I've never understood how Ford could sell what it calls a trailer tow package and not include the brake controller

 

Curious how many more dealers have not enabled the TBC correctly on a 2016 F150 because they didn't follow the instructions provided in the SSM. More importantly why can't Ford update their instructions to add that note.

 

I laugh at dealers ordering tow package and adding break controller.

Comparing that to the cost of adding the heavy tow package which also adds hill brake assist and it was something like $50-$75 on a $50k truck....

 

I was looking for a Shadow Black Lariat Super Cab with a 5.0 and the Max Trailer Tow package. I must have looked at 2 or 3 dozen window stickers online over a 3 day period. Finally, I found what I thought I was looking for and asked my local dealer to get it on a dealer trade. I didn't realize until I got the truck home that it didin't have the Max Trailer Tow package or a TBC. As indicated in my initial post, I got an OEM TBC, installed it myself and all is OK now, but this is a classic case of "reading what you want" and not necessarily what's printed. Oh well, I got a sunroof in the deal and I wasn't even looking for a truck with one. The TBC was far less money and much easier for me to install than the sunroof would have been!

 

I almost had this same problem on my 2015. It took the dealer 2 hours to get the brake controller to work after I installed it because of a step that the didn't know about.

 

There are lots of trucks out there with tow packages. The integrated brake controller on the F150 is relatively new. Prior to that everyone had to add their own tbc.

 

I think Ford started adding them back in 2010 with the redesign. It might have been before then, but I know they were part of the tow package in the previous generation F150.

 

Hearing of all the problems with the '15 TBC, I'm curious how long it's going to take for all the tech's to get on board with the new procedure.

Not very confidence-instilling when your service writer comes back to you after about 15 minutes and tells you the brake controller is already there. Actual quote,"The little steering wheel, the bottom one is already there.." I about came unglued. Go out & catch the service manager, and he's about as bad. Then they say there's no brake controller for my truck, it's back-ordered. This is after the salesman and I went to parts dept. when we were finalizing the deal 2 days before, to make sure it was in-house, and hold one for me.

Finally after about 45 minutes and getting the sales manager involved, they finally got it all straightened out.

 

once TBC is installed and after proper procedure, per above, will your in dash display now have all of the towing status info, that it did not have before?

 

So, I'm confused. Is the TBC for a '15 pretty much plug and play (after enabling it)? I'm not clear on why it is dependent on the Tow Package.

Tasca site says "Vehicles must be equipped with Trailer Tow Package or Max Trailer Tow Package (wiring) for kit to be functional." (FL3Z19H332AB)

Doesn't it use the plug behind the little cubby that gets removed on the dash, or is it referencing that it isn't enabled in the computer? I don't have a Tow Package, but I do have a hitch so I'm thinking of adding the TBC potentially.