Anyone installed a trailer brake control box in the dash on a 2006-250SD, says remove cover on dash and wire connections are behind cover , any pros /cons on which type controler or install probs ?

 

Get the Prodigy. Best for the buck. Camping World usiually has them at a pretty good price.

 

I agree, get the Prodigy controller. $109 free ship.
http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog...&cat=47&page=1

 

I dont have the Prodigy, but I have a Tekonsha controller and can say it is one of the best I have used. Cant go wrong with any of their brake control systems.

 

Maybe he wants the OEM look . . .

 

I bought the Prodigy from Camping World and the custom wire harness kit. 15 minutes to install in my 2000 F250 PSD.

-Pete

 

Anyone had any problems installing the Prodigy on 2005 F250? Didn't know about the TowCommand until months after I bought the truck, and I don't need nor want to spend the $500+ to add it now. Need to get a controller, but have heard there are issues with the wiring not being the same as for prior years. I've already experienced trailer brake lockup with my new 05 that I didn't have with my 2001 350 DRW PSD towing the same trailer. I had to cut the brake wire (temporarily) on the trailer to stop the trailer brakes from locking up when I put the 05 in drive.

 

The Prodigy is made byTekonsha. I installed one on a Grand Cherokee with no problem. Works great. I have another cradle in a jeep liberty and switch the controller between the two all the time.

 

Papa_J,

If you plugged the pigtail for the brake controller into the factory supplied plug under the dash, then a few things could cause this.

1) The connector on the trailer is wired in a different pattern than the connector on the truck at the bumper. with a 6pin or 7-pin plug there is a constant hot 12+ wire that is used for the battery charge circuit, if this is connected to the traile brake wire then you have power to the brakes all the time.

2) You crossed the wires when you hooked the pigtail from under the dash to the brake controller itself.

3) There is a short in the trailer wiring that is sending power to the brakes at all times.

4) When you step on the brake pedal inorder to be able to shift from Park into Drive the brakes on the truck and trailer are applied momentarily, if there is a problem with the controller you are using it could be leaving the brake circuit hot do to an internal malfunction of the controller.

What controller are you using currently?

I would check all of the wiring for any problems (miss wire or shorts), and also check the brake controller.

Hope this helps

 

Thanks. But with either truck, the 01 PSD or the 05 250, I didn't/don't have a brake controller hooked up yet. I didn't have any problems pulling the trailer with the 01, but couldn't pull it without the blue trailer brake wire on the trailer connector pigtail being disconnected. (Trailer brakes locked up) Solved it somewhat by adding an in-line disconnect. You;'re probably right about the wiring at the truck bumper (#1). I've heard of several issues with the trailer wiring at the bumper being different on 05's than previous years.

Have a new camper, and need a brake controller, and I want to make sure that the controller I get is compatible with my 05. Don't want to have to spend time and money that I don't have to. Thanks again.

 

You solved your problem and answered your question. The trailer connector is wired differently than the vehicle wiring at the plug. The trailer brake wire on the trailer pigtail is connected to the pin that normally is used for 12+ in standard wiring configurations. I would re-wire the trailer plug to the standard wiring configuration on the plug, so it will match the majority of tow vehicles out there.

Here is a link to the wiring diagrams for the plugs.
www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm
www.marksrv.com/wiring.htm

The Prodigy is a great controller and will work with all year vehicles. The other controllers on the market also work with all year vehicles. It is not the year of the vehicle that matters with the brake controllers, the only difference is wire colors used by the manufactures. So you must make sure you are hooking each wire to the correct location on the brake controller and connector sockets and plug. The problem with wiring of pigtails generally is always on the trailer end, as many trailer manufactures had there own system for wiring the pigtail that wasn't standard with the guy down the street.

Your 05 SD is pretty much a plug and play system. Get the pigtail with the brake controller for your truck and plug it in. You can also get a socket for the rear bumper (if you don't have one already) that will plug into the Ford factory wiring. After this make sure your trailer pigtail is wired to the industry standard pin configuration.

Link to Prodigy
www.tekonsha.com/prodig.html

Hope this helps

 

Thanks. Now I can go order the Prodigy and install it this week.

 

Papa_J,

Your gonna love the Prodigy it is a great controller. Also spend the $15 bucks and get the pigtail for the brake controller that is specific for your vehicle. It has a plug on both ends and plugs in under the dash and into the brake controller. Then you don't have to make up any wire connections at the controller.

Here is a link
http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant...tegory_Code=BC

Also etrailer is and FTE sponser.

Hope this helps

 

Anybody have any suggestions as to where to mount the prodigy in the 05 F250? I'd like to keep it out of the way of the 4x4 shifter on the floor. Thought about trying to install it in the pocket where the TowCommand would go, but there doesn't seem to be enough room to mount the bracket and the controller in the pocket.
ANY suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

 

I looked at installing it there as well, but decided not to as I have a leased truck and did't want to cut out the back of the pocket to run the wires. I put mine under the drivers side glove box. It is right out of the way of everything and I'm sure your manual 4wd lever would clear as well. Can post a pic later if you want to see how it looks.