wires for trailer brake controller '24 Ranger?

[Hootbro]

@craigc , what is your build date? From what I see, your top gray connector (C2498B) does not match color wise to the diagram but @RangerDangerStranger does for both connectors (C2498A) Black and (C2498B) gray.

At this point, I am not trusting these diagrams ether for which I obtained direct from Ford and their service connect portal.

To further add confusion, if going by the first sheet of the wiring diagram of "WITHOUT INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROL" , the TRM should be totally different with only a 2 wire (C2496A) and 4 wire (C2496B) slot connectors and that is not the case here but may be for models without any trailer tow package. Starting to make me think the wiring and connector is there somewhere for the OEM trailer brake control switch.

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[craigc]

@craigc , what is your build date? From what I see, your top gray connector (C2498B) does not match color wise to the diagram but @RangerDangerStranger does for both connectors (C2498A) Black and (C2498B) gray.

My Blend was 4/24. Really wishing I'd been patient to get my original order due to arrive next week I saw the wire colors are indeed very different, so yeah, what the flip - very confusing. I haven't even tested my trailer wiring yet - may be a good time to do that, it might not even be wired up right.... Downside is I haven't yet bought a trailer with the 7 pin wiring on it to test that - been waiting to figure out the controller issue before pulling the trigger. I'll be checking the 4 wire later today.

 

[Hootbro]

I have yet to stick my head up under the dash to see what I have. I have a late 5/24 build with the basic trailer tow package.

Would be nice if the OEM controller wiring is there and it comes down to just getting that and maybe some Forscan change to figure out to enable but I am not hanging my hat on that yet.

 

[RangerDangerStranger]

For the '20 it didn't. it was just straight to the trailer wires. i mean, there are turn signals and stop as well as parking lights, but all the controller supplied was a braking signal, and it derived it by motion sensing. That was the Redarc. incedently, there was a safety warning from Ford, the automatic emergency breaking would not trigger the stop light signal, so would not trigger the breaking controllers, so under AEB, breaking controller wouldn't work so you had to turn that off in the controls if you used an aftermarket controller and were towing a trailer. Not sure if it's the same with this gen.

 

[craigc]

Oh one more thing - forgetting the crazy wire coloring, in my picture I can see on the black connector wires 6, 7, 11, 12. notably absent is 10 (brake), 13 (fuse 42), and 14 (ECU tow). this lines up with the extra wires comparing the "WITHOUT INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROLLER" diagram to the "WITH IBC" diagram. if the wires are missing in the connector, that seems concerning that it has a different harness than trucks with the "advanced" tow package (you know, because only "advanced" users need a TBC. What an oxymoron because that tow package is really designed to help beginners that need help backing up a trailer).

Can you also post the fuse diagram for the BCMC under the hood? I was going to see if there is a fuse 42 at all, but there is no logical order to the fuse layout on that panel, and of course, no diagram on the lid...

And then looking at this kit for 2019-2023 ranger (https://accessories.ford.com/ranger-2019-2021-trailer-brake-control-towing-pack-3) I noticed also requires the factory tow package, but look at how long that cable is it comes with. I don't have the instruction for installation of it, but nothing under the dash would need that long of a cable. Not sure if this same kit will eventually apply to 2024, but if so, this implies there would be a connector further to the rear or bed. And that comes way back to the etrailer link earlier in this thread where the etrailer guy had no idea either....sigh... Then I found this on 5G forum, so that must explain the long wire, but what the heck - have to remove the headliner? WTF... Surely 2024 will be better than this...

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/trailer-braker-controller-instruction-for-a-dummy.10321/

 

[Hootbro]

Can you also post the fuse diagram for the BCMC under the hood?

 

[Hootbro]

Here is the one out of the owners manual. It lists Fuse 42 as a 30A spare (not used).

 

[craigc]

Here is the one out of the owners manual. It lists Fuse 42 as a 30A spare (not used).

Well I feel dumb - hadn't thought to check the owners manual for that... Guess that fuse is not important then. I may start a conversation with the dealer to find out if they have any idea when a solution will be made available for TBC. Hopefully it's not years away... worst case will have to just get one that does not integrate with the AEB, but that's not why I spent $50k on a truck!!

