Which Pickup Trucks Have Blind Spot Monitoring?

Given the size trends of modern pickup trucks, it's hard to build one without site restrictions. Blind-spot monitoring technology gives automakers the freedom to make safer trucks, even if it means sacrificing sightlines. If you are shopping for a new pickup truck in 2021, blind-spot monitoring isn't a feature to miss out on. So, how do you know which 2021 pickup truck models have a blind-spot monitoring system? We have researched every model and have the answer for you here in list form. 

For the 2021 model year, 17 pickup trucks have blind-spot monitoring systems. Here are the pickup trucks with blind-spot monitoring based on our research: 

Full-size Pickup Trucks:

  1. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  2. Chevrolet Silverado HD (2500-3500)
  3. Ford F-150
  4. Ford Super Duty (F-250-450)
  5. GMC Sierra 1500
  6. GMC Sierra HD (2500-3500)
  7. Nissan Titan
  8. Ram 1500
  9. Ram 2500
  10. Ram 3500
  11. Toyota Tundra

Medium-size Pickup Trucks:

  1. Chevrolet Colorado
  2. Ford Ranger
  3. Honda Ridgeline
  4. Jeep Gladiator
  5. Nissan Frontier
  6. Toyota Tacoma

If you want to learn more about these 17 pickup trucks, please continue reading this post. Additionally, we will further discuss the importance of having blind-spot monitoring and the potential to add aftermarket blind-spot detectors to an older pickup truck.

A Toyota Tacoma on 4x4 offroad trails in the mountains, Which Pickup Trucks Have Blind Spot Monitoring?

The Top Pickup Trucks with Blind Spot Monitoring 

The complete list of 17 is just a little too large to cover every pickup truck in detail. So, we have chosen the top seven of them by narrowing down the list to ensure every brand has representation. This way, you can get an idea of what each automaker brings to the table for their pickup trucks with blind-spot detection. 

1. Chevrolet Silverado

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a full-size pickup truck packed with useful features outside of the already mentioned blindspot detection. This 4-door truck seats up to five people and makes work easier with a multi-flex tailgate that morphs into several different functions. The driver can also command a head-up display and 15 available camera views to make sure they can always see where they're going and what's around them.  

The Silverado packs a 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine that puts out 420 horsepower and 460 foot-pounds of torque. This allows the pickup to tow a maximum of 9,500 pounds. It does all of this without being too hard on fuel, giving the driver 33 miles per gallon on the highway. Outside of that Duramax diesel engine, the Silverado is also available in five other engine types. 

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck

2. Ford F-150

Ford's 2021 F-150 is a full-size pickup truck. The F-150 can seat up to six people in the cab that features an available 12-inch fully digital dash, max-recline seating, and a 12-inch center display touchscreen. Another notable add-on to the F-150 is a rear generator that you can use to power tools or other devices with three power outputs. 

The F-150 is available with an impressive 3.5-liter Powerboost hybrid V6 engine. This engine is more sustainable than other truck engines and doesn't sacrifice any power. The V6 hybrid provides 430 horsepower and 570 foot-pounds of torque, allowing the driver to tow up to 12,700 pounds. 

2020 Ford F-150 pickup truck at a dealership

3. GMC Sierra 1500

The GMC Sierra 1500 is another full-size pickup truck with blind-spot detection. The Sierra has available features like a carbon-fiber pickup bed, a head-up display, and a multi-pro audio system. Like the Silverado, an available 15-view camera angle monitoring will help with towing and daily driving. The Sierra is available in multiple engine specs, the most notable being a turbodiesel. 

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Pickup Truck at a dealership

4. Nissan Titan

The Nissan Titan is a 4x4 capable full-size pickup truck particularly suited towards off-road situations. This Nissan truck comes with a Safety Shield 360 detection system that includes automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and high beam assist. Titan has a Nissan Endurance V8 engine that provides 400 horsepower and 413 foot-pounds of torque. The Titan that is best for towing is the crew cab XD trim that has a towing capacity of 11,040 pounds. 

5. Honda Ridgeline

The Honda Ridgeline is a medium-size pickup truck that seats five passengers and has all-wheel drive capabilities. The Ridgeline comes with the Honda Sensing Suite, which includes driver assistance features like blind-spot assistance and lane departure assist. The Ridgeline has a V6 engine that puts out 280 horsepower and powers 5,000 pounds of towing capability. 

A Honda Ridgeline pickup on a snowy winter day

6. Jeep Gladiator 

The Jeep Gladiator is a unique pickup truck in styling, features, and capabilities. You can find features like a removable Bluetooth speaker and under-seat storage compartments in this pickup. The Gladiator has an available 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 442 foot-pounds of torque for towing and off-road use. That torque combined with the 4x4 drivetrain makes the Gladiator capable of towing up to 7,650 pounds and carrying up to 1,700 pounds in its truck bed. 

Jeep Gladiator display at car dealership

7. Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma is another medium-size pickup truck with great styling and features. An available panoramic view monitor gives the driver a 360-degree view of the surroundings of the pickup. Additionally, a deck rail system allows you to secure any cargo in the bed, and smart storage increases the total storage possibilities with hidden and locking storage areas. 

The Tacoma features a 3.5-liter V6 engine and is available in manual transmission to give you that extra bit of control. The V6 puts out 278 horsepower and 265 foot-pounds of torque, allowing the Tacoma to tow up to 6,800 pounds. The Toyota Racing Department Pro trim gives you a suite of extra features to make the Tacoma the perfect off-road machine. 

Toyota Tacoma riding on the 4x4 Offroad Trails in the mountains

Is Blind Spot Monitoring Worth it?

After seeing that list of pickup trucks, you may be wondering if blindspot monitors should be a deciding factor in your pickup truck purchase decision. Today, most people buy a pickup truck for their spacious comfort and ability to haul or tow trailers or campers. Regardless of your planned use for your pickup truck, safety is always of the utmost importance. 

Safety is also a priority for automakers when designing new vehicles. Consequently, trucks and other vehicles are now built with thicker, stronger roofing support that helps to protect the passengers in the event of a rollover accident. These thicker parts of the frame that connect the body to the roof make it more difficult for the driver to get a full view of their surroundings. As windows no longer surround drivers, blind spots are worse than ever on modern cars and trucks. 

Automakers don't mind making this sacrifice because technology picks up the slack. Most vehicles today do come with some form of blind-spot monitoring, so it should be something you look for in a new pickup truck or car. Blind-spot monitoring is most definitely worth it. 

Can you add blind-spot monitoring to a RAM 1500?

What should you do if you have a pickup truck, like a RAM 1500, without blind-spot monitoring? Or maybe you're interested in buying a 2021 pickup truck in a trim that excludes this feature. It is possible to add aftermarket, blind-spot monitoring to a pickup truck without it. 

There are many blind-spot detection systems available in online marketplaces like Amazon. You can install the system yourself, but it is a complicated process that involves wiring and removing large pieces of the truck like the bumpers. 

Click here to see the Easyguard blind-spot monitors at Amazon.

How much does it cost to add blind-spot detection?

After buying the blind-spot detection system, the main cost to add the technology to a vehicle is labor. Automotive labor can be expensive, depending on the nature of the work and the type of automotive shop. For the total price, including the system itself, you can expect to pay at least $200. On the higher end, if you use top-of-the-line technology and an expensive shop for labor, prices can be upwards of $800. 

What is Ford's Blind Spot Information System?

We discussed 2 Ford pickup truck models on this list. Both of those Ford pickups have the Blind Spot Information system, also called BLIS. The Ford Blind Spot Information System is an advanced blind-spot monitoring feature available on most vehicles in the Ford lineup. The system works like most blind-spot detectors using radar modules embedded in the rear bumpers. These sensors trigger a warning system on the dashboard when a car enters the blind-spot space. 

The defining feature of Ford's BLIS is that it also functions as a cross-traffic alert system. This means that it detects other vehicles driving perpendicular to and behind the Ford and alerts the driver to their presence. This extra feature is helpful when you need to back out of a parking space in a crowded parking lot. 

A Few Final Words

If you are shopping for a new pickup truck in 2021, make sure you get one with blind-spot monitoring. There are 17 pickup truck models in the 2021 model year that have them either as an option or standard. Blind-spot monitors are a lifesaving feature that you will surely miss on your new truck if you skip out on them. 

If you enjoyed this post, please take a look at a few of our others:

7 Types of Pickup Trucks You Should Know

What SUVs Have Blind Spot Detection? [2021 Midsize And Full-Size]

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