Lowline Angus

Agree 100% Love my OEM

shimmer

I have used several aftermarket controllers in the past. I have to agree the oem unit is much better. I would find the best deal on one and go that route personally.

black09stx

BL3Z-19H332-AA is an accessory kit that retails for $220 and comes with relay and fuse. BL3Z-2C006-AA is factory oe replacement, module only, and has been superseded to BL3Z-2C006-BB which retails at $198. Use it as long as you have the factory bag that contains the wiring adapter(which you won't use with either), fuse and relay.
Installed for $350 is on the high side, but not too bad, 220 for kit, 30 min to install, 30 min for programming= hour labor, labor rate? Figure from there.
Go with either, don't need a knee buster, plus the integration with the truck is awesome.

montanaman

Go the OEM unit - it's more than just a brake controller, as it integrates with the Traction control and anti-sway, and you might as well have the dealer do it, as they need to re-flash the computer so the truck 'sees' it.

If your truck only has a flat-four plug wired in at the back, as has been said before you'll need to buy the back harness, and if your truck is like mine, you'll have to run a blue wire from the controller harness under the dash all the way back to the plug, and an orange power wire back too. I used a heavy 10 ga wire, and I ran it up through a fused block to the power panel above the radiator, so I have full power back there 24/7, and it works well, I run a dump trailer, and the battery stays charged wonderfully, and if I'm using it all day it'll keep going, even if the battery is dropping.

I did a thread about it a looong time ago, and I'm satisfied how it worked out.

Steve Osborne

BL3Z-19H332-AA comes up 2009-2010..

BL3Z-2C006-AA 2011-2013...

Abn150

I have used both on my trucks and the OEM unit is much better. The price quoted is a little on the high end, but depending on the charge for flashing the computer, is not out of line. You could try shopping around.

But as was previously stated. most boat trailers use surge brakes, not electric brakes. Electric brake can get shorted out when you submerge the wheels when unloading the boat. So you won't get any great benefit from the OEM integrated TBC.

Mike Alpha Bravo

Anyone have this experience? I just picked up my new 2013 F-150 STX which comes with the tow package option. Get the truck home and am getting ready to install the brake controller from my previous vehicle (a Tekonsha Prodigy, pretty nice BTW) which I need to tow my Travel Trailer. In the truck was the OEM package containing a wiring harness (which I did not need as I had the F-150 harness from Tekonsha for the controller), relay, fuse and instructions to use. Looking under the console, there is the gray OEM connector taped to a large wiring bundle exactly where the instructions indicated, EXCEPT, there are no actual wires attached to it.

Thinking this was just a QC issue, went back to the dealer, showed my sales guy the situation, after scratching his head for a moment we were off to the service department. The guy there says: "Is this a '13 STX? If so, just spent hours tearing one apart looking for that connector wiring, its not there." The service guy also said that after doing some research, Ford apparently had stopped wiring that connector in the recent past (as he believed they were still wired on the 2012's).

The only options were to purchase the OEM brake control (which apparently has a special connector already in place) or have the brake control wiring run separately to use my existing controller, both at an extra cost.

Considering that all previously available information had indicated that the control lines were already run (including the little packet of hardware and documentation provided with the truck which is apparently completely useless), I was not thrilled at this development as I was not planning to buy another controller unit at this time as it was only a season old.

Thankfully, even though this was an apparent Ford change, my dealer is top-shelf and offered to make this right by installing the OEM brake controller at no charge, so, I am ahead of the game with the integrated controller.

I am curious if this is an STX package thing or is Ford now trying to push their customers towards the OEM controller by not making it "plug and play" to use an after-market controller?

ronaldedd

I will have to climb under the dash and see if this is also true on my '13 STX, doesn't make a lot of sense though due to the fact that you can't get the OEM unit as a factory option on the XL or STX.

chuck9997

not real happy.. Bought a new FORD STX truck, yesterday.. for towing my camper.. it even has the tow package.. and the salesman showed me the little package with the wiring harness to connect a brake controller. I have a brake controller.. but the instructions in the FORD wiring harness say to connect it to the plug under the dash.. The plug is there.. but no wires coming from it.. it isnt connected to anything.

I called FORD and complained.. but they don't seem to care. I will never buy another FORD.

RES4CUE

I have no clue as my 10 STX had the connector exactly where you guys said and I just had to fish it up to the hole where the stock BC goes. I have heard stories that the wire harness may also be connected to the back of the little tray where the BC goes. Mine had a place where the connector mounted but mine ended up being taped below.

Maybe worth a shot looking.