Lane Keeping--Useful and Entertaining

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So, the gentle nudges of the steering wheel to keep the Ranger in the lane are useful, but not always. Like when I see an on-coming dump truck, I move as far right as possible and can be taking the right wheels over the line to the edge of the pavement.

Today, I was curious if the lane keeping would keep my RR in the lane and I released my grip from the steering wheel. As expected, the truck drifted to the right and the lane keeping made a correction with a steering input. Now, the RR is drifting towards a crossing of the center line(s) and makes another correction, but this time the correction is a bit more aggressive. As you probably guessed, the Ranger is not drifting to the right side of the lane, it has been steered to the fog line and will cross without another input--and, lane keeping makes yet another input.

Somewhere in this back and forth, I was told to "keep hands on the steering wheel."

When I didn't, the message got angry and turned red.

So, all this was entertaining. I will tell you that lane keeping is capable of spitting the Ranger out of the lane, after about the third or forth steering input. Think possible head-on collision, or some tooling through a corn field.

Anyone else testing the lane keeping?

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[superj]

I have done that also, let it get mad and just let it keep going and if i remember right, it turns off cruise control.


Its been 8 or 9 months since i played with it. I dont like the ping pong effect when it goes back and forth between the lines so i always turn it off

 

[Matt77]

Have had my truck for a year now- stopped using lane assist almost from the start. It strongly favors the center line over the fog line. Kinda dumb/unsafe imo

 

[capetomb]

I haven't done this test with my Ranger yet (I've only had it a couple weeks), but it's been on my mind. I recently rented a Mercedes GLE350 on a trip and it had a similar setup with adaptive cruise and lane keep. That car was able to cruise down the highway with no input from me and no ping-pong effect either. It also changed lanes itself if you tapped the blinker stick. Pretty remarkable. I was hoping the Ranger would perform similarly, but it doesn't seem like it does. I'm not at all disappointed though--I wasn't fully comfortable letting that GLE350 drive and am happy to do the work myself.

 

[MasterCylinder]

So, the gentle nudges of the steering wheel to keep the Ranger in the lane are useful, but not always. Like when I see an on-coming dump truck, I move as far right as possible and can be taking the right wheels over the line to the edge of the pavement.

Today, I was curious if the lane keeping would keep my RR in the lane and I released my grip from the steering wheel. As expected, the truck drifted to the right and the lane keeping made a correction with a steering input. Now, the RR is drifting towards a crossing of the center line(s) and makes another correction, but this time the correction is a bit more aggressive. As you probably guessed, the Ranger is not drifting to the right side of the lane, it has been steered to the fog line and will cross without another input--and, lane keeping makes yet another input.

Somewhere in this back and forth, I was told to "keep hands on the steering wheel."

When I didn't, the message got angry and turned red.

So, all this was entertaining. I will tell you that lane keeping is capable of spitting the Ranger out of the lane, after about the third or forth steering input. Think possible head-on collision, or some tooling through a corn field.

Anyone else testing the lane keeping?

I drive a lot of back roads so dodging broken down cars, farm equipment, trailers hauling hay etc.... I mess mine up all the time and get the angry red! Sometimes there isn't time to flip the turn signal on to cancel the angry electronics. It was actually one of the first things I just had to mess with after buying! Lol

 

[Reddog99]

I drove across country last summer and found the lane keeping useful, but it doesn't alleviate to need for paying attention. In Montana, the two lane roads sometimes widen where there is a crossroads, to accommodate a left turn lane. Upon approaching these intersections, the truck would follow the center line to the right (where the road widens) and then suddenly veer back to the left when trying to follow the left-turn centerline. Needless to say, this could be very dangerous while doing 75 mph and I learned to really pay attention. I never experienced the ping-pong effect others talked of.

 

[BC_Blue]

I haven't done this test with my Ranger yet (I've only had it a couple weeks), but it's been on my mind. I recently rented a Mercedes GLE350 on a trip and it had a similar setup with adaptive cruise and lane keep. That car was able to cruise down the highway with no input from me and no ping-pong effect either. It also changed lanes itself if you tapped the blinker stick. Pretty remarkable. I was hoping the Ranger would perform similarly, but it doesn't seem like it does. I'm not at all disappointed though--I wasn't fully comfortable letting that GLE350 drive and am happy to do the work myself.

Proper hands-free driving system then. I'd guess an F-150 with BlueCruise would be a smoother experience than just lane keep assist on the Ranger.

Anyone brave enough to lay some tire tracks down in a parking lot after a fresh snow dusting this winter? Bet you could get the system properly angry with lines going everywhere

 

[BigAir]

I drove across country last summer and found the lane keeping useful, but it doesn't alleviate to need for paying attention. In Montana, the two lane roads sometimes widen where there is a crossroads, to accommodate a left turn lane. Upon approaching these intersections, the truck would follow the center line to the right (where the road widens) and then suddenly veer back to the left when trying to follow the left-turn centerline. Needless to say, this could be very dangerous while doing 75 mph and I learned to really pay attention. I never experienced the ping-pong effect others talked of.

Yes, the lane centering is downright dangerous with highways that have occasional center turn lanes. It should be designed to follow the right line, but unfortunately it follows the center line, and it does it aggressively. One minute you're cruising along and the next it is swerving into the turn lane.

 

[waffleso_0]

Yeah, I've tested lane-assist a bunch and do not trust it. Ping-pong affect is real and you can't trust it.... but the Adaptive cruise control is much better and does keep you centered in the lane when compared to the lane-assist only be used.

I love the ACC in the traffic but you need to make sure you keep the distance to 3 car length for the smoothest stop and go.. If you set it too close, it comes up on the car in front too fast and breaks more aggressively.

When i need to take my eyes off the road or hands off the wheel I enable it and its been great

 

[Texas Ranger]

The hands free assist seems to be more accurate with suspension dialed to sport. I highly suggest pairing both for a more efficient experience.

 

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The hands free assist seems to be more accurate with suspension dialed to sport. I highly suggest pairing both for a more efficient experience.

This is interesting. I'll have to investigate. Thanks.

 

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Another thing I noticed when the Ranger is tracking the fog line where a, say, manufacturing entrance is located and a break in the fog line. The Ranger will not see a line and allow the right drift to put you into a ditch.

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