I recently towed a 22 foot trailer with our 99 F-150. To my amazement the electric brakes on the trailer worked in conjunction with the pre-wired factory tow package on the F-150. Why would you need a brake controller? The trailer brakes did not seem too sensitive or sluggish.
Another interesting item, I was in a hurry to hook-up to my friends trailer, so I stopped by a local travel trailer/supplier and purchased a conversion adapter (which converted from factory flat spade on F-150 to round pin for electric brakes on trailer). Everything worked perfect; although, the F-150 shifted weird and felt sluggish for about the first three stop lights. Apparently, the computer went thru relearn to accomodiate the different load.

 

with a brake controller, you can set the sensitivity. If you on the open road, your sensetivity is different than the city. With a brake controller, you can also controll the trailer brakes seperatly, in case of an emergency. With a 22' trailer, the controller is up to the vehicle, and routs you take. If your in the mountains, a brake controller might be nice.

We have a brake controller in this

 

gearmanx17: You did NOT have working trailer brakes, if you don't have a brake control.

The flat 4 on your truck is a groung, tail, left, & right.

 

olefafl, Trailer brakes were working. I could see them energizing and releasing when pulling foward (from a dead stop) in the stone drive way. Also, brakes were warm when I ended the trailer jorney (after driving through Indianapolis-East side).
I notice you are from Noblesville? I travel through Noblesville quite often. Do alot of shopping there at Walmart. Teal blue S/C is usually parked in handicapped spot close to South door when We shop there.

 

If they were working, the trailer plug must be wired wrong.

One of the brake lights must be wired into the "S" on the round 6, or the "Black" on the round seven.

Or the brakes wired into the "LT", or "RT" on the 6. Or "red"(left), or "Brown"(right) on the 7.

 

Maybe they are surge brakes???
Also, if you ONLY have the flat way-pin connector, you probably don't have the tow package.

 

Vehicle doe's have Tow package. "special-ordered" with tow package. Truck came with 7-pin pre-wired connector for trailer, h/d cooling, h/d electrical, shocks and class III trailer hitch.

 

You shouldn't have brakes unless you have a brake control, if you do you should get it checked out because it should not work like this! Go to your 7-way with a test light ground the test light and touch the top left hand corner post, and get someone to push the brakes, if it lights up you have something wrong..

 

amen to triton4.6power and olefafl.
No way should you have power to the brake pole in the connector without a controller. If for some reason you do, the brakes should lock up if full amps are going to magnets in brakes.

Have a hitch dealer check it out before you have a real problem.

 

My '99 F-150 has a factory Class III towing package and my electric trailer brakes on my enclosed trailer did NOT work at all until I purchased and installed an electronic controller... I also had to follow Ford's instructions to install the lighting relays that were in a box that came with the flat-four connector and pig-tail that you need to use to install the brake controller. There is also a simple wiring diagram to install the controller.