I have been trying to find this out and my dealership can't tell me nor have I seen one. I have an 05 F350 Cab & Chassis. I am getting ready to install my brake controller. Before I do, I would like to use the factory brake controller but I can't seem to find if they work with standard shift. The only info I can find says it comes with the Tow Command package but that requires the Torqueshift.

Long story short, does anyone have the factory brake controller and standard shift?

Thanks

 

Someone posted earlier that Tow Command is a factory option only, and can't be added after-the-fact because of its complexity.

Steve

 

Yeah, I have searched at length on this topic and read everything here about adding the full Tow Command to an already built truck. I understand that Tow Command can't be added after the fact. I couldn't get the full Tow Command anyway because part of the Tow Command package requires the Torqshift tranny, from my understanding of the brochure.

My dealer shows that just the brake controller can be added afterwards with no restrictions. It even lists it in the brochures as being an option without the full Tow Command package (just the brake controller). They say that they have added it to a couple of trucks after the fact and that just not all of the functionality of Tow Command is there. I am just curious as to whether just the brake controller was an option with trucks having a manual transmission. I am not interested in the full capabilities of it. I just would like to use it as a plain brake controller but have it integrated into the dash instead of hanging the one I have under the dash.

I am going to add the upfitters and am trying to decide whether to get the brake controller as well.

Thanks for the help thoug Steve.

 

I test drove a 6 speed that had the brake controller. I have it in my truck and love it.

Tim

 

Thanks. You are the first person I have heard of that has it with the manual tranny. I haven't even seen one with it. My wife's cousin works at my dealership and said he could order one and let me try it out with my trailer but I wanted to ask before I had him go throught the hassle, not to mention the fact it costs $167.

This is why I'm glad I joined this group, great people and great help.

 

SD -

Let us know if you go the factory controller route, and how you like it; I'll bet there're more than a few folks in this forum who'd like to hear about it! Plus, that price doesn't sound too bad, considering the Prodigy runs $100-$120 and isn't built-in.

Steve

 

I will try and get ahold of my cousin and have him order the brake controller this week. I'll take my trialer up to the dealership and have him plug it in and let me test drive with it installed and see if it looks like it works. If so, I will definitely post my findings for everyone else that is interested.

I'm sure, as stated in other posts, that the ABS part will not work but perhaps everthing else will.

 

I am sure it will work the same in a 6 speed as it would with the towcammond system. Because all the TowCommand system is: TorqShift transmission, telescoping trailer tow mirrors, and the trailer brake controller.

If I am reading the manual correctly, the features of the trailer brake controller are- intergrated computer control module, manual control lever,digital gain/output gauge, connection status indicator, disconnect alarm, and a standard seven-pin connector.

In the manual it tells the features of the trailer brake controller, then in another section it goes on to talk about the complete towcommand system. So I don't see why the brake controller would not work the same with or without the complete towcommand system.

Tim

 

There are several folks on the diesel site that just bought the ITBC and plugged it in and it snapped right into place on the 2005.

They report every function seems to work the same as we who have it factory instaled does with one exception.

User adding of the ITBC appears to NOT talk correctly to the PCM or ABS computer and the only fuction the appears to not work is the warning tone and warning message on the center instrument cluster message center about trailer disconnected.

On a factory installed system, if you manualy slide the brake switch with no trailer connected, a tone is sounded and "Trailer Disconnected" is displayed in the message center screen.

Annie_Acres is the first over there that installed one. She claims her horse trailer brakes work just like using any other trailer brake controller. She has no idea if the user added in system actuates the ABS safety trailer brake functions.

Based on her luck adding the Ford ITBC, several others who wanted the system but did not get it have also added it in and nobody is reporting any problems.

A common problem, everybody with the system has, is the lack of full trailer brake voltage at a stop. For some reason the system is speed dependent and at a stop only 3 volts are applied to the trailer brakes.

Where this was discovered was by 5th wheel owners who prefer to hook up, lock the trailer brakes, and attempt to drive out from under it to verify the pin and jaws are latched. Some also want to lock the trailer and move the tow vehicle to slide the slide type hitches. This system does not provide enought juice to the trailers brakes to lock them at a stop.

 

Thanks, for all the info. You guys have addressed every concern I was thinking about.

 

I haven't read about other people having this problem yet so here's a heads up on my experience.

I tried to order the controller through my local dealer as well as 1stfordparts. When the dealer puts in the order, Ford comes back asking for the customer's VIN, service work order and how many miles are on the vehicle. If you go through the trouble of getting a work order from the dealer Ford then refuses to sell it to you. They want you to buy the complete integrated setup including the master cylinder. If you don't, they refuse to sell you the controller.

Anyone able to get around this?

 

Will it work if i add it in and dont change the master cyl? I ordered my 05 at the last minute, and they told me i couldnt get the controller with a manual 6 speed. Now there is a post in the super duty with the part numbers for the ford kit to install the tbc, 5C3Z-19H332-AA for gas, but i dont want to be swaping out the master cyl. on a brand new truck yet. any thoughts?

 

I've been researching this since I have the same dilemma. I also didn't get it and have the manual tranny. I finally got an answer from Ford after many phone calls and conversations with techs. They said, unofficially of course, that I could add just the brake controller to my truck. They said that if I didn't replace the master cylinder and get the message center reprogrammed that it would work just like an aftermarket brake controller. The message center would not tell me if my trailer were disconnected and the ABS feature would not work. They said that's why there are two plugs for the brake controller. One is for the computerized part and the other is for the standard brake control functions.

I am trying to get time to go to my dealer and order the brake controller and the upfitter switches for mine. I don't care about the message center and ABS. I just like the integrated look in the dash.

 

I understand that you can plug in the new brake controller and it works like a regular brake controller, but how does it sense braking force when it's not hooked up to the master cylinder? Is it a timed unit or a pendulum like my aftermarket unit in my Excursion? It doesn't seem like it's worth it for the extra money above and beyond the standard $80 aftermarket controller if you're not getting the master cylinder as well so it can measure brake pressure at the same time.

Any thoughts?

 

I didn't ask that specific question, but based on my conversations, it is at least in part speed sensitive.

I agree about the extra money, but when compared to some aftermarket controllers, the extra $40 isn't much, when compared to $130 for a Prodigy considering it looks like it belongs and no holes to drill in a $45000 truck.

As soon as I can get to my dealer I am ordering one and will let everyone know how it works.