Blind spot sensors when pulling a trailer

[JonB]

I have a 2019 XLT pulling a Rockwood 2014s Mini Lite trailer that is 8 feet wide and 22 feet long. The manual says the sensors will work with a trailer up to 8.2 feet wide and 33 feet long. I have adjusted the settings in the truck for the trailer's width and length. It appears that the trailer is blocking the sensors in the taillights and they aren't registering until the passing vehicle is almost half way up the length of the trailer. Anyone else have this problem and, if so, a solution?

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[KJRR]

I've noticed that when towing my 20ft boat. the vehicle next to me wouldn't be 1/2 way up but definitely the mirror didn't light up until it was next to the boat. If I depended on the light instead of my mirrors and a shoulder check, I'd hit it. I thought about increasing the length setting to see if that made a difference but always forgot until I was underway. 8ft wide is pretty close to the max for the sensors and maybe if the front of the trailer is too close to the taillights they aren't able to 'see' any further back. I'd try adjusting the trailer length setting and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Frenchy]

Something to remember is that the blind spot indicator it's very when the vehicle is in your blind spot. I think a lot of people tend to forget that. It's not an indicator to say hey the vehicle that's right next to you you can now get in front of. You still have to has good judgment in order to do that.

Hope this helps

 

[JonB]

KJRR - Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll try adjusting the length of the trailer in the truck’s settings to see if that makes any differrence.

Frenchy - I’m not sure I understand your post. I teach motorcycle safety classes and know about doing a “head check” before moving into another lane. The blind spot indicator is just a helpful aid and it would be nice if it worked with my trailer.

 

[Frenchy]

KJRR - Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll try adjusting the length of the trailer in the truck’s settings to see if that makes any differrence.

Frenchy - I’m not sure I understand your post. I teach motorcycle safety classes and know about doing a “head check” before moving into another lane. The blind spot indicator is just a helpful aid and it would be nice if it worked with my trailer.

Think about it this way. When you don't have your trailer pay attention to where a vehicle will be when it first enters your blind spot. When it enters your blind spot the indicator lights up and chances are you can barely see the vehicle in mirrors. Lettuce what blind spot indicator does. Oh now you have a bigger trailer? Well I in an area that you might not be able to see well here's where the blind spot indicator will be lighting up. The concept stays the same no matter what you do. Even though it is a helpful Aid for finding out if you're ahead of the person just enough to get over you still need to have good judgment of a fair distance in order to get over instead of taking that person out with your trailer or vehicle. Does that make more sense?

 

[geophb]

Define blind spot, I think is the real question. And I think what Frenchy is getting at.

Is the vehicle thats part way up the trailer in your "blind spot" per se, as far as the truck is concerned? Its not an "if the lights not on then I can change lanes" indicator.
Hope I explained good enough. Was not intended as an insult of any sort.

Bottom line, if the sensor is blocked by the trailer it wont operate as intended.

 

[JonB]

Guys - Let’s first confirm the purpose of the blind spot indicator. From the Owners Manual:

“The system is designed to detect vehicles that may have entered the blind spot zone. The detection area is on both sides of your vehicle, extending rearward from the exterior mirrors to approximately 13 ft (4 m) beyond the rear bumper.”

So yes, if the lights not on I could change lanes. But, as I’ve already mentioned, being an instructor I know to do a “head check”, looking into the other lane, before moving. So I use the blind spot indicator as an aid, not the sole factor in deciding to change lanes. Having it operating correctly with the trailer behind me is therefore helpful.

Frenchy - Are you using software error correction, because some of what you’ve typed doesn’t make sense: “Lettuce what blind spot indicator does.”. Go back and read your post. I’d like to understand what you’re saying.

 

[Frenchy]

Guys - Let’s first confirm the purpose of the blind spot indicator. From the Owners Manual:

“The system is designed to detect vehicles that may have entered the blind spot zone. The detection area is on both sides of your vehicle, extending rearward from the exterior mirrors to approximately 13 ft (4 m) beyond the rear bumper.”

