Ford licensed TBC Install Instructions

[t4thfavor]

Interesting take, I think you are correct but we will probably never know. Ford is also very touchy around the fuse block having lost millions on a recall of them years ago. One has to wonder why they didn't just integrate the RedArc system along with the trailer package. They may have thought that including the wiring for it in the harness was a waste for the fraction of owners that need a TBC. Then there is the liability...through the roof when it comes to trailers. I am not sure where it lies given that the retrofit kit is sold by Ford.

“Only sold by ford” there’s a good chance it’s not liability related, but more like penny pinching and then incompetence.

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[Peragrin]

Interesting take, I think you are correct but we will probably never know. Ford is also very touchy around the fuse block having lost millions on a recall of them years ago. One has to wonder why they didn't just integrate the RedArc system along with the trailer package. They may have thought that including the wiring for it in the harness was a waste for the fraction of owners that need a TBC. Then there is the liability...through the roof when it comes to trailers. I am not sure where it lies given that the retrofit kit is sold by Ford.

um given the factory install location for the control knob I am damn glad they didn't install it. I have mine in a nice sensible spot next to the 4wd selector knob I can glance down and look at settings/lights and I can drop my right hand and twist the knob ever so gently going down big hills.

ford factory location is to the fuse panel cover. right next to where my knee would hit it, I couldn't see it etc.

 

[Edsel]

I have mine in a nice sensible spot next to the 4wd selector knob I can glance down and look at settings/lights and I can drop my right hand and twist the knob ever so gently going down big hills.

Indeed! That location makes it look factory and more technically advanced than the squeeze paddles. I cursed through the entire install, but after I was finished I looked it over and thought "Yeah, it was worth it!"

 

[JimG_AZ]

I have to say that I'm really impressed with the RedArc controller. I purchased mine from eTrailer, so it is not the actual Ford one. It works very well. My dial is mounted where the 12v accessory jack was, below the radio, closest to the driver. eTrailer sells the RedArc adapter that fits in the spot where the 12v accessory jack was. It is a perfect spot for the controller and it looks good.

 

[seanellaz]

I have not yet installed one but I finally got my hands on the instructions that come with it... They suck by the way.

I got the Tekonsha N90160 for less than $90. I have tow package so wiring was already in place, just had to splice in the connector harness, pretty simple install. Works like a charm. Isn't it amazing that Pictograms were how humans wrote stuff down in 9000 BC. Wow what progress we have made! Pictogram instructions, 11000 years later!

 

[KJRR]

Finished my install today.

Spent about 1.5 hrs Thursday installing the knob and control boxes. I put the knob on the fuse panel because it's out of the way and I won't be towing a trailer with brakes that often.
Make sure you have the control boxes oriented in the correct direction to plug and unplug the connectors. I had my brake controller installed backwards and spent 30 minutes slowly peeling it off and flipping it 90*. Discovered this while test fitting the connectors.
Those 'screws' holding the fuse panel are a pain, broke one because I couldn't get the screw out and used a trim tool to pop the whole thing out and it broke. Not bad though, it still holds and it's the only trim piece I broke. Spent about 15 minutes looking for the piece the 'screw' goes into when it fell out of the fuse panel when I went to reinstall it today.
Spent 4.5 hrs today running the wiring. It could be much quicker.
I took my time removing all the trim and managed not to break any besides the stupid 'screw' type on the fuse panel. They come off fairly easy with trim tools, just don't be a gorilla when removing them.
Don't forget the T-50 Torx for the seat belt. Luckily, I had one since I installed a TGD.
Be sure which terminals go to which connectors when wiring the third brake light. The instructions weren't very clear, and I obviously should have spent more time here to figure it out before I did it wrong. Tip: start with the box terminals, if you can't get them in the one connector, it's probably the wrong one. If you put the pins in the wrong connector, use a thin piece of metal, or in my case, a cut down zip tie, to insert on one side of the terminal to release it from the connector. That was probably an hour total spent on that.
Also delayed by an overheated heat gun. After doing the first connection, got the second ready to heat up and the heat gun wouldn't turn on. After cooling it down in front of a fan for about 15 minutes, I got the second one done. Total of about 30 minutes there figuring out the problem and waiting for it to cool down. I used a pie tin to shield the rest of the wiring and carpet from the heat. It takes quite a bit of heat to get the solder to flow and as you'll find out when you do it, its tight quarters.
To save yourself a little length on the yellow and blue wires under the dash, use an Xacto or razor blade to remove the shrink tubing on them instead of cutting the wire at the end of the shrink tubing. I shaved it off most of the way and then used needle nose pliers to pull it off the last 1/4". Every extra inch counts when trying to get those wires spliced in.
Take the third brake light off to make it easier to release the connector. Saw that hint here and after trying to pop it loose for 5 minutes, decided it would be quicker and safer to take the light off.
Overall not a bad job.
Now to find something to tow that needs it. ?
Eidt: 2 more hints.
Kneepads, lots of kneeling on the ground to get under the dash.
A piece of foam to go over the rocker and running boards if you have them. Saved my hips and side while kneeling and twisting under the dash.

