wires for trailer brake controller '24 Ranger?

[ShadowDragon24]

So you are saying when the trucks autonomous emergency brake brakes sends the signal to brake the truck the Hopkins system will know this and know much braking is being applied and slow the trailer in the exact same?

If the AEB sends a signal to the trailer module as a regular brake application, then yes, the trucks aeb would activate the aftermarket controller regardless.

However a inertia controller works kinda like an old school mercury switch(probably has one or similar in it. lol) when the inertia exerted in a heavy deacceleration event, it trips the inertia braking, and the controller without any input from the truck(can put it on a 1995 f150 for example. and it will still automatically work the trailer brakes). Like I said above, the way it was described to me was, think of the truck aeb system only controls the truck. the inertia brake controller as the aeb for just the trailer.

there is no sepperate emergency brake wire signal from the truck, nor to the brake controller same as all the other ford kits I saw. the previous rangers, redarc said you had to tap the 3rd brake light, because the trailer brake controller plug they provided, when the aeb was active, there was no brake signal sent as it got the signal from the brake pedal switch.

the 24+ gets it brake signal from there, but from previous testing another member did in one the older threads, he showed the brake signal for the trailer brakes, did activate with the aeb active. So that tells me the aeb brake signal is probably going to the brake pedal switch, then going through the trm(trailer module) to go to the trailer brake aftermarket plug, and while doing the truck brake lights aswell. thus when you look at the redarc harness linked above. you only see 4 wires coming off the ford plug to the redarc plug, its the same way with the hopkins harness.

I have this controller because I wanted the emergency braking for my trailer on my previous vehicle. that only had 4pin. 2012 eascape, I converted to 7pin. and went with the inertia controller. never did get to use it in my escape, before I retired her and got the ranger, so just swapped the tbc over, and bought the ford harness for plug and play.

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[DesertSand]

I just got off the phone with Redarc and they informed me the reason they made the AED harness. It is for Australia made Rangers and evertrek vehicles. Ones made in North America are plug and play with everything built it.

TPH-007 for connector on equipped ranger
EBRH-ACC-NA for Redarc kit.

 

[aworstell69]

I just ordered this Tekonsha Brake-EVN TBC with harness adapter:

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Ford/Bronco/2025/TK75BR.html?VehicleID=20256004515

It is only listed on etrailer for the Bronco, but should work for Ranger too (I hope).

Harness wires seem to line-up correctly as follows:

Ford connector color - Tekonsha harness color - Function
Yellow - Black - 12V power
Black - White - Ground
Grey/Brown - Red - Brake signal
Blue - Blue - Trailer brakes

Cost was about $105 delivered. Installation should be super easy.

I'll report back on results.

 

[aworstell69]

I just ordered this Tekonsha Brake-EVN TBC with harness adapter:

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Ford/Bronco/2025/TK75BR.html?VehicleID=20256004515

It is only listed on etrailer for the Bronco, but should work for Ranger too (I hope).

Harness wires seem to line-up correctly as follows:

Ford connector color - Tekonsha harness color - Function
Yellow - Black - 12V power
Black - White - Ground
Grey/Brown - Red - Brake signal
Blue - Blue - Trailer brakes

Cost was about $105 delivered. Installation should be super easy.

I'll report back on results.

I just installed the TBC setup above. Installation was super easy. Everything seems to check out. When connected to my travel trailer, the trailer light check is good. And when I press the brakes the TBC shows power output.

 

[pezdyspensr]

So did you hit a dead end with Ford on this?

My STX did not have it zip by the firewall. It was placed behind the plastic kick panel. This plug needs the trailer brake module to plug into. Then there is a wire that plugs into the module that is fed to the gain module that is installed beside the steering wheel in a corresponding bezel.
I'm planning on going to my dealership today because when I ordered my STX, there was no option to purchase the trailer brake controller. Now, when I go to the ford.ca website, I can order a STX with a trailer brake if you order it with a tow package. So I'm going to get them to order the parts needed. This should include a module with mount bracket, hardware for bracket, wire to gain controller, and gain controller with bezel.

 

[DesertSand]

So did you hit a dead end with Ford on this?