So yes, if the lights not on I could change lanes. But, as I’ve already mentioned, being an instructor I know to do a “head check”, looking into the other lane, before moving. So I use the blind spot indicator as an aid, not the sole factor in deciding to change lanes. Having it operating correctly with the trailer behind me is therefore helpful. It was supposed to say "that is what blind spot indicator does". Does that clear things up for you?

Frenchy - Are you using software error correction, because some of what you’ve typed doesn’t make sense: “Lettuce what blind spot indicator does.”. Go back and read your post. I’d like to understand what you’re saying.

LOL so that was my talk-to-text messing up. It tends to do that from time to time. And I usually don't catch it in time either.

 

[geophb]

Guys - Let’s first confirm the purpose of the blind spot indicator. From the Owners Manual:

“The system is designed to detect vehicles that may have entered the blind spot zone. The detection area is on both sides of your vehicle, extending rearward from the exterior mirrors to approximately 13 ft (4 m) beyond the rear bumper.”

So yes, if the lights not on I could change lanes. But, as I’ve already mentioned, being an instructor I know to do a “head check”, looking into the other lane, before moving. So I use the blind spot indicator as an aid, not the sole factor in deciding to change lanes. Having it operating correctly with the trailer behind me is therefore helpful.

Frenchy - Are you using software error correction, because some of what you’ve typed doesn’t make sense: “Lettuce what blind spot indicator does.”. Go back and read your post. I’d like to understand what you’re saying.

I wasn't saying you don't know how to drive. Just pointing that out.

Looks to be operating as intended.

 

[JonB]

Looks to be operating as intended.
[/QUOTE]
No, it's not. Note in the diagram that the "detection area" goes to the end of trailer. On my vehicle the detection area begins about midway down the trailer. In other words, the passing vehicle is around the middle of my trailer before the light goes on, making it useless for passing purposes. My original post was to see if there was a way to get the indicator to work as described in the manual as you've posted.

 

[Obijack]

@JonB Only thing that can be done is extend the length of the trailer setting on the dash. Obviously it will work differently with different trailers. But there is really no other advice to be given for this issue.

 

[geophb]

Looks to be operating as intended.

No, it's not. Note in the diagram that the "detection area" goes to the end of trailer. On my vehicle the detection area begins about midway down the trailer. In other words, the passing vehicle is around the middle of my trailer before the light goes on, making it useless for passing purposes. My original post was to see if there was a way to get the indicator to work as described in the manual as you've posted.
[/QUOTE]

Thats probably due to your trailer blocking the sensor till half way back. 33ft trailer is way bigger than what the manual has pictured, obviously. I kno the manual says sensor detects up 59ft or so. But a blocked sensor is a blocked sensor.
You could try extending the trailer length like @Obijack said. But if its actually blocked then detection location wont change.

Even if it worked exactly as the manual pictures to the T, you would still clip bumpers changing lanes occasionally.

Just tryin to help.

 

[JonB]

OK guys, thanks for all the input. Just to be clear, my trailer is 22' long, not 33'. I will try extending the trailer length in the truck settings, but, since the sensors in the taillights appeared to be blocked by the trailer, this likely won't change anything.

The stock mirrors aren't a lot of help since they don't stick out far enough to see to the end of the trailer. I've tried a couple aftermarket trailer mirrors that strap to the stock mirrors. None worked well or stayed on securely. I'm waiting for a rreasonably priced set secure of trailer mirrors for the truck to show up. In the meantime, my rear view monitor camera does give me a view of the lanes behind me so that, and good old common sense, will have to do.

 

[JonB]

I brought the trailer back from the dealer yesterday. I increased the trailer length setting in the truck to 33'. No change in the blind spot indicator's response. Clearly, the trailer is blocking the sensor and it doesn't pick up the passing vehicle until it's cleared most of the trailer's length.

Now, if the aftermarket could produce some good, secure trailer mirrors for the Ranger.

 

[Rviator]

No listing for a Ranger yet but these are interesting. Maybe send them the latest Ranger sales figures? Heck they are based in Australia.
https://www.clearviewmirrorsusa.com

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