Dealer said it can’t be done?

[Jason B]

I found a Ford Accessories site that shows the VKB3Z-2C006-A as being the correct part for 2019 - 2023 rangers:

https://accessories.ford.com/ranger-2019-2021-trailer-brake-control-towing-pack-3

It's always been that part number, but some people are stubborn and won't believe it. Several members, from '19-'23 have used that one.

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[airline tech]

For the OP

To clarify some, since I got tripped up on - Tow Pack 1, note the only spot so far, I can see ref to that is the CV Shafts

Now since ALL Rangers have the ability to Tow, we all have Tow Pack 1 (per se)
Tow Pack 1 (AKA) - Non-Tow Package, this gives you a 4-Pin Connector and a place in the bumper to mount a Hitch Ball.

now when you ADD the $495 Tow Package (AKA) Tow Pack 2 or Trailer Tow Package
This gives you the Hitch Receiver and the 4/7 Connector
This is what everyone considers the TOW PACKAGE, well it turns out Ford had named this Tow PACK 2 if you ref the CV Shafts for parts look up.

 

[airline tech]

It's always been that part number, but some people are stubborn and won't believe it. Several members, from '19-'23 have used that one.

Thats the way I see it as well, but for some reason as I can verify that if you search that part number and select 2021 Ranger Lariat - it states - Does Not Fit, but this part does - this part is the TRM, now bump up to a 2022 Ranger and - This Part Fits.
Many Ford parts sites have this issue, and I believe it was recent, someone miss keyed something and the 2019-2021's per Ford Parts do NOT have a valid part number for the TBC.
This is the main issue for the OP and add in the TBC is either on Back-Order, Out of Stock etc. I think was the main (miss key) error for effectivity.

Plus: OP understand that this is not a Ford part, it is an Aftermarket supplier making the TBC for Ford.
That is what the message note was referring to. Ford does not manufacture them but provides a way to order it.

 

[VAMike]

Many Ford parts sites have this issue, and I believe it was recent, someone miss keyed something and the 2019-2021's per Ford Parts do NOT have a valid part number for the TBC.
This is the main issue for the OP and add in the TBC is either on Back-Order, Out of Stock etc. I think was the main (miss key) error for effectivity.

Agreed: I think this is just a screwup in the parts system, and when you google you get 300 different sites which confirm it because they all use exactly the same data on the backend, just with dealer branding on top. And now you also can stumble across the very similar bronco version which will be helpfully suggested as an alternative but is useless. (It's just the redarc controller, because they corrected the brake signal screwup for the bronco and don't need the ranger-specific brake light module. The bronco guys get super screwed because they pay the same price for nothing but a generic TBC and a wiring harness.)

I'm somewhat suspicious that the front axle difference is also a screwup in the system as it seems to be the only mechanical difference between tow-package and non-tow-package (which would be weird). The part numbers for this part of the truck in general seem to have been a mess right from the start, even apart from the tow package discrepancy. (They changed the meaning of the numbers between at least early production and the parts catalog, and the diagrams were as bad out of the gate as most of the documentation for the US 5g ranger.)

Plus: OP understand that this is not a Ford part, it is an Aftermarket supplier making the TBC for Ford.
That is what the message note was referring to. Ford does not manufacture them but provides a way to order it.

It's a bit more complicated than that; the controller itself is generic, but the module that plugs into the brake light is ford-specific. You can get the redarc from anyone, but AFAIK you can't get that module from anyone but ford. Ford doesn't manufacture much of anything itself these days, it's all coming from suppliers.

 

[Superspirit]

The module is built by lumen. Maybe search for that.

 

[Jason B]

My guess is they feel that if you haven't gotten a TBC for your 5G by now, you probably won't in the future, so no more TBCs are being built. IIRC, the Lumen module was made specifically for US 5G Rangers. You may still be able to find the RedArc TBC, but not in a kit made for 5G.

 

[RangerBill]

My guess is they feel that if you haven't gotten a TBC for your 5G by now, you probably won't in the future, so no more TBCs are being built. IIRC, the Lumen module was made specifically for US 5G Rangers. You may still be able to find the RedArc TBC, but not in a kit made for 5G.

I have found a couple of Ford parts sites that claim to have it in stock (VKB3Z 2C006 A). Levittown Ford Parts has it in stock.

 

[2021Ranger]

So I just went ahead and ordered it from Levitttown Ford.
‘Thanks everyone for the help and we will see what happens?

 

[airline tech]

My guess is they feel that if you haven't gotten a TBC for your 5G by now, you probably won't in the future, so no more TBCs are being built. IIRC, the Lumen module was made specifically for US 5G Rangers. You may still be able to find the RedArc TBC, but not in a kit made for 5G.

I do not understand why - RedArc did not - change modify their branded controller to address the (AEB) interface. It appears they have for the Bronco.
I guess they refused, and Ford tapped Lumen on the shoulder (hey can you help us?)

This highlights a point - for those that purchase the TBC and do not have the added Lumen interface.
Is there any documentation for those units that HIGHLIGHTs - this will work BUT in an Emergency Braking event the TBC will NOT be active for the Trailer Brakes.
This is the part I do not understand, how can those be sold when it could potentially be a huge SAFTEY ISSUE if not using the Ford Kit (which is Redarc & Lumen) combo kit.
You would think - SAFETY trumps everything, or am I wrong, and this is NOT aviation.

