Car News

New Ford Ranger to Offer Trailer Blind Spot Warning

Ford has revealed the forthcoming Ranger mid-size pickup truck will offer an enhanced towing-friendly version of its blind spot information system that will cover the entire length of a truck-and-trailer combo.

Using radar sensors built into the Ranger's taillight housings, the blind spot monitoring system will watch for obstructions not just near the back corners of the truck, but all the way to the rear of the trailer.

Ranger owners can program three trailer profiles into the blind spot system, which include the trailer's length, and the truck uses that data to determine how far back it needs to watch for vehicles in adjacent lanes.

When driving without a trailer, the blind spot system also provides rear cross traffic alerts to ease reversing out of a parking spot, as is common for such setups.

Ford says the blind spot information system will be standard in Ranger's XLT and Lariat trim levels.