Tow Command question: Hooked my truck up to my 5er for the first time. 2005 F350 Crew 4x4 with the tow command option. I guess I am not use to it compared to the Prodigy because I got some questions. When I manually slide the tow command switch it does not engage the trailer brakes as I expected even with the setting at 10. With the Prodigy I could actually stop my truck with the manual slide. Is this something different about the tow command. It has me a little concerned before I head out on my first trip. I went through the owners manual on how to set it up. Started at the 6 setting on the display. Anything 0 to 10 does not seem to make a difference. When I apply the brakes I do however hear a clicking noise at the brakes on the trailer. Any help would be appreciated.....

 

I would put a multimeter to the truck hot to brakes out and see if manual slide and then brake pedel made it hot. If yes then trouble shoot the trailer.

My 05 works perfectly as advertised. Although I have not had the huevos to stab the brakes and test the new pulsing ABS strategy that the TBC provides.

On 5 gain setting my manual slide will lock both sets on the trailer when it is empty and I use 6 gain when it is heavy.

 

I would put a multimeter to the truck hot to brakes out and see if manual slide and then brake pedel made it hot. If yes then trouble shoot the trailer.

My 05 works perfectly as advertised. Although I have not had the huevos to stab the brakes and test the new pulsing ABS strategy that the TBC provides.

On 5 gain setting my manual slide will lock both sets on the trailer when it is empty and I use 6 gain when it is heavy.

 

I do not believe the ABS pulse the trailer brakes. rather it puts the hammer to them if the ABS is activated.
check out post #40 by me at this link:
http://www.fordtrucks.com/forums/sho...=275660&page=2

 

The trailer brakes will NOT pulsate with the abs on the truck. You have to set the power to the brakes to avoid lockup by calibrating the Gain setting.

This was information that I specifically asked of a Ford rep at the Chicago Innovation drive after I test drove the new brakes.

 

Thanks Fred for the reply. I took the truck over to the dealer today to have them look at it. They said it was the first tow command they have seen. Just my luck! I did put the volt meter on the electric brake out pin. At the 5 gain setting I only had .5 volts. On the 10 setting I had 1.6 vdc. I do not think this is enough voltage to engage the trailer breaks. I tested it with the trailer plugged into the socket. The trailer outline on the brake controller went from red to green and I do get an alert on the dash when the trailer is unplugged. At least that is working. It has to be a voltage problem. We will see what the dealer finds.

 

I got my 2005 F350 with tow command back from the dealer Friday with no trouble found. They stated they called their FORD technical hot line. They were told the tow command adjust the amount of voltage going to the brake trailer pin (Blue wire) with the speed of the truck. Sitting still you would only get 1.5 to 3 volts DC. As you go down the road at increasing speed you can manual slid the switch to adjust the gain setting to desired braking on the trailer. Here is the problem I addressed to them with no answer. With a slider hitch in the bed, I always used the manual slide on the brake controller to mover the truck forward or backward up and down the slide while keeping the trailer stationary by engaging the electric brakes. If what they say is true, you can not do that any longer because the truck is stationary and not enough voltage is being sent to the electric trailer brake lead. Am I missing something here or being lead astray by someone ? If not then Ford needs to look into fixing the problem. Who wants to block their trailer everytime to move there slider hitch.

 

When you need to slide the hitch, just pull the cord on the break away switch. That should lock the brakes up.