Looking at a 2016 F-150, it does not have the trailer brakes, does anyone know if I can add the factory trailer brake system to a truck born without it?

 

The trailer brake controller can be added afterwards. I the truck has a factory trailer tow package you will need to get the truck flashed at the dealer after the install. If there is no tow package (on the previous generations) you needed to run a additional wire to the back of the truck as well. I'm not sure about the 15+ on this issue.

 

Excellent, thank you. It does have the trailer package, but not the Max Tow one.

 

Or if you do not want to pay the dealer you can look at Forscan. You have to buy a Bluetooth OBDII adapter and you can turn it on yourself. Forscan will also do several other things.
Currently there are 500 pages of reading available:
FORScan - software to enable/disable features in your truck

 

Some dealers will do the flash for free if you bought the truck from them and then the controller from them as well.

 

i had the dealer install brake controller on last 2 trucks i bought. there is a video on utube showing how to do it, but i didnt want to take on that chore. mentioned it to the tech that was doing the work and he had already looked at the utube video.

whether you do it or the dealer, the computer has to be programmed for it as stated earlier.

 

That's great information, thanks guys.