Patent ID: 7598845

Claim:
A towing load detection system for distinguishing a condition of towing an object from another condition comprising: a controller that determines an expected output of a vehicle based on a known input to the vehicle, the controller also detecting an actual output of the vehicle, the controller further detecting whether the actual output of the vehicle is less than the expected output of the vehicle, the controller determining that the vehicle is subject to an increased load when the actual output of the vehicle is less than the expected output of the vehicle; and at least one proximity sensor operable to detect a presence of the object; wherein the controller determines that the increased load is at least partially caused by the object when the at least one proximity sensor detects the presence of the object and determines that the increased load is caused otherwise when the at least one proximity sensor fails to detect the presence of the object, the controller being further operable to cause a vehicle effect when the controller determines that the increased load is at least partially caused by the object.