Lane centering inop when trailer connected, dealer couldn't fix.

[fordvideoguy]

If Lane Centering is used as a form of hands-free driving, and it is dangerous while pulling a trailer, and now with the 25 model year the ability to use while towing is disabled, why does it still warn you after 15 sec to put hands back on the wheel or it ceases if it is only dangerous while towing? And if it is dangerous at all times, will they discontinue the feature?

Great points and questions that I can't answer for Ford. I'm just relaying the information I received from them.

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[MarAzul]

Well I don't have a Maverick, but I did just get an Explorer. Like the OP, when I hitched up the trailer I discovered Lane Centering and Blue Cruise was automatically disabled. I was not happy. The Explorer replaced a Subaru, which had many thousands of miles towing a motorcycle trailer on the interstates to different riding destinations with it's Eyesight system. A true game changer for those 12 hour travel days, where I used to arrive exhausted, probably marginally safe the last couple hours on the road. Especially on back to back travel days.

So I did quite a bit of searching to discover this restriction seems to exist on all Fords with Lane Centering or Blue Cruise. This Maverick thread is the longest one I found.

As previously mentioned, (I think), GM does not have this limitation with Super Cruise. In fact, they have sponsored media demos thru LA, on California freeways with lots of traffic demoing their ADAS towing a substantial trailer. See:

https://www.jalopnik.com/chevy-s-hands-free-super-cruise-helps-take-some-stress-1851181201/

Ford needs to figure this out...and I really have to believe the issue is liability not capability. At the end of the day, all any of these systems do is detect lanes and make steering corrections to keep to the middle of the lane. Relatively minor corrections, anything significant, they punt and return control to the driver.

Anyway, the real reason for the post here is to mention I may have found a work around. Like others have discovered, at least one way the system detects a trailer is via the trailer light wiring harness. Leaving that unplugged, and losing brake lights and turn signals is a non-starter.

Even though my trailer is aluminum and probably 1500 lbs or so loaded, I added trailer brakes to the stock trailer since our cabin in the Blueridge is up a long and very steep road. Using the 7 pin connector, it knows there is a trailer there from the start. Presuming it sees the resistance of the coils in the shoe magnets, or perhaps the brake controller.

So I ordered a wireless set of trailer lights. It uses a 4 pin dongle, and I thought that might not draw enough current for the system to detect. So far I only tried this with the dongle in and the lights sitting on the passenger seat, but no trailer connected. In that configuration, the system works normally, with and without the marker lights. It does throw a few "trailer disconnected" messages on the display, notably every time you use a turn signal. But on the local interstate in rolling slow and go traffic, Blue Cruise worked normally. I did not try the lane change feature, it's one of those things where the automation is problematic unless it knows you are twice the normal length with a trailer, so this feature should be considered unusable anyway.

I'm hoping that there isn't more to the "trailer detection" system. The magnetic mounts for the wireless trailer lights are pretty useless on the aluminum trailer, so will drill a couple holes and test over the weekend and get a preliminary read on this. Next week, I have almost a 1000 mile trip, and will know more for sure.

 

[ScottyC]

Well I don't have a Maverick.....

How to say you're a troll without saying you're a troll.....

 

[MarAzul]

Call it what you like. In the 13 pages I scrolled thru here, no one offered the OP a solution, many tried to convince him what a bad idea it was, but offered little help. At least my post is on topic, yours isn't.

 

[Sev]

25 Hybrid with tow package, when towing any size trailer, the lane centering feature doesn't work. I brought it to the dealer, they looked at it for a couple of hours and said everything looked ok and to bring back with a trailer. Until I do, I have to tow the trailer with the light cord tucked in so it looks like it is connected but then dont have any lights (is is flatbed so truck lights visible). I take it on 12 hour drives and really want that feature to work (without disconnecting the light cord). I think when you pay for the safety features they should work, in concert with each other. I don't want to tow a camper cross country and not have the feature I purposely ordered the vehicle with not working. I bet it is "engineered" that way by some desk jockey. Any ideas? I am thinking I have to rewire a new trailer plug and tap off the tail and brake light wires (switched to LED, so the signal/brake circuit has lower amp draw). I will have to experiment with the brake circuit to see if the truck will realize and cancel the lane centering or not, if so then a aftermarket brake controller...what a mess! It will cancel the Lane centering even if trailer is small with not brakes (even set to min sizes or if the no trailer connected button is used).

That feature is always disabled when towing surprised dealer did not know that


towing

 

[Robert_C]

I can understand why Ford made the decision to disable lane centring with a trailer attached.

