I have a F250 07' with a intergrated brake control. I think it's not working properly. The truck is stopping the trailer. I believe the trailer should stop 1st. I play with the +/- button and it still doesn't stop the trailer first but it works fine when I squeeze the lever switch. It's bee replaced once by the dealer and didn't change anything. Should you replace it with an after market brake control or any suggestions?

 

Hi and welcome to the forum. Some of my friends had problems with the early versions of this controller. After they had them reprogrammed by Ford everything works ok. From what everyone that has one says, its a real good controller and I wouldn't give up just yet. I'll assume it's still under warranty, if so, I'd take it back to the dealer and have him fix it. The dealer's techs may not be that familiar with it and use the old 'if at first you don't succeed replace the whole unit and go on with life' approach. Something tells me the problem is outside of the controller, i.e. that part that generates the 'brake' signal to the controller since the lever switch works.

 

The integrated brake controller doesnt work the way an aftermarket one does. It is integrated with your ABS and with your brake master cylinder through sensors. It also knows not to lock up the wheels on the trailer at slower speeds and will back out the voltage to the trailer brakes. It uses information from the ABS motion sensors on the wheels to know if you are under extreme braking. This is how it prevents the trailer pushing the truck, and prevents the truck bearing the trailer more than it should.

If you are pulling your trailer on gravel or sandy road can you manually make the tires slide on the trailer using the manual over ride? (You have to be going more than about 25 Km/Hour or 15 mph to do this or it downgrades the application of trailer brake to prevent skidding and chatter). If you are able to slide the wheels on the trailer its working properly (you will hear the noise if it is, if there is enough traction, you will see and here the trailer tires). If you cant, have you adjusted the brakes on the trailer so the shoes are close as possible to the drum? I run mine at about 7.0 to 9.0 depending (wet or snow I turn down a bit). I have no problems, seems to haul down well.

You will not get the trailer to slow the truck with this set up like an aftermarket because it is using the ABS sensors and speed sensors, brake pedel sensor to know the truck is slowing, once you get to a slower speed it does let off a bit. At higher speeds, you dont feel the truck being held back by the trailer, but you should not feel the trailer pushing the truck.

Just some thoughts. It took a while to get used to mine, when I first hooked up to my new RV, I tested and tested before I went on the highway home. I wanted to make sure it was all working properly before I had 12,000 lbs going 60 mph down the highway.

 

mhoefer is spot on in his answer. I've found the same with mine.

 

The OP doesn't say what he's pulling, but I've found with my triple axle disk brakes that there is a very slight delay after applying brakes (either through the brake pedal or manually with the controller) while the hydraulic pump motor spins up to pressurize the system. Normally, this is not noticeable, but in a panic stop situation where you need them RIGHT NOW, time seems to stop and you find yourself wondering where the heck are the trailer brakes. And then, when they kick in, they really kick in.

 

I pull a 35 ft. 5th wheel triple axel with super glide hitch (short bed)