Pretty much...they are just saying that's the way Ford is slowing you to order now. I tried to order the bronco kit which is basically a redarc elite kit with the pigtail but that kit is now obsolete from Ford. I will end up just ordering the REDARC kit from Amazon with the pigtail.

 

[pezdyspensr]

So the plug you found behind the kick panel is essentially the same as everyone else, meaning you can plug the Redarc directly in, no splicing?

 

[DesertSand]

So the plug you found behind the kick panel is essentially the same as everyone else, meaning you can plug the Redarc directly in, no splicing?

Exactly. Only for aftermarket.....unless Ford decides to figure out a actual accessory for the 6G Ranger that looks factory.

The thought crossed my mind to see if you could utilize a ford pigtail and actual dash controller to connect to a REDARC module....but I'm not sure if I want to go down that road.

 

[White willy]

this is what i can see in Forscan when i was poking around the other day.

Who here has done this,and what were the results?

 

[DesertSand]

Who here has done this,and what were the results?

You cant add a factory brake controller. The trucks with no factory brake controller installed has a different dash harness. You can install an aftermarket if equipped with connector by the driver's side firewall. If it doesn't have this connector, you will need to hardwire it.

 

[White willy]

You cant add a factory brake controller. The trucks with no factory brake controller installed has a different dash harness. You can install an aftermarket if equipped with connector by the driver's side firewall. If it doesn't have this connector, you will need to hardwire it.

Thank you for the reply,I know that it needs hardwired,my question was pertaining to the changes that were made in forscan actually being necessary,and did they indeed work.

 

[DesertSand]

Thank you for the reply,I know that it needs hardwired,my question was pertaining to the changes that were made in forscan actually being necessary,and did they indeed work.

From all videos and posts I've seen, there is no need. Most are plug and play especially the REDARC controller with tph-007 connector.

 

[ShadowDragon24]

You cant add a factory brake controller. The trucks with no factory brake controller installed has a different dash harness. You can install an aftermarket if equipped with connector by the driver's side firewall. If it doesn't have this connector, you will need to hardwire it.

Thats what I was told too. but when I bought the 72hr access to the ford service manuals and stuff. and Entered my vin for the stuff related to my truck, the wiring diagrams show the connector should be on the harness. I was also told my truck was not wired for heated mirrors/mirror turn signals/the puddle lights... yet my truck is prewired to the mirror plug for all. I circled the heated mirror wire. so Im hoping its in the dash. I did have the dash apart, but theres no room to get at the harness to see if its tapped to the main harness. when I get time, I want to haul the radio out to get better access.

The TRM and the TBM are the one unit, per the ford service manuals. so if we got the ITBC plug, we can enable the options to activate it

 

[DesertSand]

Thats what I was told too. but when I bought the 72hr access to the ford service manuals and stuff. and Entered my vin for the stuff related to my truck, the wiring diagrams show the connector should be on the harness. I was also told my truck was not wired for heated mirrors/mirror turn signals/the puddle lights... yet my truck is prewired to the mirror plug for all. I circled the heated mirror wire. so Im hoping its in the dash. I did have the dash apart, but theres no room to get at the harness to see if its tapped to the main harness. when I get time, I want to haul the radio out to get better access.

The TRM and the TBM are the one unit, per the ford service manuals. so if we got the ITBC plug, we can enable the options to activate it

If it's taped in that bundle, it might be as easy as the f-150s. My dealership told me the same thing that the wires should be there. When I reached behind the dash, I couldn't feel the connector in the bundle of taped wires.

When looking up by VIN it should show what harness should be installed on the truck. Ford has been always known to do weird things when building vehicles. Keep us posted. Maybe I missed it too.

 

[ShadowDragon24]

If it's taped in that bundle, it might be as easy as the f-150s. My dealership told me the same thing that the wires should be there. When I reached behind the dash, I couldn't feel the connector in the bundle of taped wires.

When looking up by VIN it should show what harness should be installed on the truck. Ford has been always known to do weird things when building vehicles. Keep us posted. Maybe I missed it too.

Thats the hope. in the meantime Im using a hopkins tbc, and works flawlessly. but I rather the ITBC, and thrn have the hopkins as a back up. the main "brain box" is behind driver side kick panel next to the trm, and the gain display and the gain/spike are remote mounts

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