Flat Tow Supplmental Braking Issue

[Rmblaster]

Sounds like a good test. Please let us know what you find. Either way Ford needs to shut down the ABS when the Ranger is put into tow mode.

Chuck​

Well leaving it sit for over 2 hours in tow mode didnt work abs still active unless when I entered the truck it became active not sure but it sure sounds like some of the truck comes alive when you open drivers door hopefully Ford will come up with an answer

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[1551retired]

Well leaving it sit for over 2 hours in tow mode didnt work abs still active unless when I entered the truck it became active not sure but it sure sounds like some of the truck comes alive when you open drivers door hopefully Ford will come up with an answer

Thanks for checking that out. I guess you could leave something plugged into the 12v outlet and see if it repowers up when you enter.

I think it would be good for more of us flat tow folks to report this to our dealer's service department The more reports rolled up to their regional Ford engineers the better the likelihood of getting something done.

Chuck

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Well leaving it sit for over 2 hours in tow mode didnt work abs still active unless when I entered the truck it became active not sure but it sure sounds like some of the truck comes alive when you open drivers door hopefully Ford will come up with an answer

Hi,

When you open the door after the truck has sat for a while, the fuel pump runs for a few seconds...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[1551retired]

Hi,

When you open the door after the truck has sat for a while, the fuel pump runs for a few seconds...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Phil,
Being a retired Ford Engineer do you have any contacts at Ford?

Chuck

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Phil,
Being a retired Ford Engineer do you have any contacts at Ford?

Chuck

Hi Chuck

Been retired now for about 17 years but still have a few contacts inside the company, with one in Brakes. I will ask him if he knows anything. Since the development was done in Australia, understanding the global architecture of the electrical system resides there. Why they thought keeping the HCU live all the time is a mystery to me...I cannot see the logic in doing so. I really do not see the HCU operating as that much of a detriment, except that the cycle life of the HCU may be exceeded and I am sure they are expensive to repair or rebuild. How much adjustment on pedal application force do you have on your system? I believe the RVi is a permanent installation, correct? I need the flexibility of towing different vehicles so use the Add-A-Brake.

I had planed to try your suggestion last evening after it cooled down, but wife had Dinner and Dancing plans so as they say
...Happy Wife...Happy Life.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Rmblaster]

Hi Chuck

Been retired now for about 17 years but still have a few contacts inside the company, with one in Brakes. I will ask him if he knows anything. Since the development was done in Australia, understanding the global architecture of the electrical system resides there. Why they thought keeping the HCU live all the time is a mystery to me...I cannot see the logic in doing so. I really do not see the HCU operating as that much of a detriment, except that the cycle life of the HCU may be exceeded and I am sure they are expensive to repair or rebuild. How much adjustment on pedal application force do you have on your system? I believe the RVi is a permanent installation, correct? I need the flexibility of towing different vehicles so use the Add-A-Brake.

I had planed to try your suggestion last evening after it cooled down, but wife had Dinner and Dancing plans so as they say
...Happy Wife...Happy Life.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Phil rhe RVI is a portable unit similar to your add a brake and i also had to up the braking force to get any braking and thats whats has me scratching my head as to why i never felt the abs being activated in all of my 2500 mi I never experienced any aggressive braking

 

[Rmblaster]

later today Im going to put the truck in towing mode only difference is i will remain in the vehicle and see what happens

Richard

 

[Rmblaster]

Well every thing i try the abs activates and like i said before I dont believe it activates when im towing it because i would surly feel it maybe my rvi is light on applying the brake so it never activates the abs who knows so next week ill put in a call to ford and report whats going on

Richard

 

[Rmblaster]

Thanks for checking that out. I guess you could leave something plugged into the 12v outlet and see if it repowers up when you enter.

I think it would be good for more of us flat tow folks to report this to our dealer's service department The more reports rolled up to their regional Ford engineers the better the likelihood of getting something done.

Chuck

Chuck any word from you ford dealership

Richard

 

[1551retired]

Chuck any word from you ford dealership

Richard

The regional Ford engineer told my shop foreman it was the first they had heard of any problem and offered no solution. My shop foreman has tried to work with me. We found that if the high current 60 amp abs pump fuse is pulled it stops the abs. The problem is this fuse is very difficult to get to for frequent flat tows. The shop foreman finally said set the RVi brake system to a light setting and try that. The sad fact is more than one flat tow owner needs to contact/report this to Ford for them to do something.

Chuck

 

[Rmblaster]

The regional Ford engineer told my shop foreman it was the first they had heard of any problem and offered no solution. My shop foreman has tried to work with me. We found that if the high current 60 amp abs pump fuse is pulled it stops the abs. The problem is this fuse is very difficult to get to for frequent flat tows. The shop foreman finally said set the RVi brake system to a light setting and try that. The sad fact is more than one flat tow owner needs to contact/report this to Ford for them to do something.

Chuck

Chuck i use the RVI3 brake system i actually had to set it to a higher setting to get it to have any braking and as I have said before i could not feel any hard braking on my 2500mi trip only normal braking im almost 100% sure if the abs was coming on i would have felt it my motorhome is a 31ft gas rig but to be sure on our next trip Ill have her sit in the truck and try some panic braking to see if it does activate I did call ford regional and like your response they have not heard of any problems

Richard

 

[1551retired]

Chuck i use the RVI3 brake system i actually had to set it to a higher setting to get it to have any braking and as I have said before i could not feel any hard braking on my 2500mi trip only normal braking im almost 100% sure if the abs was coming on i would have felt it my motorhome is a 31ft gas rig but to be sure on our next trip Ill have her sit in the truck and try some panic braking to see if it does activate I did call ford regional and like your response they have not heard of any problems

Richard

What setting do you use with your RVi3? I was using “small suv” when towing our 2010 Colorado crew cab. I think the Ranger crew is about 200 lbs heavier.

 

[Rmblaster]

What setting do you use with your RVi3? I was using “small suv” when towing our 2010 Colorado crew cab. I think the Ranger crew is about 200 lbs heavier.

Chuck im using small suv
normal sensitivity

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Hi,

I finally got the RV out, hooked up the Ranger the RV and had my wife drive while I rode in the Ranger straddling the Add A Brake. We were on cell phones and traveling at 25 mph. She hit the brakes, the Add A Brake applied pedal pressure...vehicles came to a stop...no ABS activation. Repeated and still no ABS. Anyway, my settings on the Add A Brake seem to be good for my usage. Will continue to monitor on our next RV trip, but wife just signed me up to an Alaskan Cruise next summer...Sigh!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired.

 

[t4thfavor]

Hi,

I finally got the RV out, hooked up the Ranger the RV and had my wife drive while I rode in the Ranger straddling the Add A Brake. We were on cell phones and traveling at 25 mph. She hit the brakes, the Add A Brake applied pedal pressure...vehicles came to a stop...no ABS activation. Repeated and still no ABS. Anyway, my settings on the Add A Brake seem to be good for my usage. Will continue to monitor on our next RV trip, but wife just signed me up to an Alaskan Cruise next summer...Sigh!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired.

I'd ask you to test it with the key in the ignition (Off, ACC, ON). My take on this is that the key being present keeps the modules active, similar to the little noise you hear when approaching the truck with the key in your pocket.

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