Many drivers love the F-150 for its impressive towing figures. Whether you need to drag fun vessels like campers or trailers full of dirt bikes to Drayton Grant Park for some outdoor excursions, or you need to drag equipment and trailers to jobs around Dutchess County, it's tremendously helpful to have a truck like the F-150 that can transport some serious loads. If you've been searching for a used Ford F-150 for sale in Rhinebeck, visit us at Ruge's Ford. We have an extensive selection of this highly popular full-size, light-duty pickup. 

Given that the F-150 has been a best-seller in its class for nearly five decades, there's really no such thing as a bad year for this pickup. However, in its fifth generation and the very beginning of the current one, Ford really seemed to hone in on the towing and hauling powers of this truck. We say that because, in 2015, 2016, and 2021, Ford added trailering technology that truly changed the game. 

Many professionals and adventurers know that towing is tricky. Maneuvering a truck with a huge vessel behind it is never easy. Monitoring and commanding that vessel can be even harder. Ford sought to fix that issue, and they did a pretty great job at it by adding some innovative features. So below, we'll go over some of our favorite trailering perks in a used F-150 and which model years you can find them in.

Pro Trailer Hitch Assist: Since 2015

If you need to attach and detach different vessels to your truck for your daily tasks around Rhinebeck, then you know how frustrating it can be to try to perfectly align your hitch to it. Every inch you steer in the wrong direction becomes amplified somehow, placing your hitch further away from your trailer. Even the friendliest of spotters can lose their patience trying to direct you. 

In 2015, Ford eliminated this all-too-familiar nuisance by adding trailer hitch assist. It's a supplementary feature for the existing rearview camera that projects a dynamic line on your touchscreen based on your steering wheel inputs. So, put simply, it shows you which direction your truck is headed based on the direction of your steering wheel, allowing you to make precise adjustments as you're moving in reverse. You can watch your hitch backing right up to that trailer flawlessly.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist: Since 2016

Backing up with a trailer in tow is a headache many truck drivers know all too well. You have to be incredibly precise in your movements, or else you risk your trailer making an impact with your truck, jackknifing, or tipping over; put simply, the bigger the vessel, the bigger the risk reversing and turning entails. Pro trailer backup assist, added to the F-150 in 2016, addresses this hassle. It even just about removes the need for a human spotter (although it never hurts to use one). So, how does this seemingly magical feature work? 

Pro Trailer Backup Assist allows you to actually steer your trailer via a control knob. Meanwhile, your truck will steer itself and self-limit its speed. So you don't have to feel like some mathematician trying to guess how a slight adjustment to your truck's steering wheel will influence the direction of your trailer. All you need to do is turn the knob to tell the system how much you want the trailer to turn; your truck will automatically steer your trailer accordingly. In the end, you'll find that you waste less time backing up, realizing you miscalculated, pulling forward, and trying again.

Onboard Scales With a Smart Hitch: Since 2021

There might not be any permanent weight stations around Rhinebeck, but if you've been a trucker long enough in the area, you'll have had a run-in with New York's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU). And when you meet with them, you want to make sure your truck isn't overloaded—not the bed nor the trailer. 

Finding out that your truck is overloaded while you're already on the road can result in major consequences. You or your company could face fines and penalties. That company's Compliance, Safety, and Accountability score can take a hit. You might even be asked to unload items there and then, leaving you with a logistical nightmare: Who is going to pick them up and how? That's not to mention the trouble you face if customers or partners are waiting on that cargo and need it ASAP. The point is that you need to know your loads before you go. Onboard scales, which became available on the 2021 F-150, can help with that. 

Onboard scales show the approximate weight of your payload via an app on your truck's infotainment screen. If you have the FordPass smartphone app, you can view the payload weight there, too. Even your taillights will indicate the weight via four bars: If the top bar is blinking, you've reached the maximum allowed weight. If you have extra wiggle room for more stuff, you can use the zero-out function to load additional items; this feature can let you know just what that new item weighs on its own.

In 2021, Ford also introduced the smart hitch, which is terrific for towing large vessels. It measures the weight of your trailer and even suggests the best weight distribution setup. Plus, it lets you know when your trailer has been overloaded. Together, the onboard scales and smart hitch can prevent costly and troublesome incidents with the CVEU when you're out on the roads. 

Find Your Ideal Pre-Owned F-150 at Ruge's Ford

Rhinebeck drivers, if you need a solid pickup truck with an incredible reputation for towing and hauling, all paired with complementary technology that makes your jobs easier, check out the Ford F-150. There's a good reason it's been the most popular truck in its class for decades. When you transport huge loads of cargo around the city, you need extra help controlling and supervising your pickup bed and your trailer. The technology found in the more recent iterations of the F-150 can help with that—particularly models from as early as 2015, 2016, and 2021. 

We haven't even begun to cover all of the other terrific features in the F-150, so visit us and let one of our friendly sales team members take you for a test drive. Let them know exactly what you're looking for in a truck, and they'll know which F-150 year and trim to show you. The best part is that many F-150 drivers add unique packages to their trucks, making them even more capable than when they rolled out of the factory. These packages can be pricey when new, but since you're shopping used, you'll get the full benefits of them without paying the full price. 

We are also ready to help you decide how to pay for your F-150 on your terms. Our excellent finance team will gather information about your financial goals and craft a lease or loan plan that fits your needs. When you're ready for service, we have technicians who know the ins and outs of every F-150, too. Find, finance, and maintain your ideal F-150 with us!