I've got a 2010 F150. In 2009 and 2010 ford started offering integrated trailer brakes (integrated to the ECU/BCM/whatever), but it was not standard. My truck does have the tow package (which adds bigger rad, trans cooler, beefy hitch, 4 and 7 pin wiring, but no brake controller), I do not have the MAX tow package (which adds the brake controller and bigger mirrors and beefier rear springs on top of the tow package).
So, I can get the integrated brake controller module for say $150-$200, and then have it programmed to work with my truck at a dealer (say $100). The install appears trivial, and replaces a blank in the dash with the trailer brakes buttons and lever.
MY question is, comparing this to getting a nice (proportional, not time based) aftermarket controller, is the integrated option worth the extra $150? I don't know the details but it seems that the integrated unit could offer safety features that an aftermarket unit cannot (say sway control for example). I feel like it probably is worth it but going to the dealer for the flash or whatever could be a major pain.
Have an integrated controller on our 2012 Tahoe.
Depending on the particulars of the alternative installation, it can be worth the extra cost just to not have a stand-alone controller banging off your knees.
I have a 2014 Expedition with the integrated brake controller. I tow a 24' enclosed trailer for racing. I can't speak to whether it's the same controller as the 2010 F-150 one, but I would definitely shell out an extra $150 if it is. The sway control light has come on a few times, especially when raining, and it's impressive to feel the controller stabilize things before you can even react to what's going on. For that reason alone, it's worth it. I also find no faults in adjustability or braking performance compared to my previous Tekonsha Prodigy controller.
My understanding is that the abs will also work through the factory brake controller. That might be enough to make you spend the extra for the clean factory controller
My 2010 Dodge has an integrated controller. As Karacticus noted, it's worth it just to save your knees :) It's also fully integrated into the dashboard so I get warnings if the trailer has disconnected. Since I have a habit of leaving the truck idling as I quickly drop the trailer, it's always amusing to get back into the cab and see a picture of a trailer with a big slash through it. Mine doesn't do sway control but it's not needed with my rig.
Can't see how ABS would work without a wheel speed sensor on the trailer.
ShawnG
UltimaDork
9/28/21 4:26 p.m.
Borrowed a truck with one when the truck I was towing with blew up and stranded me.
Seemed to work ok but if anything is the least bit janky with the trailer wiring, the controller would E36 M3 the bed and fault out, needing a reset.
Had to pull over and clear the snow and water out of the connector a few times to make it stop doing that.
I'd say yes. My 2015 Expedition has all the towing upgrades from the factory and I do like how well it's integrated. You can even save different trailers to the computer and when you hook it up you pick the trailer and it'll tell you how many miles you've done with the trailer on that vehicle.
I've never towed with one, but as soon as I started seeing them pop up on customer vehicles, I was all "why has this not existed before? It's almost all just lines of code that could have been done a decade ago" One of those obvious-in-hindsight innovations.
The automatic anti-sway sounds nice. I wonder if something like that would have helped the weird effect wae had with his Mercedes where the radar-cruise autobraking did NOT apply the trailer brakes...
No. On my 2010 F150 I bought an aftermarket controller and the plug and play harness. The aftermarket controller gives you the option to program multiple trailers, it has adjustable control, and you don't have to go to the dealership.
In reply to yupididit :
Your 2015 has the newer electronics package than the 2010's did. Very different. I believe they switched over in 2011 or 2012. The newer stuff is much nicer and in that case I would say yes, go for the stock stuff. In 2010, go aftermarket.
Patientzero said:
In reply to yupididit :
Your 2015 has the newer electronics package than the 2010's did. Very different. I believe they switched over in 2011 or 2012. The newer stuff is much nicer and in that case I would say yes, go for the stock stuff. In 2010, go aftermarket.
Do you have any info on the differences?
I was able to find an old brochure that says the 2010 f150 has a 'tow/haul mode' for the transmission shift programming and it also has 'trailer sway control', but it is unclear if those features exists ONLY with the brake controller or if they are separate. I guess I should try to see if I can put my truck into tow/haul mode... I should also check out the owners manual.
Local dealership quoted me "starting at $175" for a reflash - wow.
I put the factory trailer brake controller into my 2013 Ram, as the dash has few places to put an aftermarket one without hitting my knees on it. The local dealer I went to said it was $130 to program it, told him that most dealers are doing it for $60, why are you so high? Amazingly enough he came back and said you were right, it is $59.95 to program. So shop around and see what others are paying for it.
The brake controller would work without programming, it just did the very basics of braking, none of the integrated features would work. It really isn't programmed, they just went in and turned on the brake controller features already there. If I had a proper scan tool, I could have done it myself.
So in the owners manual it says the Ford integrated TBC does NOT do any anti locking of the trailer brakes, but it does network with the braking system including ABS to help keep the trailer tires rolling.
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
Do you have Forscan on a laptop? You can probably toggle on the feature
yupididit said:
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
Do you have Forscan on a laptop? You can probably toggle on the feature
This. A $20 Amazon ELM dongle and Forscan 14 day free trial. You can unlock all sorts of stuff
Patientzero said:
No. On my 2010 F150 I bought an aftermarket controller and the plug and play harness. The aftermarket controller gives you the option to program multiple trailers, it has adjustable control, and you don't have to go to the dealership.
My 2018 supports 3 trailers. Maybe a firmware update?
Grtechguy said:
yupididit said:
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
Do you have Forscan on a laptop? You can probably toggle on the feature
This. A $20 Amazon ELM dongle and Forscan 14 day free trial. You can unlock all sorts of stuff
Didn't even think about that! Smart, thanks!
In reply to Grtechguy :
The 2010 electronics are not the same. There isn't even a menu in the dash, it's basically analog.
Here is the spreadsheet showing all the 2010 Forscan changes.
Well it certainly seems like I'll be getting forscan. I have a bluetooth OBDII adapter, but maybe I'll get a USB cord too since it seems like forscan might have issues with most bluetooth adapters and the corded ones seem safer.
Now that that's out of the way I still need to make a decision on a TBC...
Well, thanks all!
The install was easy (despite me not being able to find the dang harness because some conscientious ford employee taped it up really well), and forscan worked flawlessly. I also tuned off the tpms system for now since I have some non-functional sensors and the dash light was annoying.
