Tow options question

[skates15]

Hello,
I'm considering a Limited, which has the brake controller added, but not the tow option, so I'm missing these items from the tow option:

• Trailer Light Check
• Trailer Reverse Steering Control
• Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System

It has been many, many years since owning a truck and of course none of these were available back in the day. How important are these missing items for the occasional towing of a small boat/small RV?

 

[TotallyHucked]

Depends on your skill and confidence level. Personally the only one of those I care about is the Trailer Light Check. But realistically, it's just a convenient gimmick, you can check trailer lights without it.

Definitely would never use the Trailer Reverse Steering Control, I know how to back a trailer up just fine.

And the trailer TPMS is another semi-useful gimmick but not truly necessary. You have to mount them in the wheels of the trailer and link them to the truck. So if you have more than one trailer, you'll need more than one set. Would be nice to know when a tire is going down before you're at the blowout point but if you regularly check your tires, it's not really necessary.

 

[Tulecreeper]

The only thing I find convenient is the trailer light check. Everything else, I can do myself.

 

[skates15]

Thanks for the replies. My confidence is so-so as its been a long time since towing and my wife has never driven a truck, or towed and this will be our only vehicle when retired (besides my convertible). The trailer reverse steering control may be useful for her, or myself, but I keep thinking that old school get out and waive arms method would work just as well. I'm assuming trailer light check could be added after market.

 

[crash68]

^^^ what they said
Unless your trailer has back up lights(which isn't very common), you can check all the trailer lights by turning on the running lights and the hazards.

 

[Tulecreeper]

^^^ what they said
Unless your trailer has back up lights(which isn't very common), you can check all the trailer lights by turning on the running lights and the hazards.

Very true. Most people I've talked to don't understand that your brake lights and hazard lights are the same. If the hazard lights work, so do your brakes. And if the regular taillight stays on in between hazard light blinks, then your running light work too. All you really need to do is make sure your turn signals aren't wired backwards.

 

[Papa Red]

You really don't need any of those goodies. Practice driving and backing it up before you head out into the traffic world and you will be fine.

Red

 

[BossHogg]

Backing a trailer is simple, put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go. The problem most have when first getting the feel for backing a trailer is oversteering.

 

[Riccochet]

The only option I'd be interested in is the trailer TPMS, so long as it monitored tire temp as well. When towing an RV it's better to know sooner if your trailer tires are losing pressure or heating up abnormally, rather than after a blow out which can cause extensive damage to the RV.

There are aftermarket kits that do this, so it's not a deal breaker.

 

[zrock]

All those things are just gimmicks and unless your wife has backed up a trailer before and is comfortable with it the backup camera will do nothing you still need to know how to back up..

 

[skates15]

Thanks all, I'm not missing anything and anything I want can be added later. Yes, I agree learning to backup without a camera is best because I don't want it to be a crutch for my wife.

 

[Riccochet]

I went years without a backup camera on my travel trailer. I installed a 3 camera system, one on back and two on front sides facing back. As good as my wife is at helping me back in to a camp site, she's not always in the right position that I can see her, and/or she's not paying attention to where the back of the trailer is swinging. Now, I can see a wide angle view of what's behind the trailer and to each side of it. And there are times where I'll take the camper out to the site a day early by myself. This makes backing in a breeze. Especially in the heavily wooded campgrounds we stay in where I'm threading the camper in between trees.

It's good to know the basics and be proficient at them. But at the same time technology makes life a whole lot easier.

 

[stdyrln]

Trailer tire monitors is the only thing i need to have but the aftermarket does it just as well- tire minder has alerts and temp which is worth it for me, i would rather have it chirp if i have one go down below a set level and or get hot letting me know i have an issue before it compounds into more.

 

[Ratman6161]

I know how to back up my trailer. But I still find the gadgetry makes my life easier. I would not consider a truck thar doesn't have the Towing Technology Package which includes the surround vision and the trailer reverse guidance. Hint: you don't have to be in reverse to turn on the reverse guidance. When moving forward slowly in tight spaces, it's really useful to be able to see down both sides of the trailer.

The surround vision is also really useful when not towing. Just pulling into my garage, between the truck being so high and me being on the short side I'm blind as far as being able to see my wife's car on the right. If I backed in, I'd have the same problem seeing my Corvette on the other side. Ditto trying to pull into tight spots in parking lots.

I have backup and side cameras on my trailer too. When the trailer is perfectly parked on the side of my house, the spare tire is a about 1 foot from a fence and it also has to be just the right distance from the house in order to get my slides out.

TThey're I use the technology, the more uses I find for it. Sure, I did all these things sucessfully before I had the tech, but it's now easier.

 

[Stavinksi]

I have the setup you describe. Brake controller; no other optional tow equipment. Manages the boat and equipment trailer just fine. Haven’t missed any of that yet.