So here's the question. I'm getting ready to buy a new fifth wheel trailer. The ones I've looked at mostly have electric over hydraulic brakes. Ford's manual for my truck says that the factory controller I have has only been shown to work with electric brakes. My question is will the factory controller work with electric over hydraulic brakes or do I have to get an aftermarket controller for the trailer brakes to work right? If I do have to upgrade to an aftermarket controller, how do I integrate it since there is already a factory controller in place? I know this has probably already been posted by someone in the past but I couldn't find anything. Sorry for beating a dead horse if it has but any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Ford's Integrated Brake Controller works off of a sensor in the master brake cylinder to apply a voltage which is proportional to the braking pressure. If your 5th wheel electric-over-hydraulic is only a brakes on/ brakes off type I'd think you'd have to lose this capability.

 

I've got electric over hydraulic brakes on my triple axle. Tows like a dream, stops on a dime. I'm a bit over 26K combined weight. The IBC will lock up the trailer brakes in a panic stop and those six tires make lots of smoke. In normal driving, the combination of 10 sets of discs, the IBC and the tow/haul mode tranny downshifting is absolutely fantastic.

 

I'm running E/H BrakeRite box on my 35' boat trailer, no problems and works like a champ with the factory brake controller.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I was starting to worry that I might have to do some major work to try to get another brake controller and make it work. Or worse yet, have to change my first choice in fifth wheels. Thanks again for the help.

John