Hey everyone,

New here, just picked up a 2015 XLT Sport 4x4 5.0L. Pretty impressed with this truck, I own a landscaping business, so I use this truck mainly for sales and pulling my 7-ton dump trailer.

Anyways...is anyone else a little pissed off that the 'trailer tow package' doesn't come with a trailer brake controller? Sitting at the dealership now, where I just paid $280 for the part plus an hour of labour to install. I guess you can't plug it in yourself because they have to re-program the computer. They give you a 7-pin connector and no brake controller...so FYI the trailer tow package is just a hitch and light wires.

I will say that this truck tows way nicer than my 7.3 F350. Pretty impressed with this 5.0L. Wasn't expecting to do this much towing with it when I bought it, wasn't expecting it to be this capable.

 

I believe the trailer brake controller comes with the max tow package. It will come with mine but I dont need it. My boats trailer has surge brakes.

 

I'm in the same boat, but I got a little better deal. I get supplier pricing on parts so my controller was only $110. I complained to my dealer enough that he offered to put it in free. Tomorrow at 10 am it will be installed. Will be a lot easier to stop my 29' travel trailer.

 

I'm changing my boat trailer over to "electric over hydraulic."

It'll use the electric trailer brake controller, but the actual brakes will be hydraulic, just as with surge brakes.

Always been frustrated that there's no braking while in reverse with surge brakes. It'll be nice to be able to dial in the braking force, too. With surge, it's all or nothing.

 

Yeah the only difference is the brake controller and upgraded rear bumper in the lariat. Seen lots where they Order controller with tow package. Why these people didn't just order the max towing. I got my guy to include the controller since they sold the other truck from underneath the sales person that I drove up to see. Hopefully have the new truck this weekend. Think ford could save problems by just offering a tow package or not. According to website towable weight doesn't change.

 

When I was looking for my truck I was searching dealer inventory. The two trucks I settled on were both excactly the same except one had the regular tow package and one had the max tow package. the MRSP difference between the two was $25. I chose the Max tow package truck, but it was already being sold. By the time Ford adds in the 3.55 locking rear end and regular tow package it's almost the same at the Max Tow package. Thought it was strange the max tow package on this particular truck did not include tow mirrors, but what ever.

 

I saw many trucks that had the tow package and then the trailer brake control as a separate expense. I figured for that, get the max tow package with it all included. Better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

 

What can get tricky, is there is a trim level that includes the TBC but no tow package. Yep, you have a controller but can only tow 5,000 lbs.

Last year the tow package was standard on the Lariat and up. Should be standard on them all IMO.

 

Almost every truck I looked at had a tow package. Seemed to me like it should have been standard.