 

[Hootbro]

hadn't thought to check the owners manual for that... Guess that fuse is not important then.

What is confusing to me is why the diagrams list it as being used for vehicles with the IBC but is only listed as a spare (not used) in the owners manual? Makes no sense.

 

[Jason B]

For the '20 it didn't. it was just straight to the trailer wires. i mean, there are turn signals and stop as well as parking lights, but all the controller supplied was a braking signal, and it derived it by motion sensing. That was the Redarc. incedently, there was a safety warning from Ford, the automatic emergency breaking would not trigger the stop light signal, so would not trigger the breaking controllers, so under AEB, breaking controller wouldn't work so you had to turn that off in the controls if you used an aftermarket controller and were towing a trailer. Not sure if it's the same with this gen.

It was more involved than that. To get the AEB working with the TBC, Ford supplied a Lumen module and wiring for its TBC to get the brake signal from the CHMSL, that's the 3rd brake light on the cab. If Ford installed the TBC, they would drill a hole in the console, left of the steering for the control knob.
5G owners would sometimes mount the knob next to the shifter console, some would remove on of the 12v plugs and put it there.
The Ford licensed kit was just a RedArc with Lumen module and wiring harness. They are available for about $300. It is unknown if it would work on 6G.

Ford would put it here:

Owners found a better way:

 

[Helena-disappointed]

Hello Forum folks,

With helpnfrom some of you folks (thank you!), & review of other sources, including the Explorerst forum, I have the answer: my 2024 Ford Ranger XL w towing pkg has a connector, labeled with tiny print as a PBT-GF15, zip-tied to a wire cable loom near the firewall about 4 inches forward of the white OBD (code reader) plug, forward of the driver's left knee. Unlike E-trailer's statement on its webpage for a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 for a 2024 Ranger, on my truck there are no separate wires with heatshrink tubing to which wires from the trailer brake connector can be attached. The half of the PBT-GF15 connector that is not wired detaches from the half that is wired and can receive the four bare wires from the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 (E-trailer #90195). To avoid having to connect loose wires to the plug, l believe a customer could order E-trailer's part TK99UR, which is a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 with a PBT-GF15 connector wired to it. That would then plug into the truck's PBT-GF15 wired other half. I've attached a photo of the half of PBT-GF15 connector I pulled from the truck, & a photo of both halves of the connector together attached to the wire loom.

CAUTION: The head of service for the Ford dealer where I bought the truck says to be careful; there may be problems with how an aftermarket TBC works with other electronics (e.g., 'body control module'), & it could interfere with auto emergency braking or damage electronics in the truck. He said Ford does not offer an OEM TBC for XLs or XLT's. So that means that I can't tow more than about 1500 lbs without violating Montana law!

 

[Jason B]

Time will tell. There was no TBC solution from Ford the first year of the 5G, so maybe they are working on it.

 

[craigc]

[QUOTE="Helena-disappointed, post:
So that means that I can't tow more than about 1500 lbs without violating Montana law!
[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the update. What a bunch of horse crap if they are able to state it can tow 7500lbs and not offer oem tbc. Seems like false advertising to me as any tow over 3500 is a lot safer with trailer brakes. I did not see this connector last night so will check again but they really need to offer a tbc for any truck with a factory tow package. It still bothers me they sell even these “trucks” without any tow package.

 

[olefordguy]

Guess for any serious towing it would be smart to at least order the advanced towing package ($825) to get the factory brake controller. In the end probably not a bad deal especially seeing the aggravation of trying to go aftermarket. But hind site is 20/20..... Who knows might all be by design?

 

[craigc]

Guess for any serious towing it would be smart to at least order the advanced towing package ($825) to get the factory brake controller. In the end probably not a bad deal especially seeing the aggravation of trying to go aftermarket. But hind site is 20/20..... Who knows might all be by design?

Agreed. Sadly, I did order the advance tow package originally for this one option (didn't care for the rest of the features)...But Ford took forever to deliver my truck and so I bailed last month....I got in a pinch and needed the truck for moving some items but hindsight I should have waited, expecting this to be a PITA. The truck with the advanced package will arrive probably next week to the dealer....

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