Trailer Tow Package Does Contain 4 Wires for Aftermarket Brake Controller Install

J Haggerty (RADAR1)

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
78
Reaction score
117
Location
Sharpsburg, GA
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger XLT Supercrew I4, 2017 Dodge Durango SXT V6, 2004 Dodge Dakota SLT V8
Occupation
Retired USAF Air Traffic Controller
No fuses blown. Not sure if it was a computer reset or time or just a poor ground on the tester, but everything seems to be working fine now. Mounted the P2 holder below the fuse box handle using max strength 3M tape. We'll see how long that holds.
20200104_154627.jpg
I had planned to put mine there too, but I noticed my knee would be hitting it every time I got in due to my long legs.
I like the smallness of the Redarc, and I also like the Insight that Floyd has, but since I already have a Tekonsha I decided to install that for now and I can switch it back and forth easily between my three tow vehicles.
I pulled the trim piece off to check there was nothing behind it that would interfere, attached the holder to the trim piece using an existing hole for the screw, drilled a hole for wiring through the panel and put the trim back in place.
Easy to get to the sliding brake switch and check the readout, and my Tekonsha 7 pin tester says everything works!

Brake controller 3.jpg


Brake controller 1.jpg
Sponsored

 

Aliby

Well-Known Member
First Name
Alistair
Joined
Nov 17, 2019
Threads
1
Messages
52
Reaction score
35
Location
Ken-Caryl, Colorado
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger SuperCrew Lariat FX4, Tow package, Magnet with Black Sports package
I had planned to put mine there too, but I noticed my knee would be hitting it every time I got in due to my long legs.
I like the smallness of the Redarc, and I also like the Insight that Floyd has, but since I already have a Tekonsha I decided to install that for now and I can switch it back and forth easily between my three tow vehicles
The Redarc is certainly nice and slick.

I would prefer to mount the Prodigy on the RHS of the steering column, out of the way of getting in and out. But the curvature of the panel would require some backing piece to get the mount aligned square to the front. Yours mounted in the center looks pretty neat. Now I am going to see if mounting it like yours would work better for me too.
 

mtbikernate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
1,069
Reaction score
2,354
Location
NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger XLT 4x4
Thanks to everybody for figuring out the wiring for those under-dash brake controller wires.

I went with a left-of-steering-column install, because it's what I'm used to, and I didn't like some of the other possible locations.

Tried VHB tape to mount the holder, but it didn't hold up well enough for me. So I just screwed the mount in.

49810107131_a4c34e4dc6_c.jpg
0423201159
by Nate, on Flickr

I already had the Tekonsha P2 controller from another vehicle. I thought a little bit about the Redarc from Ford, but the trailer I have isn't a heavy trailer in the first place (it just has brakes for extra safety margin when pulling with smaller vehicles). I suppose I can always upgrade later to get compatibility with the emergency braking system (I don't have adaptive cruise) if I decide to make that a priority.
 

RangerDangerStranger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Threads
12
Messages
315
Reaction score
409
Location
SF Bay Area
Vehicle(s)
2022 Nissan Frontier SV in Tactical Green Metallic
Occupation
Cool Dude
Installed mine- How about that location?

I wanted mine up there on the dash, where i could see it. My mirror mover had a unused spot above it, maybe there is something there on the XLT and Lariets. Now mine has a Brake Controller there. ?

Wana know how i did it? FPITA about 3 -4 hrs.

trialercontrol3.jpg
trialercontrol1.jpg
trialercontrol4.jpg


trialercontrol5.jpg
 
Last edited:

12Bravo20

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2020
Threads
4
Messages
444
Reaction score
1,137
Location
Missouri
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ford Ranger XLT FX4
Occupation
retired
Installed mine- How about that location?

I wanted mine up there on the dash, where i could see it. My mirror mover had a unused spot above it, maybe there is something there on the XLT and Lariets. Now mine has a Brake Controller there. ?

