1551retired
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Most all states require supplemental braking to be used in flat towed vehicles. I use an RVi3 braking system that attaches to the brake pedal. It proportionally pushes the pedal with an air driven piston when needed with the motor home brakes. During setup it pumps the brake pedal three times to release any stored vacuum from the brake booster. This prevents any brake grab when first braking is applied. When I set it up on the Ranger and first applied braking I heard a ratcheting sound coming from under the hood and the Ranger would come to a quick stop. Tried it a second time and same thing. Last week I took the Ranger to my Ford dealer and had the shop foreman check out the sound. We tested by stopping the truck on a slight grade, putting it into flat tow mode, pumping the brake pedal several times to release vacuum and let it roll forward. When the brake pedal was depressed we heard the ratcheting sound and quick stop. The hood was then opened and the shop foreman walked beside as the test was repeated. He confirmed that the noise and quick stop was from the ABS system stopping the truck! He then disconnected the harness connector to the ABS system and we retested. The truck slowly stopped as the pressure on the brake was increased. He agreed that Ford had apparently not considered flat tow supplemental braking when it left the ABS powered up. He has made a call to his regional Ford engineer regarding this issue and we are awaiting a response. Until this is resolved NO supplemental braking system should be used when flat towing the Ranger (no flat towing behind a motor home).
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