Copilot 360 and trailer towing

[Birdman]

When towing my trailer and activating Copilot360 the steering cycles quickly left and right until the trailer starts to sway. It doesn't matter if anti-sway is or is not activated in settings. The trailer weighs 7500lbs and the back of the truck drops 4 inches when attached, and is equipped with antisway hitch. Has anybody experienced this problem? Would airbags bring it back into specs? Copilot360 works great otherwise and I love it.

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[dhrandy]

That's the lane assist, you could just turn it off (button on steering wheel). If you go near the line it's going to turn you back to the center.

 

[Birdman]

Yes, I am aware of that. It would basically turn of copilot360 and all you would have is cruise control. It's the steering assist I want for almost hands-free driving which just cycles left and right.

 

[DT400]

If your squating 4" when your trailer is hooked up you need a load leveling hitch not just a sway bar. Too little weight is left on your steer axle and most of you braking happens there too.

Darrell

 

[Birdman]

That could be it, the front end feels lighter than when no trailer is attached, Thanks for the advice.

 

[Birdman]

Would air bag do the trick, I hate to buy a new hitch after spending $500 on the one I got?

 

[DT400]

Would air bag do the trick, I hate to buy a new hitch after spending $500 on the one I got?

Not properly no. A load equalizing also sometimes called a load leveling hitch actually uses spring bars to force the front of the pickup down while lifting up the rear. If you look at the way it's designed it'll make more sense. All airbags will do is lift rear end up but won't take any of the weight off of the rear. You need to transfer weight from the rear to the front so the truck is more balanced ie equalized.

$500 sounds like the cost of a load equalizing hitch I wonder if you're just not loading the spring bars properly. Can you post a pic?

Darrell

 

[UGADawg96]

Are you using a weight distribution hitch and what is your tongue weight ? Also, what is your payload ? Just wondering if you're overweight with a platinum PB.

 

[Birdman]

Ok, Thanks to everyone for your ideas. I had just moved the hitch from one vehicle to the f150. I am going back through the installation instructions and then do a test drive. The f150 powerboost is rated for 11,000lbs towing and the trailer is 7400lbs with a hitch weight of 800lbs.

 

[maecomotorsport]

At first I also experienced the steering induced trailer sway, even with a WDH. It is flat out dangerous. The bad news is that the Ford F-150 owners manual specifically states not to use Lane Centering while towing. The better news is that the sway can be mitigated with anti sway devices. I changed the hitch to an Eaz-lift R6 WDH with built in dynamic sway control. Dynamic sway control consists of twin spring loaded balls sitting in matching pockets when traveling straight, but are pushed against the spring pressure as the trailer misaligned from the truck when in countering sway or when turning. To that I added two friction style sway control rods, one on each side of the hitch. That all adds up to enough sway control to use Lane Centering even with hands off the wheel.

 

[Pedaldude]

There's other accounts of lane centering causing trailer sway, it's thought to be something like pilot induced oscillation where the natural frequency of the truck/trailer combo isn't compatible with the micro adjustments that lane centering constantly makes. So the swaying that normally dampens itself out, instead is amplified.

While some have used lane centering and a trailer, it is stated in the manual not to use lane centering while towing. Which sucks, since the main reason I optioned lane centering was for towing.

I wouldn't be surprised if an OTA update is made that would disable lane centering when the trailer plug is being used.

 

[Birdman]

Interesting that you got the Eaz-lift R6 wdh to work. I ordered a new receiver for my Anderson WDH since the ford receiver is lower than my old Ram 3500. I'll give it a try and if it doesn't work I will be really pissed. GMC said that their Super Cruise will work when pulling a trailer on the new Dinalli 1500. I hope Ford solves this before Blue Cruise is available. My trailer weighs 7400lbs with 800lbs hitch weight. What does your trailer weighs?

 

[machz]

Ok, Thanks to everyone for your ideas. I had just moved the hitch from one vehicle to the f150. I am going back through the installation instructions and then do a test drive. The f150 powerboost is rated for 11,000lbs towing and the trailer is 7400lbs with a hitch weight of 800lbs.

Is CoPilot360 even rated for towing ? I will have it some day when Ford updates those of us that have had the prep for over a year. I thought I read some where that CoPilot360 was not intended to be used while towing.

What is the length of your trailer I see two doors so I'm guessing close to 30' ? anything over 25' can be a little tricky with a 1/2 ton( giant billboard). What type of WDH do you have does it have Anti-sway? I have the Equalizer4 point and I'm dead level. I have a plat PB and a keystone 22MLS. I have put my setup on a Cat scale and I will tell you that most likely you are overweight. I have very little in my trailer that is 26'11". On the scale I am a little over 6400 Lbs and 831( about 13%) Hitch weight. Do the math with just my wife and I and absolutely nothing else in the cab or bed of the truck and I'm almost exactly at my Max payload.

I'm not trying to be the weight police, I'm just giving you an idea why you may see sway with CoPilot360. You are most likely at or over max payload so with 360 trying to fight the trailer that is most likely causing the sway.

 

[Birdman]

If I am reading this right the Powerboost is rated at around 2100lbs max payload. I can't see where I am over 1500lbs payload. Is this correct?

 

[pkinneb]

If I am reading this right the Powerboost is rated at around 2100lbs max payload. I can't see where I am over 1500lbs payload. Is this correct?

That may be for a certain model/spec but most I have seen come in closer to 1400# look at the yellow sticker on your drivers door it will tell you what it is for your truck.

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