Looking for trailer brake advice

[McDeuce]

I went with the Ford version to maintain A cruise and emergency braking. Expensive but I thought worth it if it saves the day

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[sn95joe84]

I went with the Ford version to maintain A cruise and emergency braking. Expensive but I thought worth it if it saves the day

Please let me know if you find a GOOD detailed install write up / video of the Ford brake controller for a vehicle without tow package. It looks like a rough deal based on what I've seen.

 

[Icemanhd]

12/30/23 update... After spending too much time looking over the options and all the forum posts it looks like I'm going with the Redarc Tow Pro Liberty option. The factory Ford option (Redarc/Lumen) is out of stock currently and although my 23 Ranger (US model) has the AEB I have to admit after 8500 miles I have never heard more than the warning in lieu of applying the brakes so for the 5% of the time a year I am towing I can live without the AEB function.

Question: so many forum posts out there its hard to decode. Does my 2023 US model XL Ranger have an existing 4 pin plug Tow Pro Liberty option or do I need to buy the TPH-025 universal wiring harness kit to connect up to the wiring?

 

[Davidjc]

Hi,
I was thinking of getting the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite BC but, think I will get the Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty instead.
Besides the controller itself, do I need to order anything else?

I have the liberty and it's an easy install once you find and pull the 4 wires down from under the dash.

 

[Icemanhd]

One other thought regarding spending the extra to get the Ford version of the Redarc that ties into the AEB..... The Redarc Liberty and Elite Pro controllers are both proportional so if your AEB kicks in your truck will slow down (pretty rapidly I imagine) and you will probably have your foot on the brake before then but as soon as you truck starts decelerating the proportional controller will do the same right? Am I missing anything? I have my AEB set to the most sensitive setting (to give the biggest warning) so I have always been able to brake before the AEB kicks in.

 

[yuck6]

I have the Ford TBC and I have it set to 4. When I press on it I can tell the brakes are being applied evenly to the truck and trailer. Any higher then that and I can feel the trailer brakes slowing me down more then my own truck brakes. It’s been used once to stop short from someone merging in front of me.

 

[Big Blue]

One other thought regarding spending the extra to get the Ford version of the Redarc that ties into the AEB..... The Redarc Liberty and Elite Pro controllers are both proportional so if your AEB kicks in your truck will slow down (pretty rapidly I imagine) and you will probably have your foot on the brake before then but as soon as you truck starts decelerating the proportional controller will do the same right? Am I missing anything? I have my AEB set to the most sensitive setting (to give the biggest warning) so I have always been able to brake before the AEB kicks in.

Without the Ford kit the trailer brakes will not be applied until you hit the brakes. With the Ford kit the trailer brakes are controlled by the truck brake lights not brake peddle, so the AEB will activate the trailer brakes. The proportional part only comes in once the trailer brakes are activated.

 

[subquark]

12/30/23 update... After spending too much time looking over the options and all the forum posts it looks like I'm going with the Redarc Tow Pro Liberty option. The factory Ford option (Redarc/Lumen) is out of stock currently and although my 23 Ranger (US model) has the AEB I have to admit after 8500 miles I have never heard more than the warning in lieu of applying the brakes so for the 5% of the time a year I am towing I can live without the AEB function.

Question: so many forum posts out there its hard to decode. Does my 2023 US model XL Ranger have an existing 4 pin plug Tow Pro Liberty option or do I need to buy the TPH-025 universal wiring harness kit to connect up to the wiring?

I have the same question for my bare bones '22 XL. I have the tow package with 4 & 7 pin connector at the bumper and I *think* I have the 4 wires under the dash. It's cold out (boohoo) and I'm tried to video under there to see. Looking with my fat head, I wasn't able to tell. =(

And I also see an empty plug and wonder if anyone knows what that is (second pic).

looks like these three visible ones have shrinkwrap on the ends and possibly go with the blue tape to the left (I just couldn't get deeper in there and should wait until spring, but you know ... Ranger + money = addiction) =D

what is this blank connector for?

for @Icemanhd, did you see this install write up?
https://www.therangerstation.com/ranger-tech/redarc-tow-pro-liberty-brake-controller/

and the eTrailer video seems helpful, even though I'm looking at the Liberty and it's for the Elite:
https://videos.etrailer.com/static/...rake-controller-2019-ford-ranger-red44fr.webm

 

[Jedadiah]

I have the same question for my bare bones '22 XL. I have the tow package with 4 & 7 pin connector at the bumper and I *think* I have the 4 wires under the dash. It's cold out (boohoo) and I'm tried to video under there to see. Looking with my fat head, I wasn't able to tell. =(

And I also see an empty plug and wonder if anyone knows what that is (second pic).

looks like these three visible ones have shrinkwrap on the ends and possibly go with the blue tape to the left (I just couldn't get deeper in there and should wait until spring, but you know ... Ranger + money = addiction) =D

what is this blank connector for?

