Photo: Perry Stern
A pickup truck is often your best towing option if you have a trailer. Further, if that trailer is large and heavy, you might need a heavy-duty truck. One of the best choices on the market for towing is the Ford F-250 Super Duty, and not just because of its class-leading capability. However, as important as the Super Duty’s powerful diesel engine is, the advanced technology of Ford's Pro Trailer Assist, which improves every aspect of towing, makes it an easy endeavor.
For the purposes of this article, Ford Pro Trailer Assist is an umbrella term encompassing several Ford advanced towing technologies, including Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, and Smart Hitch. Read our Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Smart Hitch article for more background and details.
Photo: Perry Stern
I have been pulling trailers for over forty years, but Ford's towing tools are just as helpful for novices as experienced drivers like me. The automaker’s advanced towing technology makes hitching a trailer or backing it into a tight spot so easy it feels like cheating. I tested these towing systems in Southeast Michigan when Ford provided me with a 2025 Ford F-250 Super Duty Platinum, using it to pull my 26-foot Grand Design travel trailer on a camping trip.
Hooking the trailer to a tow vehicle is typically a two-person job; one person stands at the trailer hitch while the driver tries to follow their instructions to get the tow ball directly under it. In my experience, getting it right on the first try is nearly impossible—unless you use Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist.
Pressing the “Pro Trailer” button on the dashboard activates Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which pulls up a view on the central display screen showing the tow ball and trailer. It also directs you to shift the transmission into reverse. As you hold the Pro Trailer button down, the truck reverses towards the trailer, automatically providing steering corrections to line up the ball and hitch. When the ball is directly below the trailer hitch, the truck shifts into Park and engages the parking brake to prevent it from rolling out of alignment.
Ford also offers Smart Hitch, which uses the built-in scale to check the trailer's tongue weight. (If the tongue weight is too heavy, the truck will squat in the rear, and the front wheels will lose traction.) Next, enter the trailer weight; the display shows whether the tongue weight is within a safe range.
Before heading out on the road, I needed to ensure all the trailer lights worked. Ford employs a Trailer Light Check system that cycles through the turn signals, brake lights, and reversing lamps. This allowed me to go to the back of the trailer and confirm that all the lights were working.
When connecting the power from the truck to the trailer for the first time, a prompt appeared on the driver's display, asking if this was a new trailer. It then proceeded through several steps to identify the trailer's height, length, and weight, saving the information. The next time I connected my trailer, the system recognized it and automatically loaded all the information.
Photo: Perry Stern
Maneuvering a not-so-small Super Duty pickup towing a 26-foot trailer through a small town can be challenging, but the big truck has many cameras to help. When I activated the right turn signal, the primary display changed to show the camera view down the right side of the trailer. As I turned, I could see the trailer's tires to ensure I was making a wide enough turn to avoid clipping the curb.
One of the challenges of driving such a long rig (truck and trailer together were almost 50 feet long) is changing lanes on the highway, but Ford has this covered. The blind-spot warning system can cover trailers up to 33 feet long. A warning light appeared in the corresponding sideview mirror if a vehicle was alongside the trailer, where I couldn't see it.
As an added safety measure, the same camera view that helped me negotiate tight turns in town also provided an excellent view of the lane beside the trailer, ensuring I didn't cut off another vehicle when changing lanes.
Photo: Perry Stern
Perhaps one of the most daunting aspects of trailer towing is parking. Or, more specifically, backing the trailer. Knowing which way to turn the steering wheel can be challenging, even for an expert, but Pro Trailer Backup Assist eliminates all the guesswork.
With the system active, I put the truck in reverse and began backing. Rather than using the steering wheel, I directed the trailer via the knob on the dashboard. When you turn the knob, the steering wheel turns on its own to send the trailer in the correct direction. It was easy to make minor corrections, and I backed my 8-foot-wide trailer through a 10-foot-wide fence opening on the first try.
Multiple camera views aid in this endeavor, showing the view down the sides of the trailer or looking down at the hitch to ensure you don't turn too sharply and jackknife.
Towing a trailer can be stressful, even for a seasoned professional, but Ford's advanced technology makes it easier and safer. From hitching up to long-distance towing to parking the trailer, Ford's towing technology—including Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, and Smart Hitch—helps every step of the way. Offered on various Ford products, including the Explorer, Expedition, and all the F-Series pickup trucks, these advanced towing systems will give you peace of mind while towing any trailer.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for JDPower.com. Recently relocated to southeast Michigan, Perry remains passionate about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
The Ford Transit is the automaker’s full-size cargo and passenger van offering, designed to serve a wide range of commercial and lifestyle applications. With 37 available configurations, the platform ...See More
Read the Full Article
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a full-size, three-row SUV with a standard V8 engine and available diesel power. Built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup, the Tahoe benefits from its ...See More
Read the Full Article
It is the end of the line for the Ford Escape. After 25 years as a fixture of Ford’s lineup, 2026 will be the compact SUV’s last model year.
Read the Full Article
The Colorado is Chevrolet’s midsize pickup. It ranks among the segment’s most capable trucks for payload and towing, and can be configured for both work and off-road adventures. For 2026, the ...See More
Read the Full Article