Ford F-450 (2017 year). Manual — part 62

Setting up a Blind Spot Trailer

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Trailer length

A

Trailer width

B

Trailer hitch ball

C

You can set-up any trailer to work with the
Blind Spot Information System with Trailer
Tow through the instrument cluster menu.
See General Information (page 111).
While setting up a trailer, a sequence of
screens appear asking for trailer
information. The Blind Spot Information
System with Trailer Tow specific screens
are described below:

•

Select type of trailer screen -
Conventional, fifth wheel or gooseneck.

The Blind Spot Information System with
Trailer Tow only supports conventional
trailers. If fifth wheel or gooseneck is
selected, the system automatically turns
off.

•

Do you want to set up BLIS with trailer
screen?

If no, the Blind Spot Information System
turns off.

If yes, the menu goes to the next screen.

•

Is the width less than 9 ft (2.7 m) and
length less than 30 ft (9 m)?

If no, the Blind Spot Information System
turns off.

If yes, the menu goes to the next screen.

•

Trailer width measurement:

The width of the trailer is measured at the
front of the trailer. It is not measured at the
widest point of the trailer. The maximum
width at the front of the trailer that the
Blind Spot Information System with Trailer
Tow can support is 8.5 ft (2.6 m).

Note: You do not need to enter an exact
trailer width measurement; just measure
that it is 8.5 ft (2.6 m) or less.

•

Trailer length measurement:

The trailer length is the distance between
the trailer hitch ball and the rear of the
trailer. The maximum length that the Blind
Spot Information System with Trailer Tow
can support is 30 ft (9 m).

•

Enter length of trailer:

The default setting is 18 ft (5.5 m).
Toggling up or down using the menu
buttons will increase/decrease the
measurement by 3 ft (1 m). Select the
length so that the value is equal to or
within 3 ft (1 m) of the actual measured
length. For example, if the actual measured
length is 25 ft (7.6 m), then toggle the
length in the menu to 27 ft (8.2 m). When
the length has been entered, the Blind Spot
Information System with Trailer Tow setup
is saved.

If you do not set up a Blind Spot Trailer, a
warning appears in the instrument cluster
when a trailer is connected stating that the
system has been turned off due to a trailer
connect.

Note: If the trailer is actually a bike rack or
cargo rack with electrical lighting, then the
length will be 3 ft (1 m). Cross Traffic Alert
will remain on for trailers 3 ft (1 m) or less.

Note: Proper measurement and
measurement entry is required for Blind
Spot Information System with Trailer Tow
to function as designed.

System Operation

If you select a trailer in the display screen
prior to connecting the trailer, the system
will load that configuration and the
information cluster displays a message
when the trailer is connected. A second
message appears stating Cross Traffic
Alert has been turned off; the Blind Spot
Information System with Trailer Tow still
functions normally when driving forward.

If no trailer has been set up and a trailer is
connected, the instrument cluster provides
a message indicating a trailer is connected
followed by a message asking to select a
trailer from the existing list of trailers or to
add a trailer. In order for the Blind Spot
Information System with Trailer Tow to
function, an existing trailer must be
selected or a new trailer must be added. If
the request is ignored or if you exit the
screen, a message appears prompting you
that the system has been turned off due
to a trailer connect. This message may not
appear until your vehicle speed reaches
22 mph (35 km/h).

The Blind Spot Information System with
Trailer Tow activates when driving forward
for that particular trailer set up. If the
ignition is cycled, the Blind Spot
Information System with Trailer Tow
continues to function using the last trailer
selected.

Trailer Considerations

The Blind Spot Information System with
Trailer Tow is designed to work with any
trailer whose front width is 8.5 ft (2.6 m)
or less and total length from the trailer
hitch ball to the rear of the trailer is 30 ft
(9 m) or less. Different trailers may cause
a slight change in performance as outlined
below.

Large box trailers may cause false alerts
to trigger when driving next to buildings or
near parking cars. A false alert may also
occur while making a 90-degree turn.

Trailers that are 8.5 ft (2.6 m) wide at the
front and have a total length greater than
20 ft (6 m) may have delayed alerts from
passing vehicles when the vehicle is
passing at high speed.

A box trailer whose front width is 8.5 ft
(2.6 m) may cause early alerts when you
are over taking a vehicle.

When towing a clam shell or V-Nose box
trailer with a front width of 8.5 ft (2.6 m),
delayed alerts on merging vehicles that are
traveling the same speed as your vehicle
may occur.

System Errors

If the system senses a problem with the
left or right sensor, the telltale illuminates
and a message appears in the display
screen. See Information Messages
(page 128).

Switching the System Off and On

You can temporarily switch the Blind Spot
Information System off in the display
screen. See General Information (page
111). When the Blind Spot Information
System switches off, you do not receive
alerts and the display screen shows a
system off message. The telltale in the
cluster also illuminates. When you switch
the Blind Spot Information System on or
off, the alert indicators flash twice.

Note: The Blind Spot Information System
remembers the last selected on or off
setting.

You can also have the Blind Spot
Information System switched off
permanently at an authorized dealer. Once
switched off permanently, the system can
only be switched back on at an authorized
dealer.

CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT

(If

Equipped)

WARNING

Never use the Cross Traffic Alert
system as a replacement for using
the interior and exterior mirrors and

looking over your shoulder before backing
out of a parking space. Cross Traffic Alert
is not a replacement for careful driving.

Note: When a trailer is detected, Cross
Traffic Alert automatically turns off.

Cross Traffic Alert is designed to warn you
of vehicles approaching from the sides
when the transmission is in reverse (R).

Using the System

Cross Traffic Alert turns on when you start
the engine and you shift into reverse (R).
Once shifted out of reverse (R), Cross
Traffic Alert turns off.

Cross Traffic Alert is designed to detect
vehicles that approach the rear of your
vehicle with a speed up to 37 mph
(60 km/h). Coverage decreases when the
sensors are partially, mostly or fully
obstructed. Reversing slowly helps
increase the coverage area and
effectiveness.

In this first example, the left sensor is only
partially obstructed; zone coverage to the
right is nearly maximized.

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Zone coverage also decreases when
parking at shallow angles. Here, the left
sensor is mostly obstructed; zone coverage
on that side is severely limited.

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System Lights, Messages and
Audible Alerts

E142442

The Cross Traffic Alert illuminates an
amber alert indicator in the outside mirror
on the side of your vehicle the approaching
vehicle is coming from. Cross Traffic Alert
also sounds an audible alert and a
message appears in the display screen
indicating a vehicle is coming from the right
or left. Cross Traffic Alert works with the
reverse sensing system that sounds its own
series of tones. See Rear Parking Aid
(page 231).

E231384

The system uses radar sensors that are
located in the tail lamp on each side of
your vehicle. Do not allow mud, snow or
bumper stickers to obstruct these areas,
this can cause degraded system
performance. See Blind Spot
Information System (page 249). If the
Blind Spot Information System is blocked,
Cross Traffic Alert is also blocked. A Cross
Traffic Alert blocked message appears in
the display screen when the transmission
is shifted into reverse (R).