Wana know how i did it? FPITA about 3 -4 hrs.

trialercontrol3.jpg
trialercontrol1.jpg
trialercontrol4.jpg


trialercontrol5.jpg
That is where the power fold button would be if you have that feature. That does look like a good spot to install the switch for all of us that do not have power folding mirrors.
 


PonyXpress

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Feb 18, 2019
Threads
9
Messages
260
Reaction score
165
Location
Sacramento CA
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger
Great thread, but is confusing as I read through the pages. I have read in other threads where people claim there are no wires for the brake controller. Meanwhile in this thread, it is clear that many of you have found the 4 wires. That said, it looks like some people are finding a solid blue wire and others are finding something else.

The good news is that after reading this thread, https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/redarc-tow-pro-elite-install.1924/ it doesn't sound like we have run any new wires, as long as you have the OEM tow package with 7 pin.

I did read in another thread that a guy purchased the ford brake controller
VKB3Z-2C006-A and he posted that he did not find the wires and he had to run a wire to the third brake light. Wow, so many different answers to what should be a very simple question.

I have a Feb 2019 build Lariat FX4 Sports and with Tow package, fully loaded with adaptive cruse, auto emergency braking, etc. So with this, I will assume I will find the 4 wires in the left side kick panel and I just need to purchase the controller.

I'm leaning towards the
Redarc Tow-Pro Elite.

Is there any advantage to going with the Ford approved controller vs. the Redarc?

Does the PCM need to be flashed so the truck knows I've added the brake controller?

Are the dash menu's used at all to configure or control settings for the brake controller?
 

Tony I

New Member
First Name
Tony
Joined
Sep 7, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT 4wd
Occupation
Environmental specialist
Hello fellow Ranger owners. Thank you for letting me in the forum. I have a new 2020 XLT with the 7500lb tow package and as far as I can tell there is still no plug-in port for a brake controller. I did find the 4 wires as described earlier in the thread. Etrailer claims there is a plug near the radio but I must be blind because I have looked everywhere and don't see it. Has anyone found a brake controller plug on their 2020?
 

cfhgarza

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2020
Threads
11
Messages
510
Reaction score
990
Location
Ohio
Vehicle(s)
2020 Magnetic XLT 301A
Occupation
Press and weld set-up
Hello fellow Ranger owners. Thank you for letting me in the forum. I have a new 2020 XLT with the 7500lb tow package and as far as I can tell there is still no plug-in port for a brake controller. I did find the 4 wires as described earlier in the thread. Etrailer claims there is a plug near the radio but I must be blind because I have looked everywhere and don't see it. Has anyone found a brake controller plug on their 2020?
There's no plug. You have to crimp or solder to the 4 wires you found or use the Ford approved kit that has you running wires to the 3rd brake light
 

Rviator

Well-Known Member
First Name
Doug
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Threads
20
Messages
447
Reaction score
868
Location
FLA
Vehicle(s)
A 2019 Ford Ranger of course, and a 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3
Occupation
retired aerospace engineer
Vehicle Showcase
1
To summarize; trucks with the factory tow package have the 4 loose wires under the dash. These are to be used with an aftermarket controller. The Ford controller utilizes the 3rd brake light and that wire needs to be routed from said brake light in lieu of using the blue wire under the dash, the other 3 are used. The Ford controller works in conjunction with automatic emergency braking, aftermarket controllers do not integrate with the 3rd brake light and trailer brakes will not be applied during automatic emergency braking without driver input. Therefore the driver must manually apply braking to activate trailer brakes when the truck brakes are activated automatically. Quite frankly if you are towing a trailer the driver should be paying more than enough attention to be able to manually apply the brakes when called for.
The truck will sense that a trailer is in use when the truck to trailer electrical connection is made whether a brake controller is installed or not, some trailers do not require the use of a brake controller.
 