for @Icemanhd, did you see this install write up?
https://www.therangerstation.com/ranger-tech/redarc-tow-pro-liberty-brake-controller/

and the eTrailer video seems helpful, even though I'm looking at the Liberty and it's for the Elite:
https://videos.etrailer.com/static/...rake-controller-2019-ford-ranger-red44fr.webm

A little hard to tell from your pictures, but the TBC wires under my dash were finished with heat shrink like that. I used Posi-Tap connectors to attach my TBC and it was way easier than crimp connectors and way less flammable than soldering. I put the L3 end right over the heat shrink and it worked great. If I ever remove the TBC, I'll just snip the wires at the nick and cover with electrical tape.

 

[subquark]

A little hard to tell from your pictures, but the TBC wires under my dash were finished with heat shrink like that. I used Posi-Tap connectors to attach my TBC and it was way easier than crimp connectors and way less flammable than soldering. I put the L3 end right over the heat shrink and it worked great. If I ever remove the TBC, I'll just snip the wires at the nick and cover with electrical tape.

Thanks for the tip and link for Posi-Taps. I'm making my list and those sound like the best way to go. =)

 

[Jedadiah]

Thanks for the tip and link for Posi-Taps. I'm making my list and those sound like the best way to go. =)

Amazon has them.

 

[subquark]

Amazon has them.

Woohoo! Thank you for being an enabler! =p

Ordered 3 packs! =D

 

[Icemanhd]

for @Icemanhd, did you see this install write up?
https://www.therangerstation.com/ranger-tech/redarc-tow-pro-liberty-brake-controller/

and the eTrailer video seems helpful, even though I'm looking at the Liberty and it's for the Elite:
https://videos.etrailer.com/static/...rake-controller-2019-ford-ranger-red44fr.webm

Thanks @subquark, that is a great writeup on the ranger station! I'll have to look for my wires this weekend. I have had to move my newly acquired 7x18 V nose car hauler twice now without trailer brakes, supposedly 2000 lbs empty and I have been taking it very easy and using the tow mode. My liberty tow controller arrived yesterday, good thing I read the comparison on Redarc's website since it looks like spending the extra $ for the elite doesn't do anything for me other than avoid having to buy the universal harness.

 

[subquark]

Thanks @subquark, that is a great writeup on the ranger station! I'll have to look for my wires this weekend. I have had to move my newly acquired 7x18 V nose car hauler twice now without trailer brakes, supposedly 2000 lbs empty and I have been taking it very easy and using the tow mode. My liberty tow controller arrived yesterday, good thing I read the comparison on Redarc's website since it looks like spending the extra $ for the elite doesn't do anything for me other than avoid having to buy the universal harness.

Wow! That's a very nice looking trailer! What do you use as a trailer hitch? I have a B&W Tow & Stow 3-ball 5-inch drop which is fancier than I need but I'm also lazy about removing it to save my shins and have so much other crap in the truck, SwingCases, and even off the front bumper, that I'm not sure where I'd store a ball mount!

I'm eagerly looking forward to hearing about your Redarc install.

And you have a '23 XL? If so, you have those 4 wires under the dash? I read some post where some don't and couldn't really tell if having the factory tow package guaranteed the wires were there. It sure seems that they do, but I worry (needlessly) about this. =p

Looks like I'll get my Redarc Liberty in March for my birthday and that'll be better weatherwise too, for me.

Thanks for sharing your exploration of all of this stuff! =)

 

[Icemanhd]

Wow! That's a very nice looking trailer! What do you use as a trailer hitch? I have a B&W Tow & Stow 3-ball 5-inch drop which is fancier than I need but I'm also lazy about removing it to save my shins and have so much other crap in the truck, SwingCases, and even off the front bumper, that I'm not sure where I'd store a ball mount!

I'm eagerly looking forward to hearing about your Redarc install.

And you have a '23 XL? If so, you have those 4 wires under the dash? I read some post where some don't and couldn't really tell if having the factory tow package guaranteed the wires were there. It sure seems that they do, but I worry (needlessly) about this. =p

Looks like I'll get my Redarc Liberty in March for my birthday and that'll be better weatherwise too, for me.

Thanks for sharing your exploration of all of this stuff! =)

I have a variety of hitches I use. For the car hauler the tongue is up pretty high, I used a straight hitch (no drop at all) with the big ball when I bought it and it sits a little too high in the front so next time I'll use a 2" drop hitch and that should be perfect. For the other towing I have done with smaller trailers (open trailer for my VW drag car) I typically need a 4" drop since the bed/hitch of the Ranger is up so high.

I have a 23 XL, produced late Nov/Early Dec and delivered at the end of January so I'll post an update on the wires when I look under the dash. Glad I ordered a 23 since so far the 24s only come in a crew/quad cab config which I don't have any interest in.

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