My last experience with brake controllers was a little over 35 years ago. Then, all one could get was a little box that mounted under the dash and had a little lever you could pull to operate the trailer brakes manually if needed (which was frequently). The contoller had a hydraulic line that ran from the box to a tee behind the master cylinder (guess I'm giving my age away). It worked but the brake pedal went a little lower because of the extra fluid needed to operate the cylinder in the contoller.

I've seen a lot of recommendations for Prodigy brake contollers. Best I can tell, they work when they sense the towing vehicle slowing. If so, how do they hold when the truck is motionless, such as when stopped on a steep hill?

I've seen recommendations elsewhere for a controller that taps into the hydraulic line. Doesn't that void the warranty?

Btw, I have an '08 F-150 screw, 5.4L, 3.74 rear, and HD tow pkg. (receiver, 4 & 7 pin sockets, larger tranny cooler, and prewired trailer wiring). I'm considering a P3 so I can tow anything that isn't too heavy (including electric over hydraulic) since it isn't that much more pricewise.

Jeannie

 

Ford has an OE brake controller for some vehilces now that is tapped into the master cylinder and works with many of the vehicles systems, like the ABS and the transmission...

 

I think you want the Tekonsha Prodigy, or P2, or P3. Those three are similar, but slightly different features. The Prodigy has been the best of the best for many years, but it does not handle electric over hydraulic trailer brakes. The P3 adds that capability, plus a sexy LCD display. The P2 is the newest, and I'm not quite certain how it differs. But really, with an F150, you are very unlikely to ever tow a trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes, since those are found on trailers that exceed the capaibility of your F150. I kind of think the Prodigy is simpler to use, but I have to say I have never towed with a P3. I will also say that I have never heard anyone complain about a Prodigy, and I have heard people who upgraded to a P3 wish that they had not. For what it is worth. None of these controllers will tap into your hydraulic system. They are plug and play, and inertial controllers.

They put out a reduced voltage to your trailer brakes when you are sitting at a stop to help hold the trailer. Don't worry about that, they have engineered this into the unit.

Ford has offered an OEM brake controller since '05, but I don't think they offered one in the F150 until about the 2010 model. I'm pretty sure you cannot get it added to your '08. You could ask your dealer about that. It does sense hydraulic pressure to control your brakes, and by doing that they get the smoothest possible cooperation between your truck and trailer brake systems. But even if it is available to you, I don't really think it is worth the money it would cost to retro-fit. Any of the inertial controllers I mentioned above will work great for you.

Be sure to get the optional plug and play cable from Tekonsha to fit your truck and controller. That means no wiring for you to do, just a couple of screws to mount the unit. Could not be easier.

 

you should be able to just plug that controller into the wiring harness provided by ford. This wiring harness will then plug in under the dash and send power back to your hitch. Nothing else to do but drive.

 

I tow a 10,000# travel trailer 7,800# dry. I run an electric controller. I use PODS. I don't know that adding the mechanical over electric is really needed. I can lock the trailer up if I needed to with just the electric. I have towed this trailer over 7600 ft passes in Nevada. Several times over Copper Canyon on I-17 north of you just out of Camp Verde. I went from a mechanical brake controller to electric & much prefer the electric. For one if I ever lost the truck brakes it doesn't effect the trailer. I had a mechanical controller I had a master cylinder failure & that got scary coming down into Laughlin NV from the Nevada side.
But I also tow with a 1986 F250 4x4. So I run an older truck.
Craig