PonyXpress

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Feb 18, 2019
Threads
9
Messages
260
Reaction score
165
Location
Sacramento CA
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger
To summarize; trucks with the factory tow package have the 4 loose wires under the dash. These are to be used with an aftermarket controller. The Ford controller utilizes the 3rd brake light and that wire needs to be routed from said brake light in lieu of using the blue wire under the dash, the other 3 are used. The Ford controller works in conjunction with automatic emergency braking, aftermarket controllers do not integrate with the 3rd brake light and trailer brakes will not be applied during automatic emergency braking without driver input. Therefore the driver must manually apply braking to activate trailer brakes when the truck brakes are activated automatically. Quite frankly if you are towing a trailer the driver should be paying more than enough attention to be able to manually apply the brakes when called for.
The truck will sense that a trailer is in use when the truck to trailer electrical connection is made whether a brake controller is installed or not, some trailers do not require the use of a brake controller.
Thank you for explaining that. So if you're not worried about automatic emergency braking for the trailer, no need to buy the Ford approved controller. Might as well buy the less expensive controller and just use the 4 wires.

Ford really screwed up here. There should be no reason to have to run a wire to the 3rd brake light, as they should have installed the needed wires in the first place. In this case, they should have run that wire and have 5 wires down there so we have options. I'm sure running that wire is a PITA
 

Big Blue

Well-Known Member
First Name
Lee
Joined
May 5, 2020
Threads
14
Messages
3,123
Reaction score
6,968
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Supercrew lighting blue
Occupation
Retired mechanical designer
To summarize; trucks with the factory tow package have the 4 loose wires under the dash. These are to be used with an aftermarket controller. The Ford controller utilizes the 3rd brake light and that wire needs to be routed from said brake light in lieu of using the blue wire under the dash, the other 3 are used. The Ford controller works in conjunction with automatic emergency braking, aftermarket controllers do not integrate with the 3rd brake light and trailer brakes will not be applied during automatic emergency braking without driver input. Therefore the driver must manually apply braking to activate trailer brakes when the truck brakes are activated automatically. Quite frankly if you are towing a trailer the driver should be paying more than enough attention to be able to manually apply the brakes when called for.
The truck will sense that a trailer is in use when the truck to trailer electrical connection is made whether a brake controller is installed or not, some trailers do not require the use of a brake controller.
What you say is mostly true. The exception is the blue wire is used, that is the wire that goes to the 7 pin connector to power the brakes. The. White/purple is the one that doesn't get used by the Ford controller. It is the wire that comes from the brake peddle. Also, the harness that goes to the CHMSL also has its own ground connection so the white wire is not used either. No offense, I'm just a detail person.

I agree, when towing the driver should be paying extra attention and it is not recommended to use ACC while towing. I have the non-Ford Redarc controller and really like it.
 
Last edited:

RangerDangerStranger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Threads
12
Messages
315
Reaction score
409
Location
SF Bay Area
Vehicle(s)
2022 Nissan Frontier SV in Tactical Green Metallic
Occupation
Cool Dude
the the danger is that the automatic emergency braking will trigger the brakes, but the trailer controller won't brake if you don't use the Ford controller., for example, if you use the redarc, like I did. The solution, my opinion is, to turn off the automatic emergency braking, which you can do from the menus. When towing a trailer. that way, you won't ever have the situation where the truck is braking, but the trailer isn't.
 

Jimmy07

Well-Known Member
First Name
James
Joined
Feb 19, 2020
Threads
9
Messages
62
Reaction score
109
Location
Sacramento
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger XL/STX
Ford really let Ranger owners down with towing. Failed to provide complete and accurate information on what a aftermarket controller and what a factory installed controller can and cannot do. Left all of us to guess.

Also failed to provide the four wires under the dash on all vehicles, including mine. Failed to inform and educate the dealers to help out owners with accurate information. Failed to answer two letters I sent to them. This form was the only good source of information for Ranger owners. Yea, I'm pissed.
 

Rviator

Well-Known Member
First Name
Doug
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Threads
20
Messages
447
Reaction score
868
Location
FLA
Vehicle(s)
A 2019 Ford Ranger of course, and a 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3
Occupation
retired aerospace engineer
Vehicle Showcase
1
Actually Ford did tell us. This is a screen shot from the Quick Start guide provided when I received my truck in 2019. See the notes in the square boxes.
Quikstartguide.png
Sponsored

 
 



Top