I just sold my Prodigy brake controller because my new 2010 has one installed from the factory. Is the factory controller any good? What is it equivalent to?

 

Its better than anything on the market, the split second you hit the brakes, the brakes on the trailer come on also, it eliminates the delay you get from the other brake controllers.

 

It works far better. You'll love it.

 

Integrated brake controllers have the advantage of optimizing ABS and trailer sway algorithms as well that even a great external like the Prodigy does not.

 

Works great UNLESS you have electric over hydraulic brakes on your trailer (I doubt a lot of F-150 owners will have this) but those that do will notice.

 

Monte, are aftermarket brake controllers better than OEM integrated for electric over hydraulic trailer brake systems?

 

In a nut shell, yes, the aftermarket units work with that type of brake over the Ford OEM, the best out there under 100 bucks is the P3. It seems to be hit and miss with the ford controller. They either work or the brakes causes jumping and a dangerous situation. This is all from the super duties, I've never seen a trailer small enough for a F-150 to pull with electric over hydraulic brakes but the state in the ford manual (shop) that it will not work with electric over hydraulic trailer brakes.

 

Has anyone installed the OEM after they bought there truck? How much? Is the wiring there already?

 

All your questions will be answered by doing a search on the subject.

 

Yes, I just did mine a couple of weeks ago. I bought the unit at Tasca, its about $224. The hookup is behind that cubby on the driver side of the center stack. It's a really easy mod if you don't have the flow through console. I have the flow through, and it still wasn't bad.

Once you install it, you do have to take it to your dealer to have them activate it.

There is a video of the install over on etrailer.com about how to get to the existing wiring. In the video they are installing an aftermarket controller, the OEM one mounts right where the cubby goes.

http://www.etrailer.com/tv-brake-con...ford-f150.aspx

EDIT: I see you have an FX4 so the video won't be of much use. That plastic bag with the wiring pigtail and fuse and relay that should have come with your truck has instructions on the next to last page how to do it with the flow through console. It's easier than it looks. You don't have to unhook any wiring or shifter linkage either, even though the instructions say to do so.

 

My old van had a Tekonsha brake controller. In hindsight, I had to reset the tension almost every time, and thought that was the norm. Since towing with the F150 and its controller, its night and day. I set it once and forget it. I like the digital readout vs trying to find the proper colour of orange/red. There is no comparison.

One thing with the OEM controller- when you activate the trailer brakes alone, using the thumb switch, the brake lights will go on. No after-market one that I have ever seen did this.

S

 

Never noticed or thought about that when towing with my SUV and Prodigy controller. Good point.

 

I have hauled thousands of miles with the factory unit in my f250. It is seamless and perfect. Even the Prodigy is a clunker in comparison.

 

My P3 does.