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Towing Tech Will Give 2019 Ford Ranger a Competitive Edge

It's likely we'll get a chance to drive the 2019 Ford Ranger before the end of the year, and from the looks of Ford's latest video, we'll get to tow as well. To make towing with the Ranger safer, the blind spot detection technology used in the 2018 Ford F-150 also will be available for the new mid-sizer. The system can be configured to cover blind spots for both the truck and the trailer or just the truck.

Sensors for the radar-based system will be located in the new rear taillight setup and will use an icon in the sideview mirrors to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from behind. The system also allows owners to create and save three trailer profiles via the in-cab information display to better approximate the proper distances for alert activation. Pricing for this system has not been announced, but it will be standard on XLT and Lariat trim levels. The system on the F-150 has come under scrutiny because damage to the rear taillights can be expensive to repair given the complexity of the system's structure and sensitivity of the sensors.