 

[RRRANGERXLT]

So I have a question I did not have the 7 pin plug inhad the 4 pin trailer plug however I bought the factory tray harness and the 4way and 7 way factory bumper mounted black plug. Will I be able to insall this? do all rangers have the wiring Under the dash.. I don’t want to buy it and not be able to install it. Thanks in advance Mike

 

[JasonTremor]

So I have a question I did not have the 7 pin plug inhad the 4 pin trailer plug however I bought the factory tray harness and the 4way and 7 way factory bumper mounted black plug. Will I be able to insall this? do all rangers have the wiring Under the dash.. I don’t want to buy it and not be able to install it. Thanks in advance Mike

I just installed the tbc along with the rear bumper harness and the 4pin/7pin connector in the bumper. It was a pain to get the factory bumper connector in. The plastic bumper cover has the outline of the cutout required, but I found the connector assembly wouldn't snap into place. I ended up spending a few hours modifying the retainer clips to get it to snap into place. As far as wiring under dash, I believe the XLT and lariat have it, but you would want to verify.

 

[chaps]

2019 Ranger with factory tow pkg. I am in middle of install of the Ford TBC (VKB3Z-2C006-A with both black and grey center brake light connectors), have a problem, found this thread.
Everything under the dash was easy. My problem is the brake light connectors themselves. My brake light connector is black, I have it detached and separated. My rear window has no opening so that was tons of fun. Now I am assembling the black replacement connectors. The "female' side was easy, they slid in and with minor force, locked in place. The male side I cannot get to seat. It seems there are only 2 ways it could go in, as the flat pin must match the white plastic slots. I cannot get them in far enough, and have likely damaged the pink line trying.
Before I start cutting and soldering, taking 2 day break and asking if there is something simple I'm missing. Thanks

 

[Gizmokid2005]

2019 Ranger with factory tow pkg. I am in middle of install of the Ford TBC (VKB3Z-2C006-A with both black and grey center brake light connectors), have a problem, found this thread.
Everything under the dash was easy. My problem is the brake light connectors themselves. My brake light connector is black, I have it detached and separated. My rear window has no opening so that was tons of fun. Now I am assembling the black replacement connectors. The "female' side was easy, they slid in and with minor force, locked in place. The male side I cannot get to seat. It seems there are only 2 ways it could go in, as the flat pin must match the white plastic slots. I cannot get them in far enough, and have likely damaged the pink line trying.
Before I start cutting and soldering, taking 2 day break and asking if there is something simple I'm missing. Thanks

Nope, that's kind of just how it is. I used a very small flathead scredriver to help seat the wire into the connector. They're *super* press-fit and I didn't find anything that helped get me to seat mine in.

 

[CO2Ranger]

2019 Ranger with factory tow pkg. I am in middle of install of the Ford TBC (VKB3Z-2C006-A with both black and grey center brake light connectors), have a problem, found this thread.
Everything under the dash was easy. My problem is the brake light connectors themselves. My brake light connector is black, I have it detached and separated. My rear window has no opening so that was tons of fun. Now I am assembling the black replacement connectors. The "female' side was easy, they slid in and with minor force, locked in place. The male side I cannot get to seat. It seems there are only 2 ways it could go in, as the flat pin must match the white plastic slots. I cannot get them in far enough, and have likely damaged the pink line trying.
Before I start cutting and soldering, taking 2 day break and asking if there is something simple I'm missing. Thanks

That was the hardest part of the install for me as well. Finally got them together (though there was no satisfying 'click') if I ever need to take the 3rd brake light off again I'm going to cut and solder everything. Those plugs are BS.

 

[PonyXpress]

same for me, one side went on fine but the other never did. Agreed, this was the hardest part of the install and I broke the connector trying to get the wire in. I ended up just cutting all wires and connecting them directly. Been working fine for over 18 months.

 

[chaps]

In hindsight I wish I would have heated the plastic connectors before trying to seat the pins. Now that I feel damage may have been done, I'm going to hard-wire. Maybe this thread update can help someone in the future. Thanks everyone.

 

[dart330]

I installed this kit, under dash was easy, got the ground, blue, and yellow wires connected. The 3rd brake light was the worst part for sure.

After getting everything put back together, the 3rd brake light worked, but no light on the TBC knob. Plugged in a trailer, truck recognized it, but still nothing from the TBC.

I took everything apart and rechecked all the wiring. I have the black plastic connectors, verified the wire colors match the instructions. Still no light on the TBC knob with or without a trailer.

Very frustrating, my money is on the 3rd brake light wires, but not sure how else to troubleshoot.

 

[t4thfavor]

I installed this kit, under dash was easy, got the ground, blue, and yellow wires connected. The 3rd brake light was the worst part for sure.

After getting everything put back together, the 3rd brake light worked, but no light on the TBC knob. Plugged in a trailer, truck recognized it, but still nothing from the TBC.

I took everything apart and rechecked all the wiring. I have the black plastic connectors, verified the wire colors match the instructions. Still no light on the TBC knob with or without a trailer.

Very frustrating, my money is on the 3rd brake light wires, but not sure how else to troubleshoot.

Return it and just get the prodigy p3. I’ve towed 10000 miles+ on my prodigy and I have the added benefit of taking it to any other vehicle with ease. It’s fully stupid that ford couldn’t figure out a better way than pulling the interior apart for something as simple as a brake controller.

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