Pro trailer assist on random trailers is impossible

[kensiko]

So I got the lightning in March and was hoping to finally use the pro trailer assist when we decided to rent a RV trailer, but I guess now after reading a bit that it's useless. I wanted the pro trailer assist to save me time but it will only save me time if I'm always using the same trailer that I already calibrated. I think I'll just use the camera, it's plenty enough.

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[Madasahatter1138]

Yes you would need to attach a decal as well to the rental. Or attach the decal tosomething else that can be temporarily attached.
I used a 2" strip of aluminum for my decal so it would have a flat surface, as there were many welds on top that interfered.
Once you did that though, a few measurements are all thats needed to setup the trailer, but now you need to calibrate in a parking lot...if you had the rental for a day prior to the trip then that might work?

 

[RickLightning]

This ^^^

Mount decal on magnet. Stick magnet to trailer.

Mount decal to piece of plastic, then use clear tape to attach to trailer.

Not hard.

 

[hturnerfamily]

both good ideas - I like the magnet option - easily detach and add to any trailer you want to tow... I have two campers - this would be a good idea for those, too... even though I have several stickers...so, .....
but, in the end, I don't use ProTrailer assist, anyway, since I can back a trailer without it...oh well.

 

[kensiko]

ok I see it's possible on a rented EV but it won't save me time just for 2 days.

 

[Adventureboy]

I looked at setting it up on my 2018 and dropped the idea after reading the setup instructions. I've been backing trailers for 50 years so it is a bit of the Old dog, new tricks thing I guess. A camera at the back of the trailer is a really good idea, otherwise, I'd suggest learning how to back the trailer with the steering wheel and remove the dependency of the sticker and setup.
I taught my son like this: Put yourself on the trailer tongue, then determine where you need to move the tongue to get the trailer where you want. Turn the wheel to move the back end of the truck in that direction while staying out of jackknife territory..... and monitor the movement of the front of the truck to keep from smacking anything. It is a case where you actually use concepts learned in high school geometry but without all of the math calculations.

Watching the folks on the ramp at the marina is worth a few chuckles on the weekend.

I am curious though, is pro trailer assist easier than the above to learn? Seems you need to do a bunch of stuff to train the truck for each trailer, and then you better hope you got it right. In any case, I may play around again with it when I have nothing better to do.

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