not sure where to put some of this and didnt wanna make multiple threads so here it is. im fixing to put a goosneck hitch and elec brakes on my 2007 f150 fx4 5.4l. i was wondering what brake controller you guys reccomend and if you knew what my truck can tow/haul legally. ive looked at the door sticker and manual but all those abreviations and equations to figure the weights out make no sense to me. if im not mistakin i think its 9-10k lbs w/ the right equipment. but please give me a correct number. thanks!

 

I've heard good things about this one:

Tekonsha P-3 Trailer Brake Controller - Proportional 90195 : Trailer hitch bike rack and trailer hitches - etrailer.com

 

looks like a good one. how hard is it to wire up? ive got the stock towpackage. my dad said he can do it if he knew what the wires hooked to. hes never wired one up to a vehicle that came w/ the plug ins stock. hes always done it all together. do you know if ford has factory ones for 04-08? ik they have them for the 09s. i like the factory interior look

 

I'm pretty sure theres no factory ones. I had the connector for a trailer brake come in my glove box when I got my truck.

 

ooo. ok. so was that factory in your glovebox or prev owner did it?

 

The P3 or the prodigy brake controllers are great. I have a prodigy, and I put one in my mom's Expedition and towed her travel trailer through the mountains with it several times, it works great!
Your truck has a plug under the dash (similar to the diagnostics port) where you plug the brake controller into. When you order the controller get the harness for your truck and it is pretty much plug and play.
If you have 3.73s with 18" wheels and stock tires your towing capacity is somewhere around 8700 lbs if I remember right.


GAWR = axle weight rating. The rear axle weight rating on your door jamb probably says 3800 or something, and the 9.75 axle itself is actually rated for 4500.
GVWR = gross vehicle weight rating. This is the most that the truck should weigh.
GCWR = gross combined weight rating. This is the most the truck+trailer and everything should weight together.

Best thing to do is find a scale and drive the truck on it, and write down the front and rear axle ratings separately. This gives you a good starting point for determining how much you can (legally) tow.

Is is somewhat common for the truck to be a little overweight sometimes, but I wouldn't push the combined weight ratings or any axle weight ratings.

What kind of trailer are you looking to tow? If it is a camp trailer you need to factor in a lot of extra weight for water, propane, batteries, food, camping gear, people, etc. Usually advertised dry weights are well below what the camper will actually weight all loaded up.

 

Yeah I meant I had the connector harness in my glovebox, not a actually trailer brake conncetion. Its the harness that you plug into the connection that you plug the trailer brake into.

 

My dad has a Tekonsha Prodigy in his 05 Xterra. It works awesome.

 

it will be our camper occationally. my dads 93 1500 gmc pulls it fine. its an 09 so its pretty light like most campers are these days. im also lookin to pull a horse trailer. either a 2 horse bumper pull or a 2 horse gooseneck w/ living quarters. not huge trailers by any means. so its already wired up for trailer brakes and i just need harness and controllers? how do i find this out for sure or is it a tow package deal that comes on them? if i buy locally do i just ask for the f150 wiring harness?

 

I believe this comes with the correct harness.
I'm assuming your truck has the factory tow package with the round 7-pin plug on the back?

 

Here is a video installing the prodigy on an expedition. It is super super easy if you have the factory tow package.

 

They sell a kit that comes with the harness and without.

 

thanks. yes, it does have factory tow package. has the round plug and the small 4 or 5 rectangle plug (not for sure if 4 or 5). doesnt all FX4s have the tow package?

 

and i cant see the inside of the plug in the video, but is it gray with 4 prongs and red at the very bottom inside the plug???

 

Sounds familiar. lol

 

lol. thought that was it. its way up in there lol. if i just get a cheaper one local for like 60 bux, how do i get a wiring harness that will fit into that specific controller?

 

Don't cheap out on brake controllers. Get the prodigy for about $100.
A good controller makes a world of difference when you are towing something heavy.

 

it was 160 for prod and harness