 

[RangerBill]

I do not understand why - RedArc did not - change modify their branded controller to address the (AEB) interface. It appears they have for the Bronco.
I guess they refused, and Ford tapped Lumen on the shoulder (hey can you help us?)

This highlights a point - for those that purchase the TBC and do not have the added Lumen interface.
Is there any documentation for those units that HIGHLIGHTs - this will work BUT in an Emergency Braking event the TBC will NOT be active for the Trailer Brakes.
This is the part I do not understand, how can those be sold when it could potentially be a huge SAFTEY ISSUE if not using the Ford Kit (which is Redarc & Lumen) combo kit.
You would think - SAFETY trumps everything, or am I wrong, and this is NOT aviation.

If the official Ford TBC kit is not used, the brake active input to the Redarc is the BOO (brake on-off) switch on the brake pedal. The Redarc TBC controller will not be notified of an emergency braking event, as the BOO switch is not activated during emergency braking, unless the driver happens to press the brake pedal at some point. There is no guarantee that the BOO will be activated. So, the truck could be braking hard automatically with no trailer brakes being applied. I believe this also applies during braking initiated by adaptive cruise control.

The Ford kit with the Redarc and the Lumen adaptor module, monitors the third brake light signal for its braking input signal to apply trailer brakes during emergency, ACC, and normal braking of the truck. If the Lumen module is not installed, the trailer brakes will only be applied during normal, driver applied, braking (via the brake pedal application).

See this link under the Description heading:
https://www.fairwayfordparts.net/oe...ujczw_Z8qAtpwBcegcGPJfJ0FQBeQiarhTj82c1oTcuY8

 

[2021Ranger]

Well guys I ordered and already got an email from them that it is discontinued and may take 5 days for the refund back to my CC.
just don’t understand why it could up to take 5 days as it was on my CC in the matter of seconds.

so with that said what now?
airline tech yes that was the whole idea getting the unit from ford with the lumen part..

Benny just got back to me and needs my vin..

 

[Cabose-1]

You will get some opinions the same some different.

I got the redarc liberty i think it was, soldered the wires to it under the dash , drilled a hole by the shifter for the controller and ready to go.
No taillight switch thingy, or aeb, or whatever. Just 4 wires and its been working awesome ever since. Jardest part was looking for my solder.

 

[Jason B]

Well guys I ordered and already got an email from them that it is discontinued and may take 5 days for the refund back to my CC.
just don’t understand why it could up to take 5 days as it was on my CC in the matter of seconds.

so with that said what now?
airline tech yes that was the whole idea getting the unit from ford with the lumen part..

Benny just got back to me and needs my vin..

Search other vendors for that part number, there are some available on eBay.

 

[VAMike]

I do not understand why - RedArc did not - change modify their branded controller to address the (AEB) interface. It appears they have for the Bronco.

no, for the bronco ford realized in time that they needed a signal for brake activation rather than pedal activation and output that to a normal four wire plug. I can't imagine that redarc had any interest in modifying their generic controller with logic to handle multiple different kinds of input (differs depending on whether it's led or halogen) for one short-run vehicle model because the oem f'd up and forgot to output a signal. And even if they did, you'd still need a very specific OEM part (two versions, depending on LED or halogen) to get the signal from the CHMSL to the dash because literally the entire problem is that ford didn't output the correct signal under the dash and they will not sell a solution that disconnects the main wiring harness or cuts into it.

Is there any documentation for those units that HIGHLIGHTs - this will work BUT in an Emergency Braking event the TBC will NOT be active for the Trailer Brakes.
This is the part I do not understand, how can those be sold when it could potentially be a huge SAFTEY ISSUE if not using the Ford Kit (which is Redarc & Lumen) combo kit.
You would think - SAFETY trumps everything, or am I wrong, and this is NOT aviation.

The warning is from the vehicle manufacturer. Personally I'm not convinced this is a real safety issue vs a CYA--unless there are actually people who sit there with their thumb up it while driving their truck and trailer into something (with warning lights and tones going off!) letting the truck do the braking rather than hitting the brake pedal? Lots of people are using TBCs other than OEM, and there hasn't been a single report of a truck blowing up because of it AFAIK.

 

[Jason B]

no, for the bronco ford realized in time that they needed a signal for brake activation rather than pedal activation and output that to a normal four wire plug. I can't imagine that redarc had any interest in modifying their generic controller with logic to handle multiple different kinds of input (differs depending on whether it's led or halogen) for one short-run vehicle model because the oem f'd up and forgot to output a signal. And even if they did, you'd still need a very specific OEM part (two versions, depending on LED or halogen) to get the signal from the CHMSL to the dash because literally the entire problem is that ford didn't output the correct signal under the dash and they will not sell a solution that disconnects the main wiring harness or cuts into it.


The warning is from the vehicle manufacturer. Personally I'm not convinced this is a real safety issue vs a CYA--unless there are actually people who sit there with their thumb up it while driving their truck and trailer into something (with warning lights and tones going off!) letting the truck do the braking rather than hitting the brake pedal? Lots of people are using TBCs other than OEM, and there hasn't been a single report of a truck blowing up because of it AFAIK.

Not to mention, 10 yrs or more ago there were people driving and towing with no such thing as AEB or collision warning. But then again, we are living in a nanny state.

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