backing up with the tailgate down

[notfast]

Is it the camera causing it? Or the sensors on the bumper? I just assumed it was the sensors.

Unless the software has some sort of object recognition feature, I'd say it's the proximity sensors.

Ive got an xlt 360. The times ive gone with the tailgate down i dont get any beeps or warnings when going in reverse. Not sure if the lariat has some other features.

Again, my guess is the proximity sensors. My Nissan Frontier does the same thing, as it also has proximity sensors that are mounted on the rear bumper.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Ford really didn't think the placement though.

Or they decided that the number of times that someone is likely to reverse with the tailgate down wasn't often enough to bother engineering and fitting a better solution. Same goes for the backup camera mounted on the tailgate, which effectively just stares at the trailer hitch with the tailgate down.

I rented an '18 and a '19 F-150, both with rear proximity sensors. Whenever I shifted to reverse, the DIC had a message with "Parking Aid" and the ability to turn it on or off.

The sensors can't really be moved anywhere else since they need to be on the rearmost part of the vehicle that is possible. The most cost-effective method I can think of is to put a second set of sensors on the top of the tailgate, along with a pressure switch that gets pressed when the tailgate is in the fully-down position and another that is pressed when the tailgate is up and latched.

Top switch pressed? Then the tailgate is up. Use the bumper sensors. Bottom switch pressed? Then the tailgate is down, so use the tailgate sensors. Neither switch pressed? Then the tailgate is somewhere in between (like the mid position to line up with the wheel wells for 4x8 sheets). Activate a warning message on the DIC that says the proximity system is inactive due to the tailgate position.

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[Tking]

The manual says you can disable both the camera and parking aid when needed. Pages 207 - 212.

 

[olderbudwiser]

This seems like this would be a common problem but I haven't seen any threads on it. If I try backing up with my tailgate down it constantly screams at me like I'm about to hit something. Poor placement of sensors from Ford it seems. Anyone else?

Not been in a Maverick but my F150 has a reset button turns of rear sensor beeping till you go to drive.

 

[Aherpa]

This seems like this would be a common problem but I haven't seen any threads on it. If I try backing up with my tailgate down it constantly screams at me like I'm about to hit something. Poor placement of sensors from Ford it seems. Anyone else?

My 2012 Lariat does the same thing. It acts like I'm about to run into something. I don't know if the distance is computed via camera image or just how it works, but it seems related to 'distance from object' and when the tailgate is down, that driveway is way too close!

 

[spuds_mackenzie]

My 2012 Lariat does the same thing. It acts like I'm about to run into something. I don't know if the distance is computed via camera image or just how it works, but it seems related to 'distance from object' and when the tailgate is down, that driveway is way too close!

damn since 2012? FFS Ford. Such a simple problem to fix.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I wonder if your sensors see the tailgate down as if it itself is an object? Since I believe the sensor dots are in the bumper if I remember correctly. Kinda funny these jokes about all the bells and whistles. Definitely had a good laugh

Maybe the tailgate straps are too long and the sensor dots sees the tailgate as if it's falling?

 

[kw86er]

They make 90 deg camera lenses for phones. Might buy one and try to mock it up with a magnet or something. Would be helpful to see when backing up with the tailgate down.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3b/fe/ac/3bfeac4e2ba3a365e899500c58bee528.jpg

 

[MrHomeGuy]

There should be a switch to turn it off. My past Lariat had one. Waiting on my Maverick Lariat to check if to is the same.

 

[Micheal]

This seems like this would be a common problem but I haven't seen any threads on it. If I try backing up with my tailgate down it constantly screams at me like I'm about to hit something. Poor placement of sensors from Ford it seems. Anyone else?

I like bgillen35's idea of making a swivel thing, actually would only need to be a top hinge that gravity drops down. Note, no chips needed for this function. Still would be handy to have rear sight when backing up to a loading dock, etc.

 

[Gullzway]

https://tailgatemirror.com/products/tailgate-mirror-tgm500

 

[Oggy]

Sensors may be going off because that's how they were designed. Have you ever seen a pickup with a big dent in the top edge of the tailgate?

Tailgate is left down, driver backs into a post or pole... This way, the system annoys the crap out of you so you KNOW it's down.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Oh gosh, that would be horrible if it always assumed you'd be backing up into the trailer lol. This is smart, at least it sounds like it should work?

I think someone said it disabled when the trailer wire was plugged in but I haven't checked mine yet.

 

[Dad]

Since the rear cam is on the tailgate it makes sense that it's going to warn you of a nearby object (the ground) when you back up. On my Lariat, when that happens, I get a warning on my display which give me the option to turn it off. Keep in mind it returns to "On" when the tailgate is back up or when you restart the truck.

 

[desmobob]

Kinda funny these jokes about all the bells and whistles. Definitely had a good laugh

It's funny that the term has been around for a long time (Merriam-Webster says 1968) but with all the warnings and alerts in vehicles these days, it's more relevant than ever!

 

[desmobob]

The manual says you can disable both the camera and parking aid when needed. Pages 207 - 212.

I just read the section and didn't see anything about being able to turn of either feature. It did say you can turn down the volume of the warning using the audio system's volume control. Interesting.

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