2017 2.7 Ecoboost OEM controller
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2020
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2017 2.7 Ecoboost OEM controller
Good evening everyone. Thanks for any help you can provide.
We leased this truck in the summer of 2017, we had a small pop up camper.
STX package, Sync 3, 20" wheels etc.
We just bought a 24' travel trailer. Traveling from NY to OH next Friday to bring it home.
Turns out, our truck doesn't have an electronic brake controller.
So apparently, while towing the pop up, the camper brakes were doing NOTHING!
Class IV hitch came installed on this MSRP $42000 truck, and they skimped on a $100 part??
Any theory as to why this was done? Ugh!
Our truck has the 4 pin, and 7pin cable hook ups on the back, I guess the 7 pin just doesn't do anything but lights and signals without the controller installed and enabled?
I've got "add trailer" in the instrument cluster computer. Why is that there if there's no electronic brake controller?
I honestly thought the truck had everything needed all these years.
I digress. I can get the OEM electronic brake controller and install it (thanks YouTube) , but the computer has to be programmed.
I see there's an ELM327 USB to ODB2 cable, and you can download Ford FORscan software as a trial.
Is it just that simple?
Anyone done this to their truck.
Stay safe, be well.
Mike
We leased this truck in the summer of 2017, we had a small pop up camper.
STX package, Sync 3, 20" wheels etc.
We just bought a 24' travel trailer. Traveling from NY to OH next Friday to bring it home.
Turns out, our truck doesn't have an electronic brake controller.
So apparently, while towing the pop up, the camper brakes were doing NOTHING!
Class IV hitch came installed on this MSRP $42000 truck, and they skimped on a $100 part??
Any theory as to why this was done? Ugh!
Our truck has the 4 pin, and 7pin cable hook ups on the back, I guess the 7 pin just doesn't do anything but lights and signals without the controller installed and enabled?
I've got "add trailer" in the instrument cluster computer. Why is that there if there's no electronic brake controller?
I honestly thought the truck had everything needed all these years.
I digress. I can get the OEM electronic brake controller and install it (thanks YouTube) , but the computer has to be programmed.
I see there's an ELM327 USB to ODB2 cable, and you can download Ford FORscan software as a trial.
Is it just that simple?
Anyone done this to their truck.
Stay safe, be well.
Mike
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 1,186
From: Franklin, PA
It appears you have now been educated on the Ford tow option and brake controller option. I have the 53A towing package. Even with that the trailer brake controller had to be an added option. You do get the smart trailer connection program with the 53a,b,c options. That means if you use the 7 pin connector the truck can remember a given trailer and use the same brake settings (if you one) and will track that specific trailers mileage.
what I have read here, yup, you have the wiring to simply plug in the factory brake controller with all the tow packages but it does have to activated with the truck using Forscan. I've not heard if it will function at all without the Forscan.
what I have read here, yup, you have the wiring to simply plug in the factory brake controller with all the tow packages but it does have to activated with the truck using Forscan. I've not heard if it will function at all without the Forscan.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 473
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I just put the OEM controller in my STX a couple weeks ago, but have yet to have it programmed.
Computer issues. I’m going to see what the dealer will charge most likely, I don’t want to buy a laptop just for this.
The +/- buttons do light up, but it won’t actually do anything until the trucks computer is told the TBC is there.
You can still enter your trailer into the truck, as it will keep a log of miles on the trailer when you are connected to it. You can also program it for the backup assist as well.
Computer issues. I’m going to see what the dealer will charge most likely, I don’t want to buy a laptop just for this.
The +/- buttons do light up, but it won’t actually do anything until the trucks computer is told the TBC is there.
You can still enter your trailer into the truck, as it will keep a log of miles on the trailer when you are connected to it. You can also program it for the backup assist as well.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 707
Likes: 270
From: Huntsville, AL area
I'd just go with one of the popular tow controllers on the market, and hook it up to the small harness furnished. They just plug into a connector that's already under your dash.
Just keep it simple for something that's used just from time to time. If the brakes then work, it's all you're needing. After all, it's a lease and you'll probably be turning it in sooner than later. Next time you replace the truck, you can make sure the integrated controller is on it.
You might want to also make sure the next truck is completely capable of handling the weight of your trailer. I also have a 3/4 ton diesel p/u, and it's even marginal for towing a 11,000 lb. fifth wheel trailer with 2K lbs. kingpin weight. It's the kingpin weight that makes my F250 a bastard truck.
Just keep it simple for something that's used just from time to time. If the brakes then work, it's all you're needing. After all, it's a lease and you'll probably be turning it in sooner than later. Next time you replace the truck, you can make sure the integrated controller is on it.
You might want to also make sure the next truck is completely capable of handling the weight of your trailer. I also have a 3/4 ton diesel p/u, and it's even marginal for towing a 11,000 lb. fifth wheel trailer with 2K lbs. kingpin weight. It's the kingpin weight that makes my F250 a bastard truck.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 564
Likes: 158
I'd just go with one of the popular tow controllers on the market, and hook it up to the small harness furnished. They just plug into a connector that's already under your dash.
