waf

Hello I have a 2015 F150 XLT and my brake controller is not able to adequately apply the brakes on my trailer. With some research it looks like in 2016 Ford added a setting under the trailer configuration called "Trailer Brake Effort" with low, medium and high settings. The configuration defaults to low and if the driver requires more aggressive braking they can select medium or high. Unfortunately this setting is not available on the 2015 models and I am left with weak trailer braking. I have a new trailer that weighs 5120lbs (verified with CAT scale) and with the gain set at 10 I cannot even come close to locking the brakes up for initial configuration. With the trailer attache to my fathers 2017 F150 and the effort setting on medium with gain at 7 the brakes lock up and the trailer tows perfectly with a final setting of 5.5 gain and effort set to medium.

I am hopfull someone out there knows a way to flash the 2015 model to add this effort setting. Thanks in advance.

BlackBoost

Not sure if it can be done. You might want to bring it in to the dealer to have a look. I have a 2015 that came with the brake controller and I'm able to lock my 4 trailer wheels if I set my brakes to 10. At around 8-8.5 it works well.

Are the brake drums properly adjusted?

waf

At first I did think it was a problem with the trailer brakes and took the trailer back to the dealer where they verified the brakes were set up properly. After the trip to the trailer dealer I decided to test the trailer on my Fathers 2017 where the brakes work great with that effort setting on medium and gain set to 5.5. His truck with my trailer was not able to lock the brakes with the gain at 10 and the effort on low but was able to lock the brakes with the effort on medium and gain at 7.

BlackBoost

Are you testing the lockup between 20-25 MPH? That's the procedure in the manual.

waf

Yes I am testing over 20mph.

I am able to lock the wheels on a lighter trailer that I own but not the one exceeding 5k. How heavy is your trailer that you are able to lock the wheels on?

BlackBoost

5k loaded tandem axle.

Gene K

I wonder if Forscan can adjust this even if you can't enable the menu? IE just turn up the default gain. It would be worth making some inquiries. My 2015 would usually only lock the brakes on my 7000 lb Enclosed Car Hauler on wet pavement. That would take 7 or 8. On dry pavement it would only lock on 10 if the pavement was dusty.

jay1028

I found that I couldn't use the low setting either .when I first hooked up the trailer, it wouldn't stop all the way at the ten setting. Then I discovered the medium setting, and am happy with a setting of 9. Depending on traffic conditions, I sometimes set it down to 6.

VTX1800N1

Following.

i2oadi2unnei2

FWIW, I'm still playing with my settings and haven't found the right combo. However, the current settings at medium and gain of 6 'locks up' about right, then again I'm a bit of OCD.