Adding a Ford Trailer Brake Controller to 2025 Ranger XL with Standard Tow Package

[StuBeef302]

After reading 5-6 threads on this topic including reading every post on this massive thread:
https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/wires-for-trailer-brake-controller-24-ranger.11415/

I'm sorry to say it still didn't clearly answer what I would like to do.
Everyone seems to go the RedArc path and that was clearly described, but I would like to get the Ford Trailer brake controller and the Dash trim piece for it.

The parts are shown here thanks to @DesertSand :
https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/thre...-brake-controller-24-ranger.11415/post-348992

@ShadowDragon24 posted great pics here:
https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/thre...-brake-controller-24-ranger.11415/post-367352

I can manage ForScan and the dash work.

Has anyone made these parts work (probably with a longer connector cable between the Ford TBC and the plug inside the driver side kick panel)

@ShadowDragon24
@DesertSand
@RangerDangerStranger

Appreciate any help! if this works I'm willing to make a clean simple post and ask for it to be pinned. Because the frequency of this question is amazing. (due to the fact that ford didn't include it in the towing package with the 7 pin port)

Sponsored

 

[DesertSand]

After reading 5-6 threads on this topic including reading every post on this massive thread:
https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/wires-for-trailer-brake-controller-24-ranger.11415/

I'm sorry to say it still didn't clearly answer what I would like to do.
Everyone seems to go the RedArc path and that was clearly described, but I would like to get the Ford Trailer brake controller and the Dash trim piece for it.

The parts are shown here thanks to @DesertSand :
https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/thre...-brake-controller-24-ranger.11415/post-348992

@ShadowDragon24 posted great pics here:
https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/thre...-brake-controller-24-ranger.11415/post-367352

I can manage ForScan and the dash work.

Has anyone made these parts work (probably with a longer connector cable between the Ford TBC and the plug inside the driver side kick panel)

@ShadowDragon24
@DesertSand
@RangerDangerStranger

Appreciate any help! if this works I'm willing to make a clean simple post and ask for it to be pinned. Because the frequency of this question is amazing. (due to the fact that ford didn't include it in the towing package with the 7 pin port)

There are 2 different dash wire harnesses. One with tbc and one without. It is not just plug and play like previous f150s. If you are changing the dash harness, you are opening a huge can of worms.

 

[RangerDangerStranger]

Congratulations on reading that Thread. I played some part in it, as I undertook a full evaluation of the Situation because there was no information out there. I think i can sumerize the major and minor points found

1. IF your Truck has factory tow package, all you need to do is add a Bronco aftermarket Pigtail adapter and TBC. It uses the Exact same one as the Bronco. There’s a single connector under the dash, already there from Ford. It will also work with Automatic Emergency Braking, as the 'Brake On/Off' signal is derived and not directly from the Pedal. It goes high during AEB without the pedal being depressed. Everything in the 7 pin works form the factory Except the Braking signal, and that can be made to work with a direct add of the TBC.

2. If your Truck did Not come from the factory with Tow Package, the Brake On/Off signal needed is likely Not programmed to work, though you have the connector and cannot be programmed to work at the dealer. There are work arounds to that, but kinda tacky. You would also need to expand the 4 pin to a 7 pin.

3. I did no work what so ever on adding the OEM stuff, but it seems a good deal more involved. I have No info on that.

 

[StuBeef302]

Congratulations on reading that Thread. I played some part in it, as I undertook a full evaluation of the Situation because there was no information out there. I think i can sumerize the major and minor points found

1. IF your Truck has factory tow package, all you need to do is add a Bronco aftermarket Pigtail adapter and TBC. It uses the Exact same one as the Bronco. There’s a single connector under the dash, already there from Ford. It will also work with Automatic Emergency Braking, as the 'Brake On/Off' signal is derived and not directly from the Pedal. It goes high during AEB without the pedal being depressed. Everything in the 7 pin works form the factory Except the Braking signal, and that can be made to work with a direct add of the TBC.

2. If your Truck did Not come from the factory with Tow Package, the Brake On/Off signal needed is likely Not programmed to work, though you have the connector and cannot be programmed to work at the dealer. There are work arounds to that, but kinda tacky. You would also need to expand the 4 pin to a 7 pin.

3. I did no work what so ever on adding the OEM stuff, but it seems a good deal more involved. I have No info on that.

Thank you!
My truck did come with the $535 Trailer Tow Package.
I'm a little surprised that no one tried using the OEM Ranger controller.
Factory Trailer Brake Control for $73
Factory Dash Bezel for $41
Maybe this for a trial harness to the Control

Even if this Factory Control did not work, I'd probably keep the Bezel and design and 3D print an insert to cleanly install the Redarc knob.

