Ok so im trying to find a 09 which is close to what i ordered but aint having no luck finding any with the trailer brake controler. At what trailer weight would you consider fitting a trailer brake controler for a trailer? and what weights would you consider it not really needed????

 

Most states require trailer brakes on any trailer 3,000 lbs and up. Some states are as low as 1,500 lbs. So it will really depend on where and what you plan on towing...

 

If you've never had a trailer brake set-up with a controller, you don't know what you're missing. They are by far the BEST thing you can do for trailering safety and ease of driving......I'd put that very close to the top of the list of ABSOLUTE requirements if the trailer i would be towing was any more than 3000 lbs

 

I think here any tandem trailer is required to have brakes

 

I would buy the truck you find that you like even if it does not have the brake controller. YOu can install a Prodigy brake controller (one of the best on the market) for around $100 for the part and 15 or 20 minutes to install. I installed mine over 4 years ago and haven't touched it since.

 

Thanks guys. Looks like after market is the way to go. Another question i notice that if i have the max trailer tow package it chages things to a 7 pin wireing harness from i think a 4 pin. Do i need to modify that as well as i have a 4 pin at the moment and it only does lights.

 

It should have both the 4 and 7 pin on the truck. They have up till now at least. If not, there are adapters you put in the 7 pin to get a 4 pin.

 

Yep your right it comes with a 7 pin. I was looking at the wrong thing.

 

The aftermarket units can't touch the integrated unit. The integrated unit talks to the PCM and know the braking force you're using and adjusts the trailer brakes accordingly. I've driven a Super Duty with an integrated controller and one with a Prodigy... the integrated wins hands down.

 

PowerstrokeHD let me know that i may be able to add the Intergrated brake controller after market. I will have to look into it a bit more. It cant be that hard to put in.

 

The Prodigy unit? Its not the same. Why not tell the dealer you want the OEM unit installed or no deal?

 

I will try that. This dealer seems a lot more help than the others.

 

With today's competitive market most dealers will do a lot to get a sale. I wouldn't let it really dictate the sale (the aftermarket aren't as refined as the OEM which communicates with the PCM but they are damn good), but see if you can call a dealer's bluff by insisting on it!

 

I had the Prodigy on my 04 F250 6.0 and it worked good. I have the built in one on my new F150 but haven't tried it out yet.

 

The Prodigy I tested was in a 2005 F250 6.0, verses the same truck with an integrated brake controller. Load was over 10K. When I drove with the Prodigy I thought "this is good". Then I drove with the integrated controller and thought "this is much better." Had I never driven with the intergrated controller I wouldn't have known what I was missing!

The advantage the integrated controller has is that it talks to the PCM. When trailer sway control kicks in its also controlling the trailer brakes. When you come to a stop the PCM knows not only how much brake you are giving it, but also your speed and rate of decelleration. With normal conditions its subtle, such as when coming to a stop with a very heavy load an aftermarket brake controller (no matter how you adjust it) you'll often notice a very slight push and rock just as you come to a stop because the trailer's brakes are lagging behind the response time of the truck's brakes by just a bit. Its not huge when you have an aftermarket unit adjusted correctly, but you can feel there's a trailer back there when you stop. With the integrated controller its smooth as glass.

My 2004 F250 has a Prodigy controller, and I wish they had integrated controllers in 2004 like they did in 2005. FYI, if I'm not mistaken Prodigy makes the Ford integrated unit, or at least they did with the Super Duty.

Don't get me wrong, not saying the aftermarket alternatives aren't great products, they are. But, until they have the capability to work with the PCM and anti-sway control they're going to lag a bit in functionality.