Dispelling dealership lies.

[Fritz]

True. But as you said, some XLs do not come pre-wired.

Pretty sure that most people, present company excluded, who bought the XL aren't spending the coin to do so. And most people don't have the capability to do so themselves.

That's like saying any Ranger can use a Curt Echo. Sure they CAN, but that doesn't mean you would want to. In my opinion, wiring up a controller WITHOUT emergency braking is borderline reckless.

How many XL Ranger owners have fully wired and installed a controller here? 3? 5? That's all of about 1% of Ranger XL owners.

I’m just saying it can be done. Most trucks 20 years ago weren’t pre wired. They were borderline reckless without that automatic emergency braking though.

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[D Fresh]

I’m just saying it can be done. Most trucks 20 years ago weren’t pre wired. They were borderline reckless without that automatic emergency braking though.

Most people towing today weren't towing 20 years ago. And the vehicles towing them didn't have braking features, which if not disabled, COULD cause problems.

I totally understood AND acknowledged your point after your first post. Congratulations on totally missing mine.

 

[EJH]

what happens with the emergency braking if you aren't wired for it?
is it guaranteeing you a jack knife scenario, or at least shitting your pants while your butthole grabs at the seat foam ?

Agree with RP. I'm not sure what would happen with a full 100% braking effort by the truck with no braking on the trailer, but I would not want to find out. Also, without the center mounted brake light signal controlling the TBC, if the truck emergency brakes, your trailer brake lights will not illuminate. In addition to what RP states, you are opening yourself to a more likely rear ending

Also, this might be a touchy subject, but I love ACC when towing. Givening the extra trailer weight, I find it hard to maintain my speed within +/- 1-2 MPH when on the highway, but the ACC when towing will do it handsomely. That isn't to say I am not paying attention and ready to take over, it just gives me better millage and a consistent cruising speed. No way I would give up ACC just to be lazy with my TBC install.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Why would the trailer brake lights not work? If you have a proper 7-pin harness, anytime the truck lights are on, the trailer should do the same.

 

[canyonslicker]

I must say I never thought AEB would be useful but in today’s world it activated twice on me. Too many unexperienced dip shits that run red lights in front of you.. post pandemic drivers really suck…

I wasn’t towing but if I didn’t have a proper TBC and I was towing there would be new thread about this subject!!

 

[Grumpaw]

I'm just from a different time. Until the Ranger, never had EB or ACC, yet millions of us somehow towed millions of miles without mishap.
As was noted, until fairly recently, trucks did not come pre-wired with a plug harness, and years ago we towed with ...OMG...CARS, and none came pre-wired. Off hand I think I wired up 8-10 vehicles over the years with aftermarket wiring and 7 pin plugs....wasn't rocket science.
With regular brake control the trailer brakes activate just as they are supposed to whenever you hit the brake pedal.......the emergency braking dose not work as there is no connection to the EB system via the third brake light. So, if your using the ACC, and the system activates the EB, than no, the trailer brakes will not activate.
As for "selling the truck...with factory tow package", it will be...all I have to do is remove the Tekonsha control (4 wires) and the truck is back to factory original.
I'm not saying the newer safety features aren't nice...they are. But they shouldn't take the place of good old defensive driving, paying attention to whats going on around you.

 

[fslec]

Have you ever had the EB system activate? It can be pretty aggressive and will certainly WAKE you up! even with NO trailer. No way do I want to be towing anything over say 1000lb and have that system activate with no trailer brakes. I don't care how good of driver you are the odds will be stacked against you. Especially if you have to swerve for any reason.
Even the braking that occurs with ACC can be aggressive and faster that you can get your foot to the brake. Just have someone change lane in front of you while doing 65 while they are doing 55 and see what happens, and that's nothing compared to the EB system.
Might as well save some money, skip the brake controller and just hook up the trailer lights cause when you really need the trailer brakes they won't be there.

 

[Fritz]

what happens with the emergency braking if you aren't wired for it?
is it guaranteeing you a jack knife scenario, or at least shitting your pants while your butthole grabs at the seat foam ?

Probably.

 

[Grumpaw]

Have you ever had the EB system activate? It can be pretty aggressive and will certainly WAKE you up! even with NO trailer. No way do I want to be towing anything over say 1000lb and have that system activate with no trailer brakes. I don't care how good of driver you are the odds will be stacked against you. Especially if you have to swerve for any reason.
Even the braking that occurs with ACC can be aggressive and faster that you can get your foot to the brake. Just have someone change lane in front of you while doing 65 while they are doing 55 and see what happens, and that's nothing compared to the EB system.
Might as well save some money, skip the brake controller and just hook up the trailer lights cause when you really need the trailer brakes they won't be there.

