I get that. If a person has an old phone laying around they could use that. I have an old iphone 5 that I use for my drone camera that will no longer work on new phones. If/when I ever get a curt brake controller I'll use that phone for it, too.
The biggest problem I have with it is, if you need to manually apply the trailer brakes you need the app up and running. The sway incident mentioned is case in point. If your phone is busy with something else like a call, navigation, playing music you don't have access to you trailer brakes when you need it the most. I much prefer a dedicated hard wired button in that case. Maybe for infrequent towing but I would not feel comfortable for long trips with a travel trailer. JMHO
All very true. The first person I replied to had implied, or so I thought, that the controller stopped working because the phone was tied up with a call. I was just pointing out that the controller doesn't need to app to operate once it's set up. Of course if you want to control the brakes manually then you'll need the app.
Not so much wanting as NEEDING to control the brakes manually. You have no time to fumble with a phone when the need arises and no warning.
I'm not arguing. My original post was not addressing that point.
The whole point of @gremlin original post was not that the controller had stopped working, but the app had disapeared from his phone because of a phone call. He then wanted to manually apply the trailer brakes to correct a sway condition and couldn't.
Not arguing either just bringing up what I consider to be a serious failing of the Curt wireless controller for extemded towing of a travel trailer. For infrequent towing that may require trailer brakes it is probably just fine.
Yes the truck needs to recognize a trailer is plugged in before it will power the 12 volt pin. You may need to also step on the brakes to get the truck to recognize it. You should get the warnings that a trailer is detected and the cross-traffic and back-up sensors are disabled.
correct. you need a power draw on the tow circuits of a high enough level to work. it is how and when you get to configure it too.
The Curt system will work with the emergency braking system. It is out of pure luck it works, not intentional design. That is because the emergency braking system lights up the brake lights, which the Curt recognizes and applied trailer brakes. That said, I also have the Ford OEM Redarc controller with the extra module. It is easier for me to have the dash mounted system, and not worry about something that could be removed from the 7-pin connection. Plus it is easier to manually brake and adjust the braking gain on the fly with the Ford controller. But I do understand the appeal of the Curt system, with what a pain in the rear the OEM install was.
I really recommend against using the curt controller for all reasons listed, but understand if you're only occasionally towing you might be okay. You can check the plug with a volt meter, can't recall on the ranger, but on our F150 I had previously the trailer plug power wasn't there until I purchased and installed a fuse in the under-hood fuse box, then it worked.
It's a bit of a stretch to say the Curt system works out of pure luck in an emergency braking situation, as the Ford OEM Redarc controller is also using the brake lights as the trigger to apply trailer brakes in the emergency braking situation as well.
