E350 prewired for trailer brake controller?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 161
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From: SW Ohio
I know this is old. But, the Ford Parts guy is WRONG. All the E vans from 2009-current are the same. They are all wired for the trailer brake controller. There is a plug and play harness available for it from Reese/DRawtite/Teconsha/etc. It's the same harness used in the 2008+ Superduty.
In the van..... the plug is located in the center of the dash above the stereo. Mine was clipped into the back side of the coin holder. I had to take the dash apart to get to it. But, it was there. I plugged in my brake controller and it worked with no modifications or adding fuses requred. I tried to get the local Ford Dealers to order the "Ford" brake control parts, and they said that they could not find the part #s without a vin from an E series van that actaully had the controller in it. And since no Ford Dealers around here had one in stock, I had to install an aftermarket brake controller.
The person who found thiers in the kick panel has an older van. This location I speak of above is for 2009_+ E Series VANS only. In the Superduty pickups the plug is located on the back side of the dash where the factory brake controller WOULD have been.
Hope this helps someone out there.
In the van..... the plug is located in the center of the dash above the stereo. Mine was clipped into the back side of the coin holder. I had to take the dash apart to get to it. But, it was there. I plugged in my brake controller and it worked with no modifications or adding fuses requred. I tried to get the local Ford Dealers to order the "Ford" brake control parts, and they said that they could not find the part #s without a vin from an E series van that actaully had the controller in it. And since no Ford Dealers around here had one in stock, I had to install an aftermarket brake controller.
The person who found thiers in the kick panel has an older van. This location I speak of above is for 2009_+ E Series VANS only. In the Superduty pickups the plug is located on the back side of the dash where the factory brake controller WOULD have been.
Hope this helps someone out there.
Trailer Brake Controller Installation - 2008 Ford F250 Super Duty - etrailer.com - YouTube
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: SW Ohio
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 302
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From: Near Atlantic City, NJ
On my '08 the controller plug is sitting behind the e-brake pedal. It's a female 4 or 5 pin plug that the adapter plug shown above connects to. The factory four wire plug is attached to the top of the left rear frame rail next to the spare tire. I just cut off the factory plug and ran from there. For the brake, 12v and reverse lights you'll need to tap into the harness from the brake controller under the van up near the firewall. There's a post on here somewhere that details how to do this.
New User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: The Wild North
It has 7 wires going to it and is located by the spare tire. For us to use this (if this is what we are to plug into) it needs to be extended back about 3 feet to the bumper.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Amy
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 417
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If that is a trailer plug/ wiring, it will have the following colors: black & brown ( tail & marker) yellow & green. (L&R signal) red (brake) white (ground) blue (power). You can ask Ford for a harness or just hard wire it to a generic plug. The Ford kit likely comes with a replay for the charging circuit or you can just use an in line relay.
You may try PM' ing Killer RC, he hadn't been around here for a while.
You may try PM' ing Killer RC, he hadn't been around here for a while.
New User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: The Wild North
I know this is old. But, the Ford Parts guy is WRONG. All the E vans from 2009-current are the same. They are all wired for the trailer brake controller. There is a plug and play harness available for it from Reese/DRawtite/Teconsha/etc. It's the same harness used in the 2008+ Superduty.
In the van..... the plug is located in the center of the dash above the stereo. Mine was clipped into the back side of the coin holder. I had to take the dash apart to get to it. But, it was there. I plugged in my brake controller and it worked with no modifications or adding fuses requred. I tried to get the local Ford Dealers to order the "Ford" brake control parts, and they said that they could not find the part #s without a vin from an E series van that actaully had the controller in it. And since no Ford Dealers around here had one in stock, I had to install an aftermarket brake controller.
The person who found thiers in the kick panel has an older van. This location I speak of above is for 2009_+ E Series VANS only. In the Superduty pickups the plug is located on the back side of the dash where the factory brake controller WOULD have been.
Hope this helps someone out there.
In the van..... the plug is located in the center of the dash above the stereo. Mine was clipped into the back side of the coin holder. I had to take the dash apart to get to it. But, it was there. I plugged in my brake controller and it worked with no modifications or adding fuses requred. I tried to get the local Ford Dealers to order the "Ford" brake control parts, and they said that they could not find the part #s without a vin from an E series van that actaully had the controller in it. And since no Ford Dealers around here had one in stock, I had to install an aftermarket brake controller.
The person who found thiers in the kick panel has an older van. This location I speak of above is for 2009_+ E Series VANS only. In the Superduty pickups the plug is located on the back side of the dash where the factory brake controller WOULD have been.
Hope this helps someone out there.
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Joe Kucinski
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,414
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From: Thornhill , Ontario
I would go to the dealer and get the Wiring Diagram printed out for the trailer connector and go from there .....Then you can but Kits that plug directly into the Factory Harness...... Truck Parts & Truck Accessories Lookup - actioncarandtruck.com
Adapters Wiring | etrailer.com
Adapters Wiring | etrailer.com
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 417
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The color of the wires going into the plug will answer your question. Wire colors don't usually change and the colors I posted are standard across all applications. Peel back the black plastic wire shield and you'll see.
New User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1
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brake control
New here;
I have a 2011 E350 XLT. I found the wiring behind the coin bin just like TexsDream77 said. I plugged this harness into it.
2Fwww.etrailer.com%2FBrake-Controller%2FDraw-Tite%2F20270.html
It is flat not round
The white ground wire is good.
The red brake wire is good
The black 12v wire is not hot.
I know the blue wire contects to the blue on the controller, but where does it come out in the rear of the van?
How do I make the black wire hot?
I have a 2011 E350 XLT. I found the wiring behind the coin bin just like TexsDream77 said. I plugged this harness into it.
2Fwww.etrailer.com%2FBrake-Controller%2FDraw-Tite%2F20270.html
It is flat not round
The white ground wire is good.
The red brake wire is good
The black 12v wire is not hot.
I know the blue wire contects to the blue on the controller, but where does it come out in the rear of the van?
How do I make the black wire hot?
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Fort Loramie, Oho
On my 2008 E-350, the wiring for the controller was there, but only the wires for a flat-4 trailer connector were at the back of the van. With the help of some people on this list, I found that the wires terminated at a large connector/junction under the van, below the dash on the drivers side. There are probably 20 or more wires in that group, but the outside corner wires are the ones that you need for a 7 pin trailer connector. (brake, constant 12v, reverse) On my 2008, the relay in the fuse box for the 12v line had to be installed (purchased at Advance Auto)
Jack
Jack
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 586
Likes: 1
On my 2008 E-350, the wiring for the controller was there, but only the wires for a flat-4 trailer connector were at the back of the van. With the help of some people on this list, I found that the wires terminated at a large connector/junction under the van, below the dash on the drivers side. There are probably 20 or more wires in that group, but the outside corner wires are the ones that you need for a 7 pin trailer connector. (brake, constant 12v, reverse) On my 2008, the relay in the fuse box for the 12v line had to be installed (purchased at Advance Auto)
Jack
Jack
Do you happen to remember the wire colors of the outside corner wires we need?
New User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
A pic of the Brake connector in a 2008 E350...
I know this thread is a bit stale but it took me forever to find the connector even with my friend google and this forum. This pic might help the next hunter...
It is tucked neatly behind the bracket, use the fuse panel for reference and put your ear on the brake pedal to see it.
You do not need to remove any panels or covers to get to it.
It is tucked neatly behind the bracket, use the fuse panel for reference and put your ear on the brake pedal to see it.
You do not need to remove any panels or covers to get to it.
