Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist

WilliamsVMAX · August 24, 2007

Hey guys, anyone have the URPA on there trucks. I was wondering how much you trust them? I find there very good but sometimes they make me nervous.

Bostonsfavson · August 24, 2007

I guess it's a nice feature, but it won't work when you have a ball in the hitch, which in my case is pretty much all of the time. I'm surprised that GM didn't have a workaround for this situation.

fdpirate24 · August 24, 2007

We have it on the wife's Acadia. I'm nervous as hell everytime I rely on it, but found it to be very consistant everytime I get out to double check how close I am. I didn't get it on my truck, simply because I think the pickups back end is easy to locate, but the Acadia, is one big blind spot when backing and the assist is very helpful.

Spoonman · August 24, 2007

We had it on our 03 Expedition and it did its job OK. It would also pick up curbs as we backed out of driveways which would make you nervous becouse you would question yourself on whether you missed seeing a parked vehicle or some other hazard. Our across the street nieghbor started to ignor hers when backing out her driveway in there Nissan and actually backed into a vehicle that was parked there.

Mom has a Volvo XC90 now without backup aid and she claims she misses it.............

Rocco715 · August 24, 2007

I have them on my truck and though I don't really use them that often I feel I can trust them. Its a 3 stage warning that has 2 yellows and 1 red, red meaning you hit it or your d**n near about to, but when the first yellow comes on I've gotten out and looked and it has about 4-4.5' more clearance. so they do give you some room. Also if your backing up to fast then all 3 lights will come on and just start flashing and beeping.

Wingnut · August 24, 2007

You guys and your fancy-pants "ultra-sonic" parking assists.

My trucks just have the "sonic" parking assists.

AKA: **CRUNCH**

"Yup...There's the bike."

hotwheels57 · August 24, 2007

...you can turn it off if you don't trust it...

brnr17 · August 24, 2007

or just turn your head and look ... but who would want to do it "manually" lol

August 24, 2007

I guess it's a nice feature, but it won't work when you have a ball in the hitch, which in my case is pretty much all of the time. I'm surprised that GM didn't have a workaround for this situation.

I think what you have IS the work around. The idea is that you won't have to listen to it ALL THE TIME while backing up the trailer.

VMax2007 · August 24, 2007

I guess it's a nice feature, but it won't work when you have a ball in the hitch, which in my case is pretty much all of the time. I'm surprised that GM didn't have a workaround for this situation.

I think what you have IS the work around. The idea is that you won't have to listen to it ALL THE TIME while backing up the trailer.

They should have put the disabling into the trailer light wiring harness then. That way you can leave your hitch in while not towing and have it work as it should. Then when you plug in your trailer lights, it shuts off. Makes more sense since most people leave their hitches in (myself included).

SS Crew · August 24, 2007

I guess it's a nice feature, but it won't work when you have a ball in the hitch, which in my case is pretty much all of the time. I'm surprised that GM didn't have a workaround for this situation.

I think what you have IS the work around. The idea is that you won't have to listen to it ALL THE TIME while backing up the trailer.

They should have put the disabling into the trailer light wiring harness then. That way you can leave your hitch in while not towing and have it work as it should. Then when you plug in your trailer lights, it shuts off. Makes more sense since most people leave their hitches in (myself included).

My hitch is in all the time and the Parking Assist still works. The only time it doesn't work is when the trailer wiring harness is plugged in or the tailgate is down.

SilveradoLAX7 · August 25, 2007

We have it on the wife's Acadia. I'm nervous as hell everytime I rely on it, but found it to be very consistant everytime I get out to double check how close I am. I didn't get it on my truck, simply because I think the pickups back end is easy to locate, but the Acadia, is one big blind spot when backing and the assist is very helpful.

+1

I rented an Acadia last time I was on the road and still cannot get over the size of the blind spot. When I got home I too realized it is pretty easy to locate the back end in a pick-up. All in all the system seemed to work alright.

-Jay

Bostonsfavson · August 25, 2007

VMax makes a good point. On a related note, I wish a backup camera was offered. The Yukon Denali has one, so why not the Sierra Denali?

SierraLeone · August 25, 2007

Hey guys, anyone have the URPA on there trucks. I was wondering how much you trust them? I find there very good but sometimes they make me nervous.

I have it on my '07 NBS. I was "untrusting" of it at first, but the more I back-up with it, the more I trust it. After I got the truck, I would stop backing on the first yellow, now, a month or so later I am stopping at the second yellow and occasionally I'll pull a red. Like remote start and steering wheel controls, it seemed frivilous at the time but is now indispensible. I also thought the lights were dumb at first, but now they make sense.

When my wife was shopping for an SUV, i drove a few models with the backup camera. It made me nervous, but I also imagine that I would get used to it as well.

Nali07 · August 26, 2007

i have them on both my 07 denali and my wife's 07 avalanche and i did notice that the system on my denali is more sensative to activity than on the avalanche . i dont know why . on my denali i could be coming out of a parking spot at the market and it goes off when someone walks or a car goes by . on the avalache sometimes it doesnt make a peep .. i was thinking about taking the avalanche back to the dealer and have them check it out..