Ford Demonstrates Trailer Sway Control for 2011 Super Duty

Posted by Mike Levine | April 6, 2010

Given the increasing trailer-towing capabilities of full-size pickups, one of the most notable new safety features introduced in recent years is trailer sway control, as demonstrated in a video from Ford.

Trailer sway is a dangerous condition that causes a trailer to fishtail back and forth while it’s being towed. It’s typically caused by improper weight distribution of the load carried on a trailer, either too far back or too much to one side. If not controlled, it can pull a truck and trailer off the road.

In 2009, Dodge and Ford introduced trailer sway control on their new light-duty pickups. In the Dodge Ram 1500, its stability control system was enhanced to automatically counteract unintended trailer motion by using the truck’s antilock braking and traction control systems to apply individual wheel brakes and/or reduce engine power. It works by asymmetrically applying brake pressure on the tow vehicle’s opposite side to counteract sway.

The Ford F-150 uses a more sophisticated trailer sway control system. By taking advantage of its integrated trailer-brake controller and roll stability control, the F-150 can apply both its own brakes and a trailer’s electric brakes without the driver's intervention to stop sway when the vehicle senses excessive rear yaw input from the trailer.

For 2011, Ford has added trailer sway control to the new F-Series Super Duty pickup, something that the current 2010 Ram HD and 2010 GM HD pickups don’t offer. It works similar to the F-150’s system.

Ford’s demo video shows the trailer sway control being used for the new Super Duty and compares it to the competition.

Trailer sway control isn’t expected for Ram HD pickups until the 2012 model year, when federal law calls for all cars and light trucks to offer stability control as standard equipment. The new 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra HD pickups that are scheduled to go on sale this summer will have trailer sway control standard.

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Comments

OK. I will do that for you. Look at video at 1 minute 13 seconds, where the post beside the road is on Silverado video and Ford video. Ford passes this post at 1munute 13 seconds. One second later then Silverado. One second is 17 meters or 55 feet at 40mph.
This is just one example. There is at least 20 more, but I don't have more time. I have to work now. This case is closed for me. I was thinking about ford truck, but not anymore. RAM wins.

Posted by: Zviera | Apr 7, 2010 12:21:19 PM

Look at the road structure at 1 minute 26 seconds.
Silverado and RAM is going definitely faster. Press pause to see that difference.
Case closed.

Posted by: Zviera | Apr 7, 2010 12:27:34 PM

@ smtrthnu " theres not a thing ford has copied off Dodege" Factory installed exhuast brake comes to mind also extended cab trucks that have the extra mini door that opens after the front door is opened. I'm sure there are probablty others. Imitaion is the sincerest form of flatery. It doesn't matter to me who came up with an idea first what matters is who does it better. Would you buy an Atari over a PS3 because the Atari came first, therefore is better?

@ Keith Automatics have clutches. They have lots of clutches. The 4 spd automatic in the older Dodge diesles had about 15 and 2 bands. How else do you get the power to flow through a tranny. My point is manuals are better because they are simpler, less parts, no hydralics, no electronics (except nuetral safty and reverse lamp switches). A manual tranny properly shifted will last damn near forever. Everytime an automatic shifts it wears out, little by little, a slow death. Every shift causes clutches to apply (or release), everytime they apply they slip a little. You guys out there thinking that 6,7, and 8 speeds are the way to go. More gears = more shifting. More shifting = more waer and tear.

Posted by: Jordan | Apr 7, 2010 12:29:21 PM

i think the chevy and the dodge are going faster??

Posted by: billiejoe | Apr 7, 2010 12:35:52 PM

Yeah, it must be Ford marketing propaganda and nothing more. *rolls eyes* It must be some damn good propaganda and advertising though. It has already convinced GM and Ram into feeling they need to add the same feature to their HD trucks by later on in the 2011 MY and no later than the 2012 MY.

