I am in the market for a 2010-2012 F150 but I perfer the 11/12 model with the 5.0 in it. I have a few questions:

1. which would you say can handle a car/trailer tow situation, 5.4 or the 5.0?

My main question is though, I am tryingto find one with the intergrated brake controller built in bt most do not have it. Can this be added on to a truck that did not come from the factory wih it?

 

Yes. I believe as long as the truck has the tow package, there will be a plug in the dash behind the little storage cutout. I just picked up the controller and plan on installing it today. You will have to take it to the dealership to program it though.

 

I have never seen a Ford truck that did not have some of the trailer tow wiring in it. They are all wired from the dash to the Rear pin out on the frame. The factory connector is in the dash usually on the newer trucks behind the knock out for the change holder or behind the change holder. You will need to install the relays and fuses for it to work. If you have a 7way 4 way combo plug on the back you will have trailer brakes if you buy the factory controller you will need the dealership to change you settings for it to show up on the dash. If you don't have the 7way 4 way connector on the back of your truck you need to buy or build a rear harness. If you choose to build one follow the rear harness forward till you find the connector to the main harness usually somewhere near or forward of the rear axle. All of the trailer towing wires are in the connector. If your handy you can install the 7 wires for the trailer wiring into the empty holes on the tail light side of the connector. It is not rocket science but6 you need to verify every wire and connection and you will need to get the correct pins to insert in the factory connector.

 

almost all the trucks I have seen have the 7/4 pin connectors in the rear with the class 5 hitch but no brake controller. What I am going to do with the 2012 I'm thinking about is have them work the controller and programming into the deal or just find one with it but not so easy. I dont want to get involved with building one.

 

Adding it is easy. Make sure the trucks you are looking at have the 7 pin on the rear.

Paid $95 for my TBC new from Tasca ford + $130 for the reflash of the computer. Some are getting the reflash for free as it's a 5 minute job at the dealer.

google search your question and you will find tons of threads.

 

mine did not come with a towing package but still came with the regular 4 pin connector. i just had to add my own hitch reciever. if i wanted to add trailer brakes i would have to replace the connector with the 7 pin.

And as for the motor choice..mine has the 5.0 but either the 5.0 or the 5.4 can handle the load youre talking about. my mothers expedition has the 5.4 and we use it to tow a lot too. both can handle loads very well. i just prefer the 5.0 for the TiVCT.

 

go on YouTube and search ford brake contrller install.Theres a guy on there that did a 2010 (I think its the yr)install with all info necessary

 

pm sent

 

Exactly. PN# for my 2011 was BL3Z-19H332-AA for the trailer brake controller.

 

Awesome, thanks guys. The one I'm looking to purchase is an FX4 and has both the 7&4 pin connectors next to the receiver. So I guess the factory controller just plugs in then the computer is flashed to see it. I most likely am going to get a tune from John Lund, wonder if he can flash it to see the controller?

 

While I was sitting in the service dept today someone came in looking for this mod, he was quoted $480.00 installed... Just thought i'd pass that on...

 

Yes if it has both the 7 way and 4 way it is completely wired from the factory. In the glove box should be a bag with a short harness and some fuses and a relay. The short harness is so you can use a aftermarket controller. You remove the coin holder and install the factory controller there and the plug should be behind the coin holder. You have to install the fuses and relay or neither the factory or aftermarket controller will work. Mine has the factory in dash controller and did not work so I opened the fuse box and sure enough no fuses or relays. Looked in the glove box and installed the fuses and relays from the bag. works fine. Seems strange they charged the original owner for a brake controller that never worked because they did not install the fuses and relay. At least he did not throw them away.

 

That's why you have to install it yourself unless you just like throwing away money.

Takes 5 minutes and 2 screws to install. That way you can end up spending $230 (cost from the factory) or as little as $100 depending on how you are charged for the reflash.