Just keep it simple for something that's used just from time to time. If the brakes then work, it's all you're needing. After all, it's a lease and you'll probably be turning it in sooner than later. Next time you replace the truck, you can make sure the integrated controller is on it.
You might want to also make sure the next truck is completely capable of handling the weight of your trailer. I also have a 3/4 ton diesel p/u, and it's even marginal for towing a 11,000 lb. fifth wheel trailer with 2K lbs. kingpin weight. It's the kingpin weight that makes my F250 a bastard truck.
Just keep it simple for something that's used just from time to time. If the brakes then work, it's all you're needing. After all, it's a lease and you'll probably be turning it in sooner than later. Next time you replace the truck, you can make sure the integrated controller is on it.
You might want to also make sure the next truck is completely capable of handling the weight of your trailer. I also have a 3/4 ton diesel p/u, and it's even marginal for towing a 11,000 lb. fifth wheel trailer with 2K lbs. kingpin weight. It's the kingpin weight that makes my F250 a bastard truck.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,880
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53C Max Tow (3.5EB only) comes with the Brake Controller.
Higher Trim Level Trucks come with the Brake Controller.
Your truck could have either the "Towing Package" on Window Sticker (53A HD Towing Package) or "Class IV Hitch" on Window Sticker (53B Medium Duty Towing Package).
I am somewhat at a loss as to how you have had the truck for years and didn't notice the lack of the controller mounted in your dash or how you attempted to adjust the gain to set up braking force level to the trailer. How did you plan to straighten the trailer with application of trailer brakes in case of sway if you didn't know where the manual trailer brake application lever was?
Higher Trim Level Trucks come with the Brake Controller.
Your truck could have either the "Towing Package" on Window Sticker (53A HD Towing Package) or "Class IV Hitch" on Window Sticker (53B Medium Duty Towing Package).
I am somewhat at a loss as to how you have had the truck for years and didn't notice the lack of the controller mounted in your dash or how you attempted to adjust the gain to set up braking force level to the trailer. How did you plan to straighten the trailer with application of trailer brakes in case of sway if you didn't know where the manual trailer brake application lever was?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 3
53C Max Tow (3.5EB only) comes with the Brake Controller.
Higher Trim Level Trucks come with the Brake Controller.
Your truck could have either the "Towing Package" on Window Sticker (53A HD Towing Package) or "Class IV Hitch" on Window Sticker (53B Medium Duty Towing Package).
I am somewhat at a loss as to how you have had the truck for years and didn't notice the lack of the controller mounted in your dash or how you attempted to adjust the gain to set up braking force level to the trailer. How did you plan to straighten the trailer with application of trailer brakes in case of sway if you didn't know where the manual trailer brake application lever was?
Higher Trim Level Trucks come with the Brake Controller.
Your truck could have either the "Towing Package" on Window Sticker (53A HD Towing Package) or "Class IV Hitch" on Window Sticker (53B Medium Duty Towing Package).
I am somewhat at a loss as to how you have had the truck for years and didn't notice the lack of the controller mounted in your dash or how you attempted to adjust the gain to set up braking force level to the trailer. How did you plan to straighten the trailer with application of trailer brakes in case of sway if you didn't know where the manual trailer brake application lever was?
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2020
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Update.
I bought the OEM controller from the local Ford dealership.
Installed it myself, and used FORscan to program the truck.
Heading to Ohio Friday to pick up our new travel trailer.
Thanks everyone
Wish us luck
I bought the OEM controller from the local Ford dealership.
Installed it myself, and used FORscan to program the truck.
Heading to Ohio Friday to pick up our new travel trailer.
Thanks everyone
Wish us luck
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 9,099
Likes: 3,211
From: Kentucky
Follow up:
Most of the 800,000+ trucks are optioned without the controller. If most got one, say only 100,000 did not get the controller, that would be $10 million in savings.
$100 on a $42,000 truck doesn't seem like much to us, but it's a big deal to a company that makes several million vehicles every year. To be a profitable company, they are constantly weighing whether or not to make a feature standard. This is why power windows became a standard option. It was a highly desire-able option that drove sales back in the 80's and 90's. Converting to power only pushed them over the point where power window components became as cheap to produce as manual components.
Most of the 800,000+ trucks are optioned without the controller. If most got one, say only 100,000 did not get the controller, that would be $10 million in savings.
$100 on a $42,000 truck doesn't seem like much to us, but it's a big deal to a company that makes several million vehicles every year. To be a profitable company, they are constantly weighing whether or not to make a feature standard. This is why power windows became a standard option. It was a highly desire-able option that drove sales back in the 80's and 90's. Converting to power only pushed them over the point where power window components became as cheap to produce as manual components.