Posted by: Keith | Apr 7, 2010 1:02:31 PM

Maybe they just discovered in this test, that it doesn't help at higher speed at all. That's why they slow down ford in it, to show people, what they wanted to show them before this testing.

Posted by: Zviera | Apr 7, 2010 1:15:14 PM

Hey Mike Levine, Clear something up for me..You guys posted sayin Ford SD was rated at 380 HP n 735 PFT. Now I'm seeing 390 HP 735 and Diesel power magazines says the same thing, so what the right answer here?? So the 2011 Silverado n GMC Duramax will be 397 HP n 765 PFT... By the way now Chevy saying that there 2011 HD is the only Truck with fully box frame and Ford F-250 n 350 isn't now that's a Lie.. So how about the Truth here.. Thanks!!!

Posted by: RLM | Apr 7, 2010 1:21:42 PM

@Randy: We never said 380 hp. It's 390 hp. Here's the original story: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/02/ford-announces-2011-super-duty-engine-power-towing-and-hauling-numbers.html

Both GM and Ram HD trucks have boxed frames. Super Duty is open C-channel.

Posted by: Mike Levine | Apr 7, 2010 1:36:58 PM

Wrong again. Ford had the Supercab door first on the 1995 model f150 which had 3 doors and a 4th came a few years later.

As for the video It doesn't matter who is going faster what matters is was there a second shooter on the grassy knoll.

Posted by: smtrthnu | Apr 7, 2010 2:55:55 PM

First off ford did copy the front end design of the Dodge! Yes the chevy had a sloped hood but nothing like what dodge designed in 1994. Remeber when dodge came out with the white gauges guess who copied that to! And the exhaust brake? but that wont matter because the fords eb cant be turned off and on like the cummins. They all copy each other.

Did anybody else notice that the dodge didnt have any oil pressure in the torque test? Hmm smells funny!

Anyway i drive an 08 F250 Ps now and i can still make out that this test is bogus!

Posted by: brandon507 | Apr 7, 2010 3:05:47 PM

It smells funny cuz you are a conspiracy theorist and have no facts to back up anything. You own a 08 F250 which has just been outdated by the 2011. It makes perfect sense that you bash the new one so you could feel good about your old outdated truck.

Posted by: Sean | Apr 7, 2010 3:28:36 PM

No i am not bashing anything! I just dont think tests from the OEM company are going to be fair no matter who does them (i.e. ford, chevy, or dodge).

I hope the new ford powertrain does well. Especially with the diesel track record they have now!

Im not biased to any particular truck. There all good in certain areas. It will be interesting to see an independant test with the 2011 GM, and hopefully they will revamp the cummins soon.

Posted by: brandon507 | Apr 7, 2010 3:45:43 PM

another ford exaggerations. u can clearly see the tug of steering to the left by the ram to induce the sway. every ford test have been a set-up.

Posted by: ric | Apr 7, 2010 4:27:52 PM

For all of you who believe the other two trucks are going faster based on the road signs, there is simply no way to determine road speed unless they show us the actual speeds.

Also, has anyone ever heard of corrective steering? Or should the drivers just taken their hands off the wheel and let the trailers jackknife and possibly cause an accident?

You can complain all you want about the findings but GM and Dodge can easily refute this if they so choose. Untill someone like Pickuptrucks.com does an independent study I won't believe too much of what any one company says about their trucks.

Kinda like how the Domino's Pizza add shows that when asked Papa Johns claim to having the freshest toppins wasn't really the truth, but they say it to sell pizza's

Posted by: Bishop | Apr 7, 2010 5:22:42 PM

Ford is not going to run a commercial that will make their trucks look bad, unlike GM, with Howie Long!

Posted by: Lou | Apr 7, 2010 9:51:04 PM

I drive a Chevy and I'd buy another one, but I have to hand it to Ford, they were the first ones to integrate the trailer brake controller (why wasn't that done 20 years ago???) and now this. I don't have sway issues, ever, but if a load shifted or maybe I had too much crap in the trunk of the car on the trailer I guess there could be a problem. Credit where credit is due.