A regular brake controller will do just fine.
The EB and ACC systems are nice features, but their relativity recent. What do you think we've had for the last 50-60 years...just regular electric brake controllers hooked up to the trucks wiring and before that, controllers that were hydraulic and hooked up to the vehicles master cylinder.
The controllers that hook into the Rangers system to allow the EB and ACC to function are nice, but since I don't depend on either when I tow, my standard Tekonsha does the job. Without activating the EB or ACC, ANY brake controller will work just fine.
I will always use a controller when towing.

 

[fslec]

I'm not questioning your ability to tow or drive. I too have towed trailers with the hydraulic and regular controllers. The auto brake systems when activated are so quick that you are still just thinking about applying the brakes and the truck will be up on its heals. Like I mentioned, just let the ACC brake engage when someone pulls in front of you and you will see what I mean. Then when your foot arrives at the brake pedal it makes it worse and really stands you up. I don't depend on the EB or ACC to brake for me either, but if they do come on I sure as hell don't want a 4000lb trailer pushing me who knows where. Now if EB and ACC are shut off... then I can agree with you because the truck won't engage brakes by itself.
By the way... I see you are from Fishersville... my moms family is from Waynesboro.

 

[Grumpaw]

Let me throw this out...
EB and ACC is basically in it's infancy and I don't think it is 100% reliable. Just ask Tesla how many of their systems failed resulting in accidents. All it takes is a bad wire, fuse, leaf in front of the sensor, and without you knowing, the system is kaput.
I'm just not ready to fully trust the system, and since Ford sees fit to have the wireing installed for a standard brake controller, thus by-passing the EB and ACC, they might not also.
If, in fact it is a foolproof system, then Ford, and other manufacturers who offer tow packages, should incorporate a brake controller as standard equipment, hardwired into the system, and leave the ability to add an aftermarket controller out of their vehicles.

 

[EJH]

Why would the trailer brake lights not work? If you have a proper 7-pin harness, anytime the truck lights are on, the trailer should do the same.

Read the thread on the Ford TBC vs others. Basically, Ford's TBC wires under the dash only connect to the brake pedal for the brake signal. If the truck brakes automatically, via adapative cruise or emergency braking, their is no brake signal from the brake pedal. In this case, an aftermarket TBC will not receive a braking signal, and will not brake the trailer nor illuminate trailer brake lights. Hence the extra install required on the Ford TBC to tap into the rear third brake light for the brake signal, since that light will illuminate on any kind of braking, whether manual by the driver or automatic by the truck, sending a brake signal to the TBC.

 

[Grumpaw]

I respect Grumpaw but the bold statement above is incorrect and can mislead people. If you use the high mounted third brake light for the TBC brake signal, the trailer brakes and trailer brake lights will activate on any braking, whether manual by the driver or automatic by ACC or EB. Tapping into the hight mounted third brake light is the standard install method on the Ford Redarc TBC. EB or braking from ACC will illuminate the Ranger's brake lights, including the high mounted third brake light, which will signal the TBC to activate the brakes (at the strength relative to the proportion of braking force, assuming your TBC is set to proportional mode, which is default).

Ed, I was referring to the use of a standard brake controller which is just wired into the Ranger via the 4 under dash wires. When using a standard controller the EB dosen't activate the trailers brakes. Yes, the EB system will work, just on the truck, not the trailer.

 

[EJH]

Ed, I was referring to the use of a standard brake controller which is just wired into the Ranger via the 4 under dash wires. When using a standard controller the EB dosen't activate the trailers brakes. Yes, the EB system will work, just on the truck, not the trailer.

Yeah, I noticed and deleted my reply but you were too quick

 

[BassRanger]

Read the thread on the Ford TBC vs others. Basically, Ford's TBC wires under the dash only connect to the brake pedal for the brake signal. If the truck brakes automatically, via adapative cruise or emergency braking, their is no brake signal from the brake pedal. In this case, an aftermarket TBC will not receive a braking signal, and will not brake the trailer nor illuminate trailer brake lights. Hence the extra install required on the Ford TBC to tap into the rear third brake light for the brake signal, since that light will illuminate on any kind of braking, whether manual by the driver or automatic by the truck, sending a brake signal to the TBC.

The TBC only signals the trailer's brakes. If the truck's brake lamps are on, the trailer's will be on.

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