I spend a lot of time on 2-lane highways. On those highways, there are predictable road conditions where the Maverick wallows drunkenly, looking for its lane markers. If that were to happen with a trailer attached, it could easily enter a dangerous trailer sway condition.

I do not know if this would be an issue on multilane highways or not. It seems to track a lot better on those roads. However, an advisory of "do not use lane centring on two lane highways," probably wasnt able to make it past thier legal department.

 

[MarAzul]

GM also disables lane centering and adaptive cruise when a trailer is connected as well as Toyota, Ram, and others. WHY? It is not recommended because of potential over correction causing the trailer to swerve uncontrolled. Definitely a liability issue for the manufacturer. If it is too hard to drive the vehicle with out technology keeping it in the lane maybe it is a bad idea to drive it at all.

I'm no GM expert...but they promote Super Cruise for use with trailers, so it surely does have lane centering and adaptive cruise. What they do on vehicles without Super Cruise, I don't know.

The idea that automation is a crutch, is true. But should you stay in bed until your broken leg heals?

From a safety perspective, automation is the primary reason flying is much safer today than it was before autopilots were introduced. When the conditions are really bad (fog), they are required to do the approach, land and brake. Then they let the pilot taxi to the gate. Not there yet with ADAS systems, but I don't appreciate the manufacturer deciding for me, if it's appropriate to deploy the available technology.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Well I don't have a Maverick, but I did just get an Explorer. Like the OP, when I hitched up the trailer I discovered Lane Centering and Blue Cruise was automatically disabled. I was not happy. The Explorer replaced a Subaru, which had many thousands of miles towing a motorcycle trailer on the interstates to different riding destinations with it's Eyesight system. A true game changer for those 12 hour travel days, where I used to arrive exhausted, probably marginally safe the last couple hours on the road. Especially on back to back travel days.

So I did quite a bit of searching to discover this restriction seems to exist on all Fords with Lane Centering or Blue Cruise. This Maverick thread is the longest one I found.

As previously mentioned, (I think), GM does not have this limitation with Super Cruise. In fact, they have sponsored media demos thru LA, on California freeways with lots of traffic demoing their ADAS towing a substantial trailer. See:

https://www.jalopnik.com/chevy-s-hands-free-super-cruise-helps-take-some-stress-1851181201/

Ford needs to figure this out...and I really have to believe the issue is liability not capability. At the end of the day, all any of these systems do is detect lanes and make steering corrections to keep to the middle of the lane. Relatively minor corrections, anything significant, they punt and return control to the driver.

Anyway, the real reason for the post here is to mention I may have found a work around. Like others have discovered, at least one way the system detects a trailer is via the trailer light wiring harness. Leaving that unplugged, and losing brake lights and turn signals is a non-starter.

Even though my trailer is aluminum and probably 1500 lbs or so loaded, I added trailer brakes to the stock trailer since our cabin in the Blueridge is up a long and very steep road. Using the 7 pin connector, it knows there is a trailer there from the start. Presuming it sees the resistance of the coils in the shoe magnets, or perhaps the brake controller.

So I ordered a wireless set of trailer lights. It uses a 4 pin dongle, and I thought that might not draw enough current for the system to detect. So far I only tried this with the dongle in and the lights sitting on the passenger seat, but no trailer connected. In that configuration, the system works normally, with and without the marker lights. It does throw a few "trailer disconnected" messages on the display, notably every time you use a turn signal. But on the local interstate in rolling slow and go traffic, Blue Cruise worked normally. I did not try the lane change feature, it's one of those things where the automation is problematic unless it knows you are twice the normal length with a trailer, so this feature should be considered unusable anyway.

I'm hoping that there isn't more to the "trailer detection" system. The magnetic mounts for the wireless trailer lights are pretty useless on the aluminum trailer, so will drill a couple holes and test over the weekend and get a preliminary read on this. Next week, I have almost a 1000 mile trip, and will know more for sure.

I think a work around would be to use the Curt trailer relay setup (about $115, I think) that has T plugs that attach between the rear lights on truck and has it's separate power supply (uses no additional current on Ford harness) from battery or appropriate 12v fuse. By not plugging into OEM trailer plug the computer most likely will not detect a trailer and disable things. Someone posted that if all 4 wires were not connected the trailer was not recognized as being there but you would have to live without something.

 

[MarAzul]

I can understand why Ford made the decision to disable lane centring with a trailer attached.