Flame me for this idea below.

 

[DesertSand]

Thank you!
My truck did come with the $535 Trailer Tow Package.
I'm a little surprised that no one tried using the OEM Ranger controller.
Factory Trailer Brake Control for $73
Factory Dash Bezel for $41
Maybe this for a trial harness to the Control

Even if this Factory Control did not work, I'd probably keep the Bezel and design and 3D print an insert to cleanly install the Redarc knob.

Flame me for this idea below.

The wiring is not there for the factory tbc only for aftermarket hook up.

 

[SLJ]

The factory wire harness for the tow package with out the factory controller is for aftermarket controllers. It's only 4 wire:
Ground
+12V
+12V Brake light Trigger
0-12V Feed to 7 pin for trailer brakes

The aftermarket controller module you mount under the dash does all the work of adjusting the amount of voltage going to the brakes while monitoring any decrease in velocity. I doubt just adding the Ford controls on the dash is going to work.

 

[StuBeef302]

Okay, that's a serious bummer. Thanks for the info everyone.

 

[ShadowDragon24]

this is the wiring for the intragrated tb switch. and the trailer module. in forscan, it shows my trm has brake control. I had my dash apart looking for the plug, but theres not a lot of room looking for wires. I never found a plug but thats not to say the switch wires are not there, Ill have to look at the trm plugs and see if I got the canbus lin line that goes to the switch, the other 3 are power from bcm, ground, and backlighting. If Im pre wired at the trm plug, means the wire is there somewhere. but I think ill be running my own wires. trm is not in easy mode, so might have to research on the asbuilt for that. and then I think I need to get into the instrument cluster, and maybe the apim?. I know with trail control, you have to bounce back and forth enable in bcm, then go abs, then back to bcm. or something like that I was able to get a bit further with that. but thats my though process with the trm and tbc.

if not, I'll just make and run my own harness, and see if that will work.

 

[SLJ]

My Maverick had the factory brake controller. The module for it was behind the rear seat on the wall.

 

[ShadowDragon24]

My Maverick had the factory brake controller. The module for it was behind the rear seat on the wall.

the trm (trailer module) is under the bcm behind the driverside kick panel is what the tbc dash switch hooks into. just like the aftermarket tbc plug ford gave us under the trm, that I have my hopkins tbc pluged into.

 

[StuBeef302]

@ShadowDragon24 the plug "for connecting aftermarket controllers" in the kick panel has 4 wires, I've also attached the wire color diagram for that TBC connector in the kick panel thanks to @Hootbro
The C2830 Trailer Brake Controller Switch plug you attached is a completely different set of connections. I'm gonna keep digging. Just my anal-retentive desire to have the stock trailer brake control switch.

I'll look at my Forscan to see if I have the Trailer brake module installed. I don't think I do.

 

[ShadowDragon24]

@ShadowDragon24 the plug "for connecting aftermarket controllers" in the kick panel has 4 wires, I've also attached the wire color diagram for that TBC connector in the kick panel thanks to @Hootbro
The C2830 Trailer Brake Controller Switch plug you attached is a completely different set of connections. I'm gonna keep digging. Just my anal-retentive desire to have the stock trailer brake control switch.

I'll look at my Forscan to see if I have the Trailer brake module installed. I don't think I do.

connector C2830 is the one that plugs into the back of the intragrated brake switch. 1 wire cones off the dash trail brake switch, going to the trailer module under the bcm, not the aftermarket one. this is the aftermarket one in upper right. lol

C2380(black 4 pin) belongs right here where the intragrated brake switch goes. lol

 

[StuBeef302]

@ShadowDragon24 I just checked FORScan and it shows I also have the Trailer Brake Module "Present" I'll dig into my dash tomorrow or Monday to peek around.

 

[ShadowDragon24]

this is the aftermarket tbc grey plug under the driverside kick panel. connector C2142

 

[ShadowDragon24]

gotta remove the center console, glove box, steering wheel trim, etc to remove the radio to get at the harness. I did it. I couldn't find it. not saying its not there. but the dash support was in the way of the harness, why I want to see if the trm has the 1 wire going to the dash brake switch, if it does, I think ill just make my own harness. not a whole lot of room for looking unless you take radio out. and you have to take half the truck out. lol

Sponsored