I just bought an 06 F 250 (as I bow my head in a moment of silence for my retiring 1995 Bronco). It didn't come with the factory trailer brake controller and I was thinking of getting one through Ford (I like how nice & neat it fits).

Anyone added the fact Ford one? How much to buy? How simple to install? Plug & play?

 

First off welcome to FTE lots of good people and info around here

Well it's not exactly plug n play.
1) You need the controller in the dash (different part #'s depending on Automatic trans or Stick).

2) You need a new master cylinder, designed for the integrated brake controller.

3) Dealer must reprogram the computer to recognize the brake controller.

Dealer install with parts probably cost close to $1000. My recommendation would be just to install the aftermarket prodigy and save the money.

Hope this helps

 

Damn! You figure it'd be easier since there's already a "Trailer Towing Package" already built in.

Now do I scavenge the controller out of the Bronco, or go ALL OUT and buy a new one??

Thanks for the 'welcome'. A fellow TeamFocus.us member sent me this way. I think I've been here before.

 

Well unless the controller in the bronco is a "Prodigy" i would go buy a new one. The "Prodigy" is a great controller.

www.tekonsha.com/prodig.html

You can get them at www.etrailer.com and they are a site sponser also.

Hope this helps

 

Blackhat is right on the money and would take his advice anyday.
The Prodigy is about the best out there .
etrailer.com

 

i have heard diff. I would check with Ford before you make up your mind.

 

You have heard what different?

 

BrakeSmart, It's the best aftermarket controller there is. BrakeSmart operates on the same principle as the factory controller but does not require a special master cylinder. Unfortunately, Brake Smart is currently about $450 but it installs easily and works great. This would cost be less than retrofitting the factory system and work just as well. On Super Duty trucks the controller mounts into the dash cubby very well.

 

That's why I was interested in the factory controller. It's clean and doesn't look like an add-on.
I found the plug Ford gives you for a controller (in the glove compartment), where does it plug in (yeah, getting too lazy to look after a long work week).

I still have to see which drop hitch I need to go with my trailer, a 2" or 4". I guess maybe I should get off my **** and unhook the Bronco from the car trailer.

 

Prodigy will fit in the dash cubby also. That is where mine is. They can be had for $100 or less and for about $10 more, you won't have to splice that pigtail in your glove compartment to the one that comes standard with the Prodigy. You can get the optional Ford dedicated cord that plugs and plays.

It's an excellent controller, particularly for someone whose load isn't changing several times a day, like someone hauling a dump trailer. For a travel trailer or any other load that is usually close to the same weight they are great. The only reason I mention that is that the Brakesmart will adjust to the change by it's self but the Prodigy will require you to make a minor adjustment that will take about 10 seconds each time you do it.

You can do a search on Prodigy controllers to see how many satisfied owners there are.

Gene

 

The plug for the controller pigtail is under the center area of the dash. It may be taped in place. BrakeSmart controllers also come with the right pigtail to plug straight into your truck without using the factory supplied pigtail. If you check RV.net you'll find that the top three aftermarket controllers are considered to be, in this order;

1. BrakeSmart, hydraulic pressure sensing, $450
2 Jordan 2020, cable connected directly to brake pedal that should be unhooked when not towing, $125
3 Prodigy, inertia sensing, $100 or less

I have used the BrakeSmart and the Jordan and they both work well but the Jordan was a major pain to install in a Chevy van and may not be much easier in an F250. I installed the BrakeSmart in my E350 van in less than two hours. I have heard lots of good stuff about the Prodigy but haven't used or installed one. If your load doesn't change much or you don't tow regularly the Prodigy is easiest to install and the best value.

 

To make this even more confusing.... The factory brake controller in the Super Duty trucks is made by Techonsha. It uses the same technology that the Prodigy does. It operated the exact same way the Prodigy does. $ for $ the Prodigy is the way to go. Get the pigtail for the Ford and plug straight in. It sould take you all of 5 min to install. If you are going to do a custom mount it may take a bit longer. If you're putting it in a stock storage tray then drill a hole i the rear of the tray, thread the harness through the hole, reach under the right hand side of the steering wheel under the dash and plug it in. Apply some 2 sided tape to the bottom of your Prodigy and you're all done!

 

You are correct that the factory controller is made by Tekonsha, but you are incorrect about the technology used and how it operates. The Prodigy is an inertial controller which determines braking force based upon sensing forward momentum of a built in pendulum or simular device while the vehicle is under braking. The Ford factory Tow Command controller uses a hydraulic pressure transducer mounted in the master cylinder to determine braking force by measuring actual hydraulic line pressure during braking. It uses this measurement to adjust power to the trailer brakes. This type of system is also what BrakeSmart uses and is more accurate than the inertial system used in the Prodigy. Kelsey-Hayes had a popular controller that used a similar system before the advent of Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) but it allowed displacement of fluid and wasn't compatible with ABS. The sensors used with Tow Command and BrakeSmart are pressure teransducers that do not allow fluid displacement and ARE compatible with ABS. All that said, the Prodigy is probably the most cost effective solution for most people. Those who tow alot, especially with varying loads, and really want the best, safest brake control system should either order Tow Command in their truck, retrofit Tow Command to their truck, or install an aftermarket BrakeSmart controller. No other style of sensing system can equal the capability of a hydraulic pressure sensing system.

 

The sensor in the Prodigy isn't a pendulum. That is old technology from the fifties and require the controller to be mounted at or near level to function properly. The Prodigy uses a solid state motion sensor originally designed for use in military missiles. Keep in mind that the brake light circuit activates the braking system and then the motion detector sends out voltage proportional to the braking force of the tow vehicle. You can dial in lead time or lag time and braking force (voltage) on the front panel controls. It is much more sophisticated than earlier designs. You would be hard pressed to tell that the trailer brakes are not connected directly to your brake pedal. As Ron Popeil says, "set it, and forget it."

The Prodigy comes with a hard plastic mounting holster that will allow you to hang it under the dash if you like, but as I mentioned earlier, I put mine in the cubby and drilled a hole in the back for the cable to exit as Bryan described. What I did differently was to use the mounting holster to make the outside of the Prodigy a little larger so that it is a snug fit without any fasteners of any kind. It sticks out just enough for the manual lever to be within easy reach should you need it. I was even able to leave an old Kelsey Hayes controller, that was installed below the dash when I bought my truck, in place as a backup should that ever be an issue. Simply unplug one and plug in the other.

Gene

 

I don't recall the brand of controller on my husbands 2002 F-250....but it is a digital read-out , petite....just the digital screen and adjustment dial peeks out of the cubby hole...very tidy like stated above. My husband raves how easily he can change trailers and flick the digital #'s to a pre-determined level for each load/type. We just started using our '05 with the factory brake box....seems to be working fine with two of our trailers...but still not sure why we're having troubles with the third. I would opt for the self installed prodigy/digital as above and not have to worry about if the computer stuff will work out....wait till your next truck to come pre-installed with the factory box ...if it is proven to be worth it ?