Posted by: Brian Burdette | Apr 8, 2010 5:23:04 AM

This just in. Sorry Mike if Im stepping on posts

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/1006_2011_ford_f250_2010_ram_2500_comparison/index.html

Posted by: smtrthnu | Apr 8, 2010 10:42:34 AM

'This just in. Sorry Mike if Im stepping on posts

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/1006_2011_ford_f250_2010_ram_2500_comparison/index.html." smtrthnu

Ford Super Duty King of Pulling Power. Cummuns got owned.

Posted by: Frank | Apr 8, 2010 12:02:44 PM

How is it that a powertrain that is 4 yrs old got spanked by a brand new drive train? motortrend showed the quarter mile with the ram winning. And losing the loaded time by .03 seconds! id say that was pretty close.

Ya and look at the mpg's! lot closer than ford would have you believe in their test!

Posted by: brandon507 | Apr 8, 2010 3:29:13 PM

Ford trounced the Ram in comfort, ride, ergonomics. 'Nuff said.

Posted by: Frank | Apr 9, 2010 5:56:37 PM

How about this test with a dual rear wheel truck?
How about a triple axle trailer?

Maybe a four wheel drive pickup, if you can find one?
Most '4x4' pickups do not have a center differential. They are not to be used on pavement.
Don't say that center differentials are not durable enough, see the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, and Audi Q7 V12 diesel.

The added rear lateral traction will improve stability.

Ford's point, unsaid, is that they will protect you from yourself.
The only technical merit is that Ford's sway mitigation system utilizes the trailer's brakes.
but for how long will it have that advantage?

Posted by: George | Apr 12, 2010 11:50:24 AM

Hey,

I've got a 2008 Ford SuperDuty F-350 with the 6.4 diesel. I just took it to Arizona and back with a trailer carrying a Kubota tractor/backhoe and got about 10 mpg. The rig traveled great, and we never had any trouble with pulling.

Here locally, I've taken the dump trailer to the stone yard, and pulled off their scale with 21,000 lbs gross after loading up with crusher run. When pulling away from a stop light going up a steep hill, it uses a LOT of fuel, but it pulls strong and makes speed in a reasonable way.

This is one strong truck. I've always preferred diesels, and have driven both M-B and VW sedans for many years. The F-350 diesel is a great truck. I've had some work done since I bought the truck, a new power steering pump, and while working on that they found a radiator leaking that they replaced. My cost? $0 under warranty.

On the farm and in construction, the F-350 has done everything we've asked it to. Would I prefer better fuel mileage? Sure, but not at the expense of power to pull that load.

Smitty in WV

Posted by: smitty | Apr 12, 2010 10:47:00 PM

if people knew how to load a trailer it wouldnt b a problem at all but instead anybody can hook up that is the dangerous part pretty bad the vehicle manufacturers have to try to fix stupid oh and notice how trailer brakes were a big part well it should be a law i have an 84 f350 and tow almost everyday trailer nevers sways for me and i certainly dont have an advanced trailer sway control people should have to pass a test and have a certification to pull/own a trailer i would take it to keep the roads safer

Posted by: nobrien13 | Apr 25, 2010 7:28:41 PM

EVERY BODY IS JUST MAD BECAUSE FORD BUILT ANOTHER GREAT TRUCK BUY A CHEV OR DODGE THEY CANT EVEN BUILD A TRUCK WITHOUT US TAX PAYERS PAYING FOR IT GO FORD ALL I WILL EVER BUY OR HAVE OWNED

Posted by: Jeremy Loucks | Jun 8, 2010 8:35:57 PM

Its not obvious at all the the dodge driver was swerving on purpose or anything. If they new that the dodge was going to be swerving, why did they start out side by side? Kinda ignorant.

Posted by: Meow | Sep 27, 2010 8:53:55 AM

All you Chevy and Dodge owners are so cute when you get mad. LOL

Posted by: The Bard | Feb 26, 2011 8:58:08 PM