This is true. Both the Subaru and Ford wallow around like a drunken sailor on some roads. It's not really a good idea to use the system, with or without a trailer under those conditions. For the most part they are predictable. Perhaps it would be better to better detect unsuitable roads and make the system unavailable trailer or not.

 

[Robert_C]

This is true. Both the Subaru and Ford wallow around like a drunken sailor on some roads. It's not really a good idea to use the system, with or without a trailer under those conditions. For the most part they are predictable. Perhaps it would be better to better detect unsuitable roads and make the system unavailable trailer or not.

There are a lot of road conditions where it does refuse to engage, or disengages if it is in use.

 

[TNFurb]

Just wondering if the suggestions to bypass by splicing in ahead of the OEM trailer wiring harness would then mean that you lose the sway control?

 

[MarAzul]

I think a work around would be to use the Curt trailer relay setup (about $115, I think) that has T plugs that attach between the rear lights on truck and has it's separate power supply from battery or appropriate 12v fuse. By not plugging into OEM trailer plug the computer most likely will not detect a trailer and disable things. Someone posted that if all 4 wires were not connected the trailer was not recognized as being there but you would have to live without something.

Excellent idea. Preliminary research at eTrailer was under $55 for one they claim works for an Explorer. $76 for a Maverick, they show different part numbers.

 

[ScottyC]

...I'm no GM expert...but they promote Super Cruise for use with trailers, so it surely does have lane centering and adaptive cruise. What they do on vehicles without Super Cruise, I don't know.

Wondering why you don't go get a Chevy...for your hands free towing needs.

 

[ScottyC]

Call it what you like. In the 13 pages I scrolled thru here, no one offered the OP a solution, many tried to convince him what a bad idea it was, but offered little help. At least my post is on topic, yours isn't.

 

[mavhopefull]

Well I don't have a Maverick, but I did just get an Explorer. Like the OP, when I hitched up the trailer I discovered Lane Centering and Blue Cruise was automatically disabled. I was not happy. The Explorer replaced a Subaru, which had many thousands of miles towing a motorcycle trailer on the interstates to different riding destinations with it's Eyesight system. A true game changer for those 12 hour travel days, where I used to arrive exhausted, probably marginally safe the last couple hours on the road. Especially on back to back travel days.

So I did quite a bit of searching to discover this restriction seems to exist on all Fords with Lane Centering or Blue Cruise. This Maverick thread is the longest one I found.

As previously mentioned, (I think), GM does not have this limitation with Super Cruise. In fact, they have sponsored media demos thru LA, on California freeways with lots of traffic demoing their ADAS towing a substantial trailer. See:

https://www.jalopnik.com/chevy-s-hands-free-super-cruise-helps-take-some-stress-1851181201/

Ford needs to figure this out...and I really have to believe the issue is liability not capability. At the end of the day, all any of these systems do is detect lanes and make steering corrections to keep to the middle of the lane. Relatively minor corrections, anything significant, they punt and return control to the driver.

Anyway, the real reason for the post here is to mention I may have found a work around. Like others have discovered, at least one way the system detects a trailer is via the trailer light wiring harness. Leaving that unplugged, and losing brake lights and turn signals is a non-starter.

Even though my trailer is aluminum and probably 1500 lbs or so loaded, I added trailer brakes to the stock trailer since our cabin in the Blueridge is up a long and very steep road. Using the 7 pin connector, it knows there is a trailer there from the start. Presuming it sees the resistance of the coils in the shoe magnets, or perhaps the brake controller.

So I ordered a wireless set of trailer lights. It uses a 4 pin dongle, and I thought that might not draw enough current for the system to detect. So far I only tried this with the dongle in and the lights sitting on the passenger seat, but no trailer connected. In that configuration, the system works normally, with and without the marker lights. It does throw a few "trailer disconnected" messages on the display, notably every time you use a turn signal. But on the local interstate in rolling slow and go traffic, Blue Cruise worked normally. I did not try the lane change feature, it's one of those things where the automation is problematic unless it knows you are twice the normal length with a trailer, so this feature should be considered unusable anyway.

I'm hoping that there isn't more to the "trailer detection" system. The magnetic mounts for the wireless trailer lights are pretty useless on the aluminum trailer, so will drill a couple holes and test over the weekend and get a preliminary read on this. Next week, I have almost a 1000 mile trip, and will know more for sure.

Yes I agree this is most likely a liability and not a capability issue. My 22 Maverick does not disable this feature when towing and it really works great.

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