Ford Tow Command Controller - Boat Trailers
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Ford Tow Command Controller - Boat Trailers
Ford Tow Command Brake Controller:
Trailer brakes for boats:
During the last several years “surge disk brake controllers” (at the hitch) has become the “standard” for boat trailers.
In the last couple of years electric/hydraulic controllers are becoming more popular – but no major company has yet incorporated them into luxury ski boats and trailers. The hydraulic portion is necessary because the disk brakes are submerged under water for launch and load.
http://www.titandist.com/
How does the Ford Tow Command Controller work with those types of systems? More importantly, how do they perform in emergency braking situations, like slamming on the brakes on wet pavement to activate the trucks ABS system? Does the Ford system send out an ABS signal to the trailer brakes; specifically in regard to the electric/hydraulic combination?
Trailer brakes for boats:
During the last several years “surge disk brake controllers” (at the hitch) has become the “standard” for boat trailers.
In the last couple of years electric/hydraulic controllers are becoming more popular – but no major company has yet incorporated them into luxury ski boats and trailers. The hydraulic portion is necessary because the disk brakes are submerged under water for launch and load.
http://www.titandist.com/
How does the Ford Tow Command Controller work with those types of systems? More importantly, how do they perform in emergency braking situations, like slamming on the brakes on wet pavement to activate the trucks ABS system? Does the Ford system send out an ABS signal to the trailer brakes; specifically in regard to the electric/hydraulic combination?
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if you go to ford's website and do the virtual tour of the super duty, it goes into pretty good detail on how the tow command works. I dont think it will send abs signals, and even if it did the trailer would have to understand the signals in order to apply them. in all my reading I have never seen anything that said trailer brakes with abs...anyhow check out the ford site for how the tow command works.
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From: Breezewood (S.Central) PA
Surge brakes with the tow command should work fine since they don't need a brake controller to function.
The Tow command only works with standard electric brakes. As dana_wildcat said check out Ford's site they. On the site they say that electric/hydraulic systems will not work with the system you will need to get a different type of controller.
If you are using standard brakes then the system doesn't so much activate ABS on the trailer as it senses how hard you are pressing the brakes and if the ABS starts engaging adjusts how much power is sent to the trailer brakes.
From everyone I heard from if their trailer uses the system they love it, I haven't had a chance to try mine out yet.
The Tow command only works with standard electric brakes. As dana_wildcat said check out Ford's site they. On the site they say that electric/hydraulic systems will not work with the system you will need to get a different type of controller.
If you are using standard brakes then the system doesn't so much activate ABS on the trailer as it senses how hard you are pressing the brakes and if the ABS starts engaging adjusts how much power is sent to the trailer brakes.
From everyone I heard from if their trailer uses the system they love it, I haven't had a chance to try mine out yet.
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bgrover - dana_wildcat,
Thanks for the information.
I have not been able to find information on the current Ford web site detailed info on the Ford Controller. I think I saw something on it a few months ago for the 2005 models - but I guess the web site is going through some changes? If you find a link? Please let me know.
Products such as this:
http://www.titandist.com/pdfs/page15-16.pdf
Say that they work with all "in-cab" controllers?
I think now I am down to the final question, can such a controller "let-off" the trailer brakes in emercency situations, when the ABS on the truck kicks in? In other words can it act as if it were electric brakes and do the right thing.
Thanks for the information.
I have not been able to find information on the current Ford web site detailed info on the Ford Controller. I think I saw something on it a few months ago for the 2005 models - but I guess the web site is going through some changes? If you find a link? Please let me know.
Products such as this:
http://www.titandist.com/pdfs/page15-16.pdf
Say that they work with all "in-cab" controllers?
I think now I am down to the final question, can such a controller "let-off" the trailer brakes in emercency situations, when the ABS on the truck kicks in? In other words can it act as if it were electric brakes and do the right thing.
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Houston:
I replaced a steel dual axle boat trailer with a surge brake actuator with a tri axle aluminum trailer with a similar electric over hydraulic brake actuator mounted on the 20k solid tongue. I can adjust the braking level/strength from the cab from none (when I just launched the boat) to mid level (truck and trailer stop nicely together) to full (trailer whells will lock up if needed in a panic stop). I would never go back to surge actuated brakes for a heavy boat trailer.
Dan
I replaced a steel dual axle boat trailer with a surge brake actuator with a tri axle aluminum trailer with a similar electric over hydraulic brake actuator mounted on the 20k solid tongue. I can adjust the braking level/strength from the cab from none (when I just launched the boat) to mid level (truck and trailer stop nicely together) to full (trailer whells will lock up if needed in a panic stop). I would never go back to surge actuated brakes for a heavy boat trailer.
Dan
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Thanks guys, yes it does appear that manyt "electric over hydralic" systems will not function correctly with the built in Ford Tow Brake Controller (as indicated in the Ford Manual). It appears the electronics are not "smart" enough.
It does appear that some companies are addressing the issue - within a year or two I would expect that all should offer a system will be compatible in order to stay competitive, and offer a superior and safer braking system.
These two companies (as others have posted) may offer a solution as of now.
http://www.dexteraxle.com/electro_hydraulic_actuators
http://www.carlislebrake.com/spec_hb...er-module.html
It does appear that some companies are addressing the issue - within a year or two I would expect that all should offer a system will be compatible in order to stay competitive, and offer a superior and safer braking system.
These two companies (as others have posted) may offer a solution as of now.
http://www.dexteraxle.com/electro_hydraulic_actuators
http://www.carlislebrake.com/spec_hb...er-module.html
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