Ford adds on-board scales and new active suspension to 2021 F150 in the summer

[tnelson]

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2021/04/28/f-150-adds-class-exclusive-tech-with-onboard-scales-to-simplify-.html

This summer, the all-new 2021 Ford F-150 will debut available Onboard Scales which estimate cargo weight in real time and indicate capacity three different ways

Class-exclusive available Smart Hitch measures tongue weight to help customers properly hitch up and reduce the possibility of trailer sway when towing

Available continuously controlled damping improves ride and handling on- and off-road, especially in towing situations and also provide pothole mitigation technology


looks interesting, especially since I will be in the market next fall for a new truck.

Tom

 

[Ynot4me2]

Interesting, Ford is pushing a lot of tech in this generation.

 

[NB Canada]

How much you want to bet it is only available on the top tier truck which has marginal payload to begin with
Might be neat but unnecessary once set up to camp

Can’t wait to see Fords on the highway with their taillights flashing


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Txfivver]

That is pretty cool tech, kudos Ford. Wonder what the lights do when somebody drops a Solitude or Reflection in the bed lol. Them taillights will look like a strobe light !

 

[That 1 Ron]

Big brother is watching!

Yeah, I get it, we should never overload our trucks or tow more than they‘re rated for or drive above the posted speed limits.

I do see this tech as a very useful tool but I can just imagine Ford trying to wiggle out of warranty coverage based on what I’m supposedly towing or how I’m loaded. I would really want to check out how this information is possibly collected, stored, shared, and recovered. If the truck does sense it’s overloaded, will it still drive, is it de-rated, does it tattle on you? I‘ve had my battles with Ford over warranty issues on my 2012 f150 ecoboost and they will put more effort into trying to deny a warranty claim than what it would take to just fix the truck.

 

[NB Canada]

Big brother is watching!

Yeah, I get it, we should never overload our trucks or tow more than they‘re rated for or drive above the posted speed limits.

I do see this tech as a very useful tool but I can just imagine Ford trying to wiggle out of warranty coverage based on what I’m supposedly towing or how I’m loaded. I would really want to check out how this information is possibly collected, stored, shared, and recovered. If the truck does sense it’s overloaded, will it still drive, is it de-rated, does it tattle on you? I‘ve had my battles with Ford over warranty issues on my 2012 f150 ecoboost and they will put more effort into trying to deny a warranty claim than what it would take to just fix the truck.

I can guarantee you this has nothing to do with denying warranty work


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Wileykid]

I can guarantee you this has nothing to do with denying warranty work


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

RAM auto leveling system, if it detects an overload, will flag it in the ECM. They can use that to deny warranty work (some of that justified), do you think Ford thinks any different?

I think it is a good system, but I have no doubt, if possible, Ford will use the info to deny stuff.

 

[NB Canada]

RAM auto leveling system, if it detects an overload, will flag it in the ECM. They can use that to deny warranty work (some of that justified), do you think Ford thinks any different?

I think it is a good system, but I have no doubt, if possible, Ford will use the info to deny stuff.

What is going to fail from an overload anyway ?

I have worked at car dealerships all my life and we never thought this way

If that was the case every vehicle would have stuff recorded to deny warranty. G forces, braking, acceleration,rpms etc. I guarantee Ford wouldn’t be denying warranty at the dealer level


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[jleonard]

Must work similar to the "Better Weigh" system that plugs into the OBD port?
The article said it was estimated weight.

 

[NB Canada]

Must work similar to the "Better Weigh" system that plugs into the OBD port?
The article said it was estimated weight.

Quite positive it is more sophisticated than that
Just need a sensor on the frame


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[JKellerJr]

What is going to fail from an overload anyway ?

I guarantee Ford wouldn’t be denying warranty at the dealer level


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

When my dads F350 was having shuddering issues from towing under power the first thing he had to do was prove his fifth wheel wasn't over the payload of the truck before they would fix the issue (driveshaft alignment was the issue). Which I don't have any issue with, Its the main reason for those numbers IMO. If I decide to exceed them than its not on them. But with that and the way they didn't want to warranty the POS 6.0 powerstroke. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find they would track that and use it to deny warranty.

 

[NB Canada]

When my dads F350 was having shuddering issues from towing under power the first thing he had to do was prove his fifth wheel wasn't over the payload of the truck before they would fix the issue (.

Ummm
Dealerships rely heavily on return business Warranty work doesn’t cost a dealer anything and gains them satisfied customers

When doing warranty work we never had to contact the manufacturer to get authorization so we didn’t ever deny a customer. That would really make most very angry and go elsewhere. Not good for business

How did he prove it btw?


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[JKellerJr]

Ummm
Dealerships rely heavily on return business Warranty work doesn’t cost a dealer anything and gains them satisfied customers

When doing warranty work we never had to contact the manufacturer to get authorization so we didn’t ever deny a customer. That would really make most very angry and go elsewhere. Not good for business

How did he prove it btw?


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

He had to take it to the scales and have it weighed.

I can't answer for your experience but ours, at least with ford, has been different. We had a good relationship with the dealer and don't believe they were behind it at all. As you say they have no motivation to not do warranty work

 

[That 1 Ron]

It’s good to hear there’s still good and honest dealerships out there. I purchased my f150 out of state but obviously used close dealership service centers when my truck needed repairs. I think this may have affected the overall outcome of my many experiences with multiple dealers in my state. Initially, my experiences were mostly good but towards the end with that truck they just spit out excuse after excuse why my truck was doing this or that. At one point, my truck was running terrible but according to the dealership, it was running ok because there was no CEL on. Ok fine, I told them to appraise it and I’ll trade it in on a new ford. They lowballed me because it wasn’t running right so that deal didn’t happen lol. With all the excuses I heard, I wouldn’t put it past ford to try and wiggle out of warranty claims if the weight actually gets recorded.

However, after further reading about these features, it seems this only works if the user enters some information about the trailer or load. So I’m guessing that if no setup is performed, the truck (or ford) might not have any idea how heavy a load or trailer actually is.