Adding trailer brakes?
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 90
Likes: 1
Adding trailer brakes?
Picking up a new car trailer in the next few weeks and wondering how to add it to my 2017 250. I understand I have to buy the controller from Ford, but I'm guessing ForScan is involved?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 522
Likes: 21
From: Minnesota
You should have the brake controller in the truck already, it should be just in front of your right kneecap while sitting in the seat. I believe All Superduty’s come with a brake controller. It will have a slide bar and a plus minus button for the sensitivity of the controller. No need for forscan either. There are different sensitivity settings in your menu in the gauge cluster for setting up the controller for small, medium and large trailers. Also for electric brakes vs electric over hydraulic trailer brakes.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 859
Likes: 10
From: North Carolina
An aftermarket option would work just fine, a little bit more wiring than the plug and play OEM but worth having. You may be able to use the OEM set up if the wire harness is there, my XL came with the brake controller so your truck may have it tucked away somewhere.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 90
Likes: 1
Im thinking it would be right where there is a little storage spot by my right knee as stated above. I'll have to pull that out and maybe the wire is there.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 859
Likes: 10
From: North Carolina
If the wires are there, chances are you will need some sort of programming to activate the option. Forscan or at the dealer.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 522
Likes: 21
From: Minnesota
Depending on your dealer if you buy the factory controller and install it yourself they might turn it on for free. My local dealer did in an older F150 that I had. It’s an easy install and only took them a few minutes to get the truck to recognize it. The factory controller is way better than any aftermarket controller I’ve had in the past!
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 708
Likes: 161
From: Everett, Washington
Your truck should have the plug in a bag inside the glovebox. It mates up to a plug that is behind the small pocket where the factory controller would normally go. If you have thin enough arms you can reach under the dash and get it without taking it apart. I used a tekonsha digital controller and have been happy with it. Can buy controller at etrailer .there is a photo to help and the controller I used in this link,select f-250 and it will come with a harness also. If you need a pic of where I mounted it let me know.
https://www.etrailer.com/multi-produ...0531&hunter=bc
https://www.etrailer.com/multi-produ...0531&hunter=bc
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 8
I'm just going to get the OEM installed on my XL. There isn't a ton of knee room in these trucks. I like the clean look of inside the dash.
The aftermarket guys need to get on the ball, we're not driving clunky 1986 Chevys anymore. Make a smaller product that can be flush glued to the dash somewhere. Not some giant CB shaped box thing.
The aftermarket guys need to get on the ball, we're not driving clunky 1986 Chevys anymore. Make a smaller product that can be flush glued to the dash somewhere. Not some giant CB shaped box thing.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 53
Likes: 2
From: Tomball, TX
I had the dealer add it to my XL STX when I bought it as I couldn't believe it didn't have it. The connector is behind the cutout, they just had to pop it out, plug it in and flash the computer to get it to recognize it. Now that I use, and know about Forscan, I could have done it myself but I told them I wasn't buying a 3/4 ton diesel pickup without them throwing it in. Yes, this was after the final price was agreed to...but before I signed the dotted line. I still think it is ridiculous this isn't standard on these trucks, hell I have the 360 ultimate trailer towing camera package and had no brake controller...made no sense.
The integrated factory trailer brake controller is nice though, I'd recommend OEM over aftermarket in this case.
Here is a thread that indicates what to change to enable it with Forscan if you go the DIY route.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...n-forscan.html
The integrated factory trailer brake controller is nice though, I'd recommend OEM over aftermarket in this case.
Here is a thread that indicates what to change to enable it with Forscan if you go the DIY route.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...n-forscan.html
