Tow longevity

[P. A. Schilke]

More important than any tow rating is understanding the limitations of your setup. It amazes me that Ford is able to advertise a 7,500 Lb tow rating, while at the same time not offering a factory brake controller.

Hi Ted,

Unfortunately the Ranger Program decided to make the controller an aftermarket or optional device. You want it for free but the Marketing folks at Ford say spend the $. If this does not set well with you, I recommend you open a formal complaint with Ford Customer Service so they can book dissatisfaction with the Program decision. Likely not getting a freeby for you but I hope you do so and feel better.

Best,
Phil

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[grammat95]

Hi Ted,

Unfortunately the Ranger Program decided to make the controller an aftermarket or optional device. You want it for free but the Marketing folks at Ford say spend the $. If this does not set well with you, I recommend you open a formal complaint with Ford Customer Service so they can book dissatisfaction with the Program decision. Likely not getting a freeby for you but I hope you do so and feel better.

Best,
Phil

Phil,

Thank you for the suggestion. I installed the Redarc brake controller myself right after buying the truck. I had asked my dealer if they could install it and they were unable to come up with an estimated price because they had never installed one. What really got under my skin was finding out that the maverick had a factory equipped brake controller with the 4k tow package (Does that make any sense?). Hopefully the 6G ranger will come with a controller from the factory, if optioned of course...

Ted

 

[yamahaSHO]

It makes absolutely zero sense that they offered a tow package and did not include (charge more if you have to) the brake controller already installed. Much easier to do it in assembly than to pull everything apart to get to a brake lamp (also ridiculous).

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Phil,

Thank you for the suggestion. I installed the Redarc brake controller myself right after buying the truck. I had asked my dealer if they could install it and they were unable to come up with an estimated price because they had never installed one. What really got under my skin was finding out that the maverick had a factory equipped brake controller with the 4k tow package (Does that make any sense?). Hopefully the 6G ranger will come with a controller from the factory, if optioned of course...

Ted

Hi Ted,

I do not concur with many of the Ranger Program directors on their decisions, but unfortunately it is what it is... I will not name the person, but he is a $hithead in my opinion. Maverick program director apparently learned from other programs of the mistake Ranger made.

Best,
Phil

 

[Dereku]

Hi Ted,

I do not concur with many of the Ranger Program directors on their decisions, but unfortunately it is what it is... I will not name the person, but he is a $hithead in my opinion. Maverick program director apparently learned from other programs of the mistake Ranger made.

Best,
Phil

Love the honest opinions!

 

[KJRR]

Since I started the thread off being a smart ass, I'll throw my towing experience in and likely what your coworker is thinking. I've been towing a 2000 lb boat for 30 years. When I first started, I was afraid to tow with anything less than at least a big 6 cyl vehicle even though the boat is light. I always viewed 4 cyl cars as light fuel efficient vehicles with little power and not suitable for towing. My father in law was towing the boat before we got it, with a 95 Dodge Caravan with a 4 banger. He even used his Dynasty with a homemade hitch to tow the boat with never an issue. I still stuck with the need for at least a 6cyl to tow regularly until I got the Ranger.
So your coworker may be of a similar mind that a 4 cyl can't tow regularly. But this isn't your father's 4 cyl and as many have proved here, the Ranger is up to towing heavy loads.

 

[ccasanova22]

Hi Ted,

Unfortunately the Ranger Program decided to make the controller an aftermarket or optional device. You want it for free but the Marketing folks at Ford say spend the $. If this does not set well with you, I recommend you open a formal complaint with Ford Customer Service so they can book dissatisfaction with the Program decision. Likely not getting a freeby for you but I hope you do so and feel better.

Best,
Phil

Is there a recommended trailer brake controller from Ford that is engineered to work well with the rest of the vehicle?

I have only towed trailers that do not require a brake controller so far and would like to get one so I could tow more.

thanks!

 

[Stevedbvik1]

Is there a recommended trailer brake controller from Ford that is engineered to work well with the rest of the vehicle?

I have only towed trailers that do not require a brake controller so far and would like to get one so I could tow more.

thanks!

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

 

[brroberts]

I have the Redarc in my Ranger because it integrates with the AEB. However, while they both work well, I get better control and smoother stops with my Tekonsha Prodigy 3 that cost less. I wish it worked with the Ranger AEB.

 

[Sarge104]

Normally towing less then 3,000 pounds, hit 5,000 a few times hauling lumber. I'd have to say I've towed over 2,000 miles total of the 26k+ total mileage. Been testing oil since I bought it due to drag racing the truck for the past three years. Only issue I've had was watching the gas gauge dwindle as the turbo purred.

Testing of the oil has not given me any indication of mechanical failure. The oil in fuel issue is a concern for me but I feel as long as I maintain the vehicle properly it will give me years of use and abuse.

Edit: Sorry, just checked ford pass...29,149 miles, having way too much fun!

 

[yamahaSHO]

I have the Redarc in my Ranger because it integrates with the AEB. However, while they both work well, I get better control and smoother stops with my Tekonsha Prodigy 3 that cost less. I wish it worked with the Ranger AEB.

If you tapped into the same brake lamp, couldn't it work? I've thought of this as I've been using the P3 for a decade in several vehicles and hate when I use anything else anymore.

 

[brroberts]

You could put the P3 in the Ranger, but without it understanding what the Ford included Lumen module does, I don’t think you would get integration with the AEB. Almost any brake controller would work if you were not going to integrate with the AEB. Most Rangers have wiring in the left kick panel for any brake controller. I’m not sure what the Lumen module does, but it has some type of integration between the third brake light, the AEB, and the Redarc. I didn’t want to give up the AEB integration even though my AEB has never been needed. If just once it kept my wife safe, I’d gladly trade the P3 for the less polished Redarc.

 

[WOADKIL]

He could be a smart guy...he just doesn't know what he's talking about.

And that's a problem with us smart guys, we think we know everything.

Mine hasn't blown up yet. 25K total miles with close to 8K towing, from the desert to the mountains. Still going.

Maybe he's really a pretty fart smeller!?!?

 

[WOADKIL]

More important than any tow rating is understanding the limitations of your setup. It amazes me that Ford is able to advertise a 7,500 Lb tow rating, while at the same time not offering a factory brake controller.

I have chimed in several times on Ford's lack of backing up their major sales pitch of "BEST IN CLASS TOWING" advertising, only to find, like many others, that there were many Ford dealers that had no idea on how to even install a brake controller! And then pay around $400 to have it installed to the third brake light...

My '05 F150 Lariat had a connector under the dash to plug and play a brake controller.

Go figure!

 

[yamahaSHO]

You could put the P3 in the Ranger, but without it understanding what the Ford included Lumen module does, I don’t think you would get integration with the AEB. Almost any brake controller would work if you were not going to integrate with the AEB. Most Rangers have wiring in the left kick panel for any brake controller. I’m not sure what the Lumen module does, but it has some type of integration between the third brake light, the AEB, and the Redarc. I didn’t want to give up the AEB integration even though my AEB has never been needed. If just once it kept my wife safe, I’d gladly trade the P3 for the less polished Redarc.

It just needs the signal from the lamp, no? The reason you tap the brake light is because that's where the braking signal is for non-user provided input (in other words, the signal is not at the pedal). The P3 will handle the rate of decel on its own. That's why it's so good.

I think you may be overthinking this.

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