. The camera view is the cherry on top for me; I felt in control and had clarity to see the trailer align with the hitch.
Read: Towing for Family Adventure: Campers, Boats and Jet Skis, Oh My!
New School Tech Replaces Old-School Frustration
The Smart Hitch this tech replaces the old-school way of hitching a trailer: using mirrors, frequently climbing out of the truck to check the alignment, or having a spotter waiving and yelling at you.
Taking the guesswork out also lets you learn the right steps from the beginning and avoid the potential for accidentally approaching too high or too low, and hoping that you’re backing up straight. No one wants to start off a trip with a dent in the back of the truck and a cold, quiet first few hundred miles of driving with your spotter in the passenger’s seat.
Double Checking Your Work … Thanks to the Checklist
Under Features and Towing on the multimedia screen there is a connection checklist you’ll want to go through before driving off. Select your trailer and the checklist knows which question to ask next for our specific trailer type.
After I backed up our conventional trailer and aligned with the hitch, I had to ensure the lock ball coupler was properly connected. The system prompted us to confirm this. Then it prompted me to check that all electrical connections are made so when I hit the brakes, the trailer brake lamps will light up.
Another important safety step is to cross and connect the safety chains on your truck. In case the trailer detaches from the ball coupler, the safety chains will still be attached to your truck and not let it recklessly flail behind you in traffic. You’ll also need to connect the emergency breakaway switch, so in the event if your trailer detaches unexpectedly, the brakes will then engage on the trailer.
A Physical Walk Around Is Assisted By Ford’s Technology, Too
Other functions the system prompted me to check were the lamp functions using the Trailer Light Check feature. Once you press it, it cycles through every signal, brake light, marking light and reverse lamps, so you can physically walk around the truck to see that they are all working.
Walking around the truck and trailer you’ll see them flash on and off for five minutes. Once you confirm all connections are made, also double check that your tongue or level jacks are all the way up and not planted in the ground when you try to drive off.
Our instructors also advised us to always check under the trailer to make sure your kids, pets, and anyone else is not hiding under there before you move your trailer. If all is clear, check your tires for nails, pressure, gashes, and take a look at your lug nuts on your wheels to ensure they are secure, and look for any cracks in the rims.
If everything looks great there, remove the safety wheel chocks, or wedges that secure your wheels from rolling, and take them with you.
Set Your Mirrors and Display For the Drive
The next item on the checklist is the driver safety check: Adjust the mirrors so you can see as you normally would before driving and set up your towing display: you can see that the lights are connected, the current gain setting, tire information, and overall towing status.
It’s great to have access to this from the driver’s seat, especially if you’re on a hill. Leaving this up on the screen allows you to keep an eye on everything as you drive.
Testing the Brakes, and Brake Gain, Is Next
Next, we adjusted the gain setting; this allows for your truck and trailer to stop at the same time. You don’t want the trailer forcing your trailer forward or the truck to stop first. For a heavier trailer such as a large boat, a higher gain is preferable. With a lighter trailer like a small camper or Jetski trailer, say up to 3,500 lbs., a lower gain is preferable.
To get the gain right, you can test it in the parking lot before you head out and get a feel with the brakes. Listening to your truck and trailer, you can hear if the gain is even; it will make a thud noise if the trailer is surging forward. The right gain setting allows your towing to feel seamless and not feel like the truck or trailer are pulling in either direction.
What to Consider When Looking for a Truck For Towing
Ford certainly made it easy to add towing to your skillset; all Ford’s trucks offer Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, Onboard Scales, and Smart Hitch features. But knowing what you plan to haul and what you plan to tow is how to decide how much capability you’ll need. The F-150 pickup, for instance, is great for smaller things: A small boat, small trailer or lightweight equipment.
Those who need to tow heavier things, such as a full-size RV or a work trailer, might do better with the Ford F-250 or F-350 Super Duty trucks. Keep in mind that trims, such as King Ranch or Tremor, are generally not impactful when it comes to towing; they are all about comfort and conveniences.
And once you decide, keep in mind the payload part of the equation. Filling the truck bed with storage boxes and cargo subtracts from the amount you can tow. Or maybe, I’ll just have to upgrade to the larger truck so I can fill the bed, and the trailer, with my destination dreams.
