I promise that I tried to use the Search function, but it seems like everybody talking about something along these lines is already far ahead of me in terms of knowledge. I'm embarassed to post such a stupid series of questions, but hey - got to learn sometime, right?

I just bought my first truck made in the past decade - a 2005 F150 FX4 Scab and it has the 5.4L, 3.73LS and the towing package. I plan to use it to haul my racecar (a 98 Camaro SS ) on a 16' open dual axle trailer. I hooked up to it last night and plugged in the round 7pin connector, and all the lights/signals are working perfectly.

...Now I'm trying to get the trailer brakes working.

It didn't seem that just plugging the 7 pin in at the rear of the truck activated the trailer brakes. Did it? If so - they need to be adjusted to be stronger. How can I do that?

If that didn't get the trailer brakes working - how can I? I've got a harness in the glove box that came with the truck - it's got a plug on one end and 4 or 5 open wires on the other end. Do I need to install this?

Do I need an aftermarket (Tekonsha or otherwise) brake controller? My buddy has an '07 F250 and he had an adjustable brake controller built into the dash. I don't think my F150 is equipped - if it is, I haven't found it yet!

Any help you guys can offer is greatly appreciated - I'm very new to hauling and especially new to Ford trucks. I'm going on the PINKS tv show on April 7th so I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row beforehand.

Thanks in advance folks!

 

You need to buy an aftermarket BC that you then splice all the wires together with that harness you have.

Follow the wiring diagram for the BC and don't just match the wire colors, because they are not always the same.

Some BC's come with an optional wire harness that's specific to your truck and all you have to do is plug it in and mount it. Of course you have to set it to your specific needs....

Mitch

 

The harness you found in the glove box is used to connect the trailer brake controller that you must purchase. The Super Duty Fords now have that built in controller you buddy has in his F-250, but the F-150 doesn't. There should also be a fuse, or circuit breaker and instructions that came with the harness. The fuse/circuit breaker plugs in to the high capacity fuse box under your hood - at least that was how it hooked up on my 2002 F-150 (you may not have that fuse box, as I don't think my 2006 has it). If you can't find them, go to a Ford dealer and see if they sell the kit at a reasonable price. Keep us posted on your upcoming "Pinks" appearance.

 

Thank you for the info guys - I will get either the P3 or the Prodigy brake controller on the way ASAP. I'm not a big fan of hauling a trailer without brakes!

Thanks again - I will keep you posted on the PINKS deal.

 

What kind of racing?

 

Drag racing - http://www.pinks.tv

For some pics/vids of my Camaro: http://www.tick-performance.com/customers/joeyanderson/

 

Get the Prodigy.

With the tow package you should have the pigtail that works with the controller. I didn't have one so my dealer gave me one. Worked slick. Just figured where to mount it and followed the directions. Fiddled with the settings until it worked like I wanted.

 

Sick Camaro...but it looks like someone fell asleep at the tree in the vid.

 

PINKS was great - didn't get any good passes in but had a good time nonetheless.Thanks! I wasn't asleep - I was just being cautious. That was a shakedown pass for the black Camaro next to me, so I wanted to give him a second to nose out and make sure the car wouldn't get away from him out of the hole. Safety first!