Anyone with an 05 using the new trailer brake controller? Is it a digital controller?

My trailer will have electric/hydraulic brakes. I want to make sure that the Ford controller will work with them. Since it's so new, no one knows if it will work or not.

Brian

 

I'm looking at a F350 DRW with one and am also curious. I have the Technosha Prodigy now and love it - that will be hard to beat. Any ideas on who manufactures the Ford controller itself?

 

I thought I had a post that said they thought the Ford controller was made by Tekonsha, but I can't find it. It might be at work. I don't see why it wouldn't work, it's still an electric signal.

 

from what I understand, the new 05 with brake controllers, have manual adjustments, and work in coordination with the truck brakes, it reacts so if your abs kicks in, then the brake controller will pluse the trailer brakes just like the truck brakes.

 

I read somewhere that is was made by Technosha just like BSTACK said. But as I understand it works like the Brakesmart unit.

 

I don't know who makes it, but it works great.

 

The info I have read says that the Ford built in controller will NOT work with electric over hydraulic brakes.

 

really? Do you know why? And if you have this new feature, how do you disable it?!

 

Ford specifically says it is not certified to work with electric over hydraulic systems.

The integrated Trailer Brake Controller uses the onboard sensors and PCM (Powertrain Control Module, and ABS computer to make its corrections to driver brake demands. One of the better systems I have used but it has some quirks and only time will tell if there is any significan safety value in the panic or emergency stop scenarios.

Not sure if the TBC will "pulse" the rear brakes Ford says:

"F-Series introduces the first factory installed Trailer Brake Controller(TBC) that is fully connected to the vehicle computer network. That means it can read driver activity from the SuperDuty Anti-loc Brake System, and provide proportional trailer braking to match. It uses master-cylinder preasure, vehicle speed, even whether or not ABS is on or off, to adjust trailer brake performance."

I have never had a electric over hydraulic system but I would bet that they require a higher rated amperage controller. I did notice over the years that many of the standard controllers are nor recommended for Elec / Hyd systems and that they usually have a different model number for that application. I also saw that they were higher priced.

 

Sorry I haven't replied sooner, I've been getting my truck ready for work, plus I quit my day job, and lost a good internet connection.

The Ford controller, as expected, did not work with my trailer, which has electric/hydraulic brakes. I could activate the brakes manually, but the red trailer would light up, thinking I wasn't even hooked up. The brakes would not work with the brake pedal at all.

Ended up added a Tekonsha VOYAGER controller.

 

Can you have two controllers, the one you added and the factory one? Can you have it so traditional e-brakes work with the factory controller, and hydo/e-brakes work with the Voyager?

 

Sorry for the delayed reply. I had the voyager controller wired to the plug in the bed. The plugs at the hitch are still wired to the Ford controller. I have not tested it, but that's what the installer said.

 

ah, that makes a lot of sense. A pain in the butt, but makes sense.

 

I installed a BrakeSmart unit this fall in my 99 F-250 SD SC 4X4 PSD Longbed.

I love it! I have only pulled units with electric brakes so far but take a look at their web site www.masterbrake.com for additional information and contact info.

I have pulled a 32' 5th wheel travel trailer both on the Interstate and thru town. My old controller would cause the uneven brakeing at slow speeds and would just about put you either in the back seat or into the windsheld. That is ALL gone now with this controller.

Plus I have pulled a 28' flat bed gooseneck for over 3000 miles with loads from zero to 14,000 lbs. All braking has been VERY smooth.

It is as uniform as the truck is itself, even stopping at those intersections that have gotten a little wavey or bumby I can stop as smoothly as I do without the trailer.

 

The BrakeSmart unit has been mentioned here before, and users really like it. The only possible problem would be installing it on a tow vehicle still under warranty; I wonder if it could be blamed for a master cylinder malfunction and repair refused?

Steve