A Ford F-150 PowerBoost Owner Says He Towed at 90 MPH Using Self-Driving and Says “I Have Total Faith In It”

The Ford F-150 PowerBoost has always represented a particular American confidence. It is a full-size pickup that embraces contradiction without apology, pairing serious towing capability with hybrid efficiency and enough onboard computing power to rival luxury sedans from a decade ago. 

What makes the PowerBoost compelling is not just what Ford intended it to do, but what it enables owners to explore once the window sticker is long forgotten. 

In that sense, it has become less a finished product and more a platform, one capable of supporting ideas that stretch well beyond conventional expectations of a work truck.

“Hands-free towing at 90 sure is nice!”

The hardware in question that allowed that is Comma.ai’s Comma3X, an aftermarket driver-assistance device that interfaces with a vehicle’s existing sensors to provide steering, braking, and speed control assistance. Paired with the PowerBoost’s inherent stability and torque-rich hybrid drivetrain, it reframes long-distance towing as an exercise in endurance rather than constant correction.

The immediate response was skepticism, which is both understandable and necessary. One commenter questioned the judgment behind towing at those speeds, while another raised concerns about trailer tire ratings and heat. These reactions are not the voice of fear but of experience, the same caution that has long governed towing culture. 

What followed, however, was not defensiveness but explanation. The owner clarified that this was not a factory hands-free system, noted the high posted speed limits across parts of Oklahoma and Texas, and emphasized the extent of his testing across a single day that stretched nearly 18 hours.

Ford F-150: Design, Powertrain Options, and Ride Characteristics

• The F-150’s body-on-frame construction prioritizes durability and load management, making it well-suited for towing and work-oriented use compared with unibody rivals.
• A wide range of powertrain options allows buyers to prioritize fuel economy, torque delivery, or long-distance cruising, though this flexibility also adds complexity to configuration choices.
• The cabin balances traditional physical controls with modern infotainment, allowing common functions to remain accessible without relying entirely on touchscreen inputs.
• Ride quality is tuned to manage payload and trailer weight, resulting in a firmer feel when unladen but stable behavior under heavy use.

That emphasis on testing matters. The story is not about automation replacing responsibility but about assistance reducing fatigue. Modern towing is as much a mental task as a mechanical one, requiring constant micro-corrections and vigilance over long, monotonous distances. The PowerBoost’s hybrid system contributes smooth, consistent torque delivery, while the truck’s mass and chassis tuning provide a calm baseline. Comma3X builds on that foundation by managing steering inputs and speed in a way that allows the driver to stay alert without being exhausted.

Concerns about hardware limits were addressed with specifics rather than dismissal. The owner pointed to prior long-distance runs, both empty and loaded, and noted that wheel hubs remained warm rather than dangerously hot. This kind of observational detail is telling. It reflects a mechanical sympathy that predates software-driven vehicles, where trust is earned through touch, temperature, and time rather than dashboards full of reassuring graphics.

What emerges is a portrait of owner-led innovation rather than recklessness. Comma.ai exists because modern vehicles already possess the cameras, radar, and computing capacity necessary for advanced assistance, even if manufacturers choose to restrict how that capability is deployed. The PowerBoost, with its robust electrical architecture and sophisticated control systems, proves particularly receptive to this approach. It is not that the truck was designed for this use, but that it is engineered well enough to accommodate it.

There is also a notable absence of tribalism in the discussion. No one is attacking Ford for not offering these capabilities from the factory, and no one is claiming Comma3X absolves the driver of responsibility. Instead, the tone remains pragmatic. This is about expanding what is possible while remaining accountable for the outcome. In an era where conversations about driver assistance often collapse into absolutes, that nuance feels refreshing.

Strip away the comment threads and speed figures, and the lasting image is simple. A modern pickup crosses long stretches of interstate with a steady hand on the wheel and a watchful driver behind it, hybrid power humming quietly beneath the floor. The Ford F-150 PowerBoost, paired with Comma3X, becomes something more than a truck with technology. It becomes a case study in how trust, engineering, and careful experimentation can coexist on America’s fastest and longest roads.

Image Sources